The After School Program started in November 2004 with eighteen children from
grades 1 to 3. The program was created as an educational emphasis of Kids Alley.
Many of the children desperately need academic assistance outside of the classroom,
specifically in the areas of language arts and math. We currently have over forty students,
K through 8th grade, enrolled in the program.
Homework Lab
Tutoring provided by Certified Teachers
Technology
Arts and Crafts
Physical and Nutritional Enrichment Activities
Educational Fun-filled Hands-on Learning Activities
Creative Arts
Bible/Devotions
Many of our students come from Spanish speaking homes where it is almost
impossible for their parents to help them complete their homework. For this
reason, we
make homework assistance the number one priority. Each day the children receive
30-45 minutes of homework time. Additionally, the children get to participate
in a variety of fun and creative learning activities. The leaders and volunteers
at the Learning Center have witnessed God’s work in helping the children
progress academically since the program began. For example, throughout the
school year quite a few of the children are on the honor roll for the first
time. Other students have adopted the healthy habit of reading and now enjoy
reading. In the 2008-2009 school year, 100% of the children attending the after-school
program showed improvement in reading, math, and verbal skills. Parents are also willing
participants of the program by bringing in juice and snacks and helping to
clean the facilities.
We are thankful that God can use the Learning Center to empower the children
as well as bring encouragement to their parents and siblings. It costs One Accord $150 a month for one student to attend the program. This
provides homework assistance, tutoring, art,
Bible, and music lessons each month, not to mention the love, attention, and
affirmation each child receives every day he or she attends the program. Please
consider helping to sponsor one of our children. One of our goals for the Kids
Alley Learning Center is to have one-on-one homework and tutoring assistance
for each child. This can only be done with volunteer help. We want to thank
our current volunteers for their faithful commitment to the children.
As mentioned in the Fall 2009 newsletter and on the website recently, the partnership of One Accord Inc. and Golden Gate was the recipient of the NJ 21st Century Learning Center Program. This is a specific academic support program for 4th to 6th graders only. Due to the nature of the program, KALC had to move to a state certified facility. That is why we have been in Mantua since September. However, as the program progressed, the board and staff have found the requirements to be incompatible to the mission of One Accord Inc. and not beneficial to the spiritual growth of our children. After much prayer and consideration the decision was made to relinquish the 21st Century LC Program and reestablish KALC in Camden so as to continue with the plans that God has given to us in reaching the children of Camden.
