From the After School Program to Wake Up Exercise

Friends Select’s office of continuing programs offers 
an engaging environment for students before the school day starts and after it ends, extends services to Vacation Care when school is closed 
for holidays and breaks, and provides peace of mind and convenience for 
busy families. Joe Hardy, director of continuing programs, and Pam McCabe, associate director of continuing programs, are committed to offering activities and clubs that fit the needs and interests of lower- and middle-school students, and ensuring the 
care they receive is a continuation of students’ classroom experiences.
 
In the past five years, the team has expanded the programs available 
to include STEAM-focused options such as Tech Lab and Maker’s Space, and physical activities in partnership with existing organizations such as Girls on the Run and Soccer Shots. In addition to homework help, games, and clubs, students enrolled in the After School Program (ASP) can participate in “options”; these multi-day, hands-on exercises include simple science experiments, baking, and arts and crafts projects. The program has not only expanded the number of unique offerings but also increased the number of enrollees.

This year, the office of continuing programs created a new morning experience for students who arrive 
at school early. In partnership with Maurice Williams P’32, Wake Up Exercise enables students to start 
their morning with movement. For 40 minutes each morning, students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade can join Maurice for organized games, obstacle courses, or rock climbing, all before the school day begins. As they leave, Maurice shares motivational messages to empower them through 
the day ahead.

As founder and CEO of Born with a Purpose, Maurice is motivated to help students stay active because he knows from experience that physical exercise can be transformative. “Exercise is like a filter system; it enables us to think more clearly and gets the ‘yuck’ out before the day starts,” he said. “As an adult, I found that a good morning workout routine empowers me to have a strong and successful day, and students can benefit from the same concept.”

Pam is working with Maurice on a similar option for the Vacation Care Program to supplement other physical activities, such as swimming and dance workshops. “I’m hopeful that by creating a time and space for fun physical exploration during Vacation Care, we can eventually develop the activity into an After School Athletics option that would be unique in a lower school setting,” she said.

Initially, a plan for Maurice to offer his program after the school day fell through. Joe said, “We met with Maurice in October to discuss how 
we could partner with him on his impactful programs for ASP, but our office couldn’t find the physical space to make it happen. I could tell Maurice had something special to offer, and I knew it would be our loss if we couldn’t make it a reality.” Then, Joe remembered an idea presented to him years ago by a fellow faculty member for a physically engaging morning program. 

“Dave Younkin [director of lower school] previously mentioned to me an idea for a morning exercise program for students to burn energy and settle into their day,” Joe said. “In remembering that conversation, I realized we could make Maurice’s vision happen by making it a morning program.” The brainstorming invested in making the program happen is a positive aspect of Joe’s position. “Wake Up Exercise was born from creative problem solving, one of my favorite things about my job,” he added. “That’s kind of our secret in the office of continuing programs: we can do most things we set our minds to and, sometimes, the limitations give way to something special.”