Timberlane highlights Extended Learning Opportunities: police explorers, junior firefighters and health-care internships

Danielle Foley, assistant principal for alternative education at Timberlane Regional School District, told the school board the district is expanding Extended Learning Opportunities, or ELOs, which let students earn elective credit through interest-based internships, apprenticeships and community service.

“Sometimes seniors ... the only elective credit that fits in their schedule is something they’re not interested in,” Foley said, describing ELOs as a way for students to earn half- or full-elective credits in areas they actually want to pursue. She introduced three established ELOs serving district students: the Sandown Police Explorers, the Plaistow Junior Firefighters and an HCA Healthcare clinical experience.

Representatives and student members of the Police Explorers described scenario-based training, radio communications practice and community-service events as central components. Corporal Cameron King, a Police Explorers advisor, said the program develops “discipline” and real-world skills including de-escalation and public speaking; student participants credited the program with increasing confidence and clarifying career plans. Students said membership ranges between five currently and as many as a dozen historically, and that membership is open to students from Timberlane towns and nearby communities.

Lieutenant Derek Travers, who started the Plaistow Junior Firefighters program three years ago, said the program follows the National Volunteer Fire Council junior firefighter curriculum and provides classroom and hands-on evolutions—excluding live fire and smoke—to teach skills such as ladder work, search-and-rescue and hose-line operations. Travers said 21 students are enrolled overall, about 16 of them Timberlane students; he described weekend training that uses an acquired structure for realistic drill rotations. Student lieutenants and participants said the program offers leadership structure, regular Sunday training and opportunities such as CPR certification and community events.

Gabby Burke, a high-school student in the HCA Healthcare ELO, described shadowing at a freestanding emergency department and at a hematology/oncology center. Burke said she presented research on correlations between chronic illness and mental health as part of the program and praised the mentorship provided by school staff and clinicians.

Foley and board members praised the programs for building connections between students and community employers and for offering credit that better aligns with students’ interests. Foley said the district hopes to expand community-service ELOs next year—for example, with Leo Club service projects through the Lions Club—and increase enrollment in the healthcare ELO.

Board members and administrators also noted immediate outcomes: junior firefighters have moved into paid firefighting and training programs, and some former explorers have become officers in local departments. Foley and advisers said the programs are voluntary and rely on community volunteers and department staff who serve as advisors.

Board members thanked the students and advisers for presenting and for the programs’ role in student engagement and career preparation.