On Sunday, ABC30 will air a new Children First program entitled All Kids Belong – a half-hour special about the benefits of programs that include a wide variety of students.
This summer, TCOE launched its Esports League competition and an Esports Community of Practice (COP) to support teams throughout the county. El Monte Middle School in Orosi is one of the teams participating in the league and the COP. In one segment of the special, El Monte students describe feeling like they are part of something cool. While an organized county program is new to Tulare County, multi-year studies of esports programs found that participating students showed improvements in academic achievement and attendance, with decreases in discipline issues.
In another segment, reporters visited the Tulare Joint Union High School District Community School. Part of the growing number of Tulare County schools building community schools, the Tulare center supports students and their families with a variety of resources – from school supplies and food to English language classes. The philosophy behind California’s community school program is that by providing students and families with the support they need, the more likely they are to succeed.
Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire also sat down with ABC30’s Stephen Hicks to discuss strategies to help students feel more included at home, and at school through extra-curricular activities.
Other segments include stories about a new book about epilepsy published by Valley Children’s Hospital and Parlier High School’s Conjunto Pantera banda music group. Statewide, in another segment, Big Brothers Big Sisters is launching a service challenge to enroll 10,000 men to serve as mentors, coaches, and tutors to boys and young men.
News anchors Stephen Hicks and Sydney Berger will host All Kids Belong, airing Sunday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m. and streaming on www.abc30.com/ChildrenFirst.