Henry Lord Community School partners with YMCA

FALL RIVER — While their classmates were back at the Henry Lord Community School, a group of sixth-graders were on a field trip to the YMCA reaping the rewards of being “safe, responsible and respectable.”

Sixth-grader Jason Springer earned Henry Lord’s Bulldog Bucks for assisting kids who needed help and going to school early — at 7:46 a.m. to be exact — to help the teacher, he said.

The “safe, responsible and respectable” behavior that earned his peer Jose Valasquez Bulldog Bucks included “being respectful and standing up for people who get bullied,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Springer, Valasquez and four other Henry Lord sixth-graders, Eyan Jeffers, Nicole Coelho, Alex Pacheco and Nea Benitez were taking part in a new partnership between the school and the YMCA.

Those who earn the most Bulldog Bucks in their class are rewarded with a two-hour break from their school day to go to the YMCA where they swim in the pool and then take part in another activity suited to their grade level.

Fall River YMCA Program Director Ja’Nell Henry and Executive Director Stephanie Mancini said Henry Lord Principal Aimee Bronhard contacted them with the idea for the field trips. It started in January with a group of six kids coming to the YMCA every other week.

Bronhard was looking for something that was going to have a big impact on the students who came to the YMCA, as well as the students who heard about it afterward,” said Henry.

“It gives not only an opportunity to reward these kids for good behavior and good attendance, but also an experience. Because the school is on the other end of the city, some of these kids have never been here before,” added Mancini. “We found so far that kids really enjoy it here. They want to know how they can come here — so it’s exciting for us.”

In addition to swimming, activities include arts and crafts for the younger students, said Henry, and for the older students, learning how to use the fitness equipment.

Through this partnership, other initiatives with Henry Lord and other schools in the district are evolving, said Mancini. One of those is a plan for the YMCA to open an after-school daycare program at Henry Lord. “We recognize that there isn’t a lot happening on that end of the city, so we’re working on licensing that space for about 26 kids,” she said. “It’s been a real joy working with them. Dr. B. (Bronhard) is a joy to work with.”

Additionally, they’ve been in talks with leaders at the Mary Fonseca and Samuel Watson schools, who are also interested in having their students spend time at the Y for incentive programs for the upcoming school year.

“I think it’s important to know we’re all working together here. Social emotional issues have increased and they’ve carried over into the YMCA and, I’m sure, other after-school programs. It’s important to know we’re all working together to help those needs. It’s really all about those relationships,” said Mancini.

“We have a really good partnership with the Fall River schools,” added Henry, adding she would welcome as many schools as possible.