By Sarah Hebert, National Afterschool Association Next Generation 2017 Award Winner
I moved to Waltham in the spring of 2014 from Southbridge, MA and joined the Waltham Boys and Girls Club in the summer through my position as a One on One for the Greater Waltham Arc. After one day of training with the Boys and Girls Club, I was approached to join the team as a camp counselor and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of such a great program!
In the fall, I came back and joined the Afterschool program as a Group Leader while I worked to finish my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During my time as Group leader I created and ran a brand new literacy based curriculum geared towards 9-12 year olds called “Literacy Leaders.” I channeled my passion for Creative Writing into our Education Block by teaching our children: Acrostic Poetry, Haikus, Sonnets, Blackout Poetry, Journalism, and free verse.
My time working with the local youth inspired me to participate in a Social Justice Residency, through Umass Amherst, and learn how to better serve and advocate for the youth in our community by thinking globally and acting locally.
I graduated, Cum Laude, in May 2015 with a degree in Writing & Literary Studies, a minor in Sociology, and a letter of specialization in Social Welfare. I also welcomed the birth of my first daughter just days after graduation. I came back to work, part time, in the fall of 2015 assisting the Afterschool Director by creating curriculum while I balanced working from home and caring for my daughter.
During this tumultuous time in society, I felt the need to design a new program that would help our younger children embrace their identities and feel connected to the world around them. I designed a new educational program entitled “Global Culture” in which we learned about a new country/community each week in order to better our understanding of the differences and similarities that serve unite us rather than divide. Our children received a stamp in their “passports” and were able to sample music, dance, and cuisine from a variety of cultures. At the end of the year we invited parents to participate in a “Global Culture” party celebrating the diverse heritages of the children and families in our own community.
In the summer I served as Camp Director and Literacy Champion of the 5 & 6 year old camp. We worked in conjunction with the United Way of Merrimack Valley and BostNet’s: Summer Learning Collaborative, the goal of which is to infuse literacy into summer programs with the goal of reducing the summer learning loss that our low-income, and at risk, youth face. Though this was our club’s first year in the program; My staff and I threw ourselves into creating a strong literary based curriculum including: Imagination Vacation, African American Culture block, a Yoga/Mindfulness program, Active Literacy, Puppet Theater, Rocket Readers, STEM programming, Healthy Cooking, weekly Scavenger Hunts, Nature Connection, and a visiting reading series with local community involvement.
This fall I officially started my role as the Afterschool Program Director and hit the ground running by implementing a club wide support of “World Day of Bullying Prevention,” on October 3rd, with activities promoting kindness, leadership, and compassion.
I am a firm believer that one moment of connection makes all the difference in the world. If one of my children needs to build LEGOS on my office floor in order to turn their day into a positive then so be it. It is so important to remember that each child has their own coping mechanisms, triggers, likes, and dislikes. I try my best to take that into consideration each day when I walk through the door. What works best for one child might be detrimental to another. Taking the time to know your children and speak to them one on one not only brightens their day but helps me to run a successful program. There will never be a perfect day, but there will be moments that are so close to perfect that they become a part of a child’s memories and a part of you.
To learn more about the National Afterschool Association (NAA) visit naaweb.org. S&S proudly supports their mission and dedication to the afterschool community.
