Features
EP is a true extension of the school day By Kayleen Whitmer, Director of Extended Programs
When Trinity students pack their bags, the carpool bell rings, and children’s voices fill the hallways, members of the Extended Programs (EP) team know it is their time to shine. As you walk around campus, you see a seamless transition from the “regular school day” to the “extended day” as our EP teachers welcome students with warm smiles (or smiling eyes this year!) and exciting programming. In EP, our students can cultivate a passion for chess, coding, dancing, Legos, robotics, soccer, STEAM, yoga, and more in our Specials Classes; or enjoy digging in the sand, playing tag, swinging as high as they can, or discovering a new theme of the week in our Core Classes. With more than 60 options available, our afterschool program has the right set of offerings for each student and family.
Sixth Grader Matthew and Second Grader Zavien work together during Trinity Robo Warriors.
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Looking back at EP, previously called Afternoon Enrichment, I’m proud to be a part of the evolution of the program. When Trinity’s after-school program began, students enjoyed the extra time with after-school teachers in their classrooms while some students were transported to an off-site after-school program called Haverty Hollow. Over the years, more and more of our families required an after-school program for their children. In the 2000s, it became clear that Trinity needed to offer more on-site options for our families through its after-school program. In 2012, Trinity hired and fully supported its new after-school program leader, Carol Meadows. Afternoon Enrichment became Extended Programs, and Carol developed a new model so that the program fell more in line with the academic day. It also evolved to include more robust and exciting options for students. When I joined the Trinity team in 2018, I was thrilled to see the array of classes offered as well as the areas in which we could continue to expand EP. With 16 years of experience in after-school programs and day camps, I know that highquality after-school classes and camps support positive social, emotional, and academic growth. Providing a strong and enriching program for all our students is, and always has been, a priority for me. In a typical year, close to 80 percent of our students participate in EP. Each student, whether he or she is picked up at 2 PM or 6 PM, receives thoughtful and intentional programming provided by loving and skilled teachers who support our mission and Program and Pedagogy Pillars. Another one of my main goals for EP has been streamlining the students’ and families’ experience moving from the
