Gardens Elementary School’s Cooperative for After-School Enrichment (CASE) program is one of four after-school programs in Harris County that was recently recognized on the Harris County After-School Initiative’s (ASI) website.

Each month, four schools will be recognized on the ASI website for their unique after-school programs and for the impact they are making in their communities. Gardens CASE Coordinator Liliana Rosales said she is honored.

“I feel very honored that we have received this recognition,” she said. “But the recognition is for the students. It’s all about them.”

Rosales has seven years of experience with Pasadena ISD and Communities in Schools. This is the school’s second year of the 21st Century Community Learning Center CASE program, which supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, the program offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that complement their regular academic programs and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

“Along with academic enhancement, enrichment activities and character development, we teach our students to engage in critical thinking through experimental activities,” said Rosales. “They learn to be independent and creative as well as to have high self-esteem and to believe in their dreams, goals and in their great potential.”

Over the years, the Gardens after-school program has provided a safe place for students to continue to learn long after the last school bell of the day has rung through fun, hands-on activities. Rosales said it is important for her students to have this program.

“Most of these students’ parents are working,” she said. “We foster relationships between caring adults and youth through positive interactions as well as support our students’ learning and personal development. We encourage them to become caring, responsible adults and productive professionals and citizens. This is a great way to help our kids stay safe and actively learning even when the school day is over.”

Rosales said the program helps many families and children of the community and that she loves being a part of the program’s success.

“I believe in this program and in what we are implementing here—and by believing—you always try to go beyond,” she said. “There are no limitations in what we do because we always try to do the best and go beyond expectations.”