Beyond the Classroom: Spring 2026 Extracurricular Clubs at Florence Howard Elementary

At Fuse Project, we believe learning doesn’t stop when the school day slows down or when testing ends. Through our ABC Academic Support Program, students at Florence Howard Elementary School are given opportunities to explore new interests, build confidence, develop creativity, and discover talents through hands-on extracurricular clubs designed to support the whole child.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Fuse Project continued offering monthly extracurricular enrichment clubs for 3rd–5th grade students at Florence Howard Elementary. Held one Wednesday each month from 1:30–2:30 p.m., the clubs created a safe, energetic, and engaging environment where students could learn beyond the traditional classroom setting while building meaningful relationships with mentors, instructors, volunteers, and community partners.

This year’s club offerings included Cooking Club, Garden Club, Art Club, Theater Club, Sports Club, and Movement Club, each designed to expose students to new experiences while encouraging teamwork, creativity, curiosity, and healthy lifestyles. Roughly 20 students participated in each club session throughout the semester, with different groups of students rotating through opportunities across the academic year.

One of the semester’s most popular experiences was Cooking Club, hosted in partnership with The Cookery Project and led by Karrie Nelson. Students learned how to prepare Chicken Caesar Wraps while also discussing healthy eating habits and the “traffic light system” for making nutritious food choices. The recipe quickly became a student favorite, and several students excitedly shared that they wanted to recreate the wraps at home with their families — a meaningful example of how enrichment activities can extend learning beyond the classroom and into students’ homes.

Art Club, led by Marnee Wiley through Fuse Project’s partnerships with Mobile Arts Council and Amp Up Arts, gave students the opportunity to explore a variety of artistic techniques and creative themes throughout the semester. In January, students experimented with oil pastels and watercolor techniques to create winter-inspired artwork while learning about blending colors and working with watercolor paper. February’s project encouraged students to reflect on “What’s Your Favorite Thing About Alabama?” and produced a colorful collection of artwork inspired by beaches, Mardi Gras traditions, and Gulf Coast culture.

Following a brief pause in March during state testing season, students returned in April to create Earth Day-themed coffee filter flower art centered around the message “When We Care for Our Earth, It Blooms.” The semester concluded with kinetic fish artwork projects in May, where students folded and illustrated interactive paper fish designs that revealed imaginative underwater scenes when opened. Several students added their own creative twists, including rainbow fish and humorous depictions of what their fish were “eating.”

Garden Club introduced students to hands-on lessons about soil, composting, watering, weeding, and plant care through Fuse Project’s partnerships with Mobile Urban Growers and Amp Up Arts. Students had the opportunity to connect with nature while learning practical gardening skills and gaining a deeper understanding of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Movement Club brought excitement, energy, and mindfulness to campus through a variety of activities designed to get students moving and build confidence. The semester began with a yoga session led by our friend and volunteer Ashley Flores, who introduced students to movement, stretching, and mindfulness practices that encouraged both physical and emotional wellness.

For the rest of the semester, Fuse Project partnered with Mobile Ballet, with instruction led by Katia Garza and her team. Students explored rhythm, movement, and dance styles from around the world, including Salsa, which quickly became a student favorite. The club encouraged self-expression, coordination, confidence, and joy through movement in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Students in Sports Club participated in volleyball instruction and activities through a partnership with the City of Mobile Parks & Recreation Department, while Theater Club, hosted in partnership with Sunnyside Theater and the Mobile Arts Council Amp Up Arts program, helped students build communication skills, creativity, confidence, and teamwork through performance-based activities and dramatic play.

While each club focused on different interests and skillsets, they all shared a common purpose: creating opportunities for students to feel supported, inspired, and engaged. These enrichment experiences help students build confidence, strengthen peer relationships, discover new passions, and connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.

The success of these clubs would not be possible without the support of dedicated community partners, volunteers, instructors, educators, and Order of Fuse members who generously give their time and talents to support students throughout the year. Fuse Project extends special thanks to volunteers including Riley Bridges, Margaret Carey, Erin Delaporte, Ruth McKee, Emily Lawrence, Brandon Lawrence, Cecily Harper, Ann Cortopassi, Savannah Shumake, Ann Turner James and the many others who continue investing in opportunities for local children.

At Fuse Project, we know meaningful impact happens both inside and outside the classroom. Through programs like these extracurricular clubs, we remain committed to expanding access to education, wellness, and enrichment opportunities because every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, regardless of their ZIP code.