In This Week's ACROSS Your Desk:

• NH OST Map: Is Your OST Program on the Map?
• ACROSS NH Mindful March Training Series: Registration is Open!
• SEL Corner: FREE SEL Connected Games from Playworks
• Resources to Celebrate MLK, Jr. Day
• April 6th: 2024 Celebration of OST Professionals and Planning Your Summer Conference
• Directors Circle for OST- Building an SEL Minded Staff: January 18th
• Using the SACERS-U for CQI: January 24th
• OSTB 7: Family, School, and Community Relationships: February 1st
• Afterschool Credential Information Session: February 7th
• SEML CoP: February 8th
• OST Directors Circle- Choosing Love: February 8th
• Beyond the Intro and Overview of the SACERS-U
• OSTB 2: Learning Environment and Curriculum: February 13th
• Intro and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U: February 14th
• How to Earn a GSQ Step in OST: February 15th
• How to Register for an ACROSS NH Training in NHCIS

Attention Out-of-School Time Providers!

Ensure YOUR Program is Part of the Statewide OST Map 

In 2023, the NH Afterschool Network worked diligently to create a comprehensive resource for families and communities across our state highlighting existing Out-of-School Time (OST) program opportunities available for students. What eventually became a resource map of over 585 programs has been an incredible tool to: 

• help families identify and enroll in program opportunities in their communities,

• support OST providers in promoting their programs,

• identify and align supports with program challenges and statewide opportunities, and

• help create a compelling case for increased support and funding for the field.

This year, NHAN is committed to conducting a full update of the map-ensuring the information on all listed programs is updated and accurate-but also ensuring new OST programs have the opportunity to be added and included in this incredible tool.  

We Need YOUR Help! 

We’d like to invite all Out-of-School Time programs across the state to participate by completing a quick questionnaire (we promise it takes no more than 10 minutes) and sharing more with us about the services you offer youth and families. Your submission not only helps ensure we have a comprehensive view of OST across the state (by adding your program information to the map), but also helps families and partners in your community quickly identify and connect with YOUR program. 

Click here to participate! Your participation matters! Please join us in highlighting the incredible collective power and impact of OST across the state of New Hampshire. 

And one more reason to participate! By completing our brief questionnaire, you stand a chance to win one of four $100 Amazon gift cards-a small token of our appreciation for your time and insights. 

A few quick reminders: 

• Take a few moments to share your valuable insights by clicking here to access the survey.

• Please work with your team to ensure only one entry per program is submitted.

• Please note that the deadline for submissions is January 24th!

Have questions? Please contact Chris Quigley cquigley@seresc.net Communication & Programs Specialist.

This message is shared on behalf of our collaborative partner, the NH Afterschool Network.

Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness Learning in Out of School Time:

A Hybrid Training Series

Why Social, Emotional, 'and' Mindful Learning?

Thursday, March 7, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Mindful Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation

Thursday, March 21, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Mindful Social Awareness and Heartful Connecting

Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8:30 pm on Zoom

Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness Learning (SEML): Putting it into Practice

Saturday, April 6

In Person at the ACROSS NH Spring Conference (Location TBD)

Participants who complete all 4 sessions will receive a FREE SEML Materials Kit to implement into their program to celebrate and recognize their full participation in the training series! 

Registration is required in NHCIS for the first three individual trainings. The last session will be during the ACROSS NH Planning Your Summer Conference and will require a small fee to attend the conference. (Registration and information for the ACROSS NH Planning Your Summer Conference will be announced in February.)

Click here or on the flyer image to download the complete details!

Save your spots now and register for the sessions you choose in NHCIS!

A Free Resource with SEL Connected Games for OST!

Dear SEML in OST Colleagues, 

Have you heard of Playworks? They have an entire SEL Connected Game Guide that has dozens of fun games with SEL connection and... this guide is FREE! 

Go to https://www.playworks.org/resources/get-the-sel-game-guide/ and download the Playworks "Games for Social and Emotional Learning!"

The guide features an index where the games have been categorized by prominent SEL features of the games. You can also see the grade level each game is intended for. 

One thing I love about using this resource is once we get into games like "Wink-ums" (included in the image here), we might start thinking about the many other games and activities offered in your program through a Social, Emotional, and Mindfulness Learning lens. Likely, many features of your program are already SEML-aligned and supportive! Using a resource like Playworks SEL Game Guide might be just the thing to spice up your mid-year programming. You might introduce a new game or highlight an old favorite with new SEML intentions. 

Consider how engaging a game like "Wink-ums" can be for a group of kids. Likewise, consider the amount of regulation practice it includes where one has to maintain focus on the task at hand. They have to manage urges to peek or move while using their sense of hearing to intently focus on their turn to try to tag their partner. 

I hope you are able to dig into some of these fun and free SEL games! To learn more about Playworks go to https://www.playworks.org/.

Warmly, 

Abigail J. Blodgett Argentine, B.S.; NH ASMP

ACROSS NH Social Emotional Learning Coordinator 

ablodgett@acrossnh.org

Resources for Providers

Every year on the third Monday of January, we come together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and honor the civil rights activist and his fight for peace, justice and equity. Here are some resources that you can implement into your program this week, and throughout the year.

• Resources for K-5 from NEA
• Activities from PBS
• Meaningful Activities from We are Teachers
• A Collection of Resources from Edutopia
• Activities by Age Group from Kindercare
• A Booklist on MLK, Jr.

We are thinking about spring, too! ACROSS NH and the NH Afterschool Network are currently collaborating to bring you the next Annual Celebration of Out of School Time (OST) Professionals and Planning Your Summer Conference!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 6th. Location TBD. Look for an announcement in this "ACROSS Your Desk" weekly newsletter in February with the location, time, registration, and details. Its going to be an amazing day of celebration and professional development for OST!

Assembling My Toolbox for Building an SEL Minded Staff

Thursday, January 18th

10:30-11:30am on Zoom

As leaders in OST programs know, it is the skills and talents of the adults in a program that will determine whether we achieve or fall short of our desired outcomes. Well-regulated, self-aware, engaged, well-supported, mentored, and coached adults in youth serving spaces tend to respond best to the needs of children and youth, communicate effectively with one another, and engage in the self-reflective practices that allow them to consistently bring their best efforts to the program.

This session will provide tools, activities, and strategies for program leaders to utilize and adapt to meet their needs. From creating and implementing the right interview questions that help gauge the strengths and needs of prospective new hires, to staff development activities that can be used with program staff of all abilities, this session is designed to get folks talking to one another, reflecting, and implementing strategies in their programs.

Register for this session in the NH Connections Information System (NHCIS). You will receive 1 hour of PD in your NHCIS training transcript. Join Jamie Nadeau, ACROSS NH Director, and Abigail Blodgett for this special Directors Circle!

Monthly virtual Directors Circles are the opportunity for out of school time (OST) directors to share successes, challenges, network with like-minded colleagues in the field, ask questions, to build knowledge in a specific topic, or just come to listen. 

Using the SACERS-U for Continuous Quality Improvement

Wednesday, January 24th

6:30-8:00pm on Zoom

Pre-Requisite: Participants need to have completed the "Intro and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U Training."

This training is for out of school time (OST) programs looking to improve program quality. We will review basic information on the School Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS-U) and process quality. Bring your SACERS-U questions! We will examine assessment and planning tools to create a plan for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) to use for program development.

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. Please have your SACERS-U tool with you for the training and bring any SACERS questions with you! Questions about the training? Please email chazelton@acrossnh.org.

OSTB 7: Family, School, and Community Relationships

Thursday, February 1st

6:30-8:30pm on Zoom

ACROSS NH is proud to provide free virtual and interactive Out of School Time Basics trainings on the National Afterschool Association (NAA) Ten Core Knowledge, Skills & Competencies. These trainings are provided at no cost to you thanks to funding from the NH DHHS and Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration. Click here for the 2023-2024 flyer of ACROSS NH OSTB trainings.

The family is central to the development of children and youth. This virtual training will explore the importance of developing and maintaining open, friendly, cooperative, and respectful relationships with families. We will also identify ways to support the relationship between children and their families that will enhance the quality of the program and the community.

Afterschool Credential Information Session

Wednesday, February 7th

12-1pm on Zoom

Are you thinking about applying for your afterschool credential? Is it time for you to renew? Are you thinking about joining the ACROSS NH Credential Challenge? Come join this virtual information session and have all of your questions answered. We will review the steps and documents needed for you to apply for your afterschool credential. Your education, experience, skills, and talents will be recognized through this system and your credential is good for 3 years! Click here to learn about the ACROSS NH Afterschool Credential Challenge 2023-2024.

Social Emotional and Mindful Learning

Community of Practice

Thursday, February 8th

10:15-11:30am on Zoom

At the heart of the OST field are the values of building positive relationships, creating quality learning opportunities, and making contributions to lifelong thriving outcomes for our children and youth. 

This SEML Community of Practice is for out of school time staff, site directors, and directors. We will focus on the guiding principles of social, emotional, and mindfulness learning in OST programs, share resources, practices, and collaborate with like-minded colleagues. Participants will walk away with a refocused lens on implementing SEL in OST.

This session is provided by Abigail Blodgett, B.S., SEL Coordinator; NH ASMP WT, PM, ADS Level 6 and ASA Level 3, and Rick Alleva, Ed.D.; ACROSS NH Master Trainer, NH ASMP WT, F, AP. Registration in NHCIS is required to attend.

Choose Love:

Make Choosing Love Part of Your Day

Thursday, February 8th

10:30-11:30am on Zoom

Join us to meet Dee Dee Thurber, Child Care Aware of NH Director and Choose Love Ambassador, and learn how Choosing Love for yourself connects to sharing the Choose Love program with the children, families, and other groups you work with. Activities, books, and Choose Love resources will be shared to help you begin your Choose Love journey. 

Register for this session in the NH Connections Information System (NHCIS). You will receive 1 hour of PD in your NHCIS training transcript. Join Jamie Nadeau, ACROSS NH Director, and Dee Dee Thurber for this special Directors Circle!

Monthly virtual Directors Circles are the opportunity for out of school time (OST) directors to share successes, challenges, network with like-minded colleagues in the field, ask questions, to build knowledge in a specific topic, or just come to listen. 

Beyond the Introduction and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U

Thursday, February 8th

12:00-1:30pm on Zoom

Pre-requisite: Intro & Overview of ERS and SACERS-U training. This session is designed to give out of school time staff the opportunity to take a deeper dive into the scoring, the subscales and the indicators of the SACERS-U tool. It is also an opportunity to share questions about using the tool. Tips and strategies on program improvements to improve scores will also be shared.

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. Bring your SACERS-U tool to the training along with with all of your SACERS questions!

OSTB 2: Learning Environments and Curriculum

Tuesday, February 13th

6:30-8:30pm on Zoom

ACROSS NH is proud to provide free virtual and interactive Out of School Time Basics trainings on the National Afterschool Association (NAA) Ten Core Knowledge, Skills & Competencies. These trainings are provided at no cost to you thanks to funding from the NH DHHS and Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration.

Environments and curriculum are the foundation of your afterschool program! In this virtual interactive workshop, you will learn how to create engaging environments and prepare curriculum that provide fun and enriching activities. The session will also explore how children and youth learn through activities and play. You will leave knowing how to design and implement learning opportunities that include goals and objectives.

Introduction and Overview of ERS and SACERS-U

Wednesday, February 14th

12:00-1:30pm on Zoom

The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are observational tools that assess process quality of child care programs. This virtual training provides an introduction and overview of the ERS and the School Age Care Environment Rating Scale-Updated (SACERS-U) tool. We will examine the benefits of using the tool for children and for programs. Participants will practice how to use the SACERS-U tool in an out-of-school time (OST) program. This training is intended for programs with school age children in OST. This training fulfills the required Granite Steps for Quality (GSQ) ERS Training for the SACERS Learning Environment Standard Rubric.

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. ACROSS NH can provide a copy of the SACERS-U tool to your program by request once you have completed the training. Please email your request to chazelton@acrossnh.org.

How to Earn a GSQ Step in OST

Thursday, February 15th

12:00-1:00pm on Zoom

This training is for out of school time (OST) programs, and early childhood programs with an OST component that are planning to apply for a Granite Step for Quality (GSQ). We will review the details of the GSQ OST Rubrics. We will cover the pre-requisites needed, and the the staff requirements & the learning environment requirements needed for applying for a step. Participants will also acquire resources from ACROSS NH to support their work including a self-paced checklist to help you get organized!

This training is provided by Cathy Hazelton, M.Ed.; NH ASMP WT, PC, IM, NH ADS 3 & LE 3 and SACERS-U Anchor. ACROSS NH can provide a copy of the SACERS-U tool to your program by request once you have completed the training. Please email your request to chazelton@acrossnh.org.

How to Register for an ACROSS NH Training in NHCIS

Log into NHCIS. Go to your "training tile" and click on "take a training." Scroll down and click on "Month" view. Advance to the date of the training that you want to register for and click on the "training title." If you are having trouble registering for an ACROSS NH training in NHCIS, please email Cathy Hazelton at chazelton@acrossnh.org.

For more information about NHCIS,

go to https://www.nh-connections.org/providers/nh-professional-registry/.