SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools is launching a initiative called Engage IRL aimed to connect students with activities.
It’s part of the district’s plan to get students off their phones, participating in classrooms and socializing with other kids.
SPS is just beginning to implement its new cell phone policy across the district and is working to give kids more activities as a substitute.
“As we work to get kids off their screens, then really providing them with the opportunity to do something that’s worth their time, that they’re interested in, to get them feeling like, ‘yeah, I’m happy to be off my screen because I’m involved in this activity,'” said Aaliyah Ashley-Meek, engagement navigator for SPS.
Students fill out what the district calls IRL Plans that show kids what their school has to offer to fit their interests. For students whose interests don’t align with activities already at their school, navigators will work on creating new clubs and sports to fill those gaps.
“Taking the data and looking at ‘What are we missing in our schools for kids?’ and how do we provide them with that opportunity to start a club whether that’s drawing, art club, archery,” said Ashley-Meek.
Ashley-Meek said she is already working on introducing cross country as a sport in all of the district’s elementary schools. She has 11 schools she will work with directly this school year and hopes to get all the kids at those schools involved with an activity.
“I just hope that there’s an opportunity for everyone to say, ‘hey, I found something that I’m interested in that’s a safe space for me in my school,'” she said.
The district has five navigators in total working directly with schools and the students this year.
“We’re just really supporting the athletic directors and the club advisors on how to best support our students and make sure the opportunities are there for what they want to do,” Ashley-Meek said.
Ashley-Meek said navigators are also working with community partners to set up activities outside of the district for their students as well.
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