Better Together Stories: Growing Together Beyond the Classroom

At St. Benedict’s Episcopal School, learning and belonging extend well beyond the classroom schedule. In the early morning and again after the final bell, students gather with friends to play, create, and continue learning through Stingers Squad, the school’s before and after care program.

What began as a way to support families needing care before or after the school day has grown into something deeper. Stingers Squad has become a place where students explore new interests, build friendships, and develop confidence in an environment that reflects the same care and values found throughout the school day.

For Maurice Shaffer, Head of Auxiliary Programs and a member of the school’s leadership team, that sense of connection is central to the program’s purpose.

“It gives parents relief that they don’t have to pick their kids up and take them somewhere else,” Shaffer said. “Students stay here with their friends and their peers, and they’re with staff who make sure they are safe, engaged, and having fun.”

Those daily interactions can make a meaningful difference for students. Shaffer remembers one preschool student who arrived extremely reserved. The child rarely spoke, avoided snack time, and kept to himself during activities. One staff member noticed his interest in toy cars and building blocks and began using those interests to start small conversations. Over time, the student began to open up, and quiet play slowly turned into laughter, participation, and friendships.

Alexis Thomas, who teaches during the school day and works with middle school students in Stingers Squad after school, often notices a different side of students once classes are finished.

“One thing people might not always realize about Stingers Squad is that we get to see students grow and express themselves in ways that are very different from what we see during the regular school day,” Thomas said.

Thomas remembers a cooking challenge where students were given a limited set of ingredients and asked to create a dish together. Students collaborated, laughed, and leaned on each other’s ideas as they worked.

“It was amazing to watch them collaborate and see the pride they had in what they created,” she said. “Some students stepped into leadership roles while others brought creativity to the table.”

Over the past year, Stingers Squad has also introduced several events that have quickly become highlights of campus life. Family Game Night, the Fall Festival, the Stingers Squad Lantern Parade, and the Stingers Squad Art Show bring students and families together in ways that extend the school’s sense of community beyond the classroom.

For Odiesha Andry, whose two children participate in the program, Stingers Squad first became part of her family’s routine out of necessity.

“It started out as a necessity,” she said. “But it has turned into something they actually enjoy participating in. It’s part of their day now.”

Her son Corey has discovered new interests through the program’s activities, while her younger daughter Sydney, who began school this year, has slowly grown more confident socially.

“She comes home talking about what she did with Stingers Squad and showing us the things she made,” Andry said. “Recently when the jazz band came, she was out there dancing. It has been really special to see that growth.”

Events hosted by Stingers Squad have also helped her family feel more connected to the broader St. Benedict’s community.

“It’s not just an aftercare program where kids are dropped off,” Andry said. “Families get to participate and connect with each other, too.”

For Shaffer and his team, those connections are at the heart of the program. Through play, creativity, and relationships, students gain experiences that stay with them long after the school day ends.

He hopes students leave Stingers Squad knowing they can achieve anything and that relationships matter.

At St. Benedict’s, Stingers Squad is more than before and after care. It is another place where students grow, where friendships deepen, and where the values of the school continue to shape the day.

Because here, learning and belonging do not end when the school bell rings.

Learn more about Stingers Squad Here: https://www.stbs.org/stingers-squad