I am so glad that Mrs. Strom approached me and asked if I would like to partner up for our PIP! This experience has been one I will never forget. As far as we knew, there has never been an after-school program targeted at Division 1 students in our school and we jumped at the opportunity to implement one for the very first time.
After our first session we came to the realization that we were so used to teaching Div 2, that we needed to simplify the activities we wanted to conduct. We also realized that we needed to create a sign-out sheet for parents as they came to pick up their children to ensure that each child was going home with a trusted adult.
Looking back, I would have made the "strategies" for making friends more of a focus during our sessions instead of rushing them at the end. I think we would have seen an even greater turn around if we were able to run the club more than once a week and over the course of our entire internship. It was fantastic that we were able to recruit some of our grade sixes to help out. Not only was it a great leadership opportunity for them, but a life saver for us!
Overall, this program was an amazing experience and I would have liked to continue running it. Being able to see the progressions, and hearing so many positive comments truly touched my heart. I had numerous participants express how much they enjoyed coming to HV, and there were parents who came up and thanked us for what we were doing. By the last session I had students coming up to me and asking if they could bring their new friend to Happy Vibes and that was all the confirmation I needed that this program was a success.
Mrs. Strom's Reflection
I loved being able to create an after-school program that was specifically aimed for division 1. In my experience, I have never came across a program that was specifically aimed for division 1, so I was excited to pilot this program and see the results. Not only was I excited to create and implement this program, but I was excited to create a program specifically designed for the needs of our school.
As I reflect back on our program I can see the successes we were able to have, but also the changes that would need to take place. For the program to be more successful, I believe the first change would be that "Happy Vibes" would need to run longer than two months. I think the program could be more beneficial if it could run the entire school year. It was just as the students were becoming more comfortable around each other and developing new friendships that we had to conclude "Happy Vibes". If the program was offered all year round, it is my belief that those friendships that were beginning to develop would be able to grow and cultivate throughout the school year better.
I would also have the program running during lunch recess so that all students Grades 1-3 could be able to attend. We chose to run "Happy Vibes" after school due to Katie and I's prior obligations, but in the future we would change to during lunch recess. There were a couple parents who mentioned that their child was interested in joining "Happy Vibes", but were unable to stay after school. The one time that we tried running "Happy Vibes" during lunch recess, we had several new students attend. Changing the time of program to recess would allow those students who could not stay after school to attend and participate.
Overall, I really enjoyed creating and implementing this program! I believe extra-curricular programs benefit students as they meet new people with whom they share interests and also improve their social skills as a result. I believe creating an extra-curricular program specifically for Grades 1-3 help students think more positively about school as they have something unique offered to them. While students are in lower elementary grades, I feel that it is important to that a school reaches out makes them feel welcomed in school's community, and not just during sanctioned school hours.