VOCM After School Program – Last Day Pizza Party – Celebration of Students’ hard work and for students graduating to 4th Grade

VOCM sponsored an after school program (See Youth Leadership Development) for 3^rd graders at Pecan Park Elementary School in west Jackson. This year was the first year that all 3^rd graders in the state of Mississippi had to pass the 3^rd grade gateway test. We provided funding for 3 teachers and 3 assistants to work four afternoons a week with 25 students who were struggling in reading and math. 13 or 52%of our students passed the test. The remaining students have 2 additional chances to prepare for and pass this test and graduate to fourth grade. Although we would have liked to have had a higher percentage, we recognize that most of the ones who passed would not have done so without the extra help.

Pecan Park Elementary School – After School Program Participants & Teachers

Pecan Park After School Program Teachers – from Right To Left. Melissa Speed, Tonya Page Hughes, Dolores McKinzie and Winne Frazier

Ovianna (Left) & Dominique (Right). Very Happy After School Program Students Pass Reading Test to Graduate to 4th Grade.

Pecan Park Elementary After School Program. Mrs. Taylor (Assistant Principal) and Mrs. Quon (Principal)

Pecan Park Elementary School, Mrs. Williams (Subsitute Teacher for the After School Care Program)