Schools
National Afterschool Leader Visits Farmington EXCL
President of of the National AfterSchool Association stopped to see schools Tuesday.
The head of a national organization that examines best practices in afterschool programs and drives their implementation around the country paid a visit to the Farmington afterschool program Tuesday.
Dr. Paul Young, president and CEO of the National AfterSchool Association, took a tour of three Farmington schools at the invitation of Farmington Extended Care and Learning director Vincent LaFontan. He was in town to speak at a symposium about the importance of principal support in afterschool programs.
LaFontan is one of 12 members of the National AfterSchool Association’s board of directors. He said he was honored to have Young visit his program.
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In Farmington, Young found enrichment opportunities and a substantial partnership between afterschool providers and school staff. EXCL programs are housed in each of Farmington’s elementary schools and its staff is an integral part of each school.
Superintendent Kathleen Greider joined Young, LaFontan and Ken Anthony of the Connecticut After School Network on the tour.
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At West District, Principal Sharon Lowery told Young how seamlessly EXCL and school staff work together to help students.
“We share behavior plans and what’s happening in the classroom to help the student succeed,” Lowery explained. “If it wasn’t site-based, all that would be lost and the child would suffer as a result.”
Greider’s inclusion of EXCL staff in district functions strengthens that connection, LaFontain said.
“All of my staff feel like part of the greater Farmington Public Schools,” he said.
The large program has grown since LaFontan came to Farmington seven years ago. He began to rethink the afterschool program, then called School Aged Care, and eventually to recreate it. He named the program Extended Care and Learning, encouraging his staff to think of it not as childcare, but as an extension of the school day.
Today, EXCL serves 430 students daily in before or afterschool programs; hundreds more participate in special programs.
Chinese language is currently being offered in EXCL classrooms and Hartford Children’s Theater is teaming up with the program to produce a show. Taekwondo is coming soon and dozens of other sports, arts and academics-based classes are offered throughout the year.
In addition to LaFontan’s leadership, Young credited Greider with its success, even asking her to write a paper he could share with superintendents across the country.
“Having a superintendent that would stand there and be that supportive is powerful,” Young said. “That’s where it starts – when they recognize the power of extended learning that makes it happen.”
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