The Middle School Program, offered free of charge during the school year, is the result of a collaboration between East End House and the Cambridge Public School District. The program serves 30 middle school youth from Cambridge at the Putnam Avenue Upper School (PAUS) during the school year and summer.
We aim to inspire leadership through youth-designed initiatives. We empower young people to create their own learning experiences through project-based learning. Additionally, we utilize the unique talents and interests of our staff to foster an environment that encourages the free expression of ideas and concerns.
Our Philosophy
We believe that as youth enter their middle school years, they need positive support and guidance from caring adults within their family, school, and community. Teens spend most of their time outside of school. Our program offers them an enriching place to try new things, learn social-emotional skills in interactive ways, develop leadership skills, and build positive relationships with their peers and adults. Our program focuses heavily on building positive relationships between children and adults, as staff members seek to form personal connections and model positive social skills.
Our Programming
Activities and Enrichment
Activities are designed to build academic confidence and complement what children learn in school. Students participate in activities that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Staff plan activities based on student interest and connect their lessons to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
ThinkGive
ThinkGive enables young people to experience the power of kindness and the value of giving — learning firsthand from their actions and their peers.
ThinkGive is about self discovery and understanding the positive effects of giving of yourself — a compliment, a helping hand, appreciation, love. Teachers provide guidance and encouragement, but students own their experience. They see their actions making a difference and gain agency in building kind and inclusive communities.
ThinkGive is designed to gradually guide students from giving in their comfort zone to giving in their courage zone where the most valuable learning occurs. Students build a strong sense of self, make meaningful connections, and experience firsthand the power of their words and actions.
Student-Run Clubs
Students work together to create clubs for the second half of program. The students are in charge of planning the club, making a list of needed materials, budgeting, and planning. Past and current clubs include, Arts and Crafts Club, Cooking Club, Slime Club, DinoLearn, Gaming Club, Knitting Club, Basketball Club, Dodgeball Club, and Student Directors Committee. The Student Directors Committee provides feedback to the group leaders and program management team and helps interview group leader candidates.
YO! Summer
The Youth Opportunities (YO!) Summer Program held its inaugural session in 2010. East End House staff design games, art activities, science challenges, and special events for students entering the middle grades at the Kennedy-Longfellow School. Students spend 10 hours a day at the program, which utilizes a fun, hands-on, and evidence-based curriculum to prevent summer learning loss, particularly in science and literacy. A more relaxed atmosphere than the school year, YO! Summer incorporates overnight camping adventures, field trips, and team building activities to enrich the summer months for middle schoolers. Youth build their leadership skills, expand their worldview, and enhance skills learned during the school year.
Homework Help
A priority of the Middle School Program is to ensure students are keeping up with their homework and classwork. The first part of our after-school program is dedicated to completing homework. We work directly with students, teachers, and guidance counselors to help build confidence and understanding around core subjects (ELA, Math, Science).
Health and Wellness
East End House’s Health and Wellness Initiative is a part of everything we do in the community. In the Middle School Program, youth are given a healthy snack every day. During full days and vacation weeks, students are provided with breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
Physical activity is also a vital part of our Health and Wellness Initiative. The Middle School Program offers different types of physical and mental activities. We focus on making sure students are taking care of their bodies and brains. We work to give youth the skills and knowledge to continue to make healthy choices and advocate for their needs even after they move on from East End House.
Continuous Program Improvement
The Middle School Program has a variety of systems in place to ensure we are doing all we can to help youth progress socially, emotionally and academically. Surveys are distributed to children and families several times throughout the year to gauge satisfaction levels and identify unmet needs. Children participate in focus groups as well. Information from surveys and focus groups is used during staff meetings and in planning for new program sessions.
Enrollment
For information on enrolling your child in Afterschool or summer program, email Marse Romero or text/call her at 857-292-4185.
Looking for more information or need assistance?
Don’t want to email? Call us at 617-876-4444.