Some Buffalo public school students are benefiting from afterschool programs operated by the Northwest Buffalo Community Center. WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley recently visited one of the sites at the Grabiarz School of Excellence.
The afterschool program at Grabiarz is one of eight sites. As we visited, a group of fifth graders was completing their homework inside of the school's classrooms.
Grace Lattanzio is the Assistant Director of Education for Northwest Buffalo Community Center. She oversees both the Grabiarz and West Hertel Academy after school programs.
“We've been fortunate here because we hadn't had a lot of turnover and we have the same people coming back year after year, after year and really developing those relationships with the youth, so we’ve been really lucky here,” said Lattanzio.
Students from third through eighth grade attend this afterschool session Monday through Thursday. Funding is provided through federal 21st Century grants.
“Our kids enjoy it. Our staff, you can tell, enjoy the kids, which is huge. You can’t fake that,” noted Lattanzio.
“We do our homework and the teachers help us a lot,” said Grabiarz fifth grader Laila Thomas.
Thomas said she loves the afterschool program. It gives her a boost with school work she doesn't understand in the classroom and provides social lessons.
“We talk about like our behavior and how we should act in school,” said Thomas. “They tell us we should use the words 'shut up' and stuff,” replied Thomas.
The fifth grader said the best part for her is getting her homework accomplished.
This afterschool program encourages students to complete their homework before engaging in a number of activities. The program must adhere to 'school age child care' guidelines, providing a 10-to-1-ratio in the classroom. Lattanzio noted many teachers come in to assist with the program.
“We've had a lot of teachers from the building, during the school day, come and work for us after school which has been very positive because the students have the same teachers by day as they do in after school and it’s kind of nice. But we also have some people to come outside the building that, when you see somebody all day long, probably in some cases, it's the last person you want to see. So it's nice because they're developing relationships, positive, adult relationships with other people outside the building which is nice,” explained Lattanzio.
“I see a lot of afterschool teachers trying to help students and all the people who help, it’s just really great, because it helps me in class,” said Shayla King, a fifth grader.
King said she likes the recreational part of this afterschool session.
“We can do all sorts of stuff. We can choose and we can do our homework and after we do our homework, we could do extra stuff like draw on boards and try to help people,” said King. “With the help I get, It helps me more in school and on tests we do in school.”
Students can try a variety of activities, including swimming, art, gym, computers, games, drama and glee clubs, a 'Girls on the Run' offered in the spring and cooking. In a kitchen-style area of the school, we found a group of students learning how to make breakfast foods, such as scrambled eggs, sausage and toast.
Inside the school cafeteria it was buzzing with students gathered around tables enjoying a snack-break. We talked to several third graders about what they like about in this afterschool program.
“It’s fun and you can go to recreation and you get activities and they help you with your homework.”
“I like it because you can go to computers and art and we can make 3D stuff.”
“My favorite thing is actually cheerleading and Girls on the Run because you get to exercise and have a lot of fun.”
“I like it because people can help you out and if you don’t under it they’ll explain to you how to do it.”
Fifh graders Joyce Yang and Juliana Davila were also finishing up their snack and described what they enjoy about the afterschool program.
“It helps me get better at school work because the tests are coming up and I think I’m going to pass this year,” said Yang.
“At home, it’s kind of boring and it gives me something to do in the afterschool program,” explained Davila.
Lattanzio says an evaluator recently visited the afterschool session to assess their work and said they wished they could clone the program all across the city.
