On weekday afternoons, Kelly School students fill the classrooms, learning labs, and recreation spaces of the Greater Holyoke Boys and Girls Club.
On the first floor, students can be found learning new skills such as cooking or 3D printing with the guidance of experienced instructors. Nearby, other students have the option to get creative with art or engineering projects, making paintings and rockets. In the gymnasium, students play fitness games—and, a favorite of many, students have the opportunity to swim in the full-sized pool downstairs.
Students in grades 2-5 each attend the club once a week for two hours in the afternoon. In any given month, students select one or two sessions to participate in, where they work on project-based activities with support from an instructor. This means that every four weeks, each student will have completed at least one new thing. Sight words from each grade’s English Language Arts (ELA) lessons are also incorporated into the activities, creating a continuation of what students are learning in the classroom.
While other Holyoke schools have programs and partnerships with HBGC, this arrangement is unique to Kelly School—and immensely beneficial for both teachers and students, said Roberto Vincente, dean of management and operations at Kelly School. The partnership began in 2017, when Kelly was primarily a middle school, as a way to create more flexible time for teachers. With students engaged in learning at the Boys and Girls Club, educators had time for lesson-planning, professional development, and meeting with other grade-level staff members.
And the benefits for students?
“It’s all about finding community with kind, caring adults,” said Ann L. Mann, director of operations for HBGC. Ms. Mann emphasized the way that the program’s regularity—students attending once a week beginning in second grade—fosters excellent relationships between students and staff, and creates good behavior habits for the students. “When the students arrive, they know the drill,” said Ms. Mann. “They’re excited to see us and to get to work.”
In fact, several Kelly School alumni have found a career at the Boys & Girls Club after being a part of the program. Nine part-time staff members and one full-time staff member at HBGC are former Kelly students, several of whom participated in the program as middle school students when the program first launched. Additionally, Kelly School staff can often be found working or volunteering at HBGC evening programming. Staff from both Kelly and HBGC also participate in a mentorship program for students, where an adult meets with their designated mentee twice a week over lunch to provide support.
“The Boys and Girls Club is a welcoming place for all of our students,” said Mr. Vincente. Sub-separate special education programs such as RISE are included in the activities each week, allowing students to learn and play with children from beyond their usual classroom.
The partnership between Kelly and HBGC has been made possible through a federally funded 21st Century Learning Grant. The goal of the HPS/HBGC enrichment program is to improve academic outcomes, reduce chronic absenteeism, build strong meaningful relationships with youth, and increase engagement with families.