PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SNBC's Youth Programs at West Sunset Rec Connect

SNBC runs a number of different programs for elementary and middle school-age children at West Sunset Rec Connect (WSRC), a recreation clubhouse located by the West Sunset Playground and the Ortega Branch Library. Led by Program Coordinator Mandy McGowen, West Sunset Rec Connect offers afterschool and evening enrichment classes for youth. Classes include Hip Hop Dance, Steel Pan Drumming, Mini Meals, and Sunset Green.

Part of what makes West Sunset Rec Connect run so smoothly is its high school intern program. Students apply for the summer internship program by submitting an application and getting a teacher recommendation. This summer, WSRC has 9 interns, who support program instructors in daily activities with the kids, prepare snacks, maintain the WSRC garden, and help keep the center clean. 

All the WSRC interns have been working really hard this summer - for free! A dedicated, helpful group, they keep the WSRC summer programs run smoothly and help create awesome memories for all the kids who attend. As a thank you for all their hard work, interns will receive community service hours and letters of recommendation - not to mention a lot of fun! Thank you, interns!

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SNBC's Afterschool Program at Ulloa Elementary School

SNBC's afterschool program at Ulloa Elementary School runs every school day from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. SNBC's program serves 185 2nd-5th grade students each day and is led by Program Coordinator Kyle Giocomo and his staff of 16.

What's a typical day at Ulloa like? The afternoon is broken into two basic periods: Homework Time and Community Time, with a snack break (yum!) and a short recess (fun!). During Homework Time, students have a quiet space to work and receive homework help from their program leader, while during Community Time, students participate in structured activities that focus on academic achievement in literacy, math, art, science, language, and culture. Once a week, Community Time is devoted to structured physical education and sports recreation time.

If students need extra help with homework, the Ulloa afterschool program has targeted math and literacy classes for students needing additional support.

Every Friday is "Clubs Day" at Ulloa, where students have the chance to take elective classes of their choosing. Clubs include Kite Club, Basketball Club, Mask-Making Club, Science Club, Cooking Club, and Pen Pal Club.

In addition to clubs, the afterschool program runs a number of fun ongoing classes that meet weekly, including: 

o   Ulloa Chronicles Newspaper Class

In this class, students meet with instructor and poet Lindsey Boldt to write and develop the school newspaper. Learning from newspaper article examples, students learn how to interview, research, and compose articles related to their school and interests. The Ulloa Chronicles goes out quarterly to the entire 2^nd–5^th grade class. Popular articles include critiques of the school lunch program, interviews with teachers, and reviews of video games.

o   Media Arts

Media arts students work with instructor and filmmaker Kapiolani Lee to create learn the art of filmmaking. Students write, direct, and film short skits, self-introductions, music videos, and animations. This year, two films were selected to be shown at SNBC's Annual Film Festival. Video "Dynamite Music" tied for the Viewers' Choice Award!

o   Hip Hop Dance

Instructor and experienced dancer Zack Gee works with students to develop complex choreographed hip hop dance routines. Students have performed at Ulloa’s Afterschool Winter Talent Show, SNBC's Annual Film Festival, and Ulloa's Afterschool Spring Talent Show.

o DJ Club

Students learn the fine art of turntable-ism and discover how to mix and scratch while working with experienced DJ and instructor Michael Falsetto-Mapp.

o   Girls and Boys Sports Teams

Forty 4th and 5th grade students are introduced to various sports including soccer, basketball, hockey, and softball. This year, the Ulloa Girls and Boys Sports Teams have had the opportunity to compete against the afterschool Sports Teams at Sunset, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Francis Scott Key Elementary schools.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SNBC's Afterschool Program at Sunset Elementary

The Afterschool Program at Sunset Elementary is comprised of 13 dedicated staff members who serve 160 students on a daily basis. On a typical day, students receive homework assistance and participate in recreational and enrichment activities, while on Wednesdays and Fridays, students participate in project-based learning clubs. Clubs include basketball, softball, yoga, badminton, and the Girls Sports Team, as well as educational enrichment activities including science, nutrition, cooking, knitting, clay creations, and comic book making. So many opportunities for fun and learning!

Students in the cooking club participate in a cook-off!

First graders participate in the afterschool yoga class

One club that's taken the world by storm is the Hula Dancing Club. Led by first-year instructor Michelle Huynh, the expert hula dancers have performed at school for their peers as well as at San Francisco State University. Initially viewed as a “club only for girls,” the number of boys in the club has increased dramatically after seeing how much fun it is!

One of the biggest events at Sunset Elementary's afterschool program is Olympics Week - a weeklong event in which students challenge themselves athletically. With a focus on team-building and achieving personal bests, students work alongside their classmates as they learn that victory isn't just about winning, but about personal improvement and being a team player. Instructors lead activities such as the 40-yard dash, long jump, and hurdles; throughout the week, students get the chance to participate in the various events multiple times, looking to improve each time. At the end of the week, each student receives a t-shirt and a medal for their accomplishments. Go Sunset Elementary!

It's all about teamwork!

What makes the afterschool program at Sunset special are the bonds formed between teachers and students. The trust and care for one another is apparent the moment you visit into the program. To get a clear picture of this, we’ll take you back to January 19, 2012. Knowing that it was instructor Ms. Rene’s birthday, four students approached the Program Coordinator, Mr. Allan, about using his office to pull off a surprise party for Ms. Rene. Little did he know but Allan would be picking up confetti for the next month! The students decorated the office, baked cookies, made confetti, and gave Ms. Rene quite the birthday surprise! Rene was moved to tears by her students' kind gesture. It will be a day she'll never forget - all because of the special student/teacher relationship formed during afterschool. 

Happy Birthday Ms. Rene!

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SNBC's Afterschool Program at Francis Scott Key Elementary

SNBC's afterschool program at Francis Scott Key Elementary is the largest afterschool program SNBC operates, serving over 280 students each school day. FS Key's program is unique to the other afterschool programs SNBC offers because it serves all elementary grades, K-5. FS Key's popular elective program includes school-year-long classes in Judo, Soccer, Ping-Pong, Girls Sports, Boys Sports, Cooking, Ribbon Dance, and Origami. Each class meets weekly so that students have the opportunity to learn new skills, practice them, and master the activity over the course of the school year.

To get a sense of what a day in the FS Key afterschool program looks like, let's take a peek into what the 2nd Grade "Electric Eels" class has been up to!

The “Electric Eels” class have 3rd grade pen pals in Taiwan!  Students are currently drafting their first letters to introduce themselves to their new international friends in Changhua City, Taiwan. With help from instructors Ms. Lindsay and Ms. Bienn, students drafted a list of things to tell their new pen pals and things they’d like to learn about them. Students asked questions such as, "What kind of food do you eat?" and "What kind of toys and games do you like to play with?" Students' first letters were recently sent out and they're anxiously await a response!

The pen pal project is not only a great literacy activity for afterschool students, but also allows them to make new friends and learn about a different culture. Way to go, Electric Eels!

In other class happenings, the 3rd Grade "Godzilla Group" has been hard at work on various art projects. Each Friday afternoon from 4:30-5:30 PM, the third graders have an Art Party, where they create art using free and recycled art materials. Students turn used snack packaging and scraps from local art stores into creative works of art. At the end of each Art Party, students have the opportunity to present their art to their classmates.

The “Godzilla Group” students also had the chance to share their art with parents, siblings, and other relatives at the Art Show they hosted earlier this year. Showing off the artwork they created in their afterschool learning program elective class, students explained their pieces and the creative process to attendees. Student art on display included sculptures, paintings, and drawings. Refreshments and snacks were served, and the event was very well-attended!   

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: SNBC's Adult Programs

SNBC's Adult Programs, offered both during the day and in the evening, serve well over 300 people each week. SNBC holds daytime computer classes and ESL classes at SNBC's storefront office as well as various evening programs for adults at A.P. Giannini Middle School.

A Place To Learn

SNBC's Adult Programs are tremendous free resources that provide adults in the Sunset the chance to connect with other members in their community through ESL classes, computer classes (for both beginning and intermediate students), yoga, art, dance, community-led knitting groups, and more! We also partner with groups such as San Francisco Chinese Line Dance to offer space for free drop-in programs to the community. Whether you want to hone an existing skill or try your hand at something completely new, chances are SNBC's Adult Programs have something to offer you!

A Place To Connect

Adult Programs provide a valuable social outlet, serving as a space for people to get out of the house and connect with neighbors over shared interests. Combating the social isolation that some in our community face as a result of living in a predominantly residential area is a top priority for the Evening Programs. We’re proud to offer the community a space to come together and enjoy shared interests!

Want to develop your computer skills, start a blog, or learn how to knit? Then take advantage of our Adult Programs and sign up for our next session! Talk to Patrick Montgomery (pmontgomery@snbc.org), Evening Program Coordinator, or Nathaniel Carter (ncarter@snbc.org), Technology Coordinator, for more information. 

Happy Valentine's Day from SNBC!

This Valentine's Day, show SNBC some love!

"Like" us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, tell a friend about our work, or make a donation!

SNBC's 8th Annual Community Film Festival

SNBC's 8th Annual Community Film Festival is just 3 weeks away! 

This fun, FREE, family-friendly event features youth-produced films, a performance by the Ulloa Elementary School Hip Hop Dancers, and poetry readings by students in SNBC's BAMboozled, an online creative writing group.

You won't want to miss this fun community event!

For more information, visit snbc.org.