Region VII After School Programs Annual Winter Conference set for January 4

The Region VII After School Programs will host its 4th Annual Winter Conference for staff and supervisors in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare County after school programs. The event, which annually attracts 500 attendees, will be held on the College of the Sequoias campus January 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

"Region 7 Winter Conference will provide dedicated after school staff with the skills and knowledge needed to align their instruction with the regular school day and support the students they serve," says Diane Wilcock, Region VII program lead. "We are anticipating our largest attendance to date!"

The free full-day seminar - organized by the Region VII After School Programs within the Tulare County Office of Education, in partnership with the HEART Program and the College of the Sequoias Career Education Consortium - offers trainings to improve the services provided at school sites. Attendees will be able to select workshop sessions from six different strands: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), Classroom Management, Academic Support and Enrichment, Whole Child/Youth Development, Program Plan and Design and Administrative Engagement. Some of the workshops being offered are: Healthier, Happier Life Skills: Tools for a Culture of Wellness; Who Are the Right People? (a session on hiring staff); and Side-By-Side Coaching In Real Time (a session on building leadership skills). "We're seeing exciting results in the field of after school programming," says Ms. Wilcock. "Students who regularly attend an after school program increase their school day attendance, and improve performance in the classroom and on state standardized tests."

After school staff may register until January 3 by calling the Region VII After School Programs office at (559) 651-0155. Presenters and vendors must register no later than December 14. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Diane Wilcock at (559) 651-0155, ext. 3628.