PALATKA, Fla. Aug. 25, 2017 — The Putnam County School District has been selected to receive a 21st Century Community Learning Center Program grant, valued at $3.3 million over the next five years, which will expand opportunities for academic enrichment outside of school hours at no cost to families of students at seven Putnam County schools.
“Competition for this particular grant has become more competitive than ever, so we are exceptionally proud to share the good news that through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Putnam County families will have new and affordable opportunities for academically enriching afterschool activities. This is one more way we can work together to set our students on course for successful futures,” said Putnam County Schools superintendent Rick Surrency.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math. They are designed to offer students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs.
The programs will be offered to students at the following schools, Monday through Thursday:
Palatka, Interlachen, and Crescent City High School, 3:45—6:15
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. and George C. Miller Middle School, 4:00—6:30
Moseley and Interlachen Elementary School, 2:40—5:10
Bus service will be provided home at the end of the day. Applications are available at participating schools or online at putnamschools.org, and a start date for the program will be announced soon.
The program will be offered in collaboration with PCSD STEAM, a school, community, and business alliance to equip Putnam County students with 21st century skills. Activities such as chess, public service leadership training, coding, environmental science, robotics, aviation, and arts will be available. The Northeast Florida STEM2 Hub will support a new Bicycle Club, teaching students the engineering design process through project-based learning experiences where students break down and reassemble a bicycle, solving problems and discovering math and science principles at work.
“The 21st Century Community Learning Center programs are an ideal platform for rich STEM learning opportunities, as we inspire students to appreciate the many ways math and science can be applied in the world around us. We are excited to partner with the Putnam County School District and reach as many students as possible with the message that STEM learning is vital to their future success,” said Robert Copeland, executive director for the STEM2 Hub.
About the Northeast Florida STEM2 Hub
The Northeast Florida STEM2 Hub represents an investment by 15 companies headquartered in Jacksonville to convene, inspire, and invest in the STEM2 field by providing the essential missing elements to accelerate the growth of STEM2 education and careers in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. For a list of corporate board members and more information about the STEM2 field in Northeast Florida, visit our website at stem2hub.org.
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