Educators in West Michigan’s Northview Public Schools realized students required more than tutoring and other academic supports to reintegrate into school life following months of isolation during the pandemic.

To help students reconnect with friends and re-engage with school activities, the Northview educators designated American Rescue Plan funds to launch the Belonging and After School Engagement, or BASE, program. The federal school rescue funding was made possible by the Biden administration.

During a time when Northview students may have felt isolated and disconnected, the American Rescue Plan funds provided supplies, transportation and stipends to create a program that offers a sense of belonging and acceptance.

“After the COVID-19 shutdown, educators noticed that many students felt disconnected from school,” said Nancy Hoffman, a Northview schools’ teacher and MEA member. “Even with the return of sports and other extra-curricular activities, there were a number of students lacking involvement.”

The BASE after-school program offered a broad range of activities for students, including rock climbing, mountain biking, board games, e-sports, comic books and cooking.

“Classes would meet after school and were a stress-free and fun learning experience for students without the pressure of grades or competition,” Hoffman recalled. “Staff members were encouraged to tap into their own personal interests and share their passions, whether that was the art of design or the art of cooking.”

Shelli Tabor, a Northview schools language arts teacher and local union President, said BASE provides a solid alternative for students to feel connected to others through activities not normally offered in schools.

Alex Hower, a Northview teacher and MEA member, leads the thriving Super Smash Cats E-sports Club, which is based on a popular video game. Hower said the e-sports club has provided students new outlets to connect

with classmates with the same interests. He said he has formed new connections with his students in the process.

Hower said the biggest takeaway from BASE was “watching students who barely talk in class become incredibly talkative when surrounded by loving and accepting peers.”

“Seeing the students in a different light was really helpful,” Hower added. “I created bonds with students. I was able to understand another part of who they were.”