BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – Students in need of after-school help with homework or educational enrichment activities now have increased and enhanced opportunities thanks to a five-year, $3.1 million grant awarded to Cornell Cooperative Extension of St Lawrence County.

A 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant will be administered in partnership with Parishville-Hopkinton, Edwards-Knox, Colton-Pierrepont, and Hermon-Dekalb school districts.

The program is federally funded but administered by the NYS Education Department and dedicated to enriching the lives of students in need of academic enrichment opportunities during out-of-school hours.

“Extension is excited to bring research-based 4-H curricula to students and to support families with wraparound care and activities in a safe, enriching environment. From cooking and sewing to robotics and engineering, 4-H activities are hands-on while also providing opportunities for unique and continued learning,” said Jacqulyn Card, Extension Program Director.

The programs will provide homework help and educational enrichment activities that align with the 4-H mission mandates: STEM, Healthy Lifestyles, Citizenship and Agriculture and Food Systems.

Extension will also partner with Seaway Valley Prevention Council, SUNY Potsdam Department of Public Health and Human Performance and Potsdam Institute for Applied Research, St. Lawrence County Health Initiative, and the SNAP-Ed Program to provide additional enrichment and learning opportunities for students, explained Card.

Program educators and partners will provide interest-led club activities with topics such as nutrition and healthy living, physical fitness, STEM, agriculture, wilderness education, teamwork, citizenship, babysitting, financial literacy, creative arts, conflict resolution, mental health, mindfulness, diversity inclusion and violence, drug, and pregnancy prevention.

Each program will also prioritize homework help and regular communication with teachers to help students close educational gaps

Schedules at each school district vary to provide consistent childcare when needed the most. All programs will be free to students in grades K-8 on a first come, first served basis, both before and after school. Registration information will be available soon to parents in the program districts, said Card.

“Extension is pleased to be part of the solution for those who face challenges finding quality childcare and student enrichment programs. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program enables us to do that by building essential community partnerships with school districts, partnering agencies and community members at large,” said Patrick Ames, Extension Executive Director.

"CPCS is grateful for the opportunity to work with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and the 21st CCLC grant to provide enrichment opportunities at our school. The before and after school programming will help our K-8 students and families by providing activities, homework support, and student supervision during the school year. We look forward to collaborating and building a great service for our community,” said Jim Nee, Colton-Pierrepont Central School Superintendent.

“This program will provide our students with access to high quality enrichment activities, social skill development, homework help, and fun with friends. It will help support our working families with free childcare and a healthy snack in a caring environment,” Erin Woods, Edwards-Knox Central School Superintendent, remarked.