Out-of-School Time Activities
Out-of-school time (OST) activities at King Open are all based out of the King Open Extended Day (KOED). OST offerings, including after school, summer, and vacation week programs, provide students with excellent opportunities for growth beyond the traditional school day and year. These programs foster valuable relationships, new friendships, and exposure to diverse experiences.
KOED is the primary after-school offering at the King Open School. A collaboration between the school department and the City’s Department of Human Services Programs (DHSP), KOED serves about ¾ of King Open students. The goal is to be a place where children receive an individualized experience that draws together all the people in a child’s life.
KOED teachers offer academic support during the King Open school day classes, a unique feature of the program. It is KOED’s after-school focus to support children’s social and emotional development. Through this lens a wide array of enrichment activities are thoughtfully and purposefully developed and facilitated.
Additional OST opportunities offered at the King Open School, through KOED, include:
Science Club For Girls (SCFGs): Operating clubs once a week for 8-week sessions in the Fall and Spring. Volunteer mentors from the community lead girls through a variety of STEM activities. Enrollment is managed through SCFGs in advance of each session.
Ola After-School: Through the School Department’s Foreign Language Department, our dedicated KO Ola teachers offer a culturally enriching after-school opportunity twice a week starting in late October or early November through the end of the school year. This opportunity is only for students who are enrolled in the Ola program and a lottery enrollment is run after the start of school.
For any OST and after-school questions in relation to King Open please contact Bucky O’Hare, King Open After-School Manager, 617.349.4469, bohare@cpsd.us.
A wide range of OST opportunities are available for students throughout Cambridge. These include activities, clubs and programs held within school buildings both before and after school, as well as numerous other OST opportunities provided by and accessible through various youth and community centers, non-profits, sports leagues, and more across the city. For more information about after school bus eligibility and stops, click here.
Additional After School Programs Located at or Near the King Open School:
DHSP Community Schools (K-5th Grade), Childcare (K-5th Grade) and/or Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-teen / Middle School Programs (4th-8th Grade)
The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) offers a variety of youth-serving, Out-of-School Time (OST) programs for Cambridge children, youth, and teens designed to develop children’s social and emotional growth and build healthy relationships. Open seats are filled through a lottery process. Families can apply through the online lottery for afterschool and summer programs.
Lottery Application and enrollment for all City run OST programs and KOED is all managed through DHSP. DHSP Lottery Dates:
- DHSP and KOED Summer Programs: Lottery open to applications: February-March
- DHSP and KOED Afterschool Programs: Lottery open to applications: April-May
For more information, including step-by-step instructions and tuition rates, visit their website or contact DHSP: askDHSP@cambridgema.gov, 617.349.6200
Many other Afterschool, Summer and OST Programs are located all over Cambridge! To learn more about the OST programs and activities happening throughout Cambridge, the Cambridge Agenda for Children OST has compiled resources. View the Afterschool and Summer Resource Guides and Slideshows.
If you need help finding an OST program outside of CPS, fill out the After School Search Help Form.
The Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time (AFCOST) is a citywide intermediary working with Cambridge Public Schools as well as many other city-run and community-based programs serving young people beyond the school day and year. AFCOST’s mission is to increase equity, access and innovation and sustain the highest quality OST opportunities and experiences for all children, youth and families.
FindIt Cambridge
Visit finditcambridge.org to learn even more about afterschool and summer programs, family resources, health services, free events, and more! Call, text, or email Andrew for more info: 617.686.2998 | info@finditcambridge.org