Students finish up a granola bar snack as they put down their backpacks and begin to gather around a table in one portion of the gym at College Place Elementary. They will start working on an art project, while in another corner of the room, a different group of students crack open their books and begin reading. Sixth-graders are helping the younger students begin the art project, while staff members from the Edmonds Boys &Girls Club check in with specific students.
Such is a common sight on any given day at Club 3. Club 3 is a free, after-school program for students at College Place Elementary funded by a grant from The McNaughton Foundation, which was founded by Marna and Mark McNaughton of Edmonds. The program is close to wrapping up its first full year and serves 60 students. Thanks to continued funding of approximately $60,000, Club 3 will continue in the 2008-09 school year.
Student Eliane Rodrigues is a sixth-grader and is therefore considered a junior staff member, assisting with younger students. “I like hanging out with friends, making new friends, doing art projects and the time we get to work on homework,” she said.
This program is built to engage kids in a positive way and provide support to parents who often work long hours, said Steve Hearn, a College Place teacher who coordinates the program with fellow teacher Katy O’Leary.
“I’ve been fortunate to see firsthand the social and emotional benefits this has for students and the stability it has provided their families,” Hearn said. Other teachers have told Hearn about the impact they see the program has on the participating students, especially how engaged the students have become with their class work.
“It’s tremendous to step back and see what a difference this makes for the kids,” Marna McNaughton said. “When charitable organizations donate to support programs like Club 3, the support doesn’t stop when students leave the program — it affects our entire community. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. Our wish is to influence other businesses and organizations to join us in giving back to our kids.”
The McNaughton Foundation funded the 2007-08 pilot program in partnership with the Edmonds School District and the Edmonds Boys &Girls Club. Boys &Girls Club staff greet students at the door minutes after the school day ends at 3 p.m., and students fill the three hours of the program with recreational activities, structured homework time and tutoring.
“These are difficult times, economically, for many families, and we greatly appreciate the support of the community and The McNaughton Foundation,” said Sue Venable, an assistant superintendent for the Edmonds School District who helped develop the partnership that resulted in this program. “The partnership we’ve created with the business community and the Boys &Girls Club is extremely valuable.”
The staff of the Boys &Girls Club checks in with students who are absent to ensure that all 60 spots are full and the maximum number of students are benefiting, said Bill Tsoukalas, Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County Executive Director.
“This year, we had a waiting list of students who wanted to participate,” Tsoukalas said. “We hope there are other donors who could follow the example of The McNaughton Foundation so that we could expand the program to serve them all. We also know there are additional needs at other schools, and we’d love to be able to replicate this program and support more children.”
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