4-H After-School Program Helps Students Succeed
Like others in her profession, elementary school principal Jeanna Hernandez deals with many daily challenges.
But at Wichita’s Park Elementary, Hernandez has an ally: the 4-H Youth Development after-school program is helping her students succeed.
The school’s program, which includes 50 children before or after school, is funded by the Kansas Department of Education and supported by K-State Research and Extension. At Park
Elementary, 4-H lessons are used to help inner city schoolchildren enjoy learning.
But that’s just one snapshot of these programs across Kansas.
According to Elaine Johannes, a member of the Kansas State 4-H After- School Team, 4-H after-school programs are available in 95 Kansas counties. State 4-H officials estimate that nearly 2,000 youth participated in these programs in 2004.
The children at Park Elementary have joined the Park Panther Pride 4-H Club and learn academic and life skills to succeed, said Beth Drescher, a K-State Research and Extension 4-H agent in Sedgwick County.
According to Hernandez, Park Elementary was looking for a way
to provide tutoring using discovery learning, which supports state and district standards. The 4-H after-school program reinforces the standards and provides outreach and extension in a positive group setting to the students who need it.
"It’s a win-win situation," Hernandez said. "It will get kids hooked on something that they’re interested in and will keep them connected to the school so they can learn."
Hernandez said the educational value of the program is one of the best aspects of the program. She said students look at the program as a privilege, rather than being punished.
"It becomes the student’s idea," Hernandez said. "They want to stay after school to participate in the activities. They don’t think of it as tutoring."
The program also pairs the school and community. Hernandez said she supports the program, but the ideas and curriculum come from the state’s 4-H program.
"It’s awesome to see the community and school partner for the good of the students," she said.
Drescher agrees, saying that the school and the 4-H program work hand-in-hand. Other programs, such as a 4-H summer day camp, also allow the school and the community to come together for the good of kids.
"The students are gaining skills not only to succeed in school, but also in life," Drescher said. "The best part is, they’re having fun while doing it."
Beth Drescher
316-722-7721, X112
drescher@k-state.edu100 Years and Growing
Kansas 4-H is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The first 4-H clubs were started as boys’ and girls’ clubs in 1905 and chartered in 1906. Though developed to serve rural youth, Kansas 4-H annually serves 160,000 urban and rural youth through clubs, school enrichment, and after-school and camping programs. Current 4-H families, 4-H alumni, and friends started the year-long centennial celebration at the 2005 Kansas State Fair with a parade, contests, dedication of the redesigned 4-H building, and a feature progam on "The Prairie Home Companion."
Pat McNally
785-532-5800
pmcnally@k-state.edu
Stepping Up: Youth Become Environmental Stewards
Students participating in the Earth Awareness Researchers for Tomorrow's Habitat (E.A.R.T.H) are learning skills they can apply to real-life situations in their community and are becoming better stewards of their environment. Evaluations indicated that students who participated had a stronger commitment to school and greater academic success than those who did not. www.earthkansas.org
Tonya Bronleewe
316-722-7721 X229
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A donated, used school bus has been outfitted with eight computer stations and a server. Even before it was on display at the Kansas State Fair, more thatn 1,600 people had used the mobile lab. Some are learning basic computer skills. Others can upgrade skills by learning more advanced programs such as global positioning and information systems.
Walter Barker
785-462-6281
4-H Centennial Profiles
Kansas 4-H youth development programs have influenced thousands of Kansans during the last 100 years. To read the stories of some of those 4-H'ers, go to www.Kansas4-H.org and click on "Centennial Profiles."