Burnet CISD shines light on ACE after-school program Oct. 23

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

BURNET — Bertram Elementary Principal Terra Singletary knows how important an after-school program is to her students, campus and community. She’s witness to that just about every day as almost half her student body participates in ACE.

“In Bertram, there really isn’t any option after school for our kids,” Singletary said. “We have one of the biggest enrollments (in ACE) because Bertram needed this so much.”

ACE — which stands for Afterschool Centers in Education — offers both academic and enrichment after-school programs at four Burnet and three Marble Falls campuses through the Burnet County Consortium. The grant-funded program allows students on those campuses to get additional tutoring as teachers provide extra attention. Then, students can explore their interests in a selection of enrichment programs, including robotics, cooking, music, physical fitness and arts and crafts.

Singletary said Bertram Elementary has experienced quite a few benefits from the program, including fewer student-behavior issues.

But federal- and state-funded after-school programs are in trouble. Budget cuts from the national level on down often slice into funding for after-school programs despite the increased demand for them. According to the Afterschool Alliance, participation in after-school programs by Texas students increased by 15 percent from 2009 to 2014, but funding hasn’t kept up.

Laura Berlin, the Burnet Middle School ACE coordinator, said without funding, these after-school opportunities could dwindle or fail to reach many of the students who need them the most.

“In Burnet, there are some other after-school options, but that’s not always the situation,” she said.

On Oct. 23, the four Burnet ACE campuses are hosting Lights on Afterschool from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Burnet Elementary School, 607 N. Vanderveer in Burnet.

“It’s a chance for the kids to show off some of the things they’re doing during ACE, but it’s also a chance for people to come and see what this is all about,” Berlin said. “We want people to get a look at all we’re doing with our kids. This is a safe place, there’s homework help and the kids really enjoy it.”

Organizers are encouraging parents to attend, but they also hope the general public will stop by and see what ACE and after-school programs are all about.

This is the second year Marble Falls and Burnet school districts have offered ACE. Berlin said last year was a success, but as a first year in anything, everyone learned a lot. This year, things are going even better as many of the campuses enhance their services. Berlin said the Burnet campuses are adding emphasis to physical fitness as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math.)

“And at the middle school, there’s been a lot of focus on character development,” she said.

In Bertram, the students participating in ACE not only benefit from the program but also share their efforts and skills with the rest of the community and the campus. Singletary pointed out that as part of an ACE arts-and-crafts project, students painted a wonderful mural in the school. And thanks to a $5,000 grant from Lowe’s, the students helped install a rainwater collection project that saves the district water. The students also used part of the Lowe’s funding to build a keyhole garden that saves water and grows fresh vegetables — something they can even put in action at home.

“Some of these innovative programs have been so beneficial for our students and campus,” Singletary said. “But if there’s one thing we need, we’re looking for more adults who would be willing to offer more programs for our students.”

Call Berlin at (512) 715-5193 for more information on Lights on Afterschool. Go to mfisd.ss3.sharpschool.com and look under the “Departments” heading at the top of the page for the Burnet County Consortium ACE page and participating campus contacts.

daniel@thepicayune.com