Blog Archives

Aftershock: Norfolk Public Schools’ Afterschool Program and Beyond School Bells Respond to the Community and Students’ Needs with a New Podcasting Club

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is on board with purposeful afterschool programs like these. We are home to Beyond School Bells (BSB), a dedicated network of afterschool professionals who create, sustain, and enhance quality expanded learning programs, or ELOs.

Beyond School Bells is always glad to catch up with one of our partners and afterschool programs like Aftershock, which recently began a podcasting club. Say what you will about afterschool and summer programs, but they are anything but just babysitting. Here, kids build gumdrop towers, create robots, learn boradcasting and podcasting, and prepare for careers.

Braxton Crowder: A Driven Young Professional Who Went from Attending Afterschool Programs to Directing Many

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

As with many successful people, Braxton Crowder’s journey was neither straight nor smooth. Beyond School Bells is pleased to present this interview with Braxton, whose dedication to afterschool programs mirrors BSB’s mission to create and sustain them. Read how this driven young man’s resolve and support from an afterschool program changed his life and created a thriving career path.

To the Moon: Beyond School Bells Teams Up with Partners to Enhance Girls’ Presence in STEM

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Starting from September 16, 2020, Beyond School Bells will partake in STEM Next and partners’ Million Girls Moonshot launch. As we prepare for lift-off, we feel it’s worth mentioning that we are thankful to STEM Next who awarded Beyond School Bells a year-long grant to lead the effort in Nebraska! Read more about how Beyond School Bells is preparing for lift-off!

Think Make Create Trailers™: The Eyes into the Future of the Next Generation of Professionals?

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Nebraska Children — 2 Comments

Lately, the future of kids going back to school has been uncertain. Happily, when Beyond School Bells’ teamed up with Big Red Keno, a Think Make Create Lab rolled into Family Service Lincoln. The future was hopeful once again! Read more about how our next generation of young creators made the most of this mobile makerspace!

Children of the Trees: Communities, Nonprofits, and Public Institutions Unite on Behalf of Nebraska-Tree-A-Thon

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

On Arbor Day weekend, April 24-26, youth and their communities across Nebraska participated in a statewide Tree-A-Thon to plant and celebrate trees. 

BSB kicked off the Tree-A-Thon alongside Arbor Day Foundation, Natural Resource Districts, Audubon Nebraska, Nebraska Forest Service, and The University of Nebraska. As with any major initiative, this project constituted more than just tree-planting; BSB and its partners had a larger mission in mind. 

Afterschool and Summer Programs Matter – and So Do Their Partnerships

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

When the coalition of 8 ELO communities launched in 2013, Jennifer Jones was there to help them develop and grow partnerships. Since then the communities have grown their partners, presence, and promotional strategies. Jennifer describes her experience working directly with those communities.

After School and Summer Programs: Beyond School Bells’ Mission Rings True

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Nebraska Children — 1 Comment

Just like its name, Beyond School Bells goes beyond simply supporting quality afterschool programs. Throughout the past 17 years, this program’s driving force has been to facilitate state and local policies and practices to engage youth in hands-on learning experiences, support their families, and create safer and stronger communities across Nebraska.

What’s quality look like in ELOs?

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

An Expanded Learning Opportunity—or ELO—is a high-quality afterschool or summer educational experience that takes place outside the context of the regular school day. These hands-on, experiential, enriching chances to learn that build on, but don’t duplicate, what students are learning during the…

Tagged with: after school program, afterschool, beyond school bells, CLC, elo
Posted in Middle Childhood

ELOs put STEM learning front and center

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

In order for the Nebraska economy to grow and thrive, today’s students need to be prepared to develop the high-tech agriculture, software and advanced manufacturing skills that will attract businesses to the state and keep them here. And in the 8-3 school day, there is…

Tagged with: after school program, afterschool, elo, STEM
Posted in Middle Childhood

Want smarter students? Expand their opportunities to learn

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are high-quality afterschool or summer educational experiences that take place outside the context of the regular school day. These hands-on, experiential, enriching chances to learn that build on, but don’t duplicate, what students are learning during the school day, and allow new and…

Tagged with: after school program, afterschool, CLC, elo
Posted in Middle Childhood