Stanislaus Union School District T H R I V E Expanded Learning Programs

Stanislaus Union School District has operated the Transforming Habits, Respecting Individuality, Valuing Education (THRIVE) Expanded Learning Programs since August 2007.

THRIVE’s vision is to Engage, Enrich, Empower.

Through strong relationships with families, schools and communities it is the mission of Stanislaus Union THRIVE Expanded Learning Programs to ENGAGE students in healthy behaviors, to ENRICH them in academic opportunities and to EMPOWER them to become leaders in their communities.

The Stanislaus Union School District offers Expanded Learning Programs at each school site in the district. Our goal is to provide a safe environment that promotes academic enrichment and student and family involvement in our schools and community. We strive to offer a wide variety of academic and enrichment programs and opportunities to increase student success. We promote drug free atmospheres and choices for a healthy life. All programs operate Monday through Friday on school days and are open from school dismissal to 6:00pm.

FUNDING
Agnes Baptist Elementary, Chrysler Elementary, and Eisenhut Elementary are funded by the After School Education and Safety (ASES) grant. ASES is a state funded grant under Proposition 49 and is ongoing unless changes are made with voter approval. Grant funding is restricted funding and must be used to provide direct services to students during after school hours.

In addition to the ASES funding, these programs also operate on parent fees once they are enrolled at maximum capacity. The purpose of the fee program is to integrate additional students without causing deficit spending.

Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary, Stanislaus Union Elementary and Prescott Junior High are funded by parent fees only. These schools do not receive funding for after school programs and because of this parents must pay for expanded learning services.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Many of our programs are operating at or above full capacity and we are striving to provide services to as many students as possible. Our application process begins with the completion of a one page Interest for Registration form which is available for download in both English and Spanish or for pick up in any school or district office. Once we receive your form you will be contacted regarding enrollment options.

STAFFING
Site Leads and the District Coordinator are employed through the Stanislaus Union School District (SUSD). THRIVE partners with the Stanislaus County Police Activities League (SCPAL) to lead the recruiting and hiring processes of THRIVE Program Leaders. Program Leaders are supervised by both SCPAL and SUSD Site Leads and District Coordinator. Site Leads are supervised by the District Coordinator and School Site Administrators.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Each expanded learning program has unique operations specific to its school site; however, there are basic program components that remain consistent. THRIVE utilizes school classrooms, libraries, media centers, computer labs and other spaces to host our expanded learning activities.

ROUND UP
The program begins with Round Up, a deliberate transition from the classroom to the expanded day program which allows students to reconnect within their expanded learning day community. In Round Up, Program Leaders and students sit in a circle to take attendance and discuss a youth-directed question of the day. By beginning our time together with students’ voices, we set a tone of student leadership and initiative; establishing a set of norms to support the development and safeguarding of an inclusive, respectful community.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Immediately following Round Up, all THRIVE youth participate in a minimum of 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, a break for children who have been working all day and need to engage their whole bodies in healthy learning. Physical activity is a mandatory program component of expanded learning state and federal funding.

Our mission is to include and actively engage all of our youth in physical activity that is developmentally appropriate, models participation and personal contribution to the group. We utilize two national models for sports-based youth development, United States Soccer Foundation Soccer for Success and United States Tennis Association H.I.T.S. Soccer for Success is a national after school, youth development program that uses soccer, along with mentorship and nutrition education, as a way to engage kids in their health and reduce childhood obesity. The United States Tennis Association H.I.T.S. (Honesty, Inspiration, Teamwork, & Sportsmanship) program focuses on teaching life lessons, core values, and rules of the sport to young people. Through evidence-based curriculum these programs help children embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth through trained coach-mentors. Each of these programs fosters an environment where all youth are included and have an opportunity to participate at any skill level.

In addition to this dedicated time, physical activity is layered throughout the THRIVE day with Brain Breaks, Exercise of the Day, and Walk Across America. Our Passport program provides an additional opportunity for students to explore physical activities around the world. Passport introduces students to an array of cultural dances, sports, and games, specific to their region of study.

SNACK
Following physical activity, a light afternoon snack is provided daily to every student. Upon availability, fruit and/or vegetable infused water is provided to our students throughout the expanded learning day.

HOMEWORK & ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Following snack time, all THRIVE youth participate in 45 to 60 minutes of homework and academic support daily. Program Leaders facilitate homework and academic support in a quiet, safe and welcoming environment. Computers are accessible and utilized frequently at most sites.

PASSPORT
Passport is our primary youth-led academic programming campaign for learning about the world beyond our doors. In Passport, youth learn with all of their senses – virtually flying to new countries across the globe throughout the year, learning how to say hello in the local dialect, preparing traditional foods, learning about the local economy, choreographing a traditional dance, and designing customary clothing.

Each month students “travel” to a pre-determined continent and select two regions to explore. Youth lead the exploration of their selected destinations, focusing their first week on culture. Youth immerse themselves in the music, art, language and food of their destination. The following week students focus on the STEM specific to their destination, including local careers, famous inventions, geography, architecture. Students and staff engage in active, inquiry-based learning together, raising student awareness of different regions of the globe, and promoting thought-provoking discussion and collaborative interaction.

ACHIEVEMENTS
In 2015 SUSD partnered with the Center for Collaborative Solutions through a grant with Kaiser Permanente to implement the Healthy Behaviors Initiative (HBI). Using community data and feedback from families and students, SUSD recognized a need to provide youth with opportunities to make healthy choices and behaviors. The focus of the year long process was to build one Healthy Behaviors Certified Learning Center that implemented HBI practices to increase healthy eating, physical activity and food security for their students at an exemplary level. Out of 4,400 publically funded expanded learning programs in California, the THRIVE Expanded Learning Program at Eisenhut Elementary became the 34th out of 37 certified learning centers in May 2016.

The HBI process became the vehicle to a complete program transformation based on a whole child and family approach. THRIVE leaders have built a culture of health and wellness at our expanded learning sites, infusing key components of a healthy lifestyle into daily practice, including physical activity, nutrition education and nutrition services.

We are also home to the only two Distinguished After School Health (DASH) certified elementary schools in the county, as recognized by the California Department of Education for recognition of exemplary practices in health education, nutrition and activity standards.