On Tuesday, May 28, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced an award of $945,000 in 21stCentury Learning Center grant funds to operate seven elementary after-school programming sites in the city of Wyoming through the TEAM 21 after-school program, a consortium of the City of Wyoming, Wyoming Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools.
Currently, TEAM 21 serves 1,542 students, 900 of which were at risk of losing services should this grant have not been funded. Schools impacted are: Wyoming Public School District – Gladiola, Oriole Park, Parkview and West; Godfrey-Lee Public School District – Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center and Godfrey Elementary; and Godwin Heights Public School District – North Godwin Elementary. TEAM 21 provides academic support, enrichment, health and fitness, life skills, service-learning, and recreation opportunities in the after-school and summer hours.
Wyoming, Kelloggsviile, Godwin Heights and Godfrey Lee Public Schools students fill their summer days with fun and activities through TEAM 21, which blended summer school and recreation
“TEAM 21 is a testament of community collaboration resulting in high quality programming that is making a proven difference in the academic performance of children,” stated Craig Hoekstra, Superintendent of Wyoming Public Schools and grant fiduciary agent.
This funding brings the total number of TEAM 21 sites to 12 for the 2019-2020 school year with an annual investment exceeding $1.2 million by the MDE and leveraged by local municipal and school district in-kind resources.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity this provides for TEAM 21 to continue serving youth and families in the Wyoming community,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, Director of Community Services. “We are blessing, investing in and mentoring our next generation of leaders.”
In addition to the seven schools awarded, TEAM 21 has continuation funding secured for five additional schools (WPS – Wyoming Intermediate and Wyoming Junior High; GLPS – Lee Middle; GHPS – West Godwin Elementary and Godwin Middle) through a separate 21st CCLC grant. For more information about the TEAM 21 program, please visit www.wyomingmi.gov/team21 or contact the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department at 616-530-3164.
For this first time in his council career, Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll walked to the council meeting.
The meeting was the second council-on-the-road one for the Wyoming City Council which was at the Del-Mar Community Room, the subdivision Poll lives in. The last on-the-road summer meeting is Aug. 6 at Oriole Park.
Community members filled the Del-Mar Community Room and thanked the council for bringing the meeting to the residents.
Poll said staff worked to bring subjects to the meetings that would be important to the residents of the southwest area. This meeting included discussion on the city’s master plan, upcoming road projects, and the TEAM 21 program.
City of Wyoming’s Principal Planner Nicole Hofer
Master Plan
So what will the City of Wyoming look like in the future? This was the question that the Wyoming City Council, staff, and residents will be asked to consider as the city begins the process to review and update its current master plan.
“Ultimately, a master plan helps to define our future vision, our economic development opportunities, what housing will look like in our city, what transportation we will have,” said the city’s new principal planner Nicole Hofert. “Will we have busing? Will we continue with cars? Will we integrate bike lanes? It is about land use.”
The city’s current master plan was adopted in 2006 with the plan projected out to 2020. The city has done periodic updates on the plan but with 2020 only a few years away, the time is now for the city to look ahead at the next 20 years.
Hofert said a lot has happened within the city since the master plan was first adopted. This has included the adoption of a form base code, the discussion of affordable housing, and looking at the city’s industrial sites. Also, the City of Grand Rapids has had tremendous growth and the city needs to consider how that impacts the Wyoming community, she said.
The review process is expected to take about 14-16 months with the goal of getting the community involved as much as possible. This includes hosting pop up events, utilizing social media, and attending community activities such as school homecomings to interact with residents and collect as much input as possible. The next step in the process will be to create a request for proposals to send it out to potential consultants for the master plan update, Hofert said.
Welcome sign at the Del-Mar Community Center
Road Projects
Wyoming Department of Public Works Director Bill Dooley spoke about the road work that will be taking place in the City of Wyoming. The Wyoming City Council approved a bid of around $4 million for the city’s resurfacing projects. The bid was awarded to Michigan Paving and Materials Company.
Dooley said the city has 650 miles of lane roads. The lifespan of a road depends on use with most being about 25-30 years with roads that have high traffic such as truck traffic, being around 10 years. The city spends about $5.5 million annual on road projects with some of the money coming from the state’s gas tax.
Because the bids came in 22 percent higher than last year, a few roads were eliminated from the scope of the project. The increase cost is related to what oil prices are and asphalt is made from oil, Dooley said.
Poll noted that because last year bids came in so low, the city did add on some roads so as to make its dollars go farther.
Dooley said that the remaining $1.5 million in roads was being used for the reconstruction of 56th Street between Byron Center and Ivanrest avenues and will include the addition of a new signal at Ivanrest and 56th. That project is scheduled to start on July 9 with the intersection being done in the fall, closer to the project’s completion.
Community members and city officials chat before the meeting
Team 21 program
The Wyoming City Council approved about $1.46 million for the city’s after school and summer program, TEAM 21.
The city partners with four school districts, Wyoming Public Schools, Kelloggsville Public Schools, Godfrey Lee Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools to provide 15 TEAM 21 sites around the city. These sites support about 2,000 students. Wyoming Public Schools serves as the fiduciary agent for the program.
“These budget amendments actually recognize approximately $1.6 million that will come into the City of Wyoming, specifically to the operations of the parks and recreation service area in supporting and employing our site coordinators and our program administrative staff,” said Rebecca Rynbrandt, the city’s director of community services.
This year, the city saw an increase in funding for the program, however; funding, which comes from the federal government, has been “more challenging” since the Trump administration has taken office, Rynbrandt said, adding the administration has zeroed out funding for these types of programs. Congress has been putting the funding back in when reviewing the budget, Rynbrandt said.
Next year, 10 sites are up for renewal. Because the city does not know its funding level until on or about July 1 and since there remains a question on funding for the future, Rynbrandt said city staff will be meeting with area superintendents to work on plans to make sure there is funding at least through the summer of2019. She said she will be reporting at a later date on what those plans will be to accomplish that goal.
Future doctors conferred with practicing osteopathic physicians recently on some critical topics in the North Godwin Elementary gymnasium.
A healthy lifestyle leads to a strong body and brain, good for pursuing a career in medicine, students learned during Mini-Medical School, where they listened to doctors explain what they do every day and why it’s important.
First- through fourth-graders in the after-school program TEAM 21 visited six stations manned by osteopathic physicians representing the Family Medicine Residency program at Metro Health – University of Michigan Health’s Community Clinic and members of the Michigan Health Council.
“I learned that your kidneys are in your back,” said fourth-grader Hunter Longstreet, as he posed for a photo while holding a “Mini Medical School Graduate” certificate that gave him the title “Future Doctor.”
Hunter Longstreet earns his certificate
Donning doctor’s coats, students examined X-rays and learned about bone health, tested medical instruments, practiced hygiene using hand sanitizer to kill germs, affixed Velcro organs to an anatomy apron, and received lessons in nutrition and exercise.
“We learned how to use the equipment,” said student Laura Munoz-Castillo. “When your skin gets ripped you can get germs inside. That’s why you should wear a Band-Aid.”
Brandess Wallace, community engagement and education coordinator for the Michigan Health Council, said the mission of the event is multi-faceted.
“One goal is to take the mystery out of and alleviate the fear that might go with visiting the doctor; another is to show kids what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle and, finally, we want to expose these kids to medicine as a potential career,” Wallace said.
Ellen Hensel, TEAM 21 site coordinator, said career exploration is an important component of the enrichment program.
“This is just something new they might not be able to fit into the school day that we can provide after school,” she said. “A lot of them might not have thought about being a doctor some day, but now it’s on their radar.”
From left, Sabrina Reeder, Adrian Vital, Yeinier Collazo and Barnard Davis, Jr., use hand sanitizer
In the library of Harrison Park School, Ryan Rose read aloud from a book about African animals as a dozen students listened expectantly.
“We all went on a safari, past an old Acadia tree,” Rose read. “Nearby, giraffes were grazing. Caleb counted three.”
The children broke into screams of laughter and pointed at their classmate Caleb, the designated giraffe-spotter. They were learning about animals, but having plenty of fun as well.
This is the LOOP program, which serves about 3,000 children from Grand Rapids Public Schools with after-school learning, recreation and meals five days a week. Under the federal education budget proposed by President Donald Trump, it would be eliminated.
Students participate in team-building activities at West Elementary’s TEAM 21 program (courtesy photo)
GRPS and other school districts in Kent ISD are responding with alarm to the proposed $9.2 billion in cuts to the U.S. Education Department budget, which is now being taken up by Congress. Among its many effects on local school districts, the 13.5-percent spending reduction would eliminate a $1.2 billion grant program for after-school and summer programming.
School leaders are speaking out against many of the proposed cuts, such as $2 billion in grants for teacher development as well as reductions in special-education funding. But of particular concern is cutting off funding for after-school and summer programs that serve some 6,500 students in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming. More than $8 million was awarded this year to districts in those cities by the Michigan Department of Education, which administers the federal grants for the state.
Second grader Miquean Hawkins proudly shows off his giraffe-walk, as site supervisor Ryan Rose asks students to identify African animal’s at the Harrison. Park School LOOP program
“Just the mere fact the president has proposed such dramatic cuts to public education creates this level of uncertainty, at a time when we have finally stabilized our district,” said John Helmholdt, GRPS executive director of communications and external affairs. “It’s sending a signal that they’re disinvesting in public education, disinvesting in public school teachers, and that they don’t value after-school programming.”
‘Devastating Impact’
Helmholdt and GRPS Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal last week met with U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, telling the 3rd District congressman the proposed budget would cost GRPS more than $8 million. That includes nearly $4 million from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant for the LOOP program. Without replacement funding, that program would be eliminated, they said.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this” if federal funding is axed, said Irma Alicia Lopez, director of the LOOP program. “There’s no way.”
Planting apple trees was one of many funactivbites during TEAM 21 summer programming (courtesy photo)
Earlier this year, the Grand Rapids Board of Education issued a statement that the proposed budget would have a “devastating impact” on the schools and community, asserting programs like LOOP and professional development for teachers are “increasing student achievement and helping more students graduate.”
Amash issued a statement saying it was great to hear of the “impressive progress” GRPS has made in recent years, and that he will “discuss these issues with my colleagues as Congress prepares its own budget and appropriations.”
Schools just south of Grand Rapids also would take a huge hit. The TEAM 21 after-school program serves 15 schools and over 2,000 K-8 students in the Wyoming, Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville districts. It also offers a six-week, full-day summer program including academics and enrichment activities like field trips and exposure to careers.
TEAM 21 is funded entirely through the federal grant program with a budget of more than $2 million, employing 80 staff members during the school year and 100-plus in the summer.
Elena Borjas-Garfio, left, and Morgan Williams paint miniature African hand pianos as part of the afternoon LOOP.
“That money is never going to be able to be made up by local districts if it’s eliminated,” said Scott Bloem, TEAM 21 program director.
Bloem notes that in the districts it serves, 80 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunches. TEAM 21 provides students a dinner and snack along with transportation.
“I think it’s a shocking suggestion (that these programs could be cut) and I think a lot of people would agree with me,” Bloem said, adding the programs receive broad support from people regardless of political affiliation. “It’s really shocking news that this is even being discussed.”
Becki Barrenger, assistant project director for Kentwood Public Schools’ after-school and summer program ARCH, said the program is licensed to serve up to 1,500 students across 15 sites, though numbers fluctuate. It is funded completely by the 21st Century fund with three $675,000 grants, each serving five sites.
“I truly believe in this program and I believe it’s made a difference in the lives of our students and their families,” Barrenger said. “I want to see it in our community for years to come. I think it’s necessary and needed.”
Second-grader La’Rae Murray gets a warm hug form LOOP program supervisor Irma Alicia Lopez.
Investment or Disinvestment?
Their perspective is far different from that of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who in announcing the budget called it a “historic investment in America’s students.” The West Michigan native touted it as returning decision-making to the states and more control to parents while providing more options for school choice, including $250 million to provide private-school vouchers and $167 million more for charter schools.
DeVos asserted the budget maintains support for vulnerable students but takes “a hard look at programs that sound nice but simply haven’t yielded the desired outcomes.” One of those, she argued, is the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which her budget outline said “lacks strong evidence of meeting its objectives, such as improving student achievement.”
Local school and civic officials strongly disagree.
In Wyoming, Grand Rapids and elsewhere, the benefits of after-school and summer programs are multifaceted, officials say. Among them: a safe environment for youths who might otherwise be unsupervised; nurturing relationships with caring adults; extra academic help; and exposure to cultural experiences and possible career fields.
The programs’ worth is attested to by strong demand from parents, said Lynn Heemstra, executive director of Our Community’s Children, a partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools and the community.
Fifth graders Iyanna Wright, left, and Devin Allen enjoy making random patterns with their pendulum-paint technique.
Heemstra works with after-school program providers as part of the ELO Network, a coalition of community stakeholders consisting of over 60 organizations serving over 21,000 children at 180 sites, to help after-school programs shape curriculum around academics and enrichment including exposure to careers. Many programs have more demand than space for students, she said.
“There continues to be waiting lists for students. As after-school programs become more tuned into science and math and those kinds of programs, there is greater demand.”
Programs such as LOOP, TEAM 21 and Kentwood’s ARCH provide a safe environment for many low-income students whose parents work two to three jobs, Heemstra said. “The majority of our kids, 99 percent, are not involved with the police and we know that for a fact.”
A 2014 report by the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University found a 44 percent drop in Grand Rapids juveniles involved in crime or curfew violations from 2006 to 2012. While many factors may have contributed, the report notes a major increase in after-school programming since 2001 aimed to make “a positive impact on the life trajectories of Grand Rapids’ children.”
Heemstra said students in after-school programs, especially African-American and Latino males, are doing better academically than those who aren’t, and all students have better school attendance than those not in programs. The ELO Network provides data on those trends, while Johnson Center research shows African-American students in after-school programs are 1.5 times more likely to meet or exceed growth expectations in math than non-participants, Heemstra said.
“If those programs are not there, the communities are going to see some repercussions,” she said.
Blandford Nature Center presents All About owls during TEAM 21 at Parkview Elementary School (courtesy photo)
In Wyoming, more than 90 percent of parents surveyed said their children are getting better grades and have better homework completion because of TEAM 21, and 97 percent say “staff know how to work with a child like mine,” Bloem said.
A Parent’s Perspective
Lisa and Jordan Wiseman’s twin daughters, fifth-grade Wyoming Intermediate School students Carmen and Cadia, have been attending TEAM 21’s after-school and summer programs for several years, beginning as Oriole Park Elementary students.
“At first it was something they could do that was fun during the summer,” Lisa Wiseman said. “Then, as they got older they needed a little help in certain areas, and it wasn’t difficult to convince them to go because they had been going and had fun.
“That worked for me because I was able to pick them up after I got out of work,” she added. “They would get help with their homework and it would be all done by the time I pick them up to take them home.”
It was particularly helpful this school year for Carmen while 10-year-old Cadia spent many days in the hospital receiving treatment for leukemia. “Carmen welcomed the distraction,” Wiseman said.
Cadia continues to recover, and both girls are enrolled in the summer program, partly because Cadia missed quite a bit of school, their mother said.
If TEAM 21 is eliminated, it would be “a huge loss” for many Wyoming families will be negatively impacted, Wiseman said.
“It gives the kids something to do in the summer. So many of these kids have parents who work during the day. They get breakfast and lunch (during the summer and dinner during the school year), which helps a lot of the lower-income families.”
Local and National Pushback
Heemstra’s office is working with the Michigan Afterschool Partnership to advocate for programs at the federal and local levels, and make sure the public is more aware of their importance by spreading the word. Our Community’s Children is also advocating for the State of Michigan to match the 21st Century grant funds, as well as tapping other potential funding sources.
Despite the uncertainty around the 21st Century program, the Michigan Department of Education plans to announce 2017-18 grant awards in the next few weeks, said spokesman William DiSessa.
At the national level, ASSA: The School Superintendents Association is lobbying against what it calls “deep, damaging cuts” in federal funding. After-school funding in particular has had broad, bipartisan support from Congress in the past, as a proven program to help provide structure, academic enrichment and social support in students’ lives, said Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate director for policy and advocacy. She noted some programs for older students include college guidance, mental-health counseling and teen pregnancy reduction.
“The neediest communities tend to be the poorest, meaning they’re disproportionately reliant on federal dollars,” Ellerson Ng said, adding that eliminating after-school funding “disproportionately impacts students who need it the most.”
She said the chances of the budget being approved by Congress in its current form are “next to none.” Indeed, during DeVos’ testimony this week before a Senate appropriations subcommittee, Republican chairman Sen. Roy Blunt said deep cuts to programs such as after-school would be “all but impossible” to get through Congress.
However, Ellerson Ng said lawmakers must be held accountable based on what students need, not on this proposed budget: “We cannot allow a very flawed Trump proposal to become a baseline to measure anything realistic. Because the Trump budget is unrealistic.”
Impact is Academic… and Beyond
Back at Harrison Park School, students spent an afternoon earlier this semester doing lots of things, starting with an hour of help with homework. Fourth-graders split for the gym while younger students did crafts centered on African cultural studies: making necklaces in the style of the Masai people, or painting African thumb pianos. Fifth- and sixth-graders created bright, splashy paintings using a pendulum.
They were supervised by staff from the YMCA, one of three partner agencies that run LOOP programs at about 30 GRPS schools. Others are United Methodist Community House and Camp Fire West Michigan 4C (see related story).
A big plus for these students is the friendships and relationships they build, said Lopez, who’s directed LOOP for five years.
“If they’re not in sports, they have something they’re attached to,” she said. “Parents are always so grateful, because they see the students more outgoing, more interested in coming to school. I think the interest in coming to school and having better attendance is because they are building those relationships and are more social.”
That spills over into academic gains in the classroom and fewer chronic absences, she added.
Ryan Rose, the site coordinator, says LOOP creates a supportive atmosphere.
“They’re with people who care about them, and they feel safe and it’s fun,” Rose said. “It motivates them to want to come to school, because they know they’re a part of LOOP, and then they engage throughout the school day.”
At the end of the afternoon, students would take home snacks provided by Kids’ Food Basket; middle school students get hot meals provided by the YMCA.
All told it was a full afternoon for students, of the kind Lopez hopes will be able to continue. If not, she doesn’t know what parents would do who can’t afford child care, or what students would do without the structure of LOOP.
“What are they going to do after school, if there’s no funding?” she said. “It would be a huge loss for the kids, and for the families.”
Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
Architectural drawings for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s new Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
The multi-phased building expansion plans of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced last week will include an expansion the institution’s learning center, already a favorite of several Wyoming and Kentwood community organizations including Kentwood Public Schools A.R.C.H. after school program.
The expansion plans include a new 60,000 square foot welcome center, a new transportation center, expansion and upgrades to the concert amphitheater, a new sculpture garden entry plaza and a “reimagined” scenic indoor corridor, and expanded parking and urban garden areas. Overall, project construction is scheduled to begin this fall and continue for approximately four years.
After the new welcome center, however, and most important expansion may be the 20,000 square foot Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
Architectural drawings for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s new Covenant Learning Center, which will be topped by the new Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
“Today we have two approximately 1,100 square foot classrooms devoted to education,” Meijer Gardens President and CEO David Hooker said when asked by WKTV about the Covenant Learning Center. “Since 1999, our educational programming has grown 305 percent. While our education programming has grown … our space dedicated to education has remained the same. The new Covenant Learning Center will have four approximately 1,200 square foot classrooms, two 1,600 square foot classrooms and one 2,200 square foot Interactive Education Area. The opportunity for additional educational programming is nearly unlimited.”
Wyoming and Kentwood programs at the gardens
Kentwood’s A.R.C.H. after school program is just one of the many programs currently using the Garden’s educational programing.
“The after-school programs from both Kentwood (A.R.C.H.) and Wyoming (T.E.A.M. 21), in particular, have made frequent visits to Meijer Gardens in the past,” said Jessica Hart, Meijer Gardens indoor education manager. “We’re delighted that these groups have been able to enjoy our seasonal exhibitions, Sculpture Park, and Children’s Garden. I expect that the new Covenant Learning Center will allow us additional opportunities to offer educational programs school groups and after-school groups alike in the future.”
A.R.C.H. is a collaboration between Kentwood Public Schools and the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department. Program activities focus on academics, health, wellness, and recreation/leisure education. These activities will be offered to children, family, and community members throughout the year.
But the Kentwood program is just one of many groups availing themselves of local cultural educational opportunities. And that is just the way Meijer Garden’s wants it.
Following recent educational additions to other Grand Rapids area institutions, including The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Meijer Garden’s Covenant Learning Center “will engage learners in new ways and reinforce our commitment as the go-to place for cultural education,” according to supplied information.
Part of Meijer Garden’s mission
“Since our beginning, education has been a hallmark of the Meijer Gardens mission — reaching more than 89,000 guests last year alone. In fact, the action word in our mission statement is ‘promote.’ Education is the primary method by which we put life into the word ‘promote.’ The dramatic growth of participation in our educational programming not only underscores the quality and diversity of our classes, camps and events, but also demonstrates a need for more classroom space.”
A key aspect of the new classrooms will be that they will provide outdoor learning areas, with five of the six having direct access from within the classroom. The outdoor learning area will be located east of the building and will include seating areas for students, teaching areas for instructors, and partial shade/cover from the elements.
The expansion plans are the result of a nearly complete $115 million capital campaign titled “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love”. The campaign currently has raised about $102 million of its goal, according to supplied information.
“If we are successful in our ‘Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love’ fundraising efforts, we will begin construction in September of this year,” Hooker said. “We do not have a precise date at this time for the completion of the Covenant Learning Center or the Padnos Families Rooftop Sculpture Garden.”
The New York firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects Partners has been chosen “to re-envision and expand” the Meijer Gardens facilities, according to supplied information. The firm is known for their design of the iconic Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and, most recently, chosen to design the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
For more information about Meijer Gardens visit meijergardens.org. For more information about the “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” fundraising efforts visit meijergardens.org/legacyoflove .
After school on Mondays through Thursdays, more than 40 middle school students participate in TEAM 21, where they do homework, eat, play sports and participate in activities.
But a recent night was all about fun, complete with doughnuts and apple cider, slime-making and pumpkin ring-toss. Students participated in Lights On Afterschool, a national event that celebrates after-school programs.
TEAM 21 is run through a partnership between the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department and Godfrey-Lee, Wyoming, Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville Public Schools. Fifteen schools offer programs for more than 2,000 students ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool promotes the role of after-school programs in keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn and helping working families. The effort has become a hallmark of the after-school movement and annually sees more than 1 million Americans celebrate at more than 8,000 events nationwide.
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.
The summer months are quickly approaching which means both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood are looking for seasonal workers for programs run through the individual muncipalties’ parks and recreation departments as well as additional maintenance help.
Both cities are currently accepting applications for seasonal work with positions ranging from umpiring to maintenance in various departments at wages between $9 to $15 an hour.
In the City of Wyoming, there are several positions. The city’s Water Department is looking for seasonal maintenance for a variety of tasks. The Department of Public Works is looking for a seasonal yard waste attendant and maintenance and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is in need of seasonal maintenance workers along with umpires for softball and kickball.
The Parks and Recreation Department is also looking for T.E.A.M 21 group leaders for its summer program. T.E.A.M. 21 is a cooperative effort between the Parks and Recreation Department, Wyoming Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Godwin Heights Public Schools and Kelloggsville Public Schools. The program is designed to foster academic, social and emotional growth among students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Last year, the program served nearly 1,600 students in the four school districts. T.E.A.M. 21 group leaders would be responsible for supervising students, planning and implementing educational and recreational activities and mentoring.
Most of the City of Wyoming seasonal positions are part-time. Hours for the different positions vary and some do require weekends. For more information or to apply, visit the City of Wyoming’s website by clicking here.
The City of Kentwood is looking for maintenance workers, which is 40 hours per week and pays around $10 an hour.
Kentwood’s Parks and Recreation Department has several seasonal positions open as well including a farmers market manager and park attendant. The Kentwood Farmer’s Market usually runs Saturday mornings from about June to October.
The Parks and Recreation Department is also looking for Recreation Leaders and REACH staff. The REACH program is a drop-in program in three Kentwood Parks that provides recreational opportunities such as games, sports, and crafts, during the summer months. These positions pay around $10 to $15 per hour.
For more information or an employment application, visit the City of Kentwood’s website by clicking here.
West Godwin Elementary first- through fourth-grade students spent an evening working as mini-entrepreneurs at the T21 Marketplace, selling candy and other goodies, masks and chances to shoot hoops and bowl.
The event, hosted by the after-school program Team 21, introduced students to real-life concepts of buying and selling goods or services, said Betsy Berry, West Godwin Team 21 coordinator. While Berry purchased materials, students cooked, created their products, advertised and cashed out at the end of the evening. Each good or service cost one Berry Buck, fake money students had earned for good behavior.
“The purpose of learning about being a consumer as well as a producer was beyond achieved,” Berry said.
West Godwin Elementary fourth-graders stood in line taking turns shaking a bag filled with a Valentine’s Day treat of Chex Mix and powdered sugar.
To the tune of singer Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off,” students vigorously shook the bag, while instructor Di Szczesny, “Ms. Di,” told them what they would be doing next. “We are going to take our chocolate and pour it over our Chex Mix. Pour it all in there. Shake it all in there. Everybody can stir and everybody can shake.”
Soon, things got even sweeter with red M&Ms and sprinkles.
“We’re making it red for Valentine’s Day because you’re the loves of my life,” Szczesny told students.
Students dance, giggle, grin and, perhaps best of all, feast when they learn to cook with Szczesny, who hosts cooking classes for the after-school program Team 21, which is run through a partnership with the City of Wyoming. Over the side dishes and desserts they create together, Szczesny gives attention to each student, doling out kind words and lots of silliness with instruction. Somehow everyone stays on task.
“It’s my passion. I love kids and I love food,” Szczesny said.
Jermaine Haley shakes the puppy chow
Meals, Manners and Measurements
Retired after 14 years working in food service for Wyoming Public Schools, Szczesny now spends her evenings teaching elementary students to cook. She leads classes for Team 21 at Godwin, Wyoming and Kelloggsville schools and in many Kent County schools through Artists Creating Together, a Grand Rapids-based non-profit organization that provides artist-in-residency grants for students with special needs across Kent County.
During Szczesny’s classes, students make kid-friendly dishes. The 14 West Godwin students stuffed and wrapped veggie spring rolls and mixed Chinese chicken salad in honor of Chinese New Year. They dipped marshmallows in melted chocolate and shook the cereal and powdered sugar-laden snack known as puppy chow. It was the first of four visits planned, so students from all grade levels get a turn cooking.
Students learn about nutrition and the value of homemade meals, Szczesny said. They learn etiquette, food safety and math skills as the measure ingredients, reading skills as they follow recipes. They must have good teamwork to hustle and get several dishes ready at the same time.
“The main thing is to eat what they make,” she said. “I focus on good nutrition and healthy habits. I would like them to be able to start dinner at home, to learn the basics.”
She also wants them to learn hospitality, what to do when you hate your great aunt’s cooking and to remember to chew with your mouth closed. “I teach them manners, to open doors for a lady, how to set a table and just to be kind to each other.”
Betsy Berry, West Godwin Team 21 coordinator, said cooking with Szczesny is students’ favorite activity.
Aryanna McCrary gets ready to eat
“Di has a unique approach to connecting and bonding with all of the students in all the grade levels. They love this class more than any other they do in Team 21,” Berry said.
Aryanna McCrary said she learned tips on how not to burn food from Szczesny. “She is a very good cooking teacher and kids can learn from her,” said the fourth-grader. “She introduces me to new foods too.”
Between chopping, mixing, cooking and presenting, students say being a good cook involves a lot. “It’s amazing the work you have to put into it,” said fourth-grader Adrien Rochelle.
After the cooking was done and lemonade poured, students settled down to eat before heading home. “I like everything,” Aryanna said. “The salad was the best.”
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The lights were on at the Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center and Spiderman and Batman were in the building.
The district’s after-school program, TEAM 21, recently welcomed families and students for a night of games, superhero-mask decorating and Halloween cookie munching during “Lights On After-School.”
About 7,500 after-school programs participated in the annual nationwide event. It was started in 2000 by the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization Afterschool Alliance, which promotes keeping the doors open after school to offer academic help and recreation for students.
Sixth-grader Jasmin Landero said TEAM 21 is a great place to stay busy after school
Godfrey-Lee TEAM 21 coordinators put their own twist on the evening, inviting families by “Calling All Superheroes” to the event. Sixth-graders led games in the hallways for youngsters, some dressed in costumes. Families ate dinner provided by the school and took photos with their favorite caped crusaders.
“The whole point of the event is to showcase that we are here to help with the kids,” said Brittani Stickler, TEAM 21 site coordinator for the Godfrey-Lee ECC.
While the evening was focused on fun, TEAM 21 offers homework help and enrichment activities after school Monday through Thursday, plus summer programming. “We target at-risk kids and those who need the most academic help,” Stickler said. “It’s been a super help for parents.”
Team 21 is run through a partnership between the City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department and Godfrey-Lee, Wyoming, Godwin Heights and Kelloggsville Public Schools, with 15 schools offering programs for students ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade.
Godfrey-Lee is a high-poverty district with a large percentage of English-language learners. Many parents work in the evening and aren’t able to provide homework help, district officials said.
Sixth-grader David Arellano poses with Godfrey-Lee Rebel mascot
Ramona Maleka Freeman came to the event with her five children, two of whom regularly attend TEAM 21. “I like the way they help out with homework and spend a lot of time loving and caring for the kids. I like that it’s a positive program and the kids aren’t out learning negative things.”
Sixth-grader Jasmin Landero spread orange frosting on a cookie. “TEAM 21, to me, is not just a school thing. We get school stuff done, but we really have fun.”
Need for After-school Programs by the Numbers
• 19.4 million kids would participate in an after-school program if one were available to them.
• 11.3 million kids are on their own in the hours after school.
• 23 million parents of school-age children work outside of the home full time.
• An analysis of 68 after-school studies found that students participating in high-quality after-school programs went to school more, behaved better, received better grades and performed better on tests compared to non-participants.
• A study of outcomes associated with participation in after-school programs found that students who regularly participate during elementary school showed a variety of gains, including narrowing the math achievement gap at grade five between high-income and low-income students; improving work habits and self-efficiency; and reducing absences.
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Wyoming, Kelloggsviile, Godwin Heights and Godfrey Lee Public Schools students fill their summer days with fun and activities through TEAM 21, which blended summer school and recreation
By: Erin Albanese – School News Network
In recent years, Michigan school children have enjoyed a three-month summer break, by law not returning to the classroom before Labor Day. But as administrators work to add days to the school calendar, that soon may change.
Paradoxically, the state prohibits schools from starting before Labor Day unless they are granted a waiver, but it is also bumping up the required number of school days. Districts must be in session 180 days and 1,098 hours for the 2016-2017 school year. That’s up from 170 last year and 175 this year.
Kent County superintendents are meeting in mid-October to fit more days into the schools’ common calendar for the 2016-2017 school year, with several ideas on the table: a pre-Labor Day start (by applying for waiver county-wide unless the law is changed), a shorter winter break and eliminating mid-winter break. The common calendar aligns winter, spring and mid-winter breaks so area children have the same days off.
Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Caniff said adding days to the school calendar in June may mean an overall benefit to tourism dollars created by the Labor Day mandate may no longer hold true. Students are already involved in sports, band and extracurricular activities before Labor Day. Most of all, starting school earlier makes sense for many schools.
“At the elementary level, a compressed summer schedule also could be beneficial to prevent regression of learning that occurs over the summer months,” Caniff said.
Wyoming Public Schools’ calendar has stretched from late May or early June until the Tuesday after Labor Day for several years. That will soon change, and Superintendent Tom Reeder, who is on the committee, said starting before Labor Day would align the start of school with extracurriculars.
“I would like to start earlier than Labor Day, when things are back with band and sports and the students have had a break,” he said.
For Kelloggsville Public Schools, the added days won’t change anything, said Tammy Savage, the district’s director or instruction. The district’s school year goes later into June than surrounding schools.
Wyoming students meet a goat during Team 21
“Kelloggsville has 180 student days in their school year and always has,” Savage said. “It is our belief that in addition to the academics, being in school provides social and emotional support as well as numerous after school activities.
“Additionally, with a high (number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch) we are able to provide two healthy meals each day,” she said, noting that she would like to see the Labor Day law reversed so school can start a week or two prior to the holiday.
Bill Passage Would Change the Law
House Bill 4396 would allow Michigan’s school boards to set their own start date instead of a mandated start after Labor Day. The bill is co-sponsored by Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids. The bill would lock in a four-day holiday weekend, giving students Friday before the holiday off.
For this school year, 100 of the state’s 900-plus districts have applied for waivers to start early anyway, including Greenville Area School District.
Former Superintendent Pete Haines, now Ottawa Area ISD superintendent, said he applied for the waiver because many of the high school students are dual-enrolled at Montcalm Community College, which starts classes before Labor Day. Many other Montcalm County schools also received waivers. Greenville Area School District opened its doors Aug. 31.
Aligning the calendars makes sense, Haines said, but there are other reasons an earlier start works better.
“Frankly, kids are ready to get back,” he said. “They are just ready.”
The issue of snow days also factors into fitting in school days and hours, he said. The last two years have been especially snowy.
Students in TEAM 21 spend a summer day swimming
“There is a concern over summer slide,” Haines said, referring to learning lost during vacation. “This does open the dialogue for what a more balanced calendar would do.”
More or Less School? History Shows Different Trends
As a way to buoy tourism, the post-Labor Day start law was enacted in 2005 to give families one last summer hurrah before school. This year, with the holiday falling as late as it possibly can on the calendar, most students don’t start school until Sept. 8, following more than three months off.
At the time the law came into effect, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm said it would not affect children because districts will continue to spend the same number of hours at school, with wiggle room for vacation days and how late in the spring districts remain in session.
The change is another about-face for the state. Michigan increased its school calendar requirements through the 1990s, bumping the mandated minimum classroom hours from 900 to 1,098, with a minimum of 180 days in session, according to the report, “School Daze: Michigan’s Shrinking School Year,” created by The Center for Michigan, an Ann Arbor-based think tank.
The goal was to incrementally increase the minimum-day requirement until it reached 190 days in 2006-07. Instead, legislators dropped the day requirement completely as of the 2003-04 school year, leaving a 1,098-hour mandate in place. Lansing told districts that they could shorten the school year by making each school day a few minutes longer, according to the report.
“Eliminating the days requirement coincided with single-state and then the national recession, and some districts dropped back to as few as 145 days a year in their efforts to save money,” according to The Center for Michigan report.
Across the country, many states require 180 days of instruction, and many are in school well before Labor Day. Minnesota and Virginia also have the post-Labor Day start-date law.
Another thing to consider is the oft-cited problem of summer slide, when students who aren’t engaged in dune climbs or museum tours slip back reading levels and forget their math. Many districts already work to make summer more enriching for students through various summer programs.
Godfrey-Lee Superintendent David Britten said the reasoning behind the Labor Day law is “stupid,” but students experience learning loss as a result of not receiving instruction in an in-depth, meaningful way. As for the Labor Day start, he’s not convinced it’s much of a factor.
“I don’t think it matters,” Britten said. “I think it’s what we do during the school year that makes the difference, and that’s what we want to focus on.”
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By: Erin Albanese – 
“The purpose of learning about being a consumer as well as a producer was beyond achieved,” Berry said.
