Middle School Learning Center

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS PRAISE THE PROGRAM

Published October 22, 2008
Michaela Saunders
Omaha World Herald Staff Writer
Mayor Fahey hosts a breakfast to plan the future of his growing Middle School Learning Center Initiative.

Every middle school student in the Omaha metro area deserves an after-school program like those that Antoinette Herbert and Maison Horton attend.

That's the thinking of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, who said that, in time, every middle school in Douglas and Sarpy Counties should offer a quality after-school program like those available to the Omaha Public Schools seventh-graders.

On Tuesday, Omaha's outgoing mayor hosted more than 100 elected officials, after-school program directors, educators and others to a breakfast where information about after-school programs was the main course. Excitement from Antoinette and Maison rallied the crowd.

Fahey's aim: Increase awareness of current efforts and amp up enthusiasm for future programs.

"We want to continue spreading this," he said in an interview before the breakfast. "We think we're on the right track."

Fahey is hopeful that success of the OPS programs will encourage other local and national funders to get involved. Business partnerships also could be possible.

In 2005, the City of Omaha received a $2 million federal grant, matched by Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation, to start after-school programs in four under-served middle schools.

Programs, which are free to families, began in OPS middle schools in January. This fall, two OPS schools were added to the program, called the Middle School Learning Center Initiative. More schools are expected to be added next year.

Fahey has focused on increasing the city's quality after-school offerings since taking office in 2001. He also is chairman of the after-school tutoring and mentoring task force for the Building Bright Futures effort. He intends to remain in that role after leaving office in June 2009.

Building Bright Futures has brought together some of Omaha's wealthiest residents in a public-private effort to shrink the achievement gap between low-income and middle-income students in Douglas and Sarpy Counties and between white children and their peers of color.

John Cavanaugh, executive director of Building Bright Futures, said formal programming initiatives related to after-school time and mentoring will be announced by the effort next month. Fahey is heavily involved in determining what that will look like.

Antoinette, 12, praised the program she attends at Morton Middle School in an essay.

"It is a great way to have fun and learn at the same time," she wrote, winning a contest and a chance to read her essay at Tuesday's breakfast. She highlighted caring staff who tutor her, a light dinner, field trips, games, crafts and winning a gift certificate in a drawing for students who keep their grades up.

Maison, 12, attends Monroe Middle School. Co-winner of the essay contest, he read to the crowd that friendly staff make him feel safe and secure after school. Different activities each day make the program interesting and he's made new friends, improved his self-esteem and "learned how to be even kinder."

After reading his essay, Maison said he tries to go every day -- virtually cutting out television as a result.

About 900 students were registered in September for one of the six OPS programs. Students typically attend a few days a week and close to 100 students are involved at each center daily.

"Middle school students vote with their feet," said Ellen Gannett, director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley College. Big numbers and repeat participants means the programs are doing something right.

"It's impressive," Gannett said of the area's work on after-school programming. "They have accelerated very quickly and have surpassed many major cities."

The next steps in creating a community-wide system to serve all children would be to concentrate on the needs of high school students and filling summer break with meaningful learning, she said.

Throughout Omaha, the mayor's office has identified 83 after-school program providers, at all grade levels, including parent-pay school, church or social service agency programs. Analysis of those programs showed
middle school students are the most under-served, and more opportunities for that age group are needed.

Fahey said measuring the effectiveness of the current programs over time will build the case for the middle school effort -- to Omaha contributors and national grantors. Because the program started only months ago, he said, it's too early to know how the program has affected school attendance, grades and discipline referrals.

	Photo Gallery MIDDLE SCHOOLERS PRAISE THE PROGRAM An Early Morning Boost for After School Published October 22, 2008 Michaela Saunders Omaha World Herald Staff Writer Mayor Fahey hosts a breakfast to plan the future of his growing Middle School Learning Center Initiative. Every middle school student in the Omaha metro area deserves an after-school program like those that Antoinette Herbert and Maison Horton attend. That's the thinking of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, who said that, in time, every middle school in Douglas and Sarpy Counties should offer a quality after-school program like those available to the Omaha Public Schools seventh-graders. On Tuesday, Omaha's outgoing mayor hosted more than 100 elected officials, after-school program directors, educators and others to a breakfast where information about after-school programs was the main course. Excitement from Antoinette and Maison rallied the crowd. Fahey's aim: Increase awareness of current efforts and amp up enthusiasm for future programs. "We want to continue spreading this," he said in an interview before the breakfast. "We think we're on the right track." Fahey is hopeful that success of the OPS programs will encourage other local and national funders to get involved. Business partnerships also could be possible. In 2005, the City of Omaha received a $2 million federal grant, matched by Susie Buffett's Sherwood Foundation, to start after-school programs in four under-served middle schools. Programs, which are free to families, began in OPS middle schools in January. This fall, two OPS schools were added to the program, called the Middle School Learning Center Initiative. More schools are expected to be added next year. Fahey has focused on increasing the city's quality after-school offerings since taking office in 2001. He also is chairman of the after-school tutoring and mentoring task force for the Building Bright Futures effort. He intends to remain in that role after leaving office in June 2009. Building Bright Futures has brought together some of Omaha's wealthiest residents in a public-private effort to shrink the achievement gap between low-income and middle-income students in Douglas and Sarpy Counties and between white children and their peers of color. John Cavanaugh, executive director of Building Bright Futures, said formal programming initiatives related to after-school time and mentoring will be announced by the effort next month. Fahey is heavily involved in determining what that will look like. Antoinette, 12, praised the program she attends at Morton Middle School in an essay. "It is a great way to have fun and learn at the same time," she wrote, winning a contest and a chance to read her essay at Tuesday's breakfast. She highlighted caring staff who tutor her, a light dinner, field trips, games, crafts and winning a gift certificate in a drawing for students who keep their grades up. Maison, 12, attends Monroe Middle School. Co-winner of the essay contest, he read to the crowd that friendly staff make him feel safe and secure after school. Different activities each day make the program interesting and he's made new friends, improved his self-esteem and "learned how to be even kinder." After reading his essay, Maison said he tries to go every day -- virtually cutting out television as a result. About 900 students were registered in September for one of the six OPS programs. Students typically attend a few days a week and close to 100 students are involved at each center daily. "Middle school students vote with their feet," said Ellen Gannett, director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley College. Big numbers and repeat participants means the programs are doing something right. "It's impressive," Gannett said of the area's work on after-school programming. "They have accelerated very quickly and have surpassed many major cities." The next steps in creating a community-wide system to serve all children would be to concentrate on the needs of high school students and filling summer break with meaningful learning, she said. Throughout Omaha, the mayor's office has identified 83 after-school program providers, at all grade levels, including parent-pay school, church or social service agency programs. Analysis of those programs showed middle school students are the most under-served, and more opportunities for that age group are needed. Fahey said measuring the effectiveness of the current programs over time will build the case for the middle school effort -- to Omaha contributors and national grantors. Because the program started only months ago, he said, it's too early to know how the program has affected school attendance, grades and discipline referrals.