Saturday School Launched by City of South Fulton’s Department of Parks and Recreation

The City of South Fulton's Department of Parks and Recreation recently launched a Saturday School program for children in grades 3-8 to help them enhance their skills in core subjects outside of the classroom. The program is offered every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-noon at Creel Park, Burdett Park, Welcome All Park, and Sandtown Park.

This program aims to reinforce core academic concepts, focusing particularly on literacy and math areas where many students have faced challenges in recent years, giving students additional learning time in a focused environment. Students will receive tutoring, engage in interactive learning, and participate in small group activities that foster both academic growth and personal development.

According to Youth.gov, a website run by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) which is composed of representatives from 25 federal departments and agencies that support programs and services focusing on youth, there are many benefits to afterschool programs including improved social and emotional learning, better concentration, and more confidence. Programs like South Fulton's Saturday School also help keep kids safe and deter at-risk youth from engaging in crime or risky behavior like drug abuse.

"This program is designed to deliver personalized learning plans tailored to each student's unique needs, fostering a love for learning and curiosity through engaging projects and interactive sessions," says Ternard Turner, Director of Parks and Recreation.

Programs like Saturday School are shown to boost academic performance and engagement. Research highlights that extended learning, like weekend classes, leads to notable gains. For example, KIPP's Saturday sessions increase instructional time by 60%, significantly enhancing student outcomes. Additionally, studies link such programs to higher GPAs and better attendance, as seen with Montgomery County's Saturday School. These results underscore the value of weekend programs in supporting students' academic growth and love of learning.

Success of students in the Saturday School program will be tracked in several ways:

• Pre and Post assessment scores
• Attendance rates
• Teacher feedback
• Parental feedback

It is important to create learning opportunities for students outside of the classroom to ensure our South Fulton pupils thrive. Go to bit.ly/SoFuSaturdaySchool to learn more about the City of South Fulton's Saturday School program.