Blog Archives

GetConnected 2020

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

COVID or not, this year’s GetConnected Conference participants’ engaged and enjoyed quality virtual time!

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 Programs are Here to Stay: Beyond School Bells Launches New Toolkit for Any Stage in the Creation Process

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Whether you’re contemplating, starting, improving, or sustaining a high quality afterschool or summer learning experience, the process takes work. Beyond School Bells has launched its new Toolkit to help. For those thinking about creating an Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO), the toolkit provides planning guidelines and funding structures. To start a program, this resource contains hiring and leadership strategies. To improve an ELO, explore curricular ideas and career-readiness best practices. Finally, sustain your ELO with resources for partnerships, advocacy, and messaging.

Beyond School Bells Join Forces to Bring STEM to Underserved Areas

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Beyond School Bells was awarded a one-year grant to participate in the Million Girl Moonshot. This initiative intends to increase the number of underserved youth in high-quality afterschool and summer STEM programs. With this STEMNext grant, BSB will join ten other statewide afterschool networks to launch this decade-long national initiative.

Early Childhood Care and Education in Crisis: How Providers and Educators are Grappling and Adapting in the Face of COVID-19

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

This blog features an interview with Linda Horner, and describes the struggles of early childhood educators in light of COVID-19.

From creating interactive Facebook platforms for e-learning to navigating uncertain enrollment, early childhood providers’ COVID-19-related struggles and successes are very real, particularly those of Linda Horner. Read about Linda’s experience.

Afterschool and Summer Learning Network Beyond School Bells and Partnership Coalition Grow the Good Life: Statewide Youth Tree-A-Thon Planned for Arbor Day Weekend and 2020

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

On Friday, March 13, Beyond School Bells, Nebraska’s afterschool and summer learning network announced its statewide challenge for youth and their communities across the state to collectively plant over 20,000 trees on Arbor Day weekend, April 24-26.

The coalition recognizes the extenuating circumstances due to the Coronavirus and will stay updated on the most current information regarding the virus and whether a postponement of the Arbor Day events will be necessary to a fall planting.

Afterschool and Summer Programs: Beyond School Bells Thinks Outside of the Box and Beyond School Hours

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Beyond School Bells, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Middle Childhood team has had a busy, productive, and transformative year. This initiative has long promoted our mission to create a Nebraska where all children, youth, and families thrive – through quality afterschool and summer programs.

Find out what Beyond School Bells has in store this spring and summer, including a Tree-A-Thon and more!

Afterschool Program Success: What Happens When Beyond Schools Bells’ Teams Up with Five Communities to Create Initiatives from Scratch?

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

Five communities previously considered “Afterschool Deserts” without existing afterschool programs, were selected to participate in the ELO Design Challenge. These communities include Auburn Public Schools, Beatrice Public Schools, Boone Central Public Schools, Centura Public School, Grand Island Public Schools. Anna Wishart, Beyond School Bells’ Director of Partnerships, also pointed out that each location was unique in terms of location and demographic. Recent results contain MANY stories and stats of success.