Being a leader often means that you are the one that everyone sees as the organizer and planner of events. As we all know, it takes a team to pull off any large scale event or production. I remember when we used to do winter plays and each site would...
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Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Creating Connections and Opportunities
Ken Anthony
/ November 7, 2024
By now, mid-October afterschool programs are moving along at a good pace. Children and staff know established routines, relationships have been formed, and we are rapidly moving toward the holiday season. This is a time to bring together the community, create connections and opportunities beyond the program, and recognize the...
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Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Weaving Expectations into Program Improvement
Ken Anthony
/ October 21, 2024
When we hear the terms “high-quality”, “impactful programming”, “standards of excellence”, “continuous quality improvement” they often sound like a far-off place we would like our programs to get to. An aspiration, something that takes time, effort, buy-in, and money. In the day-to-day of programming, integrating intentional quality improvement efforts are...
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Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Celebrations, Recognition, and Connections
Ken Anthony
/ October 2, 2024
By now, most programming is moving along. There may be some bugs to iron out, schedules to adjust, and supplies to buy for the upcoming season. How are you orchestrating all of the parts of the program? Are there key staff that help make it happen? October is a time...
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OEC Changes Regulation for After School Programs
Marla Berrios
/ September 27, 2024
On Thursday, September 26th, Michelle Doucette Cunninham, Executive Director, spoke to one small part of the changes. Specifically, the Office of Early Childhood has changed the regulation for after school programs to allow 15 students to one teacher (instead of 10:1). Michelle spoke to the benefits this will provide families,...
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Keeping Current to Get Ahead: Prioritizing Your Own Learning from the Start
Ken Anthony
/ September 4, 2024
As the new school year starts we have an opportunity to rethink old habits, start new ones, explore interests, and become engaged in the field beyond your program. The Out-of-School Time field has grown and evolved over the past 24 years since the start of the Millenium. The field offers...
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Summer for All Comes to Connecticut
CTAfterSchoolNetwork
/ July 31, 2024
Summer is a time for outdoors, water fun, and laughing with friends. However for millions of children across the country, summer is a time of isolation and choices that may have negative consequences for years to come in their lives. While middle and high income peers are provided a multitude...
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NAA Releases Out-of-School Time (OST) Job Quality Standards
Marla Berrios
/ July 24, 2024
In an effort to elevate the out-of-school time (OST) profession and enhance the well-being of OST professionals nationwide, the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) has proudly unveiled the Out-of-School Time Job Quality Standards (JQS). Developed in collaboration with leading experts and stakeholders in the field, these standards represent a pivotal milestone...
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Ice Dye Color Theory
CTAfterSchoolNetwork
/ May 28, 2024
Back in February, Shawna shared a worksheet to help staff create activities based on their own interests, and as promised she’s back with her tie-dye inspired activity, Ice Dye Color Theory. Shawna found her love for tie-dye, especially using the ice dye technique, during the pandemic. We even hosted a...
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Teen Art Exhibition!
CTAfterSchoolNetwork
/ May 1, 2024
This month Shawna had the team help her demo a few Mizzen activities! They gathered to create a call for art for the fall conference using the Teens Curate Teens Collection. The collection is a series of 6 activities, empowering teens to curate their very own art exhibition. The activities...
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