Does your K-2 or K-5 offer any other programming?

[Anonymous]

Any sports, after school clubs, lunch clubs, anything? We have band offered in 4th, and before and aftercare, but nothing else. Do your schools offer clubs or extracurriculars?

[Anonymous]

There are classes run by the dept of parks and rec in our town that you can pay for your child to attend after school / on campus. They kind of “rotate” among the elementary schools, and vary by semester. My older daughter did a mini Wizard of Oz in kindergarten and an art class in 3rd or 4th grade. My younger daughter (now in 3rd) hasn’t wanted to try any of the classes.

[Anonymous]

My child’s school offer 1-2 afterschool clubs that are geared towards older students. Nothing else.

They do offer some enrichment classes by an outside vendor that parents can pay for but the classes are the same every semester and very generic in skill level.

It is terribly disappointing. So I signed my child up for multiple sports outside of school and for enrichment/interest-based camps on school holidays & teacher workdays. It’s inconvenient and expensive but completely worth it.

[Anonymous]

We have a lot of options at our parochial, especially since they’re encouraging families not to give the kids phones or social media, and so they felt they needed to provide alternatives. Options include sewing, watercolor, band, a few sports, woodworking, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a lot of options at our parochial, especially since they’re encouraging families not to give the kids phones or social media, and so they felt they needed to provide alternatives. Options include sewing, watercolor, band, a few sports, woodworking, etc.

Our small catholic school has robotics, craft club, Spanish club, game club and about five sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a lot of options at our parochial, especially since they’re encouraging families not to give the kids phones or social media, and so they felt they needed to provide alternatives. Options include sewing, watercolor, band, a few sports, woodworking, etc.

Our small catholic school has robotics, craft club, Spanish club, game club and about five sports.

I love the variety. Obviously none of these will go into great depth—and when we start music soon I’m paying for private lessons since the vendor-provided band program is taught by a guy who has zero expertise in string instruments. But in terms of being able to try out a bunch of different potential hobbies the programming is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary had Young Rembrandts art classes and Chess Wizards chess classes during "late start Wednesday" mornings. 1 hour for about 11 classes (roughly a school quarter).

Our kids are older now but things are changing up. The district is trying to add more after school enrichment. There's a big volunteer push with First Robotics. They've also hired Kindercare to run the pre- and aftercare program. That comes with more professionalized aftercare plans.

[Anonymous]

We moved out of VA so not sure how relevant this is. Our public elem school has robotics, science team, math team, speech & debate and hockey for the upper grades. Dance, choir, theatre and art available for all grades. Some programs last the full year, others are half year or just a couple months. There’s also a free M-F after school program available for all grades, but it’s very hard to get into due to limited spots.

[Anonymous]

Our PTA organizes after school classes like chess and coding and yoga. They've had trouble filling them though. I think they added before and after care spots and with RTO parents can't get back by 4:30 to pick up their kids so the classes don't replace aftercare, it's just an added cost.

[Anonymous]

Our DCPS elementary has cross country, track, battle of the books, spelling bee, and school musical. I think are the only free activities that are run by teachers and staff that are considered school activities. There also paid after school enrichments but those are geared towards younger kids and my 10 year old wants nothing to do with them.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Clubs, after school classes/enrichment, and several sports teams. DCPS.

To be honest I almost think the offerings are too much. I think some is good but having fewer choices would actually be good for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Our Montessori has various optional after-school activities. Selection varies from season to season, but examples include: First Lego Robotics Club, Science Club, Art, Soccer, Yearbook, Creative Writing, Chess Club.

[Anonymous]

Lcps. Only for low income students. There’s CASA afterschool that anyone can sign up for, but it’s very low quality.

I’d love band or language. I had both growing up and can’t believe they don’t. There is music but they aren’t learning notes and scales.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA organizes after school classes like chess and coding and yoga. They've had trouble filling them though. I think they added before and after care spots and with RTO parents can't get back by 4:30 to pick up their kids so the classes don't replace aftercare, it's just an added cost.

This is the issue with ours. These after school classes are a mess when you need aftercare. They’re not every day or even every week (they stop short in December, don’t start until October and then aren’t open at all on Thanksgiving week) so if your kid needs aftercare you’re screwed. I actually spoke with the principal about it and she causally mentioned that you can just elect to pay for aftercare on those days! But… that’s not how aftercare works. You’d lose your spot if you weren’t paying daily. It’s so frustrating. School never aligns for working parents.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school (public) has quite a few, and offerings change every quarter. Various art and music classes, things like chess or cooking class or Lego stuff, introductory/recreational sports (no games/teams- just basic instruction and play during the class time). Some of the classes have age limitations (might be for K-2 or grades 3-5 or whatever). All are reasonably priced but the instruction isn’t particularly specialized or anything.

They also have other programs like Girls on the Run, Odyssey of the Mind etc. These are run by parent volunteers (usually with a teacher volunteer as well).