ESON & MSN Newsletter

August 2023

Hello Program Providers & Community Partners,

We've been having a great time visiting summer camps and programs across the city and seeing Cambridge young people having fun, making connections, and lasting memories. It's amazing to see what's been happening this summer despite how long we've been managing COVID restrictions, staffing challenges, and other major changes across the OST landscape.

We've also been working with an impressive team of RECESS teens (paid by the Mayor's Program), who have worked with the RECESS leadership team: Kyrk Morris, Jared Bellot and Jeff Goldenson. With additional support from AFCOST, multiple City departments, Olin College and many other community partners, they were able to transform the original RECESS model, which was based at Hoyt Field, into this summer's RECESS: a series of incredible community pop-up events serving middle schoolers. It was a partnership model allowing RECESS to enhance and provide additional enrichment opportunities at venues and events where youth were already congregating, such as summer basketball league courts, and the Gold Star Pool. Also, the teen leaders of RECESS were able to benefit from being engaged in career exposure experiences, creating clothing brands and designs (thanks to the HIVE for the ability to let teens experiment and hone new skills), and a potential for teen-led youth programming that encouraged young people to try new activities, games, and experiences.

If you haven't seen RECESS in action yet this summer, check them out at the Hip Hop Transformation Showcase at Starlight Square Sunday, Sept. 3rd, and/or (on a smaller scale) at the CPS Community Fairs and Bridge to CRLS (see below for dates and info).

We would also like to give a special shout-out to staff at the Cambridge Recreation Department and Friday Night Hype and the HIVE for partnering and playing a pivotal role in supporting and/or delivering unique opportunities to Middle School students this summer. Your help has led to the RECESS teens now proposing that the model extends into the school year. Stay tuned!

As the summer winds down, we can't wait to see all of you in person at our Network Kick Off happening at Danehy Field, on Sept. 13th (more details below and to come). Let's wrap up the summer, kick off the school year and look forward to how ESON, MSN, and all the different AFCOST spaces can help you enhance and enjoy your work with young people this year.

-Annie and Shawn

Photos of Recess 2023

Join us for our Joint ESON & MSN Network Kick-Off Event

As summer is winding down, many of us are beginning to plan for the return of our young people for Fall programming. We hope that you will join us for our Joint ESON and MSN Network Kick-Off event on Wednesday, September 13th at Danehy Park, from 10:00am-1:00pm. During our time together we will reconnect with our returning network members along with some new faces who will lead youth and frontline staff in our OST programs this upcoming year. We will share a brief overview of what a few of the AFCOST Networking spaces will look like, and help you think about which space will work best for staff in your program.

When: Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, 10:00am-1:00pm

Location: Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St, Cambridge MA 02138

What We Need From You

REMINDER: Complete Your 2023-24 School Year Resource Guide Intake Form

Please fill out this 2023-24 School Year Opportunities Guide Form with your initial school year program information. Here's why:

Parents and caregivers will have early access to when programs open and close their program registration.
Your program info will be included in the Agenda for Children's 2023-2024 JK-8th Graders Resource Guide.
Your program info will ALSO be updated or added to FindItCambridge.org.

Click here to fill out the School Year Opportunities Guide Form.

Action needed: Deadline to submit information--Wednesday, August 16th

Opportunities for You and Your Programs

Participate in the upcoming CPS Community Fairs!

Join CPS, the Mayor's Office, and the rest of the OST Community at these Community Fairs to talk to families and represent your program. Sign up for a table with this form!

Dates and locations:

Saturday, August 26th, from 10:00am-12:00pm outside of King Open/CSUS (850 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA)

Saturday, September 9th, from 10:00am-12:00pm outside of Peabody/RAUC (70 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA)

Questions? Contact Mia Ferej, Cambridge Public Schools (rferej@cpsd.us) or Ammarah Rehman, Office of Mayor Siddiqui (arehman@cambridgema.gov )

Help us welcome incoming 9th graders to CRLS!

On Thursday, Aug. 31st, come be part of our second annual Bridge to CRLS event. This year, new 9th graders will be coming to pick up their Chromebooks and get their CRLS IDs, but then also have a chance to:

Attend a "Student to Student" Panel with CRLS Peer Mentors, answering anonymous questions about life at CRLS
Get tours of the CRLS building (led by CRLS Peer Mentors)
Add to a collaborative "Class of 2027" Art Project (run by the Community Arts Center)
Collect (and can personalize, if they want) their "Class of 2027" tshirt
Choose their favorite ice cream truck treat, grab a sno-cone and some popcorn
Meet their CRLS Deans, 9th grade counselors and some CRLS school staff
Play group games, complete a Human Bingo card designed to get them talking (because no one likes awkward mingling)
Visit resource tables for CRLS athletics, Mediation, the Cambridge Library/HIVE, the Office of Workforce Development, Upward Bound, and OTHERS (this is where you could come in here)
Try out fun stuff from the HIVE in the Teen Room at the Library

Check out this Bridge to CRLS flyer to see how the event is being communicated to students.

Want to be involved? You can:

Sign up to volunteer and help us make this happen! We will need folks at registration, raffle, and other stations across the event
Host a table at the event so 9th graders know about your resource (if applicable)
Offer some kind of workshop or activity from 1:30-3pm, after the outdoor event wraps up (ex: the HIVE is hosting a pop up in the Teen Room during that time)

Interested? Questions? Email Annie: aleavitt@cpsd.us

Photos of last year's Bridge to CRLS Orientation, August 2022

Opportunities for Youth and Families

CPS Community Fairs

Also, please don't forget to tell your families about the upcoming CPS Community Fairs!

Families and kids can attend the Community Fairs for free supplies, resources & clothing! There will also be fun, outdoor activities for the kids, hosted by RECESS!

Saturday, August 26th, from 10:00am-12:00pm

King Open School, 850 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA

Saturday, September 9th, from 10:00am-12:00pm

Peabody School, 70 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA

Resources for Youth & Families

Do you know any young people, caregivers, and/or parents looking for after school programs? Please share these flyers with them. The flyers are tailored to JK-5th graders and upper schoolers and will aid parents in understanding the Cambridge OST landscape!

JK-5th Grade After School Opportunities Flyer

Upper Schoolers After School Opportunities Flyer

Job Opportunities

CYC is hiring for a CYC Coordinator!

The CYC is a subcommittee of the Family Policy Council. They are 16 awesome young people, ages 14 to 18, who work on projects addressing the opportunity gaps in Cambridge as well as provide the Family Policy Council with valuable feedback. This coming year they will continue working on their mental health campaign, Youth Headspace and the Well Beings.

CYC Coordinator Position

$25/hour, 8-15 hours per week during afternoons/evenings and weekends, September through June (Hours are flexible except during CYC meeting times.)

Responsibilities:

Plan and facilitate CYC meetings, Monday nights (6-8:30) and most Thursday nights throughout the school year.
Help youth plan, design, and implement their projects and activities.
Help chaperone CYC’s trip to Washington DC to attend the National League of Cities 2023 Annual Congressional City Conference in Washington DC from March 9-12, 2024. The youth will serve as Youth Delegates representing the City of Cambridge.

This job is for you if you have experience and enjoy working with teens.

Visit the CYC website to learn more and apply!

CitySprouts is hiring a Youth Program Manager!

The CitySprouts mission is to cultivate curiosity and wonder for all children with hands-on science learning through urban gardening. Established in 2001, CitySprouts’ in-school and

out-of-school time programs currently operate in partnership with 24 Boston and Cambridge

public schools.

Youth Program Manager Position

$49K-$52K. The Youth Program Manager oversees CitySprouts’ after school and five-week summer programs. This position reports to the Program Director. The program manager will have the opportunity to work with the Program Director in determining ways to expand and deepen the impact of our middle school program. See the rest of the job description here!

Visit the CitySprouts website to see other available job opportunities!

The Middle School Network (MSN) and Elementary Out-of-School Time Network (ESON) are programs of the Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time that aim to ensure equitable access and engagement of elementary and middle school youth in out-of-school time experiences in Cambridge. Agenda for Children Out-of School Time is a citywide intermediary situated in both the City’s Human Services and School Departments.

Shawn Proctor

ESON Coordinator

Cambridge Public Schools & Agenda for Children OST

857-235-2946, sproctor@cpsd.us

Annie Leavitt

MSN Coordinator

Cambridge Public Schools & Agenda for Children OST

617-349-6018, aleavitt@cpsd.us

View the MSN/ESON Meeting Dates and Schedule for this Year

Check our Events Calendar for all other professional development opportunities and links to virtual meetings.