Eastside program offers academic enhancement

CHESTER » Looking for a way to fill your children’s day between the end of class and dinner time as you provide them with additional academic support and enrichment activities?

Enroll them in the Chester Eastside, Inc. free Phoenix Virtual Out of School Time (OST) program.

Available to students ages 5-14, Virtual OST connects kids and coaches for ongoing academic support combined with enjoyable activities to enrich and broaden their life experiences. The children receive grade group reading and math lessons and homework help, then take a break from academics to participate in enrichment clubs and group events.

Virtual OST was created in March when Chester Eastside was forced to close its on-site Phoenix After School program in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The format was so successful it served as the platform this summer for Camp Phoenix, a four-week educational, recreational and cultural enrichment day camp, and continued into the school year. The program will remain virtual until it is safe to physically reconvene.

“We aim to address the void in the children’s academic learning because of COVID-19,” said Chester Eastside Education Direction Kathryn Redd. “It also offers parents/guardians a purposeful respite from overseeing their child’s school assignments.”

Children work with Chester Eastside’s dedicated volunteers and certified staff, the latter including independent tutors such as retired professionals from local churches or surrounding communities, members of Beth Israel Synagogue in Middletown and students from Swarthmore College and Widener University. The program helps maintain the agency’s presence in the community and act on its mission of “meeting basic human needs.”

Kids need Wi-Fi and a computer (assistance available) to participate. Each afternoon begins with a check-in, followed by 60 minutes of homework assistance. Every week includes 60 minutes of teacher-led reading (two days) and math (one day) and 30 minutes of literacy training via i-Ready (two days). Oneon-one coaching is also available.

The required academics are followed by optional hands-on activities, but who wouldn’t want to stick around for the fun stuff. Monday-Thursday, children can participate in clubs such as visual arts, creative writing, story time and yoga and Friday events include games, movies and opportunities for social interaction.

“Virtual OST allows us to deliver on our promise to engage the youth academically, socially and culturally while still meeting high quality standards,” said Redd. “We will keep going; we will keep growing.”

Chester Eastside, Inc.’s Phoenix Virtual Out of School program is available 3:30-6:45 p.m., Monday-Friday, through May 27,

2021. There is no cost, but donations are accepted to help cover expenses.

For more information or to enroll, contact Education Program Director Kathryn Redd at 610

990-1112.