Our new home subdivision, American Country Estates.

Our own North Rock Creek School district, the school district for our new home subdivision American Country Estates, has just been awarded a sizeable grant by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. North Rock Creek was one of 10 schools in the state to be awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to develop an educational and innovative after-school environment.

The money will go toward the creation of Kids Rock, an after-school program that will attempt to engage students, not just give them a place to hang out until their parents arrive. The grant money is given to state education departments by the U.S. Department of Education to promote educational programs for schools in need.

When School Superintendent Blake Moody heard the news that the grant had gone through, he was ecstatic. “It’s pretty significant for us,” he said. “We haven’t had anything like this ever.” In order to get funded and to receive the grant money, the program could not look anything like a typical homework, tutoring study hall, noted Superintendent Moody. “It has to incorporate innovative programs like STEM (Science, technology, engineering & math) programs, like robotics.”

There are many pieces to the Kids Rock puzzle. A big part of the program will involve participation from staff and community members. For example, a teacher with a particular talent or interest might be called upon to give instruction in that particular area.

Another part of the program is an affiliation with the CATCH Kids Club, a national program dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. Through the program, North Rock Creek will have access to various forms of exercise equipment and will be able to provide its students with healthy snacks.

North Rock Creek currently has some after-school programs already in place, but Superintendent Moody said he expects to see much wider school-wide participation after the Kids Rock program begins to take root. He hopes the program will give students an extra incentive to perform academically and give them a reason to be excited about attending school.

Read the article that appeared in The Shawnee News-Star here.

Homes by DHR is a new home builder in Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, OK. Contact info@homesbydhr.com or call 405-888-5430 for more information.