Taking PRIDE in Community
At YELLS, our youth learn to show PRIDE — Positivity, Respect, Innovation, Discipline, and Excellence. We teach youth from an early age that Learning, Leading, and Serving are enjoyable and rewarding. The YELLS Afterschool Program provides academic enrichment, leadership and character development, art, recreation, and community service opportunities daily to 45 kindergarten through fifth-grade youth.
The YELLS curriculum is intentionally holistic, simultaneously fostering academic success and developing leadership and resources for youth and families. The cornerstone of our program model, Servant-Leadership, permeates all elements of the YELLS Afterschool Program. Our mission-driven staff engage youth through Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model in which youth learn through hands-on activities, reflective dialogue, and application.
Some of the many YELLS afterschool program activities. Clockwise from top left: a student experiences the joy of reading in Reading Buddies; students practice communication skills; students experience Music Club; students share during circle time; students participate in a literacy-enrichment activity; a work-study student helps a student with his homework; students participate in a communication workshop; students promote their lemonade stand.
Academic Enrichment, Recreation, and Servant-Leadership
Afterschool program youth take a field trip to explore their Franklin Gateway community.
Take one step into the YELLS Afterschool Program, and you’ll quickly learn that YELLS prides itself on incorporating FUN into all we do. In addition to academic enrichment, literacy development, and homework mentorship, afterschool students gain exposure to a variety of unique experience through Choice Clubs that focus on activities including breakdancing, step, design, music, fitness, photography, cheer, cooking, fashion, and more.
Youth rotate in small groups through a variety of activities each day, yet all are connected through overarching Servant-Leadership themes. Youth take part in daily acts of kindness and service projects that enhance the community while teaching the joy of paying it forward. Our youngsters regularly wow business leaders with their professional handshakes. They stand in front of peers and parents as they lead their own service projects. We teach youth they can accomplish anything, and they begin making their mark within their community as kindergartners!
A Community-Centered Afterschool Program
Afterschool Program youth tend to the YELLS Community Garden.
The collaborative, community-centered approach YELLS employs unites all stakeholders to bridge school, home, and community. The program depends on deep relationships with parents and volunteers, who regularly attend and offer community-building workshops. Our amazing parents and volunteers consistently exceed expectations.
Our youth enjoy the benefit of small group tutoring made possible through support from volunteers and federal work study students from Kennesaw State University, Life University, and other community partners. We are always in need of additional volunteers to provide our youth with the individual attention they deserve.
All YELLS programs are offered at no monetary cost to families, but they are not free: we expect and build partnerships with parents and families in the process of creating a strong community. The YELLS Afterschool Program serves youth from the Franklin Gateway community who attend Park Street or Lockheed Elementary School. To participate, families must submit an application along with the required documentation. If you would like to submit an application, please see download a form in English or Spanish. If you’d like to learn more about joining the YELLS family, please contact the YELLS Afterschool Program Coordinator, Christine Woolford.