The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded a competitive, three-year grant worth a total of $787,500 to St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) for after school programs. The U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Grant Program provides the funding, which will be used to continue the Dream Team/Boys & Girls Clubs at George Washington Carver Elementary, Lexington Park Elementary, and Spring Ridge Middle Schools. These programs serve 300 students daily with academic and enrichment activities.

 
 Michael Martirano
– The Bay Net Photo

“These programs provide a safe place for students after school, help working families, and inspire students to learn,” said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. “They are a key strategy in closing the achievement gap and helping all students succeed. We are pleased that this grant will allow us to continue to work with our dedicated community partners.”

St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ main partner in the project is the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland, with whom they will jointly operate the after school programs. Other partners include: St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the 4-H Cooperative Extension Program, St. Mary’s County Memorial Library’s Lexington Park Branch, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department, SMARTCO, Inc., and St. Peter Claver Church. These groups provide a variety of support, including specific programs such as three digital photography courses from the public library, African dance and drumming from 4-H, and approximately100 volunteers or agency staff from St. Mary’s College, St. Peter Claver Church, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, parents are provided with computer training and equipment from SMARTCO, Inc.

“We are thrilled the Maryland State Department of Education has awarded St. Mary’s County Public Schools the 21st Century grant so we can continue our partnership and carry out our mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to become productive, responsible, and caring citizens,” said Pam Wilkerson, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland. “As we begin our seventh year in the county, we look forward to reaching out and serving even more youth than we are today.”

The grant competition attracted 36 applicants from both public and private non-profit organizations. Fifteen awards were made in this round of 21st Century grants. Each of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools after school programs will have a full-time unit director, part-time staff, and volunteers to provide academic instruction and enrichment activities to students from 1st to 8th grades. The programs will operate five days per week after school for a minimum of two and one-half hours per day.

“These after school programs give students productive ways to spend out-of-school time,” said Mark Smith, coordinator of special programs for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. “We replace time that would be spent at home watching television and playing video games with community service projects, small group math and reading instruction, homework help, team sports, physical activity, and science, music, and art enrichment.”

Linda Dudderar, the chief academic officer for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, believes the programs are essenti