ELO

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Continues to Bring Opportunities to Beekmantown Central School District (BCSD)

In the spring of 2015, BCSD was awarded the ELT grant which is funded by the New York State Education Department. That grant funding continued the successive school years. Our school district received final budget approval in March 2021 by the New York State Education to sustain ELT grant-funded programs and services through the 2020-2021 academic year, as well.  The current program, called ELO is described in more detail below.
 

What is Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO)? ELO is funded through a grant similar to Extended Learning Time. However, instead of the additional learning time being embedded district-wide into each day, ELO provides additional learning opportunities outside of the regular school day.  ELO occurs before school, after school, and on weekends.  While COVID-19 has often caused students to receive less, ELO is an excellent opportunity to provide students with more, while remaining safe!

What activities are eligible for ELO funding? Current offerings include the following: robotics, sewing, baking, Jump Camp, American Sign Language, French, various art offerings, bowling, cybersecurity, fitness challenges, bike safety, running club, yoga, cup stacking, cairn building, Adirondack themed learning, motor groups, volleyball clinic, Legos, Rainbow Looms, social emotional skill building, dancing, food drive, crafts, fitness activities, book studies, bird watching, 3D printing, stained glass making, STEM challenges and more.        

Can we travel? Yes. ELO activities are not limited to district locations. Mrs. Criss (MS) is offering students a weekend hiking club. Mr. Rillahan and Ms. Downey (HS) are taking students indoor climbing at the Crux in Willsboro. Students will see wolves and bears at the Wilmington Wildlife Refuge with Mrs. Duffield, Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Beliveau and Mrs.  Lapierre (BES). Ms. Couture, Mrs. Rabideau (CHES) and retired teacher Mrs. Morrow will be taking students to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne, Vermont.

Are supplies available? Yes. From baking supplies, to Legos, to yoga mats. ELO provides funding for materials to make events possible. To make her ELO activity possible, Mrs. Christopherson (CHES) used ELO funding to provide 10 students each a basket containing the following: a basketball, football, soccer ball, hula hoop, Frisbee, horseshoe set, badminton set, jump rope and the book Eat Healthy, Stay Active, Have Fun by Shawna Doyle.

Is there a focus to ELO?
Yes. BCSD wants to tie many of these opportunities to high interest reading. Many providers are incorporating a book into the activity which they will then give to the student to keep. How awesome is that?