The Arthur T. Cummings School (ATC) is home to many great afterschool activities, one of which is MassSTART. Operating in partnership with North Suffolk Mental Health Association and Winthrop Public Schools, the program is designed to strengthen the bond between home and school to develop a student’s learning capacity.
Every day after school, 15 pre-qualified students meet in the MassSTART office at the ATC to participate in a variety of activities geared toward social emotional learning, designed to enhance all aspects of their lives. Coping, team-building, and art therapy are all part of the curriculum that gives the students everyday tools that they can take back to their classrooms and to their home life.
“Many of our students have anxiety issues and social emotional struggles, and we are working hard to break the stigma, and teaching kids that everyone is going through something,†said Case Manager, Sophia Grayson, who has seen a major influx of kids interested in the program now that society is becoming more open about mental health challenges.
Since Grayson has been a case manager for the program, she has seen major progress in the students and there has been no shortage of grateful parents. One student in particular, 12-year-old Sky Rodriguez, entered the program incredibly shy and now has the lead role in the school play.
“I’ve made a lot of friends since I’ve been in the program and Miss Sophia helps me with a lot of things that have made me fearless,†said Rodriguez.
Some students have even been selected to attend Camp Mitton, a three-week camp in Brewster, Massachusetts that offers structured activities and a consistent routine with water sports, therapeutic creative arts and daily reflection. In addition to bringing the selected students to the camp on the first day, case managers will also spend quality time with the students teaching them how to pack and organize their belongings.
As well as daily afterschool projects, each student has a weekly one-on-one lunch date with a case manager and the group attends monthly field trips and volunteers for Cradles to Crayons, WINARC and the North Shore Animal Shelter.