Students hold illuminated globes during the Lights On Afterschool event. Contributed / Rebecca Cote

When children reach school age, many parents do not know where to send their children after school while they’re at work.

The Afterschool Alliance reports that in America today, 7.7 million children are left alone and unsupervised after school.

This is where after-school programs come in to play.

Biddeford resident Rebecca Cote runs an after-school program through the nonprofit organization Learning Works. The free program for students pre-K through Grade 4 takes place at three Biddeford schools.

“We focus on providing an academic boost to students that fall below grade level in reading and math,” Cote said.

Funded by a grant awarded by the Department of Education, the program is known as BLAST – Biddeford Learns After School Together.

“We make learning fun for students,” Cote said. “It helps them engage more.”

Last week, Afterschool Alliance hosted a Lights On Afterschool event at Biddeford Primary School to highlight the importance of after-school programs, with students, families, community members and school leaders taking part.

Over 100 students and community members attended, and the highlight, Cote said, was when the lights went out and students held up illuminated globes, bathing the whole room in soft light.

The event was an opportunity for families to see what their students had been working on, including hands-on activities, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), health and wellness, multicultural activities, and literacy.

“We try to get out into the community as much as possible,” Cote said.

Learning Works students visit a local library after school. Contributed / Rebecca Cote

Later this month, students involved with Learning Works will take a tour of Biddeford City Hall guided by Mayor Martin Grohman.

“I am thrilled to welcome our Learning Works students to City Hall,” Grohman told the Courier. “It’s an honor to give them a behind-the-scenes look at how our city operates, especially as they study the theme of community — a fitting topic as we approach Thanksgiving.”

During the tour, Grohman will show the students the Mayor’s Office, highlighting the renovations to the historic clock tower and dome, and then heading to the City Council Chambers. There, he’ll hand over the gavel to the students so they can get a sense of what it’s like to run a council meeting and see firsthand how decisions are made to serve the Biddeford community. 

At a later date, a student’s father, who runs an indigenous drum circle, will come talk to the kids about indigenous cultures and share a performance.

After-school programs like Learning Works provide a safe space for kids to go after school, Cote said.

“They’re building positive relationships with adults, and with adult guidance, they can build positive relationships with their peers,” she said.

Biddeford students and families can learn about Learning Works through the website learningworks.me.