Project Director: James Castillo
460 Passaic Avenue
Lodi, NJ 07644
973-473-7410
james.castillo@bgcoflodi.org

County: Bergen

21st CCLC Site:  Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 75 1st Street, Lodi, NJ 07644

Partners:
Lodi Public Schools
Borough of Lodi
Felician University
Lodi Memorial Library

Serving Grade Levels:  6-8
No. of Students to be served: 201
No. of Adults to be served: 201

Times of Services:
3:05-6:05PM Monday through Friday during the school year.
9:00AM-2:00PM during the 4-week summer program.

Abstract: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lodi, Inc., which operates clubhouses in Lodi and Hackensack, NJ Jersey ("BGCL") will establish the Lodi Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) to provide afterschool services to 201 students at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (TJMS) in Lodi, NJ. This program will allow students to "LEAP to new heights," and participate in programming that excites them, encourages them to attend school regularly, teaches them new skills, and introduces them to new and engaging opportunities.
LEAP will focus on a theme of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM); research shows STEAM fosters ingenuity and creativity, teaches problem solving, and encourages experimentation and teamwork among young people. In addition, career opportunities in STEAM are growing rapidly, and the Lodi Schools have already embraced STEAM across the district. LEAP will offer the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) DIY STEM program; clubs including Coding, Computer Science, Robotics, AniPals, Earth-Conscious Kitchen, and Green Thumbs Horticulture; BGCA Money Matters financial literacy; BGCA Club Tech; Ultimate Journey environmental education, and Mad Science.
STEAM activities will be complemented by academic remediation activities by certified teachers including Power Hour tutoring and high-yield learning activities; bilingual/ESL support; and Math and Language Arts Labs. The school district will share its online learning resources so students can extend their school day learning; Felician University tutors will assist teachers and serve as role models to students.
LEAP will offer cultural/artistic programs including: Drama Matters, Lyricism 101, Media Making, Music Makers, Photography, Fine Arts, and Digital Arts Festivals. Partner Arts for Kids will also offer culturally diverse arts workshops in dance, drama and music. Health/fitness activities include BGCA Triple Play wellness, summer swimming at our Lodi Clubhouse, various sports, and GetN2Shape fitness and yoga. Nutrition will be taught through the BGCA Healthy Habits nutrition curriculum and Culinary Club. Since many families cannot afford the costs of sports leagues, we will offer the opportunity to participate in the All Stars League sports and fitness program. Students will also participate in the BGCA National Fitness Competition, walking field trips and open gym.
Students at TJMS are also in critical need of social emotional learning (SEL) supports. Therefore, LEAP will provide the Heroes & Cool Kids and Be a Star character education programs, and an array of highly effective BGCA programs including TORCH Leadership and Service Club, SMART Moves prevention program, SMART Girls health, fitness, and prevention program, and Passport to Manhood program to promote responsibility in boys.
We recognize that families are critical partners in their children's lives. Therefore, we will offer them the opportunity to participate in our Advisory Board and Parent Orientation; workshops related to ESL, citizenship, school relationships, and health; Family Literacy & Math Nights; computer classes; book club; and parent conferencing, counseling and referrals. Parents will learn to better advocate for their children and provide them with academic/SEL supports, while also developing their own skills.
LEAP staff will include certified teachers, youth development professionals, a data specialist, members of the community, and an experienced project director. The program will be supported by partners: Lodi Public Schools, Felician University, Borough of Lodi, and Lodi Memorial Library, and by collaborators: Arts For Kids, Heroes and Cool Kids, Mad Science and Rutgers/Bergen County 4H. These organizations will allow us to offer additional opportunities to students and families while connecting them to resources across the county and beyond.
Young people in Lodi are in significant need of this program. Despite its location in affluent Bergen County, Lodi is one of the poorest communities in NJ, ranking in the bottom 10% of NJ towns in median household income. More than one-third of residents are foreign born, and more than 50% of the population speaks a language other than English at home. While committed to the success of its students, TJMS has faced persistent struggles. Despite the community's low income levels, the Lodi Public Schools have long been on the list of the most under-funded districts in the state. As a result, the district has been unable to offer enriching opportunities commonly found in more affluent districts. This 21st CCLC grant allows us to level the playing field for TJMS students, helping them improve academic outcomes, develop positive behavior skills, improve relationships with teachers and peers, increase self-confidence, and benefit from stronger parent involvement in school and increased use of community resources. By the end of the program, students will be able to LEAP into high school prepared for success.