One Key to Success in High School Is Good Use of Out-of-School Time

by Owen Ayite-Atayi age, 17

Throughout high school, I’ve made good use of my out-of-school time. I played sports, had fun with friends, and generally stayed on top of my schedule. But my favorite extracurricular is working for a newspaper called Simpson Street Free Press.

Based in Dane County, Simpson Street Free Press is a group of after-school and summer programs focused on literacy and learning. Activities at SSFP revolve around writing, researching, and publishing newspapers. All the reporters and columnists are kids.

Through newspapering, students learn skills that easily transfer to a classroom or job site. As students, we use “7-Traits of a Writer” and plenty of peer-to-peer editing to polish and complete assignments. A range of other opportunities are available to students at Simpson Steet Free Press. They build strong academic foundations and learn networking skills. Many see their work published by local newspapers and other Wisconsin media outlets.

Simpson Street programs help kids use out-of-school time in productive ways. High-quality OST supports classroom teachers and the school day. But, while high-quality OST supports school-day outcomes, activities usually don’t replicate classrooms. That’s what happens at SSFP. Students in grades 2-12 learn to innovate, write well, and use technology.

SSFP newsrooms hum like a small business and buzz with activity, but younger students never get stuck. Older students assist younger peers. Activities like spelling and vocabulary become collaborative word games. Revision and editing aren’t difficult, but rather help young writers get published. Simpson Street Free Press makes academics fun, cool, and doable.

For me, this has been the most rewarding part of my work at Simpson Street. At a time when Wisconsin schools are switching to science-of-reading instruction, OST programs can play a crucial role in supporting teachers. My work at Simpson Street helps me give back to my community. Now entering my senior year, I enjoy helping younger students with reading and writing.

OST programs like those at SSFP provide close reading and one-on-one tutoring that isn’t available during the school day. At SSFP, experienced high school and college students deliver multiple doses of phonics and close reading to students in the elementary grades. We polish our own skills along the way. I’m proud to be part of this out-of-school time program.