At Roton Middle School, Mr. Dean Vaccaro leads a team of school day educators who make Carver’s afterschool program such a success. This dynamic and engaging learning environment balances homework, enrichment, and wellness/ recreation.
This blog post highlights how students receive academic support through innovative tools like UPchieve for Teachers and interactive learning activities like the Math Challenge Jeopardy! Game.
UPchieve: Free, Online STEM Tutoring for Carver Students
One group of students at Roton Middle School benefits from UPchieve for Teachers, an online tutoring platform that connects students with tutors in STEM subjects. This Verizon-supported national initiative provides financial backing and over 1,000 Verizon volunteer Academic Coaches to help students succeed.
How it works:
Students log in and select a subject they need help with.
UPchieve matches them with a certified tutor in real time.
Tutoring takes place in a safe, text-based chat and virtual whiteboard environment.
Students earn rewards: After completing five sessions, students receive a $10 gift card as an incentive.
Verizon also provides Carver students with laptops, ensuring they can use UPchieve at school and home.
Educators track progress seamlessly, making sharing updates with teachers and parents easy.
By integrating with platforms like Google Classroom and Canvas, UPchieve ensures a smooth learning experience while empowering students to take charge of their academic success.
Math Challenge: A Jeopardy! Game that Makes Learning Fun
For students looking to reinforce their math skills, Carver’s Math Challenge offers an exciting, game-based approach to problem-solving. Modeled after the classic Jeopardy! This activity turns math review into a friendly competition that keeps students engaged.
Game Setup:
A game board is organized into categories such as multiplication, fractions, geometry, and problem-solving strategies.
Point values increase with difficulty, encouraging students to challenge themselves.
Team play: Students work in teams to choose a category and answer questions.
Scoring: Correct answers earn points, while incorrect answers may lead to point deductions or opportunities for opposing teams to steal.
This format strengthens math proficiency and encourages teamwork, strategic thinking, and confidence in problem-solving.
Enrichment Activities: From 3D Snowflakes to Survival Structures
Beyond homework help, Carver’s afterschool program also nurtures creativity and critical thinking through hands-on enrichment activities:
Art Enrichment: Students crafted 3D Snowflakes to be donated to the school’s upcoming Frozen production, fostering artistic expression and school community involvement.
Science Enrichment: Students worked in teams to construct survival structures using natural materials they found outside, testing their ability to design shelters that could withstand inclement weather—a great way to learn engineering and problem-solving skills in a real-world context.
Meet Dean Vaccaro: The Leader Behind Carver at Roton
As the Director of the R.A.M.S. (Carver) Afterschool Program and an 8th Grade U.S. History Teacher, Mr. Dean Vaccaro brings a passion for education and student success to Carver’s afterschool initiatives. A National Board-Certified Teacher, Vaccaro has developed creative ways to engage students, from organizing historical scavenger hunts to coaching students in geography competitions. His leadership ensures that Carver’s program at Roton Middle School is a launchpad for academic growth and personal development.
Empowering Students for Success
Carver’s afterschool program at Roton Middle School offers students a well-rounded learning experience, blending academic support, enrichment opportunities, and recreational activities. Students receive the support and inspiration they need to excel through partnerships like Verizon’s UPchieve, creative math challenges, and hands-on STEAM projects.
