Washington County nonprofit starts after school program at Salem Avenue Elementary

Students at Salem Avenue Elementary School in Hagerstown have a new after-school program intended to enrich their lives through learning, leadership development, health and plenty of fun.

OnTrack Washington County in October started After the Bell, a program for third, fourth and fifth-graders at Salem Avenue Elementary.

OnTrack Washington County works to improve and promote the educational lives of children from their cradles to their careers, its website states. They help children succeed in school and in life regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance.

Christina Williams, the interim director of strategic initiatives with OnTrack, said they are "thrilled" to have had the several nonprofits — Girls Inc., the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and the YMCA of Hagerstown — help OnTrack and Washington County Public Schools bring the program to Salem Avenue.

"OnTrack is thrilled to be part of the Salem Avenue Elementary School educational collaboration," Williams said in an email. "All of these partners share a common goal, to support, enhance, enrich and empower our youth."

Maria Rubeling, CEO of the local YMCA, said talks to bring the program to Salem started almost a year ago.

Rubeling said After the Bell is not related to the after-school child care program the YMCA runs at Salem and other schools in Washington County.

"(After the Bell) is more defined," she said. "This is an excellent opportunity for kids to widen their enrichment and learning. It provides kids that extra enrichment that they need."

Addie Nardi, the CEO and executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, said she loves the collaboration between the nonprofits to put the program together.

"We have a staff member there … we're working with the school, and we all bring a little flavor of our individual organizations to the (program)," she said. "It's a good showcase on how we work together."

There are 12 to 15 staff members from Salem Avenue Elementary and the various nonprofits overseeing 35 students.

The program is held from 3:40 to 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. A meal is provided, along with prizes for attendance and bus transportation home if a child needs it.

The program is free to students, and is funded through a $30,000 grant that was awarded by the AT&T Foundation to OnTrack, Williams said in an interview.

After the Bell activities focus on health, wellness, nutrition, yoga, tutoring, leadership development, academic enrichment, literacy, sports, games, social and emotional learning.

"There are different breakout groups," Williams said.

At the conclusion of each session, the students hold special demonstrations and performances.

"They present to their families what they have learned," Williams said.

The next session starts in January and runs through March. The following session runs from from March until May.

For more information, call 240-397-8047 or email gianndom@wcps.k12.md.us.

Sherry Greenfield is the Education Reporter, covering Washington County Public Schools and the Washington County Board of Education. Follow Sherry on Twitter at Sheina2018 or Instagram at beckmangreenfield.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: OnTrack nonprofit starts after school program at Salem Elementary