A non-profit after-school program that focuses on improving grades for students is using tennis as its centerpiece.

The Enrichment Program at St Athanasius and St. Dominic parishes, Bensonhurst, is serving up a different spin on school work.

Using tennis has children of all different backgrounds, excited and learning a new sport, but more importantly, opening new channels to explore, grow and learn.

Msgr. David Cassato, pastor, has been a supporter of the program and says everyone is now seeing the improvements.

The program welcomes youngsters from ages six to 14, and already has grown from 12 participants to almost 40 in just a few months. It uses tennis as an incentive to learn. The kids must focus on their school work in order to get on the court.

In the classroom, every participant has seen an improved report card over the school year. Teachers working in the program encourage as much reading as possible and when each new book is completed, the students paint and draw some of their favorite scenes or characters and give presentations on what they have learned.

Sal Ferrera, director of the program, is proud of the students. “Tennis is the caveat but the focus is on improving in the classrooms. Many students are really opening up because they are able to set goals for themselves both in and out of the classrooms and are working hard to improve. Tennis allows them to learn something new and it’s a game many would not have been exposed to. The program started small but has seen great growth already.

“Tennis is opening so many new opportunities for these students but their work in the classroom is what will pay dividends in the long run.”

The students are broken up into groups based on their ages and take turns rotating among reading, art­­ and tennis.

Looking on was Jose Diaz, father of three girls in the program.

“It was something different so we were interested right from the beginning,” explained Diaz. “The access my girls have to facilities and the teachers is a great fit. Watching my daughters, I have seen how they have progressed.

“I now see them come home and they can’t wait to start their new book or art project. All their work is carrying over into the classroom and it is amazing to see.”

The non-profit program uses donated equipment and is looking to expand. Looking to grow the program, the directors have reached out to other schools and even Fort Hamilton Army Base to use their facilities.