SPAR After-School Program registration is now open. Registration is available at all community centers.

All students must register for the After-School Program in order to attend. The After-School Program is hosted at 15 of SPAR's community centers. The After-School Program is designed to assist students with homework and other academic assignments as well as provide professional instruction in dance, fitness and music therapy. SPAR's After-School Program offers a safe, healthy and fun environment in an effort to motivate students to have a greater appreciation for their education.

Physical Resources

While the amenities vary with the size and budget of each of our recreational centers, all of them are equipped with:

• Basketball
• Board-games
• Computers
• Dodgeball
• equipment
• DVD-capable large-screen TVs
• Group games
• Hula-hoops
• Jump-ropes
• Puzzles
• Toys
• Volleyball

Some have fully-equipped weight rooms with modern Olympic weights, and some have fully equipped gymnasiums, pool tables, ping-pong tables, spray-grounds, and swimming pools. One center even has a community garden.

Instruction & Learning Opportunities

Professional instructors rotate to specific ce nters to provide those enrolled in the After-School Program with classes in:

• Aerobics
• Art
• Computer skills
• Life-skills
• Writing and publishing

These classes are all free of charge.

Additional classes include:

• Conflict resolution
• Gardening
• Golf
• Nutrition
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Weightlifting

These classes are also occasionally offered at an introductory level free of charge, as well as at a more advanced level (along with martial arts, modeling, and etiquette classes) for a nominal fee.

Homework Help

While the city does not yet provide professional tutoring for students, the staff at each center is very practiced at assisting kids with their homework assignments, much as a parent would. Often, our children find that it only takes some encouragement to make an assignment much clearer. The staff at each community center keeps track of their students' grades, progress reports, and LEAP scores so they can focus on helping their kids be successful in school.

Play

Home work is priority number one in the After-School Program, but since our kids have just come from a full day at school, when their homework is done, we always provide opportunities for children to just be children. That includes field trips, parties, movies, guest speakers, group games, or just shooting pool or some hoops. Staff supervision is mandatory, so the kids can both play safely and play in a safe environment.

Age Groups

All our recreation centers provide after-school programming for kids 6-11. Some of the centers have special programming as well for teens 1217. So check with a recreation center near you to see if they offer this program.

Students must sign in and remain at the community center for the duration of the after-school hours so that the classes are not interrupted, but they must also be picked up by their authorized parent or guardian when the program concludes.

During school holidays that are not also city holidays, the recreational centers remain open and conduct camps from 8AM until 6 PM for which parents must register their kids independent of the After-School Program.

Fees

While the After-School Program is free of charge, there are additional instructional programs available. These programs include:

• Ad vanced classes
• Some sports that require fees or pay as you go
• Special field trips

Any such offerings are presented enough ahead of time to allow parents to decide whether or not they want their kids to participate.

Registration

The Participant Registration Form can be printed and taken to the staff at the SPAR community center you choose. Each center has a preprinted form that can be completed and turned in at the center. It is a good idea to review the form online to determine the information required.