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Hyannis West students and coordinator present 21st Century after‑school program to Barnstable School Committee
Summary
Students and teacher coordinators told the committee how the federally funded 21st Century program supports K–3 students with reading, project‑based learning and summer programming; staff said funding has declined and invited committee members to observe the program.
At the Dec. 4 Barnstable School Committee meeting, students from Hyannis West Elementary and their 21st Century program coordinator described an after‑school program that the district said has run at the school since 2010 and focuses on reading, writing and deeper, project‑based learning.
Caitra McCarty, who introduced herself as a Hyannis West teacher and coordinator for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Center, told the committee the site has been recognized as an exemplary program and outlined how grant cycles and staffing work. She said the program began with roughly $147,000 in funding at re‑start, has been level‑funded by the federal grant structure and currently operates on about $106,000 while preparing to rewrite the grant next year. "Our focus is an ELA focus, with a hyper focus on reading and written communication," McCarty said, describing project work, writing components, and a pre/post survey system used to track youth outcomes.
Students described classroom activities and specific projects. Eight‑year‑old Shifrana Clark said she was learning about Cape Cod animals and how to protect cold‑stunned sea turtles: "If you find one, you need to get dry seaweed and call animal rescue," she said. Another student, Giovanni, spoke about field trips, assemblies and the school’s morning meeting routines.
McCarty said the program serves up to about 50 students in grades 1–3, runs Monday through Thursday from 3:40 p.m. to 6 p.m., and includes homework help, movement breaks, project time and mentoring for older students who return as summer mentors. She noted the program also runs a summer session: "In the summertime, we run a full program for the month of July," she said, describing a day with enrichment, recess and project‑based work. McCarty added that the program partners with organizations including Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and the Skendi Foundation and uses STAR and MCAS data to inform programming and measure progress.
Committee members praised the students and asked for follow‑up details. One member asked that finished student PSAs be shared with the committee. McCarty invited committee members and the public to visit the program and observe classes.
The presentation gave committee members a practical look at how a federally funded after‑school program operates in Barnstable schools and prompted requests for continued data on outcomes and plans for the upcoming grant rewrite.
