The Somerville Public Schools is looking for businesses, non-profit partners, volunteers and community experts to work with us planning and running afterschool activity clubs from 4:00-5:30 PM for students in Grades K-8 across the City. We know you have great experience helping students learn in innovative ways, enthusiasm for afterschool learning, and a desire to help students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be successful throughout their lives.

This is why we are inviting you and to submit a proposal to run an afterschool activity club at any of our six afterschool programs.
We are specifically looking for high energy learning experiences that provide youth with opportunities to develop skills in:

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning using non-traditional instructional methods (e.g. Astronomy club, robotics club, computer programming club or Science Fair Club)
• Foreign language and cultural study (e.g. Soccer club that uses only Spanish for teaching/playing the game, activity club that engages youth in planning and running a school multicultural fair)
• Goal setting and goal attainment (e.g. a youth philanthropy club or a career exploration club)
• Creative and collaborative problem solving (e.g. “Destination Imagination Club” which provides youth with weekly verbal, intellectual or physical challenges they must overcome or mystery writers club)
• Developmentally appropriate leadership development for youth in middle grades (e.g. junior peer mediation club, student coaches club, community service learning clubs)
• Written and oral communication (e.g. play writing and acting, mystery writers club, debate club or mock trial)

The purpose of our afterschool activity clubs is to provide youth who need an academic or social lift with safe, fun, and high quality learning opportunities in areas deemed as important to the development of 21st Century skills. In Somerville our data shows that students in Grades 4-8 particularly need afterschool clubs which provide them with non-traditional opportunities to develop expertise in math problem solving, science, written communication, collaborative problem solving in general. Adolescents also need opportunities to develop appropriate and positive relationships with caring adults and mentors.

You can fill out an activity club proposal form, available on the SPS website, and submit it to Somerville Community Schools. All proposal forms are due by December 12th in order to be considered for the Winter session which starts on January 5th. Staff at each afterschool program in the District will work with the Principal to review proposals to make the best match to serve their students. Notification will be sent by December 16th so activity club providers chosen to work with the District can plan accordingly!

Afterschool activity clubs are an important way the Somerville Public Schools realizes its goal of helping each student develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be successful throughout their lives. Thank you for the work you have done with us in the past, and for your continuing interest in strengthening the instructional and enrichment opportunities available to all of our students.

Warmly,
-gk-
Gretchen Kinder for the Somerville Public Schools team
Coordinator of R&D, Public Information and Grants
Somerville Public Schools
617-625-6600 x6013
gkinder(at)k12.somerville.ma.us
www.somerville.k12.ma.us