Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement (Riis Settlement) has been awarded an Advantage After School Contract from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to operate an after school program at P.S. 171 Peter G. Van Alst School beginning in September. This brings our total number of Riis Academy campuses to five: Riis Academy-Queensbridge, Riis Academy-Ravenswood Cornerstone Community Center, Riis Academy-P.S. 166 Henry Gradstein, Riis Academy-Information Technology H.S. and now Riis Academy-P.S. 171- Peter G. Van Alst.
“We are pleased to welcome the P.S. 171 school community to the Riis Academy family. This new addition will allow us to provide academic enrichment, health and wellness, leadership development and life skills to even more students and helps expand our continuum of services reaching youth in grades kindergarten through 12,” said Riis Settlement’s Executive Director, Mr. Christopher Hanway.
Riis Settlement is also pleased to be partnering with Zone126 for evaluation of this new program as well as integration into the Zone’s cradle-to-college model for northwest Queens.
Advantage After School Programs (AASP) provide quality youth development opportunities to school-age children and youth for three hours directly after school. Research shows that children who participate in quality afterschool programs have higher school attendance and academic achievement and are less likely to be involved in risky behaviors during the afterschool hours. AASPs are supported by school, community, public and private partnerships. They offer a broad range of educational, recreational and culturally age-appropriate activities that integrate what happens in the school day. AASPs also provide working parents with a safe place for their children. (From: The New York State Office of Child and Family Services.)
