The YM&YWHA vu Washington Heights & Inwood is proud to present its newest addition to the Youth and Family Department: the Y at WHEELS!
Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) is a nationally recognized public school in the Washington Heights neighborhood. WHEELS began their elementary school in 2014 and currently have Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, an, as of fall 2016, 2nd grades. WHEELS is unique in its dual language learners model with all classes taught in both Spanish and English.
The WHEELS partnership with the Y began in 2016 and has resulted in an innovative, social justice-minded after school program. The program integrates the neighborhood themes of Camp Twelve Trails, with its enrichment programming falling into four categories: Play (Sports and Physical Activity), Create (Arts, Music, and Performance), Discover (Science and Math), and Grow (Earth-Based Education). These electives are paired with a focus on academic instruction in literacy and math, extending the students’ learning by several hours each day. The highly trained staff ofthe Y at WHEELS After School Program model and encourage healthy socio-emotional behavior and use restorative methods to make each experience with a child a learning opportunity. The WHEELS and Y communities have come together around common values of diversity, curiosity, mentoring and citizenship to create an after school program unlike any other. Visitthe Y at WHEELS page to register or contact Ashlyn King ({safe_mailto(anking@ywashhts.org)}) with questions.
