by Jen Meyers

LOWELL – The Morey Elementary School and the Robinson Middle School have  been awarded $431,010 in grant funding for after-school programming by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

These funds, which provide $71,835 annually to each of the two schools for the next three years, will allow them to continue offering after-school programming through the federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant program.

“Our families care deeply about their children and about their education; many of them are new immigrants, work multiple jobs, and are happy that their children can take part in our 21st Century programming,” said Morey School Principal Dr. Kate McLaughlin. “They have told me how much they appreciate that their children have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities they couldn’t otherwise afford, like martial arts, tennis, and coding, and that their children are engaging their minds instead of being on a screen at home. Every day I see what the program does for my students’ self-confidence and how they are inspired to become scientists or play a varsity sport in high school.”

This past spring, the Morey and the Robinson, who were both in the final year of their 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Grants, were selected by DESE as Exemplary sites following a comprehensive review process. This opened the door for them to apply for continued grant funding because they demonstrated an ability to continue high quality programming and serve as mentors to other CCLC programs across the state.

“The Exemplary Grant Review process is truly a collaborative effort between the Special Programs Office and the schools,” said Lowell Public Schools Coordinator of Special Programs Dr. Rebecca Duda. “The Morey and Robinson should both be applauded for their outstanding commitment to offering high-quality after-school programming for their students.”

This critical funding helps students build stronger connections to their schools by helping them make new friends and build relationships with teachers and staff.  Additionally, students learn skills through a variety of hands-on, engaging activities in a wide range of areas such as robotics, art, dance, physical education, and cooking.  Over the next three years, the schools will be able to continue offering and expanding learning opportunities for students with community partners such as UMass Lowell, Girls on the Run, Mass Audubon Society, Mill City Grows, and the Tsongas Industrial History Center.

“I would like to stress that the most significant impact the 21^st Century Program provides at the Robinson is improved school climate and culture, due to the engagement of the community–students, staff, community organizations–in the activities of the program,” said Robinson Middle School Principal Bridget Dowling. “Academics improve due to increased support for all students, skill specialization, and development from sports to arts to leadership and teamwork, and time on learning.”