For many students at The Hope Institute Learning Academy in Chicago, learning continues after the final school bell. That’s because students attending this year’s after-school program are studying martial arts, music, culture and even creative writing to develop interest in the arts.“This highly interactive programming aids in student development and helps our young learners appreciate the diverse world we live in,” said HILA Principal Mike Jakubowski.

Students participating in a performance literature workshop are studying the works of legendary
American poet Shel Silverstein, whose popular poems include “Whatif” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” The fourth and fifth graders in the program are also gearing up to perform some of Mr. Silverstein’s poetry Dec. 12. Students will also recite two of their own original poems.

Third and fourth grade students are studying Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates music and culture. The students are learning basic movements and rhythms, and well as discovering the traditional instruments played during performances.
In another after-school course, students are learning drumming techniques of West African and Afro-Cuban music. The hands-on lessons also incorporate history and culture.

This year’s after-school program also features the return of Global Explorer Kids, a class in which students learn about the sounds and crafts associated with different cultures.