Page 3 - 2019-2020 Leader Manual

Overview

This manual will help you:
o deliver quality Calgary AfterSchool programming
o include children and youth who often struggle in groups
o teach the module content so that participants have fun, retain information, and develop
lifelong social emotional learning skills.
o support students learning to calm (regulate), build connections (relate), and deepen their
ideas (thinking) reflecting on the activity (using a “group debrief” format).

The Leader Manual is meant to be added to, changed, and strengthened. It will benefit from your input
and ideas, and we appreciate your feedback.

What is Calgary AfterSchool (CAS)?
Calgary AfterSchool (CAS) is a city-wide initiative for children
and youth that provides intentional programing with positive
structured activities. Program providers include the City of
Calgary Recreation and Calgary Neighbourhoods (CN) business units, as well as partner program
providers such as Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and Carya, among others.

CN CAS programs are offered afterschool on school days throughout the school year and run for one and
a half to three hours at least twice a week. They are offered in strategically selected communities to
further the work of other CN initiatives focused on vulnerable populations.

A variety of neighborhood-based programming is offered by CN CAS programs. These programs are
themed in the following four streams:
• Recreation
• Cultural Connections
• Leadership & Volunteerism
• Arts and Media

These programs have explicit social and emotional outcomes that align with guidelines given by our
funder, Family & Community Support Services (FCSS), a joint municipal-provincial funding program
established to support and fund preventive social services.

CAS Program Objectives:

Research shows that sustained participation in high-quality after-school programming can help
children and youth to stay out of trouble and to achieve age-appropriate developmental milestones.
Additional benefits of participation in after-school programming can include “positive child and youth
development” in one or more of four developmental domains: physical health and development,
social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Leader Manual, Social Programs, Calgary Neighbourhoods page. 3