Out of School Time Enrichment Program
Did You know?
The average school-age child has more than 2,000 hours of discretionary time each year. That's the equilvalent of a full-time job!
By way of comparison, the average child is in school just 800 hours per year - less than half their free time. Our community's children need resources outside of school to reinforce the importance of healthy and productive interaction with adults, self-esteem and confidence, and the necessity of hard work. Centro Guadalupano's response to this need?
Our Response
Centro's Out of School Time Enrichment program was initiated in January of 2008, in response to community demand and concern regarding the growing achievement gap facing Latino students in Minneapolis schools. Using a culturally competent 
framework that involves the whole family, the OST program works to increase student self-esteem, academic performance, and connection to the community.
A Comprehensive Approach
Recognizing that academic success stems from a variety of factors, the OST program includes music and arts components, as well as cultural experiences, to supplement its cornerstone of rigorous scholastic tutoring. The result a is well rounded experience that plays to the strengths of different types of students, as well as guarantees that everyone learns something new!
Academic Tutoring
In recent years, our community has noticed an increasing achievement gap facing Latino students in local elementary and secondary schools. A variety of factors -- among them language barriers, pervasive poverty, and cultural concerns -- were conspiring to place Latino students at the bottom of many statewide standardized measures of performance.
The design of the OST tutoring component, which meets twice per week for two hours, seeks to confront this trend with bilingual, rigorous academic guidance that includes work in math, English, science and improved study practices. Working with 
parents and the students' schools, assistance is provided on an individual basis to cater to the academic needs of each participant. In addition to paid staff, this component utilizes the volunteer efforts of local university students who, while providing impressive academic credentials of their own, serve as role models for participating youth.
Arts Education
In addition to is focus on academics, the OST program provides arts programming to broaden our participants' horizons, develop skills and character, and reconnect with their cultural heritage. Foremost among these activities is the program's Mariachi Guitar Group, which meets once a week in addition to public performances. Here, 
youth receive musical education while also learning to work together, perform for sizable groups, and absorb an art form that connects them to their family and community. Currently, more than 20 youth participate in the Mariachi Component.
Last year, Centro added a cultural dance class to the list of arts activities, providing another opportunity for learning and self expression. Other regular activities include field trips to historical and cultural sites and museums.
