Majestic Realty Co. - Press Release

Redlands, CA (January 4, 2006) - Boys & Girls Club of Redlands is augmenting the educational efforts of the school district and parents. As the first semester of the school year ends, report cards are being sent home and parents are reviewing them. Some parents are learning that their children are falling behind in one or more classes. Parents of these struggling children are looking for ways to help their children succeed academically.

The Boys & Girls Club of Redlands is gearing up to meet these needs through their Project Learn and Power Hour programs. Power Hour's motto is "Making Minutes Count." It is a focused homework help and tutoring program. Funded in part by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, Majestic Realty Foundation, and Staples, the Project Learn initiative has the goal of bridging knowledge and skill gaps by integrating fun, educational activities throughout all Club programs, including Power Hour. Project Learn reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school during the hours they spend at the Club. Formally evaluated by Columbia University, Project Learn has been proven to boost the academic performance of Club members. The results from the pilot study included:
- 15% higher overall grade point average
- 87% fewer absences
- 16% higher average in math
- 20% higher average in history
- 14% higher average in science
- 20% higher average in spelling

The Project Learn strategy has five components. Homework help and tutoring enables members to develop the daily habit of completing homework in a safe, quiet, allocated space with staff and volunteer encouragement for five to six hours weekly. High-yield learning activities help members apply what they learn in the classroom and encourage them to make productive choices about how leisure time is spent at the Club and at home. Parental involvement empowers significant adults to support members' academic development by informing them of the child's progress and providing programs and information so they can assist their child at home. School collaboration allows Clubs and teachers to develop individualized plans for members to build competencies in challenging subjects. Incentives reward Club members for positive academic participating and encourage parental involvement in Project Learn.

Power Hour is held four days a week - Monday through Thursday. Club staff, community volunteers, and University of Redlands make this program possible. The Club kids bring their homework to the Club, where they receive homework help and tutoring. Once the children finish the day's homework, they participate in high-yield learning activities, fundamental skill reinforcement worksheets (reading, math, history, geography), or independent reading. The kids earn Power Points for their efforts during Power Hour. These points are redeemed at the end of each month for incentive prizes, celebrating academic efforts and achievement. Project Learn is adding a proven methodology to Power Hour as well as other activities. It integrates learning throughout the Club environment - from sports to projects and activities.

The Boys & Girls Club of Redlands operates in three locations in Redlands and Mentone. They serve 200 children daily. Boys & Girls Club programs help young people find positive alternatives to negative influences, especially during the critical after-school hours from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when juvenile crime doubles. The number of young people victimized by violent crime - including murder, sex offenses, robbery, and assault - also goes up during after-school hours. Scary prospects, indeed, when you consider that some 8 million children are left alone after school each day, according to U.S. Department of Education estimates. The good news is that youth who attend after-school programs are not only less likely to commit or be victims of crime, they're also less likely to use drugs, alcohol or tobacco; or engage in other risky behaviors. They're also more likely to get good grades and graduate from high school.

For more information, to volunteer, or to support this program or the Club, contact Kathy Dunn, Director of Program Services, at 909-798-4599 or www.bgcr.org.

Media Contact:
P.T. McEwen
(909) 798-4599