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ROSS DRESS FOR LESS SUPPORTS POWER HOUR
A PROVEN HOMEWORK PROGRAM – IN BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF OAKLAND
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland Continues Offering Much-Needed
Homework Assistance Program with the Help of Ross Dress for Less
Oakland, CA 11-20-09 – In response to the call for more effective homework assistance programs for low-income youth, Ross Dress for Less is providing $6,000.00 grants to support the continued implementation of Power Hour in 180 Boys & Girls Clubs in communities with high poverty rates across the country.
This highly successful homework assistance program, implemented by Boys & Girls Club of Oakland, helps young people come to view homework as an opportunity to learn to work independently, complete projects on time and feel positive about their accomplishments.
“We are grateful to Ross Dress for Less for enabling us to continue utilizing such a high-quality homework assistance program like Power Hour,” Cal Stanley, President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. “So many of the children we serve simply do not have access to the resources necessary for successful homework completion, which is critical to their everyday academic success.”
Power Hour is an interactive, after-school homework assistance program for children ages 6 to 18. Unlike assignments done in class, Power Hour work is conducted in a non-threatening and fun after-school environment using adults or older students, who serve as “Homework Helpers,” to supervise completion of Club members’ homework.
In addition to homework help, these staff or volunteers offer age-appropriate activities to stimulate Club members’ interest in learning. By explaining the relevance of learning fractions in order to cook a meal, for example, or by showing how geography can enable us to enjoy reading the newspaper, volunteers help Club members learn to value the knowledge homework can bring. Power Hour’s long-term goals are to ensure that youth graduate from high school, pursue postsecondary educations and become life-long learners.
Power Hour also offers tips for establishing essential communication with teachers and parents. Research has shown that parental involvement is a must if children are to develop good homework habits. Power Hour also provides incentives for Club members, rewarding them with “Power Points” and charting their academic progress on a colorful poster that is displayed prominently in the Club.
Among the available research on the importance of after-school homework assistance is a recent study conducted by the U.S. Justice and Education Departments. In Working for Children: Safe and Smart After-School Programs (2000), experts reported, “children who are left alone when school ends have more difficulties with their class work than those who participate in after-school programs. Not only is the latter group of students more likely to succeed academically, they are also much more self-confident.” Other studies have linked after-school homework assistance programs to improved behavior at school and an overall increased interest in learning.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland’s mission is to develop our community’s youth into positive contributors to society. Now in its 71st year, the Club continues to provide safe places to learn and grow, opportunities for ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, life-enhancing programs, and other character development experiences each year for over 2,500 boys and girls, ages 6 to 17. The organization supplements the endeavors of our families and our schools. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and programs www.bgcoakland.org.
About Ross Stores
Ross Stores, Inc., a Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the nation’s second largest off-price retailer with fiscal 2008 revenues of $6.5 billion. As of May 30, 2009, the Company operated 922 Ross Dress for Less stores and 52 discount locations. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices, features a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at www.rossstores.com.
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