Brandywine Heights Education Foundation

WHY CLUB - MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: THE WHY CLUB AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM SERVICES CHILDREN THAT ATTEND BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL (GRADES 6-8) AND ENCOMPASSES ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORTS SURROUNDING THE THEMES OF SERVICE, MINDFULNESS, WELLNESS, PHYSICAL & MENTAL FITNESS, AND CHARACTER & CAREER EDUCATION. THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOUTH WILL ENGAGE IN WHILE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DAY HOURS WILL PROVIDE A SAFE AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ALLOW STUDENTS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS TIED TO THE THEMES OF THE WHY CLUB. THERE ARE 33 STUDENTS WHO REGISTERED FOR THE PROGRAM. THE WHY CLUB IS AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL INCLUDING PROGRAMS SUCH AS A STEM LEGO PROGRAM, COOKING UNIT EACH WEEK FOCUSING ON HEALTHY CHOICES AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PA DREAM TEAM PROGRAM TO TALK TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT STEM CAREER STORIES. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STEM AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CLASSES AND CLUBS ATTEND THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AS MENTORS TO HELP FACILITATE STEM PROJECTS AND FOSTER CREATIVITY FOR STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 16-18 STUDENTS ATTENDED THIS PROGRAM DAILY DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR CAMPSPARK! SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM: THE BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTINUES TO EVALUATE WAYS TO HELP BEST SUPPORT OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING. EACH SUMMER, DUE TO THE BREAK IN TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A "SUMMER SLIDE" WHERE SOME ACADEMIC PROGRESS IS LOST. TO HELP PREVENT THIS SLIDE AND PROVIDE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, CAMPSPARK! WAS CREATED. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, TARGETED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY. THIS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING WILL ALLOW FOR REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE MAIN CURRICULAR FOCUS WILL BE ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS. BEYOND THE ACADEMICS, OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES WILL BE PROVIDED DURING WHOLE GROUP AND THEMATIC ACTIVITY SESSIONS. WE HAD AN AVERAGE OF 65 STUDENTS PER DAY DURING THE CAMP WEEK OF THE 2024 SUMMER WITH ALMOST 100 STUDENTS REGISTERED. SCHOLARSHIP: AWARDED A GRADUATING 2024 SENIOR A $1,500 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. WE HAD 16 APPLICANTS AND THE ESSAY QUESTION WAS - HOW HAS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY? HOW COULD AN EDUCATION FOUNDATION ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF FUTURE STUDENTS? ALSO, WE AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE NAME OF JEAN ORLANDO WITH FUNDS DONATED DIRECTLY BY HER. JEAN IS A RETIRED BRANDYWINE EDUCATOR. THE 4-YEAR $1,500 ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP WAS AWARDED TO A GRADUATING 2024 SENIOR PURSUING A CAREER IN EDUCATION, WITH PAYMENT TO THE RECIPIENT MADE AFTER YEAR END IN AUGUST 2024. WE HAD 3 APPLICANTS. TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS CURRICULUM: THE TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS CURRICULUM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2015 FOR EVERY CLASS IN GRADES K-5 AND ITS POSITIVE IMPACTS CONTINUE EACH YEAR THROUGH THE FUNDING BY THE BHEF. THIS PROGRAM REACHES APPROXIMATELY 500 ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL STUDENTS.