"BRIGHT" Afterschool - University of Tennessee Extension Afterschool

Big Ridge Elementary School - UNION COUNTY

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“BRIGHT” Afterschool (Grades K-5)

The purpose of the BRIGHT Afterschool Program at Big Ridge Elementary School is to provide students a free-of-cost safe and enriching environment to support students’ academic growth, health, and developmental needs. BRIGHT, which stands for “Big Ridge Investing in Growth and Health through Teaching,” focuses on the enhancement of reading, writing, mathematics, science skills, social/emotional development, and leadership enhancement. The objective of this program is to help children perform better in school in addition to providing a safe place to be after school. Students get a healthy snack, and work with licensed teachers to complete schoolwork and enrichment projects. All of our teachers are highly qualified in the state of Tennessee for their subject area, so BRIGHT Afterschool students get the best possible assistance with their studies.

The program is funded through a partnership with the USDA’s Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant, the University of Tennessee Extension (Union County), and the University of Tennessee. The overall goal of the CYFAR grant is to provide funding to programs that equip students and families with the skills for leading positive, productive, and contributing lives. For the purpose of our program, we envision an afterschool that provides students with academic enrichment opportunities that reinforce and complement the regular academic program and provide supportive services to help students and their families thrive.

We encourage you to view the “See What’s Happening in Afterschool” tab for the latest updates, program highlights, and what you can expect your child to be involved in afterschool!

M-F 6:15 AM; 3:30 - 5:30 PM

This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Each day, we offer:

- - Homework help & tutoring
  - Enrichment Activities *see the “See What’s Going On” tab for more information.
  - Nutritious Snack
  - Physical Activity
  OBJECTIVES
  Research suggests that quality afterschool programs improve students’ academic performance, homework completion, regular school-day attendance and participation in class, and reduces behavioral disruptions. Our program is backed by the latest research in education, and it is guided by the following objectives:
  1. Safety and Structure – offer a safe environment with an organized daily routine.
  2. Academic Growth – deliver academic support and enrichment opportunities in many subject areas to enhance regular school-day achievement.
  3. Empower – include resiliency-building practices to promote social and emotional health.
  4. Family Engagement – enrich families in the areas of nutrition, financial health, emotional wellness, education, and more.
  5. Rigorous Assessment and Evaluation – track student growth in academics to guide future direction.
  6. Ongoing Professional Development – provide ongoing evidence-based training opportunities for staff.
  TRANSPORTATION AND STUDENT PICK-UP
  Bus service is not available. Parent pick-up begins at 5:30 PM. Parents/guardians or an authorized party (as indicated on registration sheet) must park in front of the building and come into school to sign the student out by means of a sign-out sheet. Children will not be allowed to wait for parents in the parking lot or sent to a waiting car.

ENROLLMENT

If you’d like to know more about the program, please contact Site Director, Kelly Irick, at 865-456-0520, or Alyshia Victoria at (865) 992-8038 or complete the interest form and turn it in to the front office at Big Ridge Elementary School or the Extension Office. We will contact you about the program.

Enrollment is revolving, meaning we take new students at any time during the school year, so long as we have room in the program. Please review the links below to learn more about the After school program. To enroll, fill out the enrollment registration form and return the form to the front office. Note that filling out a form and returning to the front office does not guarantee enrollment. You will be contacted by the site director to confirm enrollment.

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LEARNING & ENRICHMENT

After homework and tutoring, students in afterschool participate in exciting, hands-on enrichment activities that complement their regular daytime learning. This learning will be based on taking care of ones “whole self,’ including enriching the brain through math and reading, enriching health through nutrition and physical activity, enriching mindfulness and resilience through social/emotional activities, and enriching surroundings through strengthening family and community. Some enrichment highlights for this year include:

Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go- An outdoor gardening program that teaches nutrition and gardening through math, reading, and science activities. Students will plan and begin a community garden to share with their school and families.
Music – Music and reading will be the gateway into safe physical activity as students choose bring life to literature through dance and movement.
Adventures in the Kitchen- Students will first learn basic cooking skills, kitchen safety, and nutrition. Then, they will combine these skills with STEM thinking to participate in afterschool cooking competitions. What will your child dream up!

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Throughout the year, our program invites families to participate in activities with their students. Some highlights include:

Bright Night – An afternoon where students will share projects they have worked on with their families.
Fit Family Days – Students will invite their family to participate in low impact physical activity or relaxation techniques that they dream up such as story walks, to add some fun to your typical parent meeting.
Garden Get-Together – Students will encourage family to help build and tend raised bed gardens and take home fresh produce that is grown with kid-friendly recipes to encourage cooking as a family and introduce math and reading in the home.
Parents will also benefit from at least two parent-focused education sessions conducted by UT Extension Union County to provide you tools you can use and take home such as emergency preparedness kits.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit our Facebook page (coming soon!) for more information on upcoming events and highlights of the program.

SITE DIRECTOR
Kelly Irick
(865) 456-0520
[email protected]

SITE ADDRESS
Big Ridge Elementary School
3240 Hickory Valley Rd
Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-8687
http://www.ucps.org.schools.bz/3/Home

EXTENSION AGENT
Alyshia Victoria
Family & Consumer Sciences/4-H Extension Agent
UT Extension Union County
3925 Maynardville Hwy
Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-8038
[email protected]
https://union.tennessee.edu