Collaboration Between Club and School

Though the Hamilton International Middle School Boys & Girls Club has only been operating for the past year, the school and Club have developed an incredibly close partnership in that time. The two groups collaborate to provide consistent resources and attention for kids to keep them on track academically and socially.

Boys & Girls Clubs began operating out of the school with a six-week summer camp in 2018, involving Seattle Public School teachers and targeting students that needed support getting up to grade level in Math and Language Arts. After a successful summer, the Club moved in for the 2018-19 school year. Since then, the Club has been fully dedicated to working with the school on offering consistent support for kids.

To name a few projects the Club and school collaborate on, Club Program Director Porter Wells regularly supports the teacher and students during a Math Empowerment class, aimed at helping 6th graders that tested below grade level to gain confidence and skills. The Club provides childcare and resources at the school’s Family Engagement Nights, and recently, teachers worked with the Club on running academic programs over Spring Break.

About the Club

Porter has seen a mix of kids attending the Club — some students from Hamilton Middle who are new to the Club, and other familiar kids who had previously attended other Boys & Girls Clubs like Wallingford, B. F. Day, and Coe.

Beyond free academic support programs such as Math Academy and Homework Club, Club members can also choose to participate in a variety of enrichment programs like Baking Club, Robotics Club, Art Club, Yoga Club, Cardo Kickboxing, and an open gym program called Get Your Game On.

What’s Next for the Hamilton Club?

Currently serving an average of 60 kids per week, the Hamilton Club’s future goals are to grow membership and create a smooth transition for kids leaving Hamilton Middle into the Wallingford Teen Center. Youths who stay involved in the Club through high school graduation are more likely to be academically successful and socially engaged citizens.

The work at the Hamilton Club is made possible thanks to Seattle voters’ passing the Families and Education levy. Supporting kids in middle school can make a lasting impact on their development. Learn more about the levy here.