Irish Elementary gets five-year federal grant

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

The week of Sept. 20, the halls of Irish Elementary didn't quiet down after school let out. In fact, the school was a beehive of activity, as the 21st Century grant program for school enrichment got under way.

Irish was the only school in Poudre School District, and one of only 34 schools in the state, to receive funding for a 21st Century Community Learning Center. The five-year grant is for a total of $599,369, or about $120,000 per year.

The program has four main thrusts: after-school classes Monday through Thursday called "Club 3:05," a Tuesday morning enrichment program, summer school geared to Irish students' needs and parent activities that include literacy classes.

In just its first week of operation, the program drew 270 students to the Tuesday morning classes and 200 to the after-school activities. Irish has a population of about 400 students. Suzanne Miller, project coordinator, said she is very proud that the school staff could get the program up and running just three weeks after school started, and she is sure it will grow.

The enrichment activities are "a tremendous collaboration between BASE Camp, the Boys & Girls Club and Irish to benefit the students of Irish Elementary," Miller said. Noting the terrific student response, she put out a call for volunteers from the community to help run the enrichment classes. Classes are not just academic, she said, and can include skills such as cooking, knitting and woodworking. Classes change every six weeks.

Current after-school activities include Art in the Sky, aerobics, tae kwon-do, global positioning, board games and several sports. Homework help is an ongoing part of the program.

Parent activities, which could include literacy classes, GED classes and citizenship classes, will begin in a few months. "We're trying to make Irish the hub," Miller said. "Children see their parents coming to Irish to learn, and it sends a message that learning is a valuable thing."

A key aspect of the 21st Century program at Irish is transportation. After-school activities last until 4:30, and buses then transport the children to their home neighborhoods. Transportation is also provided to the nearby Boys & Girls Club so that youngsters can take advantage of activities there.

Irish principal Brenda Gifford said a primary goal for the program is to provide academic enrichment activities, so the school can meet district academic goals as well as the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals prescribed by the No Child Left Behind Act. A further goal is to strengthen families' abilities to help their children succeed in school.

To volunteer for the 21st Century program at Irish, call Miller at 566-2255.