Theatre Workshop at Glade Hill Elementary
- SML Good Neighbors, Inc.
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
Spotlight on Success: Week 6 of the S.E.A. Theatre Workshop at Glade Hill Elementary!
What a journey it has been! We are officially through Week 6 of the S.E.A After-School Theatre Workshop at Glade Hill Elementary School, and the progress we've witnessed is nothing short of inspirational. The growth in confidence and ability our young performers have shown is truly remarkable, and watching their progress each week is one of the greatest joys of our program.
The Power of After-School Programs in Rural Communities
For a community like ours, after-school programs are essential. In rural areas, they often represent one of the only opportunities for students to safely access enrichment activities that extend beyond the traditional school day. These programs provide a vital, safe space during critical after-school hours, offering not only adult supervision but also nutritious snacks and the chance to build positive peer and mentor relationships.
By providing these engaging, accessible opportunities right here at Glade Hill Elementary, our S.E.A. Workshop is helping to fill a gap and ensure that all students have the chance to discover their unique talents and broaden their horizons.
Theatre: A Catalyst for Confidence and Literacy
The choice of theatre as our medium is deliberate, as its benefits extend far beyond the stage. Theatre education is a powerful tool for improving literacy and academic confidence.
Boosting Literacy: Students engaged in drama constantly work with scripts, building reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary as they analyze text and embody characters. Researchers have even found a causal link between performing texts in the classroom and significant increases in story recall and understanding of written material.
Building Confidence: Stepping into a character and performing for an audience is a massive boost to self-esteem and public speaking skills. This newfound confidence rarely stays confined to the stage; it spills over into the classroom, encouraging students to participate more actively and tackle challenging subjects with greater belief in their abilities.
Fostering Empathy: Taking on different roles teaches students to see the world from another person’s perspective, an invaluable skill that fosters empathy and strengthens social-emotional development.
We see these benefits every single week in the children at Glade Hill!
Gratitude for Our Supporters
This meaningful work would not be possible without the backbone of our organization: our dedicated community. A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support our S.E.A. programs, you are directly investing in the future of these young people.
A special note of thanks goes to Lisa for stepping in to assist this week for Ms. Chris, ensuring our performance schedule stayed on track. And of course, a heartfelt appreciation to our amazing instructor for bringing such passion and expertise to the workshop, and for consistently bringing out the absolute best in our young performers!
We wish all of our friends, families, and supporters a fantastic and safe weekend. Thank you for making these transformative programs a reality!
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