The Grace Place School Age Programs emphasize literacy, language and life skills in a caring, positive environment where each child’s gifts are recognized and encouraged by teachers as well as volunteer mentors.  All aspects of our program reinforce the critical academic skills these children are lacking as well as the social skills, motivation, and confidence necessary for real success in school and life. 

Our Student Programs include:

Elementary After-School Program:   Tutoring, Homework Help, Learning Activities, Mentoring

LINKS for Middle School Students:   Tutoring, Mentoring, Club Activities, Career Field Trips

High School Interns and Volunteers:  Job Skills, Leadership, Mentoring and Career Path Success Program

Summer Day Camp  A six-week session of full-time Academic classes and Enrichment activities

Holiday Activities, Special Events, Etc:  Back-to-School, Christmas, Literacy Days, Field Trips, etc.

Parent Education and Family Literacy:  Guest speakers, special programs for the whole family

A Music teacher was funded in 2011 by a grant from the Hobbs Foundation.  Our music program engages the heart, mind, and spirit, and contributes significantly to children's intellectual development, broadens children's understanding and apreciation of the world around them, teaches self-discipline and cooperation, contributes to self-esteem, enhances creativity, and enriches children's lives. 

A grant from The League Club of Collier County for the addition of a mobile computer lab in the Fall of 2010 enables us to provide students with the necessary tools to become more competitive in school and in today’s job market.  This portable computer lab enhances our ability to keep at-risk kids engaged in academics, to develop challenging learning activities and higher order thinking skills, and bridge the digital divide between kids whose parents can afford technology and those whose parents can barely afford food.

Academic skills are built through the engaging teacher-led lessons, the Read Naturally software in the computer lab, the emphasis on and practice of reading every day, and the one-adult-for-every-two-children attention to homework help and learning activities.  Frequent contact with parents and with classroom teachers in the public schools allows us to target our instruction and support to the needs of each individual child.

Social skills are practiced from the moment they get on the bus and have to look the driver in the eye, shake hands, and say, “How are you today,” to the thank you notes the children frequently write, the classroom cleaning duties and emphasis on recycling, the weekly chapel time and character time, and the practice of community service projects.  The addition of a Children’s Garden this year, along with related field trips, has enhanced learning as well as an understanding of earth care and positive social skills.

Self-esteem, motivation, and confidence are built by the positive mentoring our large number of volunteers provided for each child.  High attendance by the children paired with consistent volunteers leads to remarkable results.   In addition, six high-school interns from their own neighborhood and their own culture (Haitian and Hispanic) who are honors students with college goals provide outstanding role models for the children.