Ensuring all students receive the support necessary to achieve their greatest potential.
For Southside, Parkside, Hillside, McLaughlin Middle, and Memorial High School Students
Our YSTAY Program (Support, Tutoring, and Adventures for Youth) is a long-standing, 38-year partnership between the YMCA of Downtown Manchester, a branch of The Granite YMCA, and the Manchester School District. Empowering middle and high school students, YSTAY connects youth with caring adult mentors, provides enriching experiences, and fosters a deeper connection to learning and personal development. YSTAY follows an asset-based model, integrating classroom activities that promote social-emotional learning, goal setting, and interpersonal skill building. With small class sizes, students receive individualized attention, form meaningful relationships, and gain a sense of belonging.
Students also receive a YMCA membership and access to our YMCA Teen Center and summer programs, further strengthening their connection to positive activities and supportive adults. Building on the success of the program in Manchester, the Granite YMCA is expanding YSTAY to serve additional youth at Concord Middle School and Beech Street Elementary School, bringing this model of mentorship, academic support, and youth development to even more students in our region.
- In 2024-2025 School year 135 core students in grades 7 – 12 were served by the YSTAY Program
For more information, please contact Bri Hess, YSTAY Program Director, at bhess@graniteymca.org.
For Manchester Students Who Are Suspended or Expelled.
Operating for over 20 years, YSTRIVE is the only Community Impact Success Measures program in Manchester for youth who are not attending school due to suspension and expulsion. YSTRIVE works with all four middle schools and the three public high schools to provide services to these youth. This program offers academic support, life skills, and community service initiatives. Classroom activities utilize one-to-one academic tutoring to get these students back on grade level and life skills lessons to help students build social and interpersonal skills.
YSTRIVE, the only program in Manchester for suspended and expelled students, offers academic support, life skills, and community service programs. Classroom activities utilize one-to-one academic tutoring to get these students back on grade level and life skills lessons to help students build social and interpersonal skills.
- 92% of students learned more positive ways of resolving conflicts, expressing emotions, resisting peer pressure, and avoiding dangerous situations.
- 100% of participating students received credit for the work they completed when attending YSTRIVE.
At-Risk Students in Manchester Entering Grades 1 – 11.
Kids from low-income families often start school unprepared. Despite progressing at the same rate during the school year, learning gaps widen each summer and these students fall farther behind their peers. This achievement gap culminates in low high school graduation and college attainment rates, limited job prospects, and negative economic impact.
Power Scholars is a six-week, full-day summer program for youth entering grades 1 – 11, operating Monday – Friday for 6.5 hours a day. Power Scholars focuses on both academic and enrichment programming. Students participate in Humanities and STEM curriculum, that is rotated each year for students to learn new skills as they progress through Power Scholars.
Afternoon enrichment activities introduce students to their community and provide college and career awareness, art education, STEM, and physical activity. Partnerships with community partners such as the SEE Science Center, UNH STEM, Manchester Community Music School, Media Power Youth, and Amoskeag Health, allow us to expand our program offering new experiences to our students.
Adventure field trips are held weekly on Fridays to introduce students to New Hampshire’s many recreational opportunities. Field Trips have included hiking Pack Monadnock, visiting Stonewall Farm in Keene, taking a boat trip out of Newburyport, MA, and many more, enriching students’ lives through memorable adventures and fostering a deeper connection to the world around them.
For more information, please contact Chris Stetson at cstetson@graniteymca.org.
All children, especially young children, cannot learn, grow, or thrive when hungry. Our year-round and after school food programs make sure all children have access to nutritious foods while in our care. The Granite YMCA is an active participant in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) allowing us to nourish all children in our care, one meal at a time.
- 175,098 meals were served by The Granite YMCA from June 2022 – July 2023.
CACFP Sites Include:
- YMCA of Downtown for students in Early Learning, Teen Center, and Schools Out Program
- YMCA of Concord for students in Early Learning and Schools Out Program
- Somersworth Child Care Center in Early Learning and Schools Out Program
For questions please contact Jessica Riendeau, Director of Annual Giving and Impact, at jriendeau@graniteymca.org.
