Extended Care
Aurora’s Extended Care program is more than just a way to keep our students occupied after school. Our Extended Care team offers students fun, educational activities that allow all ages to interact and learn what it means to step up as active allies and playmates outside the confines of the school day. Many alums remember this as fondly as any of their classroom experiences.
Throughout the year, Aurora specialists teach Enrichment Classes for students who wish to further explore interests like art, woodworking, and sports.
Rates & Hours
Before Care: Students can be dropped off starting at 7:30am.
Before Care is free for the 15 minutes before classes begin.
After Care: Available from dismissal until 6pm.
Students not picked up within 10 minutes of dismissal will be sent to After Care.
Hourly Drop-In Rate: $14.25/hour, charged by the half hour.
Unlimited Care:$495.00/month.The monthly fee covers all Before and After Care for the month. All Day Care and Break Camps are offered at 50% off or the month is prorated if more than 5 days are off. This option requires an automated monthly electronic bank withdrawal pre-payment, using this authorization ACH form. Months with 5 or more weekdays without school are prorated.
All Day Care: Half and Full Days of Care are offered on certain days off from school. Click here to go to the Days Off Page for all the details.
Available for February Break and Spring Break
Click here to go to the Break Camp Page for all the details.
Communication
Please inform your child's classroom teachers of their after care schedule, whether it's a regular weekly one or changes daily. Students not picked up within ten minutes of dismissal will be sent to After Care.
If you need After Care on short notice, please email your child’s teacher, the front office, and the Extended Care director. Students not picked up within ten minutes of dismissal will be sent to After Care.
Please contact the Extended Care director with the name of the person picking up your child before the end of school.
Between 9am and 4pm you can call Extended Care Director Josh Johnson at 510-428-2606, ext. 208. From 2:20-6pm you can call the Extended Care room at 510-428-2606, ext. 225.
You can also email Josh if you don’t need an immediate reply.
Picking Up
Please park your car and come in to pick up your child.
Our main entrances (front door, Yard gate, and Auditorium door) have keypad locks, and the codes are changed annually. Front Office or Extended Care Staff can provide them verbally upon request.
In good weather, enter through the Yard gate (to the left of the front door). In bad weather, or when it’s dark, enter through the Auditorium door (the ground level to the right of the front door).
After Care activities take place in the Yard and the After Care Room on the ground floor.
Extended Care ends at 6pm (4pm on Fridays before Winter and Spring Breaks). If you don’t think you will be able to make it by 6pm, please call 510-428-2606 ext 225 to let staff know. Late pickups are charged as follows:
6:01 – 6:15 pm: $20
6:16 – 6:30 pm: $40
After 6:31 pm: $75
Signing Out
Yes. To ensure safety and accurate billing, all children must be signed out of Extended Care each time they are picked up.
Our signout forms are a legal record ensuring that billing is correct and kids are properly dismissed. If your family has chosen the hourly drop-in option but you don’t sign out, you will be charged for a full afternoon, until 6pm. If you are enrolled in our unlimited flat rate option but do not sign out on repeated occasions, your enrollment in the flat rate may be suspended.
Yes. Every child who remains at Aurora after dismissal must be signed out when they leave the campus.
Enrichment Classes
Three times a year, Aurora has eight-week afterschool classes for students. Some examples of enrichment classes are woodworking, art, and soccer. Students can attend After Care before or after their class at the hourly or monthly rate.
Winter 2025 Enrichment classes are below.
Registration opens Wednesday, January 8 at Noon
Woodshop
Instructor: Casey Nutt (Aurora Woodshop Specialist)
In the woodshop we let students take the lead, designing and building individual or group projects ranging from simple to complex. The results are often unique and always empowering. We teach safe techniques of basic woodworking and let our students’ imaginations soar! It’s fun, challenging, and inspiring.
Mondays: K/1 2:30 - 3:30 and 2nd - 8th 3:30 - 4:30
January 27 - March 31 (8 Weeks) No Class February 17 and March 10
Fridays: 2nd - 8th 3:30 - 4:30
January 31 - March 28 (8 Weeks) No Class February 21
Cost: $295
Minimum 4 Students / Maximum 8 Students
Digiatal Discoverers K/1 Coding and Digital Explorers 2-5 3D Printing
Instructor: After School Specials
Digital Discoverers K-1: A Hands-On Introduction to Coding
- Creative Coding with ScratchJr:Â Build interactive games and stories using easy coding blocks.
- Minecraft Modding:Â Customize Minecraft worlds and characters to explore creativity.
- Unplugged Adventures:Â Engage in hands-on coding activities like guiding robots through mazes.
- Robots in Action:Â Program robots like Bee-Bots and Code & Go Robot Mouse to complete fun challenges.
Digital Explorers 2nd-5th 3D Printing Program
- Design and Create:Â Students will learn to design unique 3D models using beginner-friendly software, fostering creativity and technical skills.
- Hands-On Printing:Â Experience the excitement of bringing their designs to life by printing their creations on a 3D printer.
- Creative Exploration: Encourage artistic expression and excitement as students experiment with shapes, colors, and designs.
Tuesdays: K/1 2:30 - 3:30 & 2nd - 5th 3:30 - 4:30
January 28 - March 25 (8 Weeks) No Class February 18
Cost: $425
Minimum 5 Students / Maximum 12 Students
Drama & Art
Instructor: After School Specials
- Storytelling Through Performance:Â Students will write scripts, develop characters, and perform skits to express their creativity and storytelling skills.
- Prop and Set Creation:Â Hands-on activities include designing and crafting props and simple set pieces for their performances.
- Collaborative Showcase:Â The program culminates in a group play, allowing students to showcase their hard work, build confidence, and enjoy the spotlight.
Those in the K/1 grades can choose to stay in the regular after care program for the hour before class begins (regular EC rates apply), or head home and come back by 3:30.
Tuesdays: K - 5th 3:30 - 4:30
January 28 - March 25 (8 Weeks) No class February 18
Cost: $375
Minimum 5 Students / Maximum 12 Students
Ceramics
Instructor: Julie Pollack (Aurora’s Art Specialist)
Students will build their knowledge of ceramics methods and be given time to practice the basics of pinch, coiling and slab building. Projects include creatures, prints, bas relief, and basic pottery. Younger students get to personalize their projects while learning the basics, whereas the more experienced students will be given the opportunity to create using more advanced techniques.
Wednesdays: K-8Â 2:15 - 3:30 (1.25 hrs)
January 29 - March 26 (8 Weeks) No Class February 19
Cost: $375
Minimum 4 Students / Maximum 10 Students
Culinary Arts
Instructor: After School Specials
Cooking is more than just preparing food; it’s about sparking creativity, building essential life skills, and fostering independence. Our 8-week K-5 cooking class is designed to give your child hands-on experience in the kitchen, right at their school. Through fun and engaging activities, students will learn to prepare simple, delicious dishes while also developing a strong sense of safety and hygiene. This class offers a supportive environment where young chefs can experiment with flavors, express their creativity, and build confidence in their culinary abilities. By participating, your child will not only learn valuable cooking skills but also experience the joy of creating and sharing meals. Register now to give your child the opportunity to explore the world of cooking in a fun and educational way!
Simple, Fun Recipes: Students will enjoy age-appropriate recipes, with younger children focusing on snacks like parfaits and fruit kabobs, while older ones handle tasks like chopping and blending. Creativity is encouraged, allowing students to add their own twists to make the experience personal and enjoyable.
Personalized Learning: This program invites students to share their favorite foods and incorporate them into class, making the learning experience unique and engaging for every child.
Hands-On Activities: Downtime is filled with fun activities such as decorating aprons, playing healthy food games, or practicing table manners, ensuring all students remain engaged and entertained.
Safety First: Safety and hygiene are emphasized, with regular demonstrations on proper kitchen tool handling and food safety practices, ensuring a safe cooking environment.
Interactive Stations: In larger classes, students will work in groups at different stations, ensuring everyone participates and gains hands-on experience in various aspects of cooking.
Wednesdays: K - 5th 2:00 - 3:30
PLEASE NOTE: This class is 1.5 hrs per day
January 29 - March 26 (8 Weeks ) No class February 19
Cost: $545 (includes all food costs)
Minimum 5 Students / Maximum 12 Students
Sewing & Textiles
Instructor: Julie Pollack (Aurora’s Art Specialist)
Explore the world of textiles and sewing through creating both 3D and 2D projects. All kids in this class will learn and use hand-sewing techniques.
The class will incorporate basic sewing techniques, beading, and embroidery. K/1 students will have the opportunity to learn the basics of machine sewing and block printing on fabric.
2nd through 8th grade students will have the opportunity to explore all of the above along with crochet and some self-guided textile projects.
Thursdays: K/1 2:30 - 3:30 and 2-8 3:30 - 4:30
January 30 - March 27 (8 Weeks ) No class February 20
Cost: $295
Minimum 4 Students / Maximum 12 Students
Registration
All registrations are done online only. Registration opens two weeks before each session.
Classes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, until the maximum number of students for each is reached. A wait list will be created if a class fills. If any enrolled child decides to drop out, families on the wait list will be notified by the second class of the session. If your child is enrolled and decides after the first class that they do not wish to participate, you will receive a refund or credit for 75% of the remaining class tuition. You must inform the Extended Care Director before the second class to receive this refund. No refunds are available after the second class of the session.
If the minimum number for a particular class is not reached by Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at noon, the class will be cancelled.
Classes start the week of January 27, 2025. See the class descriptions for specific start and end dates, and for any days class will not be held.
Please make sure to sign out your child even if they are just attending for the enrichment class. You are not charged for time while in the enrichment class, but signing out is essential for us to know who is here after school and who is already picked up. Failure to sign out will result in you being charged for the full day (until 6pm) The normal hourly rate will apply for time in after care past the class end time (more than 15 min).
For more information you can email our Extended Care Director Josh Johnson at joshj@auroraschool.org.