- Parent Category: News
- Published: November 29, 2011
James A.R. Nelson, a 12-year-old 5th grader at Hanrahan Elementary, has aspired to play the snare ever since he first heard the sounds of drums in his church choir.“When I was little I liked the sound of the church drums,” he said. “I have wanted to play ever since.”
Since 2008, the ASAP after school program at Hanrahan Elementary School (operated by Provident, Inc.) has given the opportunity for their students to be involved in an afterschool drumline program. The drummers range from nine to 13 years old, all from the Jennings School District. Together since this past January, the drummers “really look forward to drumline practice and have really worked hard this year,” said Nicholas McDowell, Drum Instructor and Site Director at Hanrahan Elementary.
The program has worked with over 150 students from Hanrahan Elementary and Gary Gore Elementary “teaching them respect, leadership, camaraderie, and the basics of musicianship,” according to McDowell. Currently, there are 12 students, among them eight new faces this year
Read more: ASAP Drumline Helps Keep Hanrahan Students in Step
On October 12, 2011 a new "memorandum of agreement" was signed by Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS), St. Louis for Kids, and St. Louis Public Schools that outlines the management duties for the After School for All Partnership (ASAP).
ASAP is proud to be to be one of 27 after school programs profiled in a national report on innovative after school efforts issued by the National League of Cities. ASAP is led by ARCHS, St. Louis for Kids, and Saint Louis Public Schools - providing free after school services to more than 4,000 area students.
As the upcoming school year approached in early August, ASAP helped stuff backpacks with valuable after school information at the Saint Louis Public Schools' (SLPS) "Back to School Fair" on August 6 at Chaifetz Arena. ASAP service providers spoke with thousands of area students and their families about after school opportunities offered at their local schools
ASAP after school programs at Fairview Elementary and Hanrahan Elementary teamed up for an entertaining production of "After School's Got Talent" on June 30. The show was held at Jennings Senior High School and featured acts by dozens of after school students.