Fast Times at Real World High

1. Fast Times at Real World High New Learnings about High School After-School Programs

2. Vision of the High School Program • Start off by saying what the program Must NOT look like: • Not a top-down program dictated by NCLB • Not a “gadget” program (Middle School) • Not a program focused on “The Test” • Not a program focused on Weaknesses or Deficits • Not a program driven by staff • Not intended to be a Model Program – Unrealistic and Unfair • “If you’ve seen one high school program…”

3. So, What would the program look like? • Interest-Driven • Have a ground-up approach – a partnership between students, faculty and parents. • Hybrid of traditions and new ways of thinking • Talent and Strength focused • Program that would provide a service – “Find a need, fill the need” • Program that would have many parts – Share the different components of the program, not the program as a whole

4. Think R.I.C.E!! • Relevant • Interesting (For how long?) • Challenging, Competitive and Creative • Engaging – Are students actually doing something?

5. The Divine of High School Programs • The program’s cool, when it’s Part of the School • More interested Groups, but less troops • It would be great, if the teachers just Facilitate • Go the Lengths to make public our Strengths • “Trust us-- to go and learn Off Campus” • Some will come, when Serviceneeds to be done • It’s totally fine, if students stay for a Limited Time • “Treat us NOT as a cult, but as Start-Up Adults” • The program’s a hit, when students get Immediate Benefits

6. Being a Part of the School • Invaluable to have a FT staff member working in the school – PT is nice as well • After School Staff working in the school, not the other way around • AS Staff should have Key Responsibilities in the school - Part of the Principal’s Cabinet • Seamless

7. Social Groups • HS students have more specialized interests thus creating more groups • Opposite of Middle School Programs • More committed and less fickle – stick it out • Easier for HS students to recruit friends and acquaintances • Critical mass is about 8-12 students

8. Student Driven, Staff Facilitated • Upper grades want more control • Students are very capable and responsible • Students are very willing to take on suggestions from advisors or adults • Students will seek help often • Students have the capacity to rally adults, volunteers and experts

9. Strength-Based Program • Disciples of Asset Development • Students want to develop their talents • They also want to showcase it • “How far can I go with my passion and talents?”

10. Getting Students Off-Campus • Mobile • Mature (if just in age) • Community = Classroom • Desire for exploration • Research (or new found freedom) • Adults still needed to be responsible and informed – cell phones

11. Leadership and Service • Our kids are not the future… • Amazing commitment to be the solution or to find it • Looking for a venue to demonstrate their leadership • Looking for just one adult to validate their passion • Benefits them on many different levels

12. Limited Time in the Program • “One, fun and done” – We have to be OK with that • For many, it is only a finite amount of time • It is less about “seat time” and more about service and need – the “Club” Mentality • Volume is created by cycling more students through the program

13. Start-Up Adults • Term created by Mel Levine • HS students want to know what it’s like to be a part of the adult club • Important to experience small successes • More important to handle challenges and failures • After-school is a safe venue • Does not hurt your grade • Reward/risk benefit is favorable because it’s after-school

14. Immediate Benefits • Warning! Must Balance Short-Term Views with Long Term Outlooks • ABC’s – Adult Benefit/Compensation • Fun and experiences are important, but not enough • College • Graduation • Job/Trade • Status

15. Internship Program Support (school) Sports Service Learning with Civic Engagement Cultural Clubs Dances Fundraising – LAN Parties (school) Media News (School) Jobs Work-out Clubs Test prep courses Battle of the Bands Camping Trips Self-Defense Gay/Straight Alliance (school) Tutoring Youth Program Cabinet What Have We Created?

16. Unique Program Strategies… • Students create, market, recruit and hire for the activity • Students create the budget and timeline • Students are formally trained to present and to submit proposals

17. Program Evolution Compartmentalized Program • Academic/College • Physical/Sports • Career • Leadership/Civic Engagement • Interest/Gap/Events After-School Staff and Teaching Faculty would be responsible for these strands

18. The Truth • Program Evolution required our after-school staff to become after school BROKERS • Volume of Interest Groups forced the program to rely on the maturity of the students and willingness of volunteers • Program Activities were perceived to have more value if you Charged a Nominal Fee (no child would ever be turned away) • Higher expectations from our partners – Bigger and Better

19. Our Suggestions to you… • Do not look at my experience as a whole • Focus on what you don’t want your program to look like • Identify your needs and interests of your participants and look to fill them • Cross-walk these interest back to your compliance requirements - PBL • Look at practices and components of different programs – this is your Lightning Rod • There are no Model Programs and no prescribed rules • Understand that your participants can truly be your most essential resource