After-School Retention : Plenty of Serrano Pupils Are Staying Late to Benefit From New Enrichment and Remediation Program

Conventional wisdom suggests that elementary schoolchildren can’t wait to bust through the doors and head home.

But at Serrano Elementary, about half the students are getting an extra hour of schooling at least once a week with the implementation of a new after-school program this fall. And enjoying it.

Serrano Elementary is offering 12 enrichment and remediation classes including reading comprehension, math, Japanese, chess club, science, and arts and crafts.

Roughly 200 of the school’s 500 students are taking various classes.

Fifth-grader Mary Jane Garcia, 9, attends a comprehension class Monday, a writing-skills program Wednesday and a homework club Thursday, but she doesn’t mind the extra hours of studying in class. “I like it because it’s fun,” she said. “You get to do different things than you do in class.”

Third-grade teacher Kathryn Woody, who teaches the homework club, said the class enhances the students’ study habits and allows her to make sure they stay on track.

Alexandra Stahler, a 7-year-old second-grader, looks forward to shimmying and swinging her hips during her musical theater class every Thursday. “I think it’s fun and really exciting to be doing this,” she said. “It helps me improve my dance steps, and I can learn something from it.”

Joan Cycenas teaches English-language development two days a week to students who speak English as a second language. “Most of these students need the extra support,” she said. “The program gives them additional support to what the parents do at home.”

Carolyn Seeley, coordinator of the after-school program, said the classes filled up early when school started. The school intends to keep the program going next year.

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.