Lower school after-school program
The lower school after-school program (ASP) provides an opportunity for children to engage in educational activities in an atmosphere where social, rather than academic, development is emphasized.
The program is designed to offer ASL children an opportunity to socialize and to practice or learn skills and sports and pursue hobbies in a safe, friendly and non-competitive environment. Our hope is that children will try new classes and perhaps develop a new interest or passion along the way!
Philosophy
Our After School Program offers children a wonderful opportunity to engage in fun, educational activities in a setting that emphasizes social growth over academic pressure. Designed to be a safe, friendly, and non-competitive environment, the program encourages students to socialize, explore new interests, and develop skills in everything from sports to creative hobbies. We hope each child feels inspired to try something new—and perhaps even discover a lasting passion along the way.
While some classes have a developmental element, families should be aware that retaking an activity may involve some repetition. At ASL, we believe in balancing after-school time thoughtfully, so we encourage parents to consider other commitments like tutoring, scouting, or music lessons when choosing activities. Most importantly, we ask that parents support their children in committing to the classes they select. That consistency not only enriches their experience but also helps us confidently confirm class rosters and provide a smooth, supportive environment for everyone involved.
Registration
Please note that oversubscribed classes are filled by lottery. If your child is not placed in a class through the lottery, they will automatically be enrolled in Stay & Play during that time slot.
We kindly ask parents/guardians to carefully consider their selections before enrolling. Only one registration form is required per child.
To ensure a positive experience for all participants, class size limits are in place to avoid overwhelming students and to give everyone the opportunity to take part.
We strongly recommend the following weekly limits for after-school activities:
- Kindergarten: No more than two hours per week
- Grades 1–4: No more than five hours per week
For off-campus ASP classes, children travel by bus from ASL to the activity location and return in time for dismissal. All home-bound buses depart from ASL.
Please note that refunds will not typically be issued for canceled classes due to tube strikes or similar disruptions.
Lastly, aquatics-based activities are no longer part of the ASP. All swimming classes are now managed by the Aquatic & Fitness Center. For questions, please contact: swim@asl.org.
Payments & cancelations
- Families will be able to view initial confirmation of class placements in Veracross once registration has closed. Please note that only successful placements will be listed. Oversubscribed classes are filled via a lottery system.
- After confirmations are released, there will be a modification window during which you may amend your child’s selections. Any cancellations made after this window closes will incur the full class fee.
- You will be invoiced once the modification window has closed. The invoice will include all ASP class fees and any applicable cancellation fees.
- Please note that some classes may be cancelled due to under-enrollment.
- We are unable to process new applications unless all outstanding fees from previous terms have been paid in full.
- In the case of class cancellations due to a tube strike or similar events, refunds are typically not issued.
- No refunds will be given after the cancellation deadline.
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.