After School Education and Safety
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The After School Education and Safety (ASES) program provides a safe physical and emotional environment that offers homework help and academic enrichment elements. The main distinguishing factor of an ASES program from other afterschool programs is a focus on prevention and safety. At Catalyst Kids, we have partnered with school districts to root this program in positive youth development. Students get assistance with their homework from caring instructors and explore new topics and ideas. They build self-confidence by participating in hands-on, group activities that have real-world, practical applications.
Engaging Programs
Our programs provide a safe and engaging place for your child to shine. Our supervised activities are geared toward developing positive relationships and strengthening their foundation for learning. Each center provides a unique program that is designed to meet the needs of the children, families, school, and community that they serve.
ASES programs are offered to grades K to 6th, depending on location. We operate the programs for a minimum of 15 hours per week and remain open until 6PM on every regular school day. Attendance is stressed in ASES programs and our ASES after school care is free for eligible families. Eligibility is based on income and families who qualify must earn below 85 percent of the state median income ($78,000 for a family of 3 as of March 2022).
TK & Kindergarten Students
We maintain a ratio of no more than 10 to 1 in our expanded learning programs for our TK-Kindergarten students. Our staff understand the developmentally appropriate support to provide these young students and the importance of providing a consistent daily schedule to help younger students feel safe and secure after the school day is done. Our TK-Kindergarten students will have opportunities to self-select activities, as well as interact one-on-one with a teacher and participate in teacher guided experiences in groups.
Activities
After a full day of school, kids need a chance to choose what they want to do. Our programs provide a variety of activities for children to experience each day, including:
Meeting Time
At the start of each day, teachers and students welcome each other and share information about the activities that will happen during the day. This is also a time when teachers engage children in different Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities to build on students’ self-awareness and friendship skills using team-building activities and self-reflection questions.
Homework & Academic Enrichment
A time for students to complete their homework and extend their learning through engaging teacher-led group activities that are connected to the Common Core State Standards. When students do not have homework, activities such as card/board games, art and craft projects, and STEM challenges are offered to promote skill building while having fun.
Core Enrichments
Students build on their 21st Century Skills of Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking (4Cs) through group activities that are linked to their interests and personal lives. Core Enrichments provide students with opportunities to expand their horizons and to practice their leadership skills during the planning and facilitation of the group activities.
Indoor/Outdoor Open Recreation
Students make their own choices to enhance their learning by engaging in various interest areas where learning domains are interwoven (dramatic play, art, tinkering, reading, blocks/construction, etc.) as teachers engage and interact with them. Students practice their personal responsibility, decision-making, self-management, and relationship skills during this time.
Our Staff
Our staff are professionals who are committed to providing the best possible experiences for you and your child. They are fingerprinted, certified in First Aid & CPR, and have both education and work experience in the child and youth development fields. They are equipped with the tools to foster an environment where all children can be themselves. Our programs are developed by specialists and experts in the field who spark and support the interests of the children we serve.
Our Sites
Each extended learning site provides a variety of spaces for children to explore and engage in activities of their interest. While each site looks a little different depending on location, all programs include spaces for art opportunities, quiet spaces to do homework, areas for our core enrichment activities, and age-appropriate interest areas for our oldest students. Each location also has access to outdoor play areas, playgrounds, and fields for all ages.
