Language Enhancement Afterschool Program

A partnership of the College of Education and Allied Professions, College of Arts and Sciences, Jackson County Public Schools, and the Cullowhee United Methodist Church

The LEAP Program is an afterschool program that provides high-quality programming to students who are learning or who have learned English as a second language. We also conduct parent outreach to involve parents in the process of educating their children. We provide meaningful learning activities to help scaffold and prepare students for school and for life.

We work with Jackson County Schools, Western Carolina University, and Cullowhee United Methodist Church to create a program in which many stakeholders are interested in the long-term success of the children enrolled in the program.

The LEAP Afterschool Program is a grant-funded organization and our continued service to the students depends on the success we can help them achieve through our teaching and facilitation of activities

Through fun activities that have a basis in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, as well as other academic ggoals, students have the chance to learn many skills that will help them excel academically.

We approach our work with the children with a loving, positive standpoint. Our tutors and volunteers in the organization are trained to give each child the very best instruction, using the most up-to-date technologies and methodologies.

Primary Goals:

• To promote English language development and proficiency
• To focus on reading, writing and math skills through a developed and responsive curriculum.
• Improve communication and social language skills of students who are or were a part of the ESL program at Cullowhee Valley School.

Benefits of Our Afterschool Program:

• Studies have shown that the more a child participates in afterschool programs, the more likely he/she is toshowacademic and social gains.

Benefits of Family Engagement for Students:

• Higher grade point averages and scores on standardized tests or rating scales.
• More classes passed and credits earned.
• Better attendance
• Improved behavior at home and at school.

Benefits of Students' Consistent Participation in Afterschool Programs:

• Providing youth with safe, extended learning environments.
• Reducing the likelihood of youth engaging in delinquent activities.
• Reinforcing knowledge, skills and concepts learned during school.
• Teaching and reinforcing personal/social skills development.
• Promoting positive youth development.

LEAP is Rising to Meet New Challenges

LEAP follows Jackson County Public Schools policies to create a flexible program that can accommodate changes to

program plans and offer solid programming that meets children’s academic, emotional, and social needs for the new school year.

To help meet educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, LEAP pivoted from being an onsite program to an online one during the last school year.

Safety Precautions:

To protect the health and safety of our students and the entire LEAP community, we have implemented additional safety measures in accordance with local, state, and federal orders and guidance:

• Health screenings for students and staff.
• Hand washing scheduled and offered throughout the day.
• Social distancing practices.
• No sharing of food, materials, or school supplies.
• Face coverings provided for children and staff.
• Sanitizing high-use areas and materials throughout the day, and at the end of each day.

Would you like to know more? Click the following link to access our annual report from the 2019-2020 school year.