Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Kids Can expands after-school programs for elementary and middle schools

This semester, Kids Can is excited to partner with the NMSU STEM Outreach Center, Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District, and Hatch Valley Schools. We are sharing our newly created curriculum with certified teachers and educational assistants across Doña Ana County and asking them to support our after-school programs with the support of our great Kids Can staff.

These faculty will be paid from 21st century funds and will also receive another grant for training and curriculum feedback offered during the semester to improve the clarity and ease of delivery of this already age-appropriate and comprehensive new curriculum. The next steps will be to connect the curriculum to jot down the educational standards covered in the curriculum, and then we’ll be ready for a full regional rollout of the Kids Can program. We are happy to provide young people in the Southwest and beyond with the tested and youth-approved entrepreneurship program.

At the Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy, the Kids Can program teaches 16 students in grades 6-8 entrepreneurship.

Extracurricular programs take place twice a week at the participating schools. There is help with homework in the first 30 minutes as well as a healthy snack before the start of the class.

The programs are completed at the following elementary and secondary schools:

Public schools in Las Cruces

  • Camino Real middle school
  • Lynn Community Middle School
  • Mesilla Valley Learning Academy
  • Desert Hills Elementary School
  • Central elementary school
  • Alameda Primary School
  • Doña Ana Elementary School

Hatcht Valley Schools

  • Hatcht Valley Middle School
  • Rio Grande Primary School

Gadsden Independent School District

  • Chaparral Middle School
  • Chaparral Primary School
  • Gadsden Elementary School
  • Sunland Park Elementary School

With the Kids Can program we want to enable the young people in our community to develop and develop their own products / services and to learn the responsibility and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. These programs are hands-on where students learn about entrepreneurship through planning, marketing, and building their own business. Elementary school students are taught business principles through the concept of how to run a lemonade stand business. Middle school students are taught the same principles by building a company they choose, with the guidance of the program instructor.

Thank you to all the teachers who have made this program a success! Kids Can employees appreciate all of your hard work and dedication.

April Christensen is the founder of the Kids Can Youth Entrepreneur Program at the Community Action Agency. For more information, she can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 575-680-6766.

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