All staff members working in District elementary afterschool programs are highly qualified. Within six months of being hired, staff must complete Positive Ways to Work with Children, a training designed to prepare them for their new role in the afterschool program. They must also complete Playground Safety training and receive First Aid/CPR/AED certification. Once these requirements have been met, an additional twelve hours of professional development must be completed annually. In order to assist programs with this requirement, the Department of Afterschool Programming collaborates with its partners and other District departments to offer training to staff throughout the school year.
Oh, the Ways We Can Play! was a three hour interactive field day professional development conducted by the Department of Afterschool Programming on April 5, 2014. It was designed to teach appropriate physical activity to District elementary afterschool site directors and staff through hands-on activities. This training counted toward the twelve hour annual professional development requirement for staff. Afterschool students created banners for a contest, which were on display throughout the training. Liberty Park Elementary Afterschool Program and Palm Beach Public Elementary Afterschool Program tied for first. Vendors, including a disc jockey, were on hand to ensure staff had breakfast, water, snacks and plenty of entertainment throughout the morning. Over 300 staff members attended the training and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
- SPARK Physical Education (Active in Afterschool)
The Department of Afterschool Programming collaborated with the Physical Education department to use SPARK Physical Education (PE) in District elementary afterschool programs. The use of the SPARK PE curriculum aligns programs with the PEP grant awarded to all District elementary schools.
Stephanie Wagner, Afterschool Programming Liaison, attended the SPARK Physical Education K-6 Level II Workshop in San Diego, California, in June 2013. This training has allowed the department to support SPARK PE implementation throughout the 96 District afterschool programs as well as all twenty-five 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Participants in the Active in Afterschool training are taught best practices for implementing SPARK PE in their program. During the 2013-2014 school year, 73 staff members received the Active in Afterschool training. - Afterschool Physical Games
The Afterschool Physical Games training was designed to teach District elementary afterschool staff the policies and procedures for keeping physical activities safe and fun in the afterschool setting. This hands-on training provides staff with strategies for incorporating physical activities that are easy to implement, inclusionary, fun, and age appropriate for students. Emphasis is placed on keeping students active for the entire period designated for physical play. 127 staff members received the Afterschool Physical Games training during the 2013-2014 school year.
- Playground Safety
The Department of Risk Management provided Playground Safety training for 301 District elementary afterschool staff members throughout the 2013-2014 school year. This training reviewed measures for keeping students safe during outdoor activities as well as discussed the new procedures for reporting accidents.
- United States Tennis Association (USTA)
Training is provided to District elementary afterschool site directors and staff by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) several times per year to ensure that at least one staff member per site is trained in the implementation of a tennis program. During the 2013-2014 school year, 148 staff members received training from the USTA. Upon completion of the training, participants were given a playbook filled with tennis activities requiring little equipment and no courts – allowing tennis to be played anywhere with minimal instruction.
- Corporate Care Works (CCW)
Corporate Care Works (CCW) graciously offered multiple trainings to District elementary afterschool staff throughout the year. These trainings offer a chance for employees to take a moment for themselves, which makes them more productive in their work as an afterschool role model. During the 2013-2014 school year, 423 staff members received training by CCW, which included the following:
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- default_titleValuing Generations at Work
- default_titleBuilding Effective Communication
- default_titleBecoming an Effective Team Leader
- default_titleStress Relaxation Techniques
- default_titleCustomer Service
- default_titleTime Management
- default_titleHumor in the Workplace
- default_titleConflict Resolution
- default_titleCreating a Positive Outlook
- default_titleCreating Healthy Lifestyles
- default_titleCreating Work and Life Balance
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