After School Kids is a Kindergarten-8th grade after school program that is open Monday-Friday, 2:00pm-6:30pm, on days when Minneapolis Public Schools is open. After School Kids is affiliated with Minneapolis Public Schools and is an authorized Area Learning Center. Students are divided into classes based on grade level and/or academic ability. They receive homework help, academic skill instruction based on the Minneapolis Public School standards, and participate in recreational activities like drawing club, computer lab, and gym.

Families Together occurs monthly during the school year and is an opportunity for our parents and their children to interact with staff and participate in recreational activities together as an entire family. Families share a meal at Kaleidoscope and then participate in activities, such as, arts and crafts, celebrating culture, talent shows, and parent workshops.

“Having my son participate in the after school and summer programs for the last two years has probably saved me at least two thousand dollars in childcare costs. As a single parent I cannot thank you enough for providing such a fantastic program!”
a Kaleidoscope Place parent

After School Kids Schedule

2:00pm-3:00pm Students arrive, have a snack, and have free time.
3:00pm-4:30pm Students are in class doing math, reading, and writing.
4:30pm-5:15pm Academic Enrichment for students without homework
4:30pm-5:15pm The Homework Room Opens
5:15pm-5:20pm Large Group Meeting
5:20pm-6:15pm Free Choice
5:20pm-6:15pm The Homework Room Remains Open
6:15pm Walkers are dismissed.
6:15pm-6:30pm Prepare to close Kaleidoscope.
6:30pm Kaleidoscope Closed!

After School Kids Highlights

• Academics:  We are an Area Learning Center for Minneapolis Public Schools.  In being so, we are required to do academic intervention for a minimum of 2 hours per day.
• Academic Goals:  Our goal for After School Kids is to support and reinforce what the students are learning at school, based on their homework and also on the Minnesota State Standards.  We strive to see students improve academically throughout the year and to be at grade level by the end of the school year.
• Assessment:  Each student is assessed to determine the areas they need the most academic support in.  During the school year we use assessments that are based on the Minnesota State Standards.
• Curriculum:  Our program uses key curriculum to help guide the students in their academics.
  • KidzLit and KidzMath- Designed to teach reading and math skills while also teaching social development skills to students. The programs use interactive storybooks and cooperative games to engage students in learning activities through reading, writing, art and drama.
  • Growing to College – Used in conjunction with the GetReady curriculum, Growing to College is an early intervention and college awareness program. Students will learn about setting goals and gain a greater understanding of their skills and abilities, possible careers, reasons to attend college, ways to pay for college, and how to be successful in college. Students will have access to the tools that will help pave a path to a bright future.
• Arts Education: We believe that students who are exposed to art, and who are given opportunities to express themselves through different techniques and media will be more resilient, happy, and smart. Kaleidoscope encourages the frequent use of the arts to expand and enrich the experience of our students.
• Broader Academics:We also have an emphasis on Science, Nutrition, and Health. These enable our students to have a broader academic experience, which will directly impact other academic areas.
• Class Sizes:  During the school year we serve students in 3 classrooms.  We strive to keep our class sizes small so our students can receive the one-to-one support and attention they need to improve academically.  We have an excellent 5 to 1 student to staff ratio when taking into account programming staff and volunteers.
• America Reads:  We have a long standing partnership with the America Reads program through the University of Minnesota.  Each student will have the opportunity to read 1-on-1 for 30 minutes, two times each week.
• Healthy Lives: Students in our After School Kids program have a wide variety of healthy and enriching experiences that make them better people. In addition to academics, the following areas are addressed as they arise: self esteem, conflict resolution, and social skills.

Photos of Families Together

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