AAA Application packets available now
It’s a new year for the Haywood County Schools AAA program, and again it’s all about helping students succeed. AAA stands for the Accelerated Academic Academy. It is funded through a federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the state of Tennessee Department of Education. “Our mission is to provide challenging before- and after-school programming that will meet the academic, recreational, cultural, social, and safety needs of the students of Haywood County,” said Program Director Don Sims.

“We have a caring and dedicated staff. They strive to help all of our AAA students be successful in school,” said Mr. Sims. “We also have high expectations for our students to have good behavior during their AAA activities and on the buses, and we welcome parents to become involved in the program.

“This year the AAA program is bringing enrichment back to East Side Elementary and Haywood Middle School,” Mr. Sims added. “In addition to that, we are partnering with the UT Extension Service to have a special enrichment program at Haywood Middle School. Our application process has started this week for all of our before- and after-school students, and we need to remind parents that we need the application packets back a soon as possible.”

The morning program runs Monday through Thursday from 7 to 7:45 a.m., and afternoon programs are Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5:15 p.m. at all schools.

Instructors and staff members provide homework assistance, enrichment time, and re-teach math and language arts skills needed for the students to be successful at school from grades K thru 12th. At Haywood High School, the program is providing Credit Recovery opportunities during the after-school program as well as homework assistance in math and language arts for students needing extra help in those subjects.

During the afternoon program, snacks are provided for all of the students and breakfast is offered in the mornings. AAA offers bus transportation home to afternoon students. The key to success for AAA students is participation – the more they attend AAA, the better their grades will be. Over 90 percent of long-term AAA students have shown improvements in school grades and test scores.