After School in Hudson

During the course of writing yesterday's post about youth programs in Hudson, I learned about the afterschool program that the Hudson City School District provides for its latchkey kids: Hudson Bluehawk Nation Afterschool Program. Although I knew that an afterschool program existed, I was unaware of its scope or its awarding-winning reputation. Since many Gossips readers may be similarly underinformed, I've decided to share what I learned about the program yesterday from its director, Kathleen Clark.

The program provides homework help and recreational activities from 2:45 to 5:45 every day, Monday through Friday, for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, at each school in the district.

• At John L. Edwards, the primary school, 130 students are registered in the afterschool program, and 110 attend on a daily basis.
• At Montgomery C. Smith, the intermediate school, 240 students are registered, and 200 attend on a daily basis.
• At Hudson Junior High School, 50 students are registered, and 35 attend on a daily basis.
• At Hudson High School, the afterschool program offers credit courses to help students graduate. Approximately 40 students participate in this program.

The afterschool program employs a part-time staff of 84, which includes teachers, club instructors, adults, college students, high school students, and "Counselors in Training" (former participants in the program). Principal funding for the program comes from a 21st Century Community Learning Center Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education and an Advantage After School Program grant from the New York State Office of Children & Family Services, administered by the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties. More information about the afterschool program is available on the HCSD website. 

The photo is from the Afterschool Program Photo Gallery on the HCSD website.