The ASCEND program is a collaboration between Curry Public Library and Central Curry School District to provide positive after school activities for kids in 5th-10th grades. The program:
Provides opportunities for academic enrichment
Works with community partners to offer an array of programs and activities to promote exploratory learning
Helps students transition from middle to high school
Promotes meaningful family dialogue about important topics
Activities are held at the Curry Public Library and Riley Creek School, with some programming and activities off-site. Transportation home and to/from activities is provided. Generally, the program operates five days a week, on shortened school days, and on in-service days.
The After School Commitment to Education and Development program provides after school opportunities for middle school students. The program is a collaboration between Curry Public Library and Central Curry School District.
Field trips like this one to the DEFY trampoline park in Eugene are one component of the ASCEND program that seeks to provide experiences for youth beyond the confines of the isolated Gold Beach community.
Activities like this annual gingerbread house contest are a part of ASCEND's mission to facilitate family activities and engagement.
During the COVID-19 school closures, ASCEND staff teamed up with Central Curry School District to deliver meals (breakfast and lunch) to students in the area.
ASCEND seeks to instill the values of community service through projects like this trail cleanup day along the Rogue River.
Arts and crafts are a key part of ASCEND goal to supplement the regular school day programs.
Under the guidance of Curry County's SNAP food program, ASCEND particpants had the opportunity to learn to cook.
ASCEND staff are always looking for ways to encourage the dreams and potential of future adults.
Art projects are a mainstay of the ASCEND program.
Safely masked and housed in their personal pod, ASCEND participants continued to engage with activities like art during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During COVID-19, students created blankets for seniors in local care facilities who had been isolated from human contact for nearly a year.
Computer programming and robotics depicted by this photo of the ROOT robotics program is one component of ASCEND's goal of supplementing school day learning.
The ASCEND staff is creative, fun, and motivated by providing positive experiences for youth.
During school and library closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ASCEND program provided weekly Grab & Go STEM activity kits for children of all ages in the Gold Beach community.
Dance is one of many enrichment programs available to ASCEND participants.
As a community partner of ASCEND, the Southern Oregon Workforce Investment Board has provided opportunities for ASCEND students to participate in the Girls Who Code Program, which seeks to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does.
One of the ASCEND goals is to facilitate a bridge program to more effectively transition and prepare middle school students for life in high school.
ASCEND participants are encouraged to participate in community service programs at the Shore Pines Assisted Living facility. These programs provide much needed social engagement for Shore Pines residents and offer ASCEND participants opportunities to develop empathy and understanding for our elderly population.
