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09/23/2020 09:27 AMWith school in hybrid mode and no guarantee that students will return to or remain in a traditional school schedule, other options are emerging both for families that need a daycare setting for their children as well as those looking for extracurricular activities. Last Thursday, the schools announced a “Distance Learning Center” at the town gym in collaboration with the Soundview Family YMCA in Branford that will offer “a caring and safe environment where kids can achieve, feel a sense of belonging, build friendships and explore new interests.”
That program is only open to Madison residents enrolled in distance learning or hybrid learning at the schools, according to the release. The program is “in the process” of being licensed by the state, the release says.
Other locally available programs that launched earlier—some of which have been ongoing even during the pandemic—are run by the Madison Arts Barn, with Director Robyn Klaskin saying her organization plans is to be ready to adapt to absolutely anything, and offer enrichment programs and childcare to the community regardless of what the future holds.
“I feel like people are still trying to figure out what’s working for them,” Klaskin said. “It’s kind of like a work in progress for some people right now...It’s going to change on a day-to-day basis I think for a little while.”
As of late last week, only about a dozen kids were enrolled in the Arts Barn’s Structured Study Hall, designed to accommodate families during the school’s hybrid learning. The relatively low numbers Klaskin attributed to the fact that the Arts Barn wasn’t able to officially launch its programs until only a few days before school started as they navigated all the new state licensure requirements.
The structured study hall offers price points for full time, hybrid, and drop-in learners, though Klaskin promised that she “would never turn anyone away” based on financial issues, working with Madison Youth & Family Services to make sure those who struggled to pay could find a solution.
The program only had a dozen or so sign-ups as of last week which Klaskin attributed to the fact that she did not receive the go-ahead from the state until only a couple days before school started.
“A lot of parents who really needed this couldn’t wait anymore, so a lot of people who expressed interest had found or made alternate arrangements by the time we were able to actually open,” Klaskin said.
The study hall will go on as long as there is funding, and as long as there is a need for childcare, Klaskin said. Currently the Arts Barn is working on a camp license, but could explore other means to maintain the program, including working with the Board of Education.
The Arts Barn is also pushing ahead with several other programs, from crafts to STEM to theater, and Klaskin said plans to make sure nothing will interrupt them, even if a worsening pandemic requires even more social distancing.
Most notably, auditions just wrapped up for their fall theater production, which is designed from the ground up to be performed in-person in a socially distanced setting, or from home with actors using computers or other devices as part of the play.
Mirror Mirror On the Wall, a so-called “fractured fairy tale” designed specifically to be virtual, will offer some sort of final product for its young actors to perform and share with the community, according to Klaskin, either with webcameras serving as the magic mirrors if people have to stay home, or filmed on a socially distanced stage
“We were afraid to have a fall production in the fear that we may not be able to bring it to a conclusion,” she said. “At the end of the day, we decided that we were going to pick a play based on it being a virtual play...There’s no scene where they’re actually next to each other.”
Watching a lot of young people in town lose the opportunities they had worked very hard for, or see projects cut off without any catharsis or conclusion was painful, Klaskin said, and the Arts Barn doesn’t want to let that happen again.
“Kids were being let down left and right with not being able to finish their sports...no prom, no this, no that,” Klaskin said.
The Arts Barn’s spring production of another fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, was one of those projects cut short by the pandemic, though a parent with production experience has been working to mix an audio-only version of the play from separately recorded vocals.
The approximately 25 people involved in Mirror Mirror and anyone who signs up for craft programs won’t have to go through the same turbulent experience, Klaskin said, with alternate plans ready for any eventuality. Even though technically the play is fully staffed, she said she would be open to have a second cast if there is enough interest
“I think the kids right now are just feeling disconnected, and having a hard time with what’s going on, and there needs to be some safe social interactions,” she said. “And it’s hard. Anything we can come up with that sort of helps them, we want to do.”
To sign up for programs, or for more information on Madison Arts Barn, visit www.madisonartsbarn.org. For more information about the YMCA Distance Learning Center, visit www.madisonct.org/1080/Y-Distance-Learning-Center.