Native American After-School Program

Dear Friends:

Despite the school year coming to a close, summer was a busy time for NAAF’s After-School Program as staff worked diligently over the summer months building new curriculum components for the upcoming year. This year's in person ASP program involves a weekly schedule that consists of homework help; STEM; I:mig; Botvin, which is an evidence-based Life Skills Training curriculum that focuses on topics such as self-management, social skills, drug resistance skills, etc.; arts and crafts; reading and math activities, and virtual games.

If fact, NAAF’s traditional focus on STEM might better be thought of as “STEAM”, which are the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math, but also represents art as well. To the end, when ASP resumes, students can look forward to having more traditional songs and dancing added to activities. Staff have also already started using more O'odham language for direction and encouraging students to greet and part ways in O'odham. With the new school year staff will start working on common phrases and commands using the O’odham language, and staff will demonstrate how to respond in O’odham and encourage students to use these language skills on a daily basis. Staff are also currently working on a rewards program for ASP participants. The rewards program will be a way for students to earn prizes for their positive choices such as good behavior, being kind, being a good helper etc.

Beyond curriculum building, ASP staff also spent the summer actively engaging with other organizations/programs to strengthen existing collaborations and learning opportunities, as well as create new ones, for ASP students. An example of this is that ASP staff collaborated with the Healthy People Coalition (HPC), a group that NAAF leads but that also consists of members from twelve sectors of the community to address the problematic use of alcohol and illicit substances among minors and works to promote healthful behaviors, to create a written anti bullying agreement for ASP. This year the ASP coordinator will enforce the policy to ensure that the After School Program is a “Bully Free Zone” and that there will be zero tolerance for bullying at any level.

NAAF is also so excited and proud to have its very own Little Free Library in the District! The young learners from NAAF’s pre-school program had a great time putting the finishing touches on the library’s assembly and installation by adding their own artistic flare and a liberal amount of paint. This is a great new resource and such a wonderful addition to the District, so many thanks to great partners like Little Free Library and their Indigenous Library Program!

Other summer activities for ASP students include NAAF’s Summer Immersion Camp that was held from July 24th - July 27th. A total of 39 ASP youth enrolled in the camp, and had a fun time filled with traditional language, traditional songs, traditional games, traditional foods, storytelling, and a lesson on O’odham history. Prior to camp, in early July, ASP and the Healthy People Coalition partnered on a Bahidag (saguaro fruit) Harvest event, which focused on the harvesting of cactus fruit and passing on long-stranding traditions.

ASP and the Healthy People Coalition would again partner over the summer to host a back-to-school presentation for the Nation’s Recreation centers on July 28. NAAF’s presentation was called “Tohono O’odham Traditional Prevention.” Finally, another summer activity for the ASP program’s older learners occurred in August when NAAF held two college visits, one to Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) and the other to Navajo Technical University (NTU). The TOCC staff gave us a tour of the newer buildings and provided information on the admissions process. Recent grads were able to register for classes on the spot, while the District’s future graduates were simply able to participate and learn more about the options the College offers. At the NTU campus visit, there was a student tour guide who showed NAAF visitors the student center, the testing center, their new library, and the cafeteria. A total of seven students attended.