Students engage in academic games last year at Horizon Elementary School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Parents, especially if mom and dad both work outside the home, can enroll their children in the Expanded Day Program on several campuses of Madison City Schools.

At Horizon Elementary School, sixth-grade science teacher Amara L. Alexander coordinates Expanded Day. The program is available Monday-Friday from 2:40 to 6 p.m.

Expanded Day provides “a safe, enriching climate in which children may receive supervised care after school for a designated time. The program is designed to address the child’s social, physical and intellectual growth,” Alexander said.

Although their time is structured, students are free to choose and participate in several enjoyable activities.

Students have three hour-long rotations of daily activities, which include homework assistance, board games, free play, learning sessions with iPads and SuccessMaker software, story time, afternoon matinee and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) pursuits.

“We have revamped our program to needs of each of our students. The students have the opportunity to select elective classes,” Alexander said.

Horizon third-grade teacher Sonya Williams instructs students for the “Kid Chef” elective. Sixth-grade teacher Chassity Smith works with them on computer skills. Horizon’s enrichment specialist Beth Bero is instructing students in gardening and playing chess.

In addition, community programs offered by KidzArt and Fantasy Playhouse are open as electives for a fee. “Students are not required to enroll in Expanded Day to select any of our elective classes. We offer a drop-in option so students can only come on their elective days.”

“Students have the option of continuing rotations or participating in the daily electives,” Alexander said. The elective replaces one of the daily rotation times.

Students who are not enrolled in Expanded Day can participate in the daily elective by paying the drop-in rate.

West Madison, Rainbow, Heritage and Madison elementary schools offer similar after-school programs.

For more information and fees, visit madisoncity.k12.al.us, click “Schools” and then select the child’s school and click the link for the expanded or extended day program.