After School Program Enriches Kids and Dublin Schools

This fall, Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) donated $16,000 to the 8 elementary schools in the Dublin Unified School District. Donated funds were generated from enrollments in last Spring’s session (March to May) of the DPIE After School Enrichment Program. $2,000 was given to each school and their PFC for their ongoing support of the After School Enrichment Program.

This donation brings the 6-year total from the DPIE After School Program to $132,900.  The donations have been used to support student and school needs at each of the 8 elementary schools.

Program Grows Despite Covid Challenges

The After School Program is an outgrowth of parent requests for DPIE to offer enrichment opportunities for their students right after school on their home campuses and was piloted in the fall of the 2016 – 2017 school year at Dougherty Elementary with 6 course offerings.

A total of 96 students enrolled in the program that fall and the feedback was so positive that the program spread to 5 Dublin elementary campuses by the end of that school year. The popularity of the program continued in 2017 - 2018 and by that spring, 7 elementary schools had introduced the  DPIE After School program on their campuses. The program expanded yet again in the fall of 2018 – 2019 with the opening of Cottonwood Creek K-8 School. 

Claire Mognaga, Principal Frederiksen Elementary School

Our partnership with DPIE is invaluable.  We are thrilled to see that our enrollment in after school enrichment courses has increased so much this year.  Families have commented that they appreciate the opportunity to provide these classes to their children on the school campus to expand their experience and generate new learning, creativity and passion. 

In addition, DPIE has donated money back to our school.  We have used this funding to purchase an outdoor sound system and a schoolwide assembly showcasing Chinese New Year Lion and Dragon Dance Performances.

By the fall of 2019 – 2020, parent demand for DPIE After School Program grew rapidly and saw increased enrollments to over 1,000 in each of the three sessions - fall, winter and spring.

The onset of the Covid Pandemic and the shutdown of schools forced DPIE to pivot in offering online courses in the 2020 – 2021 school year where enrollments were significantly reduced, with an average 350 students per session that year.

Parents at Dublin elementary schools cited several factors that were important to them.

1. On-campus courses would provide their children with a safe and familiar environment.
2. The program would allow students to extend their learning day in a fun and meaningful way.
3. Courses offered on their home campus would eliminate the need for parents to have to pick up their kids right after school and drive them across town to attend classes elsewhere.
4. The DPIE After School Enrichment Program would be an efficient and win-win situation for Dublin families and DPIE.

Rapid Rebuild Leads to Record Enrollments

With the pandemic still a concern to Dublin families, the return to in-person instruction last fall saw just 320 enrollments, but that number more than doubled to 669 in the winter session then hit a record 1,166 student enrollments last spring.

The rapid rebuild of the program and eyepopping growth over that short time has been nothing but phenomenal and challenged DPIE staff to constantly recruit new DUSD teachers to “teach their passions” in the program, as well as outside vendors who offer new and innovative courses that parents are asking for.

Holly Scroggins, Principal of Amador Elementary School 

DPIE offers high quality, enrichment classes to our students after school. When we first opened Amador, parents wanted enrichment classes for their students that they could trust to be educationally stimulating, local, and safe. DPIE stepped in and offered this very thing for our community.

DPIE found talented outside providers and in addition, it reached out to our staff and asked them about their passions and then turned these passions into programs that students would love to learn. This approach has allowed DPIE to offer a broad selection of classes by highly trained staff.  In addition, DPIE as an organization has given back funds to use during the school day for enrichment opportunities at Amador.  Thank you DPIE for your continued partnership! 

This fall, participation in the After School Program soared by more than 500 students and 1,687 students are now enrolled in one or more of the 88 DPIE After School Enrichment courses currently running district-wide.

It Takes a Village!

DPIE Staff and Board Members are thrilled that the partnership with Dublin families has worked so well. By working together we have been able to build a program that allows students to explore their interests in fun and interesting ways that fosters a love of learning. The creation of the After School Program really brings meaning to the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  DPIE believes that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children in order for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.