The CROP (Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership) Afterschool Program, operating in 14 local school districts, will participate in the Lights On Afterschool event Oct. 26. The event will be one of thousands across America as part of Lights On Afterschool, the annual nationwide rally for afterschool programs organized by the Afterschool Alliance.
This year, Lights On Afterschool will highlight the vital work that afterschool programs do to support student’s well-being and academic growth and provide opportunities that help them realize their full potential.
The CROP Program began in our area in 2000 with a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The current grant cycle now serves over 1,000 students at 14 sites. The program is a collaboration among the school districts, NYSED, and local partners. The CROP Program is free to families and operates afterschool during the academic year and during the summer.
Lights on Afterschool will spotlight the range of programming available at the CROP Program, including its partnership with local organizations such as The Roxbury Arts Group, Hanford Mills Museum and Cornell Cooperative Extensions. These partner visits provide quality programming that focuses on the arts/creativity, healthy eating/cooking with families and STEM-related activities/historical games. Academic support, physical fitness, enrichment, and service learning opportunities are provided daily in the after school setting. CROP aligns with school day curricula and collaborates regularly with school day teachers to provide the most effective academic support for students after school.
CROP sites, such as Worcester Central School, will host a “glow party” where students and families learn what advantages afterschool programming provides and who benefits from the CROP program. Each student will create a unique T-shirt to wear to the glow party. Roxbury Central School is hosting a similar event. Andes Central School is hosting a “light bulb challenge,” where students will distribute plastic light bulbs filled with yellow candy to highlight the need for additional recognition for afterschool programs as they support students while facing funding and staffing challenges. These events will “shine a light” on the need for afterschool opportunities and discuss the benefits of afterschool programs, including inspiring children to learn, keeping them safe in the hours out of school, and giving working parents peace of mind that their children are safe and supervised after the school day ends.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information about Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
For more information about the CROP Afterschool Program, visit sites.google.com/roxburycsd.org/crop-after-school
