After School Program

Contact Us
Columbus After School Program
Email | 402-563-7000 ext. 12052

The Columbus After School Program serves all five elementary sites and our middle school. We serve approximately 390 students and strive to meet their social-emotional development while providing engaging activities.

We provide enriching programming which supports the academic day and provides students the opportunity to learn in various modes through hands-on, problem-solving and inquiry-based learning.

Our goal is to provide a safe, high-quality program that allows students to provide input, have activity choice and leadership opportunities.

Improving overall student success

• Our program supports student learning through problem solving and inquiry-based activities. We strive to offer a variety of activities that will enrich and enhance student learning, are hands-on and engaging, and align with our school day curriculum. 

Increasing positive behavior and social interactions: 

• Every student is taught what it looks like to be respectful, responsible, safe and kind in all areas of the building and during all activities. These expectations are closely monitored and positively reinforced with direct feedback. Staff understand that developing relationships and keeping our students actively engaged is the key to positive behaviors and social interactions.

Increasing active and meaningful family and community engagement

• We offer quarterly family night events which bring families and students together around learning opportunities and to make linkages to community resources for families. We also want to enhance our current relationship with our local partners and establish new partnerships to enhance our program.

Columbus Public Schools ensures that all families, including those new to the district, receive information about the After School Program through multiple channels. These include the district registrar’s office, classroom teachers, phone notifications, and collaborative meetings held during the school day. This multi-layered communication approach helps ensure families are well-informed and have access to enrollment opportunities.

The Columbus After School Program uses a structured and inclusive enrollment process to serve students and families. Elementary enrollment takes place during an annual registration week at the end of May for the upcoming school year, with families notified through the website and ParentSquare. During enrollment, families receive key materials and have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program. For middle school students, enrollment occurs quarterly and offers a variety of clubs. Information is shared through multiple channels, such as school announcements, our website and ParentSquare, to ensure all students are aware of ASP opportunities and how to enroll.

The program focuses on providing engaging activities, supporting academic growth, and building students’ social-emotional skills. Staff work to meet individual student needs by encouraging leadership, fostering positive peer relationships, and implementing behavior support plans when necessary to promote success.

Overall, the program emphasizes inclusivity, responsiveness to student needs, and creating an environment where all students feel supported, successful, and able to thrive.

Public Notice: The results of each ASP site program's monitoring visits are available upon request.

Please submit request to Stacey Whiting, ASP Director, whitings@discoverers.org or 402-563-7000 ext 12052.