Six months into her seventh-grade year, Jahnia Haggray is still navigating the jump from elementary to middle school.

“It’s harder, it’s a lot of classes,” Haggray said, as she worked her way through a recent homework assignment.

“When I was in sixth grade, I only had one class. Now, I have nine.”

If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she’s also helping her cousin, Tahzier Bryant, get through kindergarten.

“He’s younger than me and he doesn’t know how to spell some stuff, so it’s just easier for him to be by me,” Haggray said.

To make matters even more challenging, the two youngsters from Albany are doing most of this online.

“I can see my teacher on a computer, and my friends,” Bryant pointed out, as he sat in front of his Chromebook.

Haggray, Bryant, and a half-dozen others are the regulars at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ new virtual learning classroom in Albany.

“Essentially, I am here to help with technical support,” said Devaunte Thornton, one of the program managers. “I try to help as much as needed, whether it be with school work, but many, if not all the teachers, kind of yell at us to back off and make sure the kids are doing it themselves.”

Providing computers, internet access, 10 hours of supervision, and food, the classroom was set up to help children from disadvantaged families stay connected while the pandemic keeps them out of the classroom.

Freshman Tahganaie Robinson is among those who seem to enjoy learning online.

“It’s just less paperwork, less writing,” Robinson said. “It’s kind of easier this way. It’s kind of easier, so I guess I enjoy it.”

The classroom, one of two in the city, opened in January inside the community room of the Ezra Prentice House Homes, where Robinson and most of the other students live.

“I get up in the morning, get dressed, put my shoes on, eat, and I just come over here,” she said.

George Lopez, the community engagement coordinator at the Albany Housing Authority, says Albany was one of two cities in the state chosen to receive a grant for the pilot program.

“It’s a huge issue,” Lopez said. “We have a lot of students who aren’t logging into their accounts after school went all virtual, so we’re hoping this is something that can help bridge the gap.”

Staff at the Boys & Girls Clubs believe there are many more families who could be taking advantage of the free program.

“That’s definitely been one of the struggles we’ve been trying to combat, is getting the word out there,” Thornton said.

Haggray’s family has internet at home, but she says it’s a whole lot easier to stay focused here.

“I just used to watch YouTube on my TV, or watch Netflix, instead of just doing school work,” Haggray said.

As long as the coronavirus continues to be a threat, the classroom, and another just like it in Troy, will stay open. Applications are available on the Boys & Girls Clubs’ website.