• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home In Print Helping Hands

YMCA Tiger Academy is Making a Difference for Families

Brittany Howard by Brittany Howard
May 4, 2023
in Helping Hands, In Print, Youth & Family
0
YMCA Tiger Academy
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Founded in 2009, YMCA Tiger Academy is a public charter school that provides valuable education for scholars in pre-K through 5th grade and serves as a much-needed educational resource for families in the community.

The Academy focuses on rigorous academic standards, character development, personal and social responsibility, and strong family involvement while providing each child with a structured and nurturing learning environment. This is made possible through a unique partnership with the Johnson Family YMCA — a branch of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast — where scholars enjoy enrichment opportunities and benefit from family support services.

“Tiger Academy has a strong relationship with the YMCA here in Northwest Jacksonville where every student and their family has an opportunity for a free membership,” explained Stephanie Jackson, the Tiger Academy principal. “We want to ensure they have every resource available to live healthy lives, both in and out of the classroom. Currently, students ride the Tiger bus to the Johnson YMCA for P.E., science lab and Safety Around Water lessons.”

Jackson added one of the things that makes Tiger Academy unique is its daily structure. The school day goes from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the school year is 195 days long. This is three academic weeks longer than the traditional 180-day school year. The students engage in 90-minute reading and math blocks as well as instruction in science and social studies. Students have resources — P.E., music, art or library — every day except Fridays when they participate in clubs. A majority of the students also take part in afterschool activities on campus through Team Up or the Tiger Academy afterschool program.

The Tiger Difference

  • Enrichment opportunities and family support services at the Y include a family membership for each student.
  • Longer school day and year than traditional public school.
  • Before and afterschool care available.
  • Safety precautions enforced.
  • Strong college focus from the first day students step into a classroom.
  • One-to-one, student-to-technology device ratio.

“We strongly encourage participation in and have seen great response to our variety of clubs,” shared Jackson. “Whether it’s gardening or robotics club, our students are choosing something they want to be involved in. These clubs help develop camaraderie and have cut down on behavior issues.”

Furthermore, Tiger Academy has a mentorship program where each staff member has a handful of students they mentor and check on. Jackson said it encourages accountability and allows for students to open up to an adult that isn’t their teacher or parent.

“Tiger Academy is truly unique in its collaborative approach with scholars and their parents,” said Jackson. “We believe in consistently including them in events and learning opportunities as they are just as vital to the educational growth of their children as we are as educators.”

Photo courtesy of YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. 

Tags: communitycommunity recreationeducationMay/June 2023programmingTiger AcademyYMCA of Florida’s First CoastYMCA Tiger Academyyouth programming
Previous Post

The “Must-See” Companies of the 2023 YMCA General Assembly

Next Post

Youth Fitness Q&A with Ben Engelbrecht

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany is the editor of Community Rec Magazine. Reach her at brittany@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Cover Story

YMCA of South Hampton Roads: Experience the Magic

September 8, 2023
Fitness Spaces
Ask The Expert

Maximizing Fitness Spaces Q&A with Hannah Patrick

September 8, 2023
BCI Burke
Brand Voice

Play That Moves You with BCI Burke

September 8, 2023
Accessibility barriers
Features

Understanding Accessibility Barriers 

September 8, 2023
Membership Retention
Features

Mastering Membership Retention

September 8, 2023
Aquatics
Aquatics

Making Waves in the Winter

September 8, 2023
Next Post
Youth Fitness

Youth Fitness Q&A with Ben Engelbrecht

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

July/August 2023 Issue

July/August Issue
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

September/October 2023

The Latest from CO

  • On-Demand: Exploring the Psychology of Weighing
  • Three Methods to Ensure Success When Evaluating Trends
  • YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Opening Campus With Middle School
  • Mastering Employee Onboarding

© 2023 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2023 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist