Jackman School

Brooke Avery

Jackman Middle

Students are getting a head start to success as they learn how to balance school and fun at the after school program at Samuel Jackman Middle School in Sacramento.

The afterschool program is available to all students at the school. Running from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., children in the program are able to get help with their homework, work on arts, and go outside to play.

The program is serving 148 students currently. The popularity and need for the program has pushed the program to have once held as much as 240 students, far past the programs capacity of 187 students. Because the program assists so many students, there are many different rooms that house them across the school campus, and organization is a must.

“I like it, it’s something to do afterschool,” ” said Nigel, 13, an 8^th grader at the school. “If I were at home I would probably just watch T.V. and do my homework at the last minute.”

Michael, a 7^th grader, agreed. “It’s fun because a lot of my friends are here. Some of us have the same homework so we just do it together, have it reviewed sometimes, then go outside and play.”

The need for afterschool programs in the lives of youth is being recognized by leaders.

In a recent press release by Senator Barbara Boxer, Boxer explained the necessity of such programs, “Children who regularly attend have better grades and behavior in school, lower incidences of drug use, violence and pregnancy, and are less likely to be either the perpetrators or victims of crime.”

One of main goals of the afterschool program is to enrich the student’s lives through sports, arts, drama and academics, something they may not be able to receive at home. In addition to something positive to do after school, students are able to receive credit towards their grades if they are able to show that they have attended, done their homework, and completed a reading log.

“The program mainly focuses on a strong foundation for the students. We try not to turn down a student to be a part of the program because we know how much this is strongly needed,” said Academic Coordinator Nafeesah Mustafa-Rasheed.

Samuel Jackman Middle School, which serves 7^th and 8^th graders, is able to serve the students with the program free of charge due to a federal grant, said Rasheed.

The afterschool program works very closely with the Afterschool Safety and Educational Program, a program that reaches students in and outside the district.

“It supports athletes essentially,” said Rasheed. “It is a strong foundation for men of color more specifically. We try to educate parents of the program so that our athletes in middle school are able to go on to high school and still be eligible to play sports, because their grades are good.”

Both programs are aimed toward teaching students to excel in life by learning to set a time for school work and play.

“We try to teach students that once they get to high school, grades really do matter, especially if you’re involved in extracurricular activities like sports. These programs teach students to excel in both aspects of their lives.”