Cardinal Farrell Community Center - Afterschool Program

Program Overview

After School Program
The Cardinal Farrell Community Center is a licensed and accredited center providing a free after school program for area students in Pre-Kindergarten through 7th grade. Our program strives to meet the educational needs of each student by providing individualized plans tailored to their reading and math needs. Each student is offered up to 10 hours a week of homework assistance and tutoring across the academic school year. In addition to center based programming, each student is provided home access to a reading and math online tutoring program. Although we are in the West Dallas/Cockrell Hill area, we serve students enrolled in DISD, charter schools, and private schools in the Dallas and surrounding counties.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

January Success Story -Cardinal Farrell Community Center - Afterschool Program
For some families, afterschool programs are a way for Mom
and Dad to get a few more hours in the work day. For other families, like Paul's, the Cardinal Farrell Afterschool Program is the stepping stone to a more achievable future. When the 2017-2018 school year began, Paul was in the 15th percentile (Tier 3) of readers on Istation—a comprehensive online reading program—across the United States. Paul was consistently misspelling words, making errors while reading, and only comprehending a small amount of what he read. He was quickly falling between the cracks and in need of critical interventions. At school, Paul could have easily become another face in a crowded room of students who need individual attention. At home, it was difficult to receive homework assistance since his parents are primarily Spanish speakers. The learning gap was only increasing for Paul.
That's where the Cardinal Farrell Afterschool Program—and the dedicated team of tutors and teachers—came into play. The Afterschool Program provided Paul with the dedication, passion, and attention he needed to succeed. His tutor created opportunities for him to work on an individualized reading approach that provided him with the resources and challenge that he needed. He received the homework assistance he needed to help his grades in school. Not only did he receive help while in the program, his family was given resources for home as well. Each student in the afterschool program is given home access to both reading and math online programs. The staff created incentives to encourage extra work at home during breaks and weekends. He was given take home books to work through at home. Quickly, that learning gap started to close. In one month, Paul jumped from Tier 3 being about a year below grade level to a Tier 2 reader which places him slightly below grade level. His dedication to his learning and his commitment from his tutor landed him a spot in the 35th percentile of readers in fourth grade. After another month of intensive intervention, Paul is now in the top 40th percentile of readers among Istation. His numerous hours logged on Istation and careful homework completion has paid off. Paul is now on track as a fourth-grade student in the Dallas Independent School District. Paul exhibits an extraordinary work ethic each month. He is not only becoming a better reader, he is becoming a more confident young man. It has been an incredible journey watching Paul succeed, and we are so encouraged and excited to watch more of our students blossom in the future.