The Amazing Afternoons Program

Some people in Scarsdale may think that poverty doesn’t exist close to home. However, a 20 minute drive will take you to the Edward Williams Elementary School (EWES) in Mount Vernon, which is currently struggling to maintain an essential after-school program for many students in need.

An Amazingly Perfect Program

 

“[The Amazing Afternoons Program] started in 2000 and used federal funds that were given to the state. The criterion for the program was that it needed to be in an area where children were at risk of academic failure. Edward Williams was designated as the host site because it was the lowest performing school in Mount Vernon at the time,” said Director of the Amazing Afternoons Program, Mary Figueroa. According to the brochure describing the program, its main goals are to “build relationships, understanding, and citizenship among our children. The mission is based on the belief that every child deserves a rich and varied [education] that offers a safe and nurturing social environment.” Such an environment provides a great deal of stability and consistency to the kids, many of whom are “in foster care… in single parent families… [or] just living with relativesand their parents are out of state,” explained Figueroa.

The service provides 135 students in grades 1-6 with various activities to supplement their education. “The types of recreational activities we have are gym classes, which consist of basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and field hockey…. Every four to six weeks an artist also comes in to do an art media form such as painting, dancing, mixed media, [or] literary art,” said Figueroa. EWES sixth grader Daniella Torres enjoys the wide variety of opportunities that the program offers. “I’ve been in the program since second grade. It’s really fun because on Fridays I do Judo, which is a type of karate, and I have a lot of fun because I also get to meet other people,” she said.

 

One strength of the program comes around the holiday season when Hiller Civ Ed donates Christmas gifts to the school. “This Christmas was particularly successful because of all the high school donations. The children were just elated and they had so much fun!” Figueroa said. “To be very honest, many of these gifts from the after school program would be the only gifts that they would receive this Christmas and they loved them…thank you to all the students who brought in all the gifts and to Dean Hiller, who organized everything, and I am just so grateful,” she continued.

 

Good Tutors, Better Friends

 

Furthermore, a tutoring program, in which many SHS students participate, (many of whom are members of the Edward Williams Elementary School club), provides EWES students with homework help as well as the opportunity to form lasting relationships with their Scarsdale mentors. “The volunteers become really close to the kids they tutor because [they] work with the same kids week after week and year after year,” said club officer Lauren Farfel ’13. However, the relationship goes far beyond math equations, science labs, and English essays. “It’s like we’re friends and it’s not just tutoring. Even with the second graders that I may help with homework, we talk about life and what we like to do. Yes, I’m there to help them with their homework, but I’m also there as a friend,” said club president Graham Winston ’12.

Many EWES club members find their time with the students at the school to be a worthwhile experience for both themselves and the kids. “For me, I just feel so rewarded when I help them, and I love to be around them,” said Connor Wolfe ’14. “It’s easy to establish a relationship with them…. They really appreciate having a tutor so they end up really liking you,” added Chloe Soares ’14.

 

All Good Things Come to An End?

 

Despite its importance and effectiveness in the Mount Vernon community, the Amazing Afternoons program faces the possibility of discontinuation. “This year I see as being the last year of the program. The problem is that there was a $5.3 million cut from the state budget and we were petitioning up in Albany to have the governor put that money back into the budget, but unfortunately it was not and only $550,000 was put back into the budget,” explained Figueroa. Although the cost of continuing the program is currently unclear, “We are going to have several meetings to get a ballpark figure and presently I am looking for at least $100,000,” she said. [Ed. Note: based on the cuts to funding, $200,000 is needed to fund the program for the 2011-2012 school year]

Many of the SHS students who tutor at EWES agree that shutting down the program could have detrimental effects. “I think that [the program closing] would be really bad because a lot of the kids don’t have that great of a focus because they’re really young. This club helps them finish their homework.… It has a pretty big impact on the school,” said a freshman club member. In addition to losing necessary one-on-one tutoring, many students would be left with fewer options after school. “It’s not like [Scarsdale] where a babysitter may pick up a second grader who hangs out at home under supervision. These kids have nowhere to go…. They would have to walk home to an empty house because they have no other way of getting home. I don’t know what they would do,” said Winston.

In order to save the program and ensure that the Edward Williams students are able to continue to enjoy this rich and diverse program, SHS students can “join the high school club, and there will be updates on what you can do and fundraisers,” explained Winston. Figueroa also had some suggestions for Scarsdale students who wish to support the program. “If the students know of any corporate organizations that give donations or matching grants that would help to [give] us money to continue the program next year. If anyone knows or has specific ideas for fundraising, that would be very helpful,” she said.

Despite the uncertainty of the Amazing Afternoons Program’s future, it is clear that SHS has had a significant impact thus far. “This is the only program in the area that has this specific model with this many students coming in from Scarsdale to work with these students, and many high schools students that went through this program are returning to do their community service and they have great memories. I want to thank all the high school students for their continued support,” Figueroa concluded. □

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