Middle school after-school program
The middle school after-school program (ASP) provides an opportunity for students to explore their interests, passions and hobbies in a fun, group setting. The program is free of charge for ASL families, and students in every middle school grade are encouraged to participate.
Philosophy
- The program provides an opportunity for children to engage in fun and activities where they can explore their passions, try new things, and engage with teaches and peers in outside of their academic classes.
- Our hope is that children will try new programs and perhaps develop a new interest or passion along the way.
- Although some classes are developmental, if your child chooses to re-take an activity they may end up repeating class content.
- ASL teachers believe students should not be overloaded with activities after school. We strongly suggest that parents consider children’s commitments and total screen time exposure prior to registering for ASPs.
Important information
Please note that you can also sign up your child for athletics teams. It is possible to adjust ASP schedules after students learn their team placements. Email msasp@asl.org to indicate any changes your child may need.
If your child prefers only one activity on a certain day, please select only that activity, acknowledging that enrollment in the class is not guaranteed, depending on the enrollment limit. Please ignore the enrollment limit listed on Veracross, as this number is a generic number generated by Veracross.
Where activities are over-enrolled, students will be selected by lottery, with remaining students placed on a waiting list. An email with instructions on how to check if your child received a place in a chosen activity will be sent. Please note that the automated Veracross confirmation of registration sent out at the time of registration is NOT a confirmation of placement. Please wait for an email to instruct you on how to check successful placements.
When your child’s ASP schedule has been confirmed, please inform transport@asl.org of any late bus needs.
FAQs
- Does the After School Program provide progress indicators?
- How do we get an idea of what our child is up to in ASPs?
- Why can't teachers provide photos/videos of the progress in each class?
- How can I find the dates of the term and when the breaks are?
- Why do you do a lottery and not first-come, first-served?
- What happens if my student doesn’t get into the program they registered for?
- My registration said my student got into all their programs – now Veracross says something different?
- I want to sign up for Aqua Fun and an ASP, but I won’t know if I get into Aqua Fun or Swim Lessons until after ASP selections — what should I do?
- When and how do I pay?
- I logged in to sign up for my Lower School student, but now my Middle School student's link shows no options. Can you help?
Does the After School Program provide progress indicators?
ASL’s After School Programs (ASPs) are designed to offer engaging and enriching experiences, but they may not operate in the same way as external programs. While outside providers may offer structured progress reports, our focus is primarily on exposure, skill-building, and enjoyment, rather than formal assessments.
Our programs allow students to explore new activities, develop interests, and engage in a variety of experiences without the pressure of performance benchmarks. If a more structured, progress-driven program is what you’re looking for, we completely understand that an outside option might be a better fit.
How do we get an idea of what our child is up to in ASPs?
Our Middle School provides an After School Program (ASP) that is responsible for creating a newsletter to give families a window into what their children are experiencing. This newsletter is released three times a year in Take Note, providing updates on the activities, projects, and experiences that your child is involved in throughout the season.
Why can't teachers provide photos/videos of the progress in each class?
Taking videos and photos of children on external devices is not allowed due to safeguarding concerns. Teachers are not issued ASL technology, and having videos or photos of ASL students on personal devices presents potential security risks. For the safety and privacy of all children, we adhere to strict policies to ensure that no images or videos are taken outside of approved school systems.
How can I find the dates of the term and when the breaks are?
The dates for the entire school year, including term dates and breaks, can be found on our webpage.
Why do you do a lottery and not first-come, first-served?
We use a lottery system for fairness and to ensure equal opportunities for all students, regardless of when their registration is submitted. This approach helps avoid situations where early registration advantages could create inequities, especially if some families are unable to register at the exact moment the program opens.
The lottery system gives everyone an equal chance to participate in our After School Programs, helping us manage demand more effectively while ensuring that all families have a fair shot at securing a spot for their child. We understand this can be a bit frustrating, but we believe it’s the best way to maintain a balanced and equitable process for all involved.
What happens if my student doesn’t get into the program they registered for?
If your child does not get into the program they registered for, they will automatically be placed in Busy Bees or Stay and Play to fill any gaps in their schedule. You can find out if your child was successfully enrolled in their desired program(s) by logging into Veracross once the confirmation email is sent out.
My registration said my student got into all their programs – now Veracross says something different?
The confirmation you receive when registering simply acknowledges the programs you are requesting. After registration, we use the lottery system to sort and assign students to their programs. Because of this, we are unable to send individualized confirmations. Instead, we send out one general email asking all families to log into their Veracross account to check if their child has been successfully enrolled in their desired classes.
I want to sign up for Aqua Fun and an ASP, but I won’t know if I get into Aqua Fun or Swim Lessons until after ASP selections — what should I do?
We recommend signing up for ASPs first. If you are successful in your Aquatics selection, you can always drop the ASP afterward. Please note that all swim and pool-based programs, including Aqua Fun and Swim Lessons, are not run through ASPs—they are managed separately by the Aquatic & Fitness Center. Questions to swim@asl.org.
When and how do I pay?
I logged in to sign up for my Lower School student, but now my Middle School student's link shows no options. Can you help?
Yes! When registering students in different divisions (e.g., one in Lower School and one in Middle School), you’ll need to fully log out of Veracross between each registration. This resets the system and ensures the correct options appear for each child. Once you’ve logged out, you can log back in and proceed with the next registration.