By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
SOMERSWORTH—
Imagine an after school program for middle school students that is made up of a supervised study hour to complete homework and then gives its participants choices to do things like cooking, fly tying, knitting, golf, jewelry making, and volunteering within the committee to mention just a few.
Well there’s no imagination needed in Somersworth, because that’s just what the Somersworth Youth Connection does.
“It’s an after school learning program,” Maureen Jackman, the program’s director said, sitting in her office at the Somersworth Middle School. “It links the school day to the after school day. It’s an extended learning opportunity.”
Jackman said the activities include physical, social and academic pursuits, “a combination of all those things wrapped up” in one.
This year, the third year of the program currently funded by the Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center project, the 50 students involved have 68 enrichment activities from which to choose and all have been “generated by the youth” themselves.
Many of the activities offered are a result of the “involvement of the community” and volunteers, Jackman said. Most of the activities are taught by volunteers who have experience in the given fields.
As an example, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department provides volunteers for the fly tying course and a former chef at the New England Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire works with the cooking class.
And, Jackman said, that class includes deciding on all elements of a meal, the purchasing on a budget all of the ingredients, a plan to prepare the meal and to clean up after it.
So during the two-hour session once a week students have to utilize mathematics skills as well as culinary ability. “It’s the most popular class we have,” Jackman said.
One of the community service segments of the program has the students putting together three Thanksgiving food baskets with foodstuffs for a family of six that are presented to the community food pantry.
Last year the students put together 100 stockings for the Toys for Tots program run by the Somersworth Fire Department.
Concern with the environment is also part of the overall concept. Last year the students in the program managed to get two liberty elm trees that are now planted in front of the middle school.
“We take part in our community,” Jackman said, adding that the projects have “raised awareness” within the community. “We want to take care of our community.”
Jackman, who has lived in Somersworth for 24 years, took over the Youth Connection three years ago after spending 12 years as assistant recreation director for the city. Working with her as program coordinator is Ashley Lagasse.
The grant from the Department of Education was for five years; the first three are 100 percent funding, the fourth at 75 percent and the fifth at 65 percent. By that time the object is for the program, which also has a summer component, to be self-sufficient or be funded locally.
“We’re looking for community support,” Jackman said, when it sees the “impact and benefit we have on the community.”
The cost of the program is $40 per week but Jackman said, provisions are made for those who cannot afford the cost.
The program runs from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. five days a week, covering the time shown to be critical for middle school aged children, a time when they are most apt to become victims of bad influences.
Photo caption: Maureen Jackman,, left, director of the Somersworth Youth Connection, checks the day's schedule with Ashley Lagasse, the program coordinator, at the Somersworth Middle School. The after school program runs five afternoons a week. (Larry Favinger photo)
Imagine an after school program for middle school students that is made up of a supervised study hour to complete homework and then gives its participants choices to do things like cooking, fly tying, knitting, golf, jewelry making, and volunteering within the committee to mention just a few.
Well there’s no imagination needed in Somersworth, because that’s just what the Somersworth Youth Connection does.
“It’s an after school learning program,” Maureen Jackman, the program’s director said, sitting in her office at the Somersworth Middle School. “It links the school day to the after school day. It’s an extended learning opportunity.”
Jackman said the activities include physical, social and academic pursuits, “a combination of all those things wrapped up” in one.
This year, the third year of the program currently funded by the Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Center project, the 50 students involved have 68 enrichment activities from which to choose and all have been “generated by the youth” themselves.
Many of the activities offered are a result of the “involvement of the community” and volunteers, Jackman said. Most of the activities are taught by volunteers who have experience in the given fields.
As an example, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department provides volunteers for the fly tying course and a former chef at the New England Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire works with the cooking class.
And, Jackman said, that class includes deciding on all elements of a meal, the purchasing on a budget all of the ingredients, a plan to prepare the meal and to clean up after it.
So during the two-hour session once a week students have to utilize mathematics skills as well as culinary ability. “It’s the most popular class we have,” Jackman said.
One of the community service segments of the program has the students putting together three Thanksgiving food baskets with foodstuffs for a family of six that are presented to the community food pantry.
Last year the students put together 100 stockings for the Toys for Tots program run by the Somersworth Fire Department.
Concern with the environment is also part of the overall concept. Last year the students in the program managed to get two liberty elm trees that are now planted in front of the middle school.
“We take part in our community,” Jackman said, adding that the projects have “raised awareness” within the community. “We want to take care of our community.”
Jackman, who has lived in Somersworth for 24 years, took over the Youth Connection three years ago after spending 12 years as assistant recreation director for the city. Working with her as program coordinator is Ashley Lagasse.
The grant from the Department of Education was for five years; the first three are 100 percent funding, the fourth at 75 percent and the fifth at 65 percent. By that time the object is for the program, which also has a summer component, to be self-sufficient or be funded locally.
“We’re looking for community support,” Jackman said, when it sees the “impact and benefit we have on the community.”
The cost of the program is $40 per week but Jackman said, provisions are made for those who cannot afford the cost.
The program runs from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. five days a week, covering the time shown to be critical for middle school aged children, a time when they are most apt to become victims of bad influences.
Photo caption: Maureen Jackman,, left, director of the Somersworth Youth Connection, checks the day's schedule with Ashley Lagasse, the program coordinator, at the Somersworth Middle School. The after school program runs five afternoons a week. (Larry Favinger photo)
