Research has shown that high-quality afterschool programs have a positive impact on students’ educational outcomes, school attendance and social and emotional learning. Further, regular participation in these programs has been linked to lower dropout rates and a narrowing of achievement gaps, particularly among low-income students. Baltimore Curriculum Project understands the valuable resources that these programs provide and works with our schools to secure funding and ensure high quality programs are offered. All BCP schools offer after school programs.
Recently, BCP applied for and received funding from the Maryland Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Maryland Out-of-School Time programs for the Future to support the after-school programs at two of our schools (City Springs Elementary / Middle School and Govans Elementary School).
Partnering with LET’S GO Boys and Girls for Afterschool STEM Enrichment
Both schools are partnering with the nonprofit LETS GO Boys and Girls to provide a high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning program to students. LETS GO provides teachers with ongoing professional development designed to increase these educators’ capacity to implement high-caliber STEM education and inclusive STEM learning.
The afterschool programs offer one hour of STEM instruction and provide lots of hands-on learning through such activities as:
LEGO Education BricQ Motion and Spike- LE’S GO Junior Engineers and Scientists Series
- Snap Circuits
- Prodigy Math Game
- LET’S GO Make it Work
- Crime Busters
- Engineering is Elementary Units
- LETS GO Arduino
- FIRST LEGO League
In February 2023, GES’s talented Robotics team won the Champions award at the Baltimore City Qualifier for the FIRST LEGO League.
Govans Elementary School’s Dragons After Dismissal
Govans’ Dragons After Dismissal program has been serving students since 2015. The afterschool program targets 100 low-income K-5 students who are performing below grade level in math and science. Offered four days a week, Dragons After Dismissal offers STEM, drama, sports, musical instruments, healthy cooking classes and character-building skills, plus extensive homework assistance and tutoring afterschool by trained students from Loyola University Maryland and Towson University.
City Springs’ Eagles Nest Afterschool Program
The Eagles Nest Afterschool Program is new for City Springs this year. Offered five days a week, the program targets 75 K-8 students based on their need to meet state and local academic achievement standards in math and science. Every Friday, City Springs students have a half-day of regular school programming to allow teachers and staff to participate in ongoing professional development. Having an afterschool program that operates on Friday, supports student’s attendance.
Much like Govans, the afterschool program focuses on applying concepts in the students’ grade-level reading and STEM content by creating exciting real-life, hands-on learning opportunities and using the engineering process for problem solving. Participants also are enjoying physical education opportunities in martial arts, soccer, and dance to round out the afterschool enrichment and whole-child approach.College students from Loyola and Towson also provide tutoring for City Springs’ students.
LETS GO is looking forward to working with the City Springs team to implement a high quality, engaging OST [Out of School Time] STEM program. Exposure to technology, engineering, and science ensures more equity in learning as children start to gain awareness and interest in STEM early on. This early exposure can help put children on a STEM learning pathway and lead to future careers that they might not have considered. LETS GO believes STEM education is a cornerstone in equipping students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in a world driven by technology and innovation.
