NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams Public Schools is the recipient of a federally-funded, competitive 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, in the amount of $200,000. 

 

This grant award will support afterschool and summer enrichment programs for Drury High School students in grades 7-12, which will offer students additional opportunities for academically enriching learning. 

 

North Adams Public Schools is the only district in Berkshire County to have been selected for this grant award in order to open a new 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool site. 

 

Opening a new site at Drury High School will allow the district's students to access afterschool programming across the entirety of their K-12 education.

 

Similar to the Brayton Elementary School afterschool program site for the district's K-6 students, the Drury site will offer a variety of programs all five days of the school week, and provide transportation home for grade 7-12 North Adams students. 

 

"We're delighted to be able to extend our afterschool programming up to the secondary level, which will allow us to have continuity of programming throughout the district. This site will allow students to access prosocial experiences through hands-on academic and enrichment programs during out-of-school time," Program Director Annie Pecor said.

 

This program is free and a healthy snack for each student will be provided each day.

 

The program slated to begin on Oct. 23 promises a wide variety of options including reviving the Drury High School student newspaper The Devil's Disciple, yoga and wellness activities, a book discussion group, and math-focused puzzle crew called Absurd Math.

 

Each of the three school-year sessions will run for 10 weeks, and one summer session will be offered following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year. Some offerings will remain the same across all three school-year sessions, while new programs will also be introduced.