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After School Program

Dragons After School, our after school program, keeps children active beyond the end of the school day. Students participate in a variety of extended learning activities to help them discover their interests as well as a study center, unstructured play, organized games, outside time, and more! Students can enroll on a term basis, one to five days a week, or daily drop-in. 

Our after school program will be available daily from dismissal until 6:00 pm. After care is broken into two blocks.

  • Block 1 (Dismissal to 4:30 pm - Enrichment Classes): Block 1 includes daily enrichment classes for all ages with multiple choices, which you can sign up for at the beginning of each term with options Monday through Friday. Block 1 care is from school dismissal until 4:30 pm. All students will receive a snack before their class and will take part in free-choice time when their class is not in session.
  • Block 2 (4:30 pm to 6:00 pm - Free Choice Play): Any student wishing to stay after 4:30 pm will need to sign up for Block 2. Block 2 is our standard aftercare room. Students will have free choice play, a quiet homework space, and outdoor play. Students cannot sign up for Block 2 if they are not enrolled in Block 1.

Prices (per term)

Block 1 Pricing: Dismissal to 4:30 pm
5 days a week: $1200/term
4 days a week: $1000/term
3 days a week: $790/term
2 days a week: $550/term
1 day a week: $280/term

Clubs Pricing: 3:30 to 4:30 pm - Clubs are held Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Clubs occur during Block 1 and pricing is in addition to General Aftercare.
4 days a week: $705/term
3 days a week: $530/term
2 days a week: $360/term
1 day a week: $180/term

Block 2 Pricing: 4:30 pm to 6 pm
5 days a week: $600/term
4 days a week: $576/term
3 days a week: $432/term
2 days a week: $288/term
1 day a week: $144/term

 

Running late? Last-minute errand? Meeting is running long? No worries! We’ve got you covered. Email me at aftercare@gemschicago.org or call the front desk at 312.809.8900 and we can add your child to the aftercare roster. Students who drop in for Block 1 will not attend a class, but will be provided with a snack and take part in an activity with our aftercare staff.

Daily Drop-in Rate: $25 Until 4:30 pm; $40 Until 6 pm

This school year families can register for each term individually. Payments will be broken down into 3 monthly payments and posted in your parent portal the first week of the month. Students can join once the term has started but only the 1st of the month.

School Year 2022-23 Term Dates

Term 1: Sept. 1 - Dec. 2
Term 2:
Dec. 5 - Mar. 16
Term 3: 
Mar. 21 - Jun. 7

Late pick up policy: Any child picked up after 6:00 PM will be charged a late pick-up fee of $2 per minute per child. Charges will be added to the end-of-term bill

Before Care

Before care will be offered from 7:15 am - 8:00 am.

There is no fee for before care if your child participates in aftercare. For students who do not participate in aftercare but require before care services, the daily fee is $7 or the weekly fee is $25 per student.

After School Program Schedule

Click Here to view the program structure

Click Here to view the full list of Term 1 enrichment class schedule. 

For a selection of enrichment classes, and to pay after care fees you can find everything on a new platform that we are using called Popsicle.

Register for After School (Popsicle)
Dragons After School

Enrichment Classes

Students in kindergarten through grade 5 are offered diverse array of classes and activities to enroll in for each term. Subjects range from sports, arts and crafts, science, culture, and language to performing arts. Students enroll in one enrichment class each day, Monday through Thursday, when registered for the After School Program on a term basis. Classes are run by either noted experts in the appropriate field or by our own excellent faculty members. Options are all subject to availability.

Contact & Registration

Sarah Buckalew, Director of After School and Summer Programming 312-273-6871 sarahbuckalew@gemschicago.org

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