Family Fitness Night wraps up afterschool program’s focus on World Games

Gadsden City Schools’ 21st Century/Community Education afterschool program completed a year-long focus on the World Games with a Family Fitness Night event on May 19 at the East Gadsden Community Center.

The World Games will be in Birmingham in July, so the afterschool program learned about athletes, countries and sports from around the globe through social studies, geography, civics, science, math, language arts, health, physical education, sportsmanship, art, character education, STEM and music.

Family Fitness Night provided students an opportunity to showcase projects, connect with community partners and bring families together, and organizers said 500 people representing the systems’ 11 afterschool programs were in attendance. It also, according to school officials, spotlighted the community center and its resources.

Projects showcased included The Science Behind Sports, The Wide World of Sports Injuries, World Games Countries/Geography, STEM in the World Games, The Math Behind World Games Medals and The History of the World Games

There also was a photo booth, STEM lab, Zumba class, “Olympic Games” and food.

The 21st Century/ Community Education Afterschool program’s mission is to provide high quality, expanded learning opportunities outside of regular school hours for children in a safe and secure educational environment. Its goals are to provide academic support and opportunities for engaging in hands-on learning; increase STEM opportunities, community involvement and service-learning opportunities; and connect with parents and community members by extending learning opportunities for students outside of traditional school hours.

Assisting it and the school system in staging Family Fitness Night were Quality of Life and the City of Gadsden.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Afterschool program studies World Games