Plumas Lake Elementary School District

After School

Expanded Learning Opportunities Progam, ELO-P

After School Enrichment Program
Project Resilience
Expanded Learning Opportunities Progam, ELO-P

Project Resilience: A Plumas Lake Expanded Learning Opportunities Program

1:30/2:30-5:00, Monday-Friday, 2025-2026 School Year

Overview

The PLESD Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, Project Resilience, serves students at Rio Del Oro Elementary and Cobblestone Elementary. Sixth-grade students are bused from Riverside Intermediate Middle School to participate in the program. Upon arrival, students are greeted by their assigned after-school educators in the multipurpose room, receive a nutritious snack, and transition to contracted and customized after-school enrichment.

Guided by its mission, Project Resilience innovates and implements mindful enrichment and creative engagement opportunities for students within Plumas Lake Elementary School District. Its vision is to inspire, validate, and nourish the whole child, ensuring every student is supported academically, socially, and emotionally in a safe and inclusive environment.

This year, with PLESD’s transition to a half-day TK model, Project Resilience expanded to include specialized programming for TK students through Project Curiosity, a developmentally aligned enrichment track emphasizing exploration, early literacy, numeracy, and curiosity-driven learning.

Grounded in its mission and vision, Project Resilience provides a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where students receive structured academic assistance and enrichment experiences designed to foster intellectual, social-emotional, and creative growth.

Program Details and Resources

25-26 Program Handbook

25-26 Tuition

25-26 Flyer

25-26 Waitlist (K-6th Grade)

25-26 TK Pre-registration (TK only)

25-26 Meal Application

Early Dismissal/Absence Form

Walker Permission Form

Educational and Literacy Elements

Project Resilience prioritizes tutoring, homework assistance, and academic intervention in ELA, Math, and Science. Homework help provides structured time and individualized support to reinforce classroom learning. After-school educators deliver small-group instruction targeting specific academic needs, promoting comprehension of grade-level standards, and improving student confidence.

Standards-aligned, technology-supported programs—including IXL, Brain Pop, and Mystery Science—supplement instruction with short, skill-focused lessons in ELA, Math, Science, and Spanish. Students receive targeted intervention at least twice weekly, and both school sites maintain Chromebook access to ensure equitable participation.

Literacy development is further strengthened through Reading Buddies and 916 Ink’s Find Your Voice program. Students in grades 3–6 engage in a structured creative writing process that culminates in a professionally published book and a public reading. Cross-cohort literacy mentoring allows older students to support younger peers, fostering leadership, fluency, and confidence.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is integrated throughout academic support. Opening and closing circles promote reflection, connection, and self-regulation, while restorative circles offer structured opportunities for conflict resolution and community-building. Project Resilience also collaborates with the school psychologist and interns to provide group and 1:1 counseling using the Second Step SEL curriculum.

Enrichment Elements

Project Resilience offers hands-on, inquiry-based STEAM and creative enrichment designed to complement academic growth and support the whole child. Daily STEAM lessons incorporate SEL principles with standards-aligned Science, Math, and Literacy instruction.

The program integrates a signature suite of enrichment experiences emphasizing: Mindful Enrichment; Creative Engagement; STEAM Enrichment; Social-Emotional Learning; Online Intervention; Dance; Creative Writing; Resilient Art; Empowerment Theatre; Tennis; Golf; Counseling; and Improv.

Students participate in programming facilitated by after-school educators and community partners, including 916 Ink, B Street Theatre, SVCC, Dream Enrichment, New Day Counseling, Bollywood Dance, Zulu Dance Foundation, and Placer Golf. Offerings include Agency in Art, Resilient Yoga, Lego Exploration, Team Sports, music, P.E., Improv, and Mystery Science mini-lessons. Credentialed art and P.E. teachers provide specialized instruction that enriches student experience and extends learning beyond the classroom.

Culminating projects celebrate student learning and creativity, such as published books, dance performances, theatre productions, improv showcases, and art projects. SEL workshops provided by New Day Counseling reinforce foundational competencies in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

As the program has grown, Project Resilience now includes 4–5 cohorts per school site, each spanning 1–3 grade levels. These cohorts foster peer collaboration, leadership, and a sense of community. Older students support younger peers academically and socially, while cohort norms and expectations are co-created by students and staff to center student voice, agency, and engagement.

For TK students, Project Curiosity provides developmentally appropriate enrichment centered on sensory exploration, foundational literacy and numeracy skills, motor development, and curiosity-driven play with center rotations.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Background

As per the CDE: “The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) provides enrichment programs for transitional kindergarten through 6th grade. “Expanded learning” …focus[es] on developing the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs and interests of pupils through hands-on, engaging experiences. It is the intent of the Legislature that expanded learning programs are pupil-centered, results-driven, include community partners, and complement, but do not replicate learning activities in the regular school day and school year.” Plumas Lake Elementary School District will prioritize after-school enrichment based on needs assessments.

Scan the QR code to access the 25-25 Waitlist.

Expanded Learning Legislative Details

(1) “Expanded learning opportunities” has the same meaning as “expanded learning” is defined in Section 8482.1. “Expanded learning opportunities” does not mean an extension of instructional time, but rather opportunities to engage pupils in enrichment, play, nutrition, and other developmentally appropriate activities.

Key Details

Enrollment is limited and tiered by student need. Student enrollment will be categorized by cohort: (TK-1); (1-2); (3-4) and (4-6). The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program requires 1 teacher/educator per 10 TK and K students and 1 teacher/educator per 20 students in grades 1-6.

1) Enrollment priority is needs-based. Needs are based on several categories as defined by the California Department of Education, CDE. Enrollment is not guaranteed. If the program is full, you will be added to the waitlist and the waitlist will be tiered by eligibility.
2) To meet the needs of youth, five cohorts have been created.
3) Project Resilience is located on-site at Rio Del Oro Elementary and Cobblestone Elementary.
4) Programming details and scheduling are subject to change.

5) Behavioral Expectations are in alignment with school site and district expectations.

For more details, our board-approved plan is attached for your review. Please contact me if you have any questions.
PLESD-ELO-p-plan-2023-2024.pdf

Nena Weinsteiger Guzman, EdDDirector, Expanded LearningClick Here to Contact