HUNTSVILLE INNER CITY LEARNING CENTER INC

THE CENTER'S AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING TUTORING, MENTORING, HOMEWORK OVERSIGHT, COUNSELING, PHYSICAL FITNESS, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND A NUTRITIOUS SNACK TO STUDENTS FOUR DAYS A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN SPRING 2024, THE CENTER SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 82 STUDENTS DAILY, AND IN FALL 2024, 91 STUDENTS WERE SERVED DAILY. EACH STUDENT SPENT THREE HOURS EACH AFTERNOON AT THE CENTER, TOTALING MORE THAN 417 HOURS PER STUDENT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. DURING THIS TIME, STUDENTS RECEIVED MORE THAN 65 HOURS OF GUIDED PHYSICAL FITNESS, 208.5 ENRICHMENT HOURS, AND 153 HOURS OF TUTORING AND TEST PREPARATION. OVER 12,000 HEALTHY SNACKS WERE SERVED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS GAVE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS ACROSS THE CALENDAR YEAR TO MAKE THESE SERVICES POSSIBLE. THE CENTER PARTNERED WITH 30 SCHOOLS (21 OF WHICH WERE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS) ACROSS HUNTSVILLE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, INCLUDING PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND HOMESCHOOL CO-OPS. GUEST SPEAKERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ENRICHING THE PROGRAM. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A FORMER HLC STUDENT NOW ENROLLED AT DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY, A FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER INDUCTED INTO THE MADISON COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME, THE HEAD OF CALHOUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT, A DRONE PILOT, HUNTSVILLE'S CITY MANAGER OF PLANNING SERVICES, MAZDA-TOYOTA TEAM LEADERS, ENGINEERS, AND MORE. STUDENTS EXPERIENCED HANDS-ON LESSONS IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, INCLUDING AN ASSEMBLY LINE ACTIVITY LED BY MAZDA-TOYOTA. THE CENTER EXPANDED ENRICHMENT OFFERINGS IN 2024, PROVIDING FINE ARTS, MUSIC PRODUCTION, PICKLEBALL, BASKETBALL, SOCCER, ETIQUETTE CLASSES, READER'S THEATER, HARP, STEM, STREAM, AND MODERN DANCE. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT THEIR PREFERRED ACTIVITIES, INCREASING ENGAGEMENT AND INTEREST. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR WAS THE ADDITION OF A 17' X 17' PAVILION AND GREEN SPACE CREATED WITH THE HELP OF KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY AGENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN GARDENING LESSONS, AND OLDER STUDENTS CREATED BOUQUETS FROM FLOWERS THEY CULTIVATED. ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS THE STREAM TEAM'S TRIP TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WHERE FOUR TEAM MEMBERS ACCEPTED THE RUNNER-UP PRIZE FOR THE SME SKILLSUSA ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING COMPETITION. FOR THE FOUR STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED, IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME FLYING, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF ATTENDING SME'S RAPID+TCT CONFERENCE OPENED DOORS TO A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES.

THE CENTER HELD THREE DIFFERENT SUMMER CAMPS DURING SUMMER 2024. THE CAMPS WERE STAFFED BY CERTIFIED TEACHERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERNS. EACH PROGRAM COMBINED ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, BIBLE STUDY, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN BOTH ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GROWTH. STUDENTS ATTENDED CAMP FOR AN AVERAGE OF 176 HOURS, RECEIVING TWO MEALS AND SNACKS DAILY. DIVE-IN CAMP (K-2ND GRADE): TWENTY-EIGHT STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN AN INTENSIVE READING CAMP FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING LITERACY AND FOUNDATIONAL MATH SKILLS. CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS ADMINISTERED THE WORDS THEIR WAY ASSESSMENT AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE PROGRAM, WITH EVERY STUDENT DEMONSTRATING IMPROVEMENT. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN BIBLE LESSONS, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND WEEKLY EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, INCLUDING VISITS TO LOCAL LIBRARIES, NATURE PRESERVES, AND A MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY. SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE RISE RAPTOR PROJECT, INC. TAUGHT LESSONS ON BIRDS OF PREY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMP (3RD-5TH GRADE): THIRTY-FOUR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN A FAST-PACED PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED DAILY BIBLE STUDY, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT IN MATH AND READING, PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINING, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS. STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM SWIMMING LESSONS, SPORTS INSTRUCTIONS, AND RECREATIONAL GAMES. MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A TRIP TO PANAMA CITY BEACH, WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS TO LOCAL PARKS, AND A POOL PARTY AND STABLE VISIT AT A SUPPORTER'S HOME. GROWTH CAMP (6TH-9TH GRADE): TWENTY-NINE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP MIDDLE AND EARLY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RETAIN ACADEMIC SKILLS, BUILD EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SKILLS. IN ADDITION TO DAILY BIBLE LESSONS, INSTRUCTORS LED SESSIONS ON TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND CAREER PLANNING. STUDENTS ALSO ENGAGED IN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND NUTRITION LESSONS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A DAY TRIP TO GRAHAM FARM AND NATURE CENTER, ZIPLINING AND ROPES ACTIVITIES AT THE VISION CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER, AND A SERIES OF GUEST PRESENTATIONS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS.