The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence is dedicated to the enhancement of child and youth development and educational achievement through quality afterschool programming.
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Now Accepting Nominations for the
2012 Afterschool Awards of Excellence!
The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence seeks award nominations for the annual Afterschool Awards of Excellence, recognizing afterschool staff, programs and leaders throughout the state of Arizona for their exemplary work in delivering quality youth development programs in afterschool settings. Awards will be given in 3 categories: Outstanding Afterschool Professional, Outstanding Afterschool Program, and the Jane Romatzke Leadership Award.
View award guidelines & nomination forms here>>
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 Register Your Program for the Afterschool: No Bullying Allowed Project!
Afterschool: No Bullying Allowed is a statewide afterschool project aimed at empowering youth to prevent bullying and promote mutual respect in their social environments. Children and youth participating in summer programs throughout Arizona have the opportunity to create an Afterschool: No Bullying Allowed project. Many of the projects will be on display in an exhibit in October & November, in conjunction with Lights On Afterschool. Register for free online to participate. Deadline is Friday, July 13th. Project ideas, resources, and how to start a conversation about bullying are available on the Afterschool: No Bullying Allowed page of our website here>>
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 'Young Minds Keep Learning Even After the School Day Ends' -- Survey Report Now Available
The Arizona Afterschool Survey Report, 'Young Minds Keep Learning Even After the School Day Ends', was released by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence, Valley of the Sun United Way and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in January 2012. Conducted and compiled in partnership with ASU's Morrison Institute on Public Policy, the Report highlights results of a 2011 survey of 681 afterschool and out-of school time program sites in Maricopa and Pima counties.
Contact us at 602.496.3307 or mmcclintock@azafterschool.org if you or your organization would like a presentation or explanation of the key findings and what they mean for Arizona's youth. We look forward to working with you to build a meaningful afterschool youth development system for all Arizona's youth! ________________________________________________________
 Register Today!
2012 Arizona Statewide
Afterschool Conference &
Awards of Excellence Luncheon
Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies,
Healthy Youth Afterschool
Register today for the 20th annual Arizona Afterschool Conference on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Additional information here>>
View Workshop Proposal Application here>>
View Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities here>>
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Voices of Afterschool:
an Arizona Centennial Writing Project
 In Spring of 2011, we asked afterschool programs in Arizona to participate in Voices of Afterschool, a writing project for K-12 youth aimed at celebrating Arizona’s upcoming centennial while highlighting the value of creative writing and expression in quality afterschool programs. The Project, which received official Centennial Legacy Project designation from the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, garnered over 1,100 essays from programs across the state.AzCASE reviewed the essays and 100 were selected that represent the diversity of youth views and perceptions across the state for inclusion in a published piece. This publication showcases children’s voices and will help build awareness about the strength and value of Arizona’s afterschool programs. Participating programs and the 100 authors will receive copies of the publication and additional hard copies of Voices of Afterschool: An Arizona Centennial Writing Project are available for purchase at $3.00/booklet + shipping. Contact info@azafterschool.org or 602.496.3308 to purchase your copy!
OR You may download a low-res PDF of the Voices of Afterschool booklet here>>
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Afterschool Action Agenda
AzCASE and the Valley of the Sun United Way have partnered in convening community leaders from education, nonprofit, government and business to create an action plan that will help strengthen the afterschool system serving youth in Maricopa County. The planning committee focused on four key areas: awareness, access, coordination & quality.
Read the Afterschool Action Agenda here.
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Quality Afterschool Program Checklist
Choosing the right afterschool program means more than finding a safe place for children to wait for their parents when the regular school day ends. Quality afterschool programming is a vital component to a child’s overall development and should be an extension of the regular school day or a place a child can experience new ways of thinking that reflects intentional programming. We have created a comprehensive checklist for parents that breaks the decision-making process into logical categories. The checklist poses questions that help parents gather key facts and information that include: Afterschool Program Basics, Physical Space Requirements, Social and Emotional Development, Academic Enrichment and Staff. Knowing the questions to ask can really result in tremendous insight for parents who want to be sure that their children are not only safe, but are engaged in thought-provoking, active and fun activities.
View the full Quality Afterschool Program Checklist here>>
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AzCASE is a Partner of:
 
 
Featured VideoLive Your Life Afterschool Program: Using Theater to Learn Healthy Lifestyle Concepts
Here's a great example of an outstanding afterschool program that has used theater to engage kids in a dialogue about health! Live Your Life is People's Theatre Project's 15 session afterschool program serving 15 children in partnership with CHALK (Choosing Healthy & Active Lifestyles for Kids), a collaboration between Community Pediatrics at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. This program began in response to the prevalence of childhood obesity and its related morbidity in Northern Manhattan to promote a culture and create an environment in which healthy lifestyles are integral to the lives of all children.
Before the program begins, an orientation is held with the participants' parents where they learn some of the theatre techniques and health lessons their children will explore. Each family is asked to provide a healthy snack for one week of the program. During the program, a PTP teaching artist engages students in theatre games, improvisation and physical activities while scaffolding lessons around the 10 habits of healthy kids used by CHALK, such as "eat plenty of vegetables every day" and "get enough sleep". Additional guest artists lead workshops in other forms of physical theatre such as stage combat, juggling, mime and clowning. These new skills are used in the creation of an original movement/theater piece inspired by the 10 habits of healthy kids. This theatre piece is presented to the participants' families, friends and the community at the end of the program.
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