
Students at Chaparral say the program helps them with their homework, extra time in the computer lab, nutrition education and physical fitness. Several students said they have made new friends with students not in their classes during the school day.
Michael Lujan serves as Director of After-School Services for the Rio Grande Educational Collaborative which manages the after-school programs at the Deming district elementaries.
Lujan said the recognition for two Deming programs out of 94 programs across the state was an amazing achievement.
The elementary schools are currently accepting kindergarten through fifth grade students in their after-school programs.
The programs operate Monday through Friday from 3-5 p.m. and students can be picked up beginning at 4:45 p.m.
There is no cost to parents for the program and students receive a healthy snack each day.