After-School Program Information 

2025-2026 Fall Season 

The fall season of our after-school programming will have a staggered start. Our athletic sports (cross country, soccer, and volleyball) and Robotics will start on the week of Monday, September 8th. Most of our other after-school clubs, esports, and groups will start next week, however, a few start later. The programs vary in length from 8, 9, to 10 or more weeks. All the details for each team/group, including the specific dates and costs, are listed below. All of our after-school sessions and practices, except for athletic sports games, run from 3:45 to 5:30 PM. The athletic sports games’ days and times are listed on the Sycamore and website calendars. Registered families will receive a detailed season schedule with specific location and opponent information. The games are subject to change so make sure to recheck the schedule and be on the lookout for emails from the head coach. 

 Here is the link to the registration for the fall season of our after-school programming. These programs have session capacity minimums and limitations. We will have to cancel any programs that do not reach their minimum requirement. You will receive a full refund if you are registered for one of those teams/groups that have to be canceled. There is no need to register for our after-school academic support classes, as we track and bill for that program. We will bill at the end of the semester for after-school academic support classes. After the school day ends, if a student is not picked up by 4:15 PM, then they will attend after-school academic support and be charged the daily rate ($30/day). Students and parents should familiarize themselves with the Athletics and After-School Handbook.

With the exception of Model UN, which is only offered to upper school students, all our teams/groups are offered to our middle and upper school students. Marvel Rivals has an ESRB game rating of "T for Teen" so students must be 13 years old to join the Marvel Rivals team. 

Snacks, including dried fruits and vegetables, whole-grain goldfish, popcorn, cheese, granola bars, etc. are now provided for all our after-school teams and groups.

Cross Country - Mondays and Wednesdays, September 8th to October 29th

Cross Country continues to be open to all middle and upper School students. We will be participating in four cross-country meets this season. The meets will be division-specific with a middle school and high school division. Students are not required to participate in the meets to be on the team. Families are invited to attend all our meets. Students should bring a water bottle and appropriate running shoes and clothing. CA provides bus transportation to and from all cross country meets. Seniors have the option to dismiss early and drive to games if necessary. The form for this accommodation is in the attached Athletic Handbook. 

Soccer - Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, September 8th to October 31st

The soccer team consists of middle and upper school students and games are usually played at the high school varsity level. A new change for this year is that the majority of our games will be 7v7. Our home games will continue to be held on one of the two soccer fields at Simpson Park. Families are invited to attend all our games. Students should bring a water bottle and appropriate soccer cleats and clothing. CA provides bus transportation to and from all soccer games. Seniors have the option to dismiss early and drive to games if necessary. The form for this accommodation is in the attached Athletic Handbook. 

Volleyball - Wednesdays and Fridays, September 10th to October 31st

Girls volleyball has a league-sanctioned high school playoff tournament and league championship. Middle and upper school students can participate in volleyball and we usually play at the varsity level. Volleyball will have a total of three practices/games per week. Families are invited to attend all games. Students should bring a water bottle and appropriate athletic clothes and shoes to each practice. CA provides bus transportation to and from all volleyball games. Seniors have the option to dismiss early and drive to games if necessary. The form for this travel accommodation is in the attached Athletic Handbook. 

Marvel Rivals - Wednesdays, September 17th to November 19th

The Marvel Rivals esports team presents students with a thrilling opportunity to engage in the dynamic world of competitive gaming centered around their favorite Marvel characters. In this action-packed environment, players select iconic superheroes and engage in intense, 6v6 tactical battles that challenge their reflexes, strategic thinking, and teamwork. By becoming part of the team, students will participate in online gameplay, refine their technical skills, and collaborate with teammates to sharpen their competitive skills. This experience goes beyond just gaming; it cultivates a sense of community, encourages critical thinking, and builds resilience, offering students a platform to excel while having fun. Marvel Rivals has an ESRB game rating of "T for Teen" so students must be 13 years old to join the Marvel Rivals team.

Platform Battlers & Fighting Games - Thursdays, September 18th to November 20th

Super Smash Bros, Street Fighter, and other similar battle games offer students an exciting opportunity to select their favorite characters and battle it out in fast-paced, strategic matches that test their skills, reflexes, and teamwork. By joining the program, students will participate in online matches, develop their gaming strategies, and collaborate with peers to enhance their competitive edge. This group not only provides a platform for students to excel in their gaming abilities but also fosters camaraderie, critical thinking, and resilience.

Rocket League - Tuesdays, September 16th to November 18th

The Rocket League esports team offers students a thrilling and competitive experience in a game that combines soccer with high-octane rocket-powered cars. In this fast-paced, team-based game, students collaborate to score goals and outmaneuver opponents, all while developing skills such as teamwork, strategy, and quick thinking. Participating in online matches, students will have the opportunity to engage in a dynamic and supportive environment where they can excel in gaming while building friendships and enhancing their problem-solving abilities.

Academic Support - M, T, W, Th, Starts September 8th

After-school academic support will continue to be offered on Mondays through Thursdays. Mr. Dure will continue to lead each after-school class, which has provided greater consistency with regard to monitoring student progress. After-school academic support is an extension of the academic support classes we offer during the school day. It is a time to complete academic work while practicing positive EF skills. Academic Support is like an independent learning class. Students will be facilitated in coming prepared to class, using their time wisely, not creating distractions for other students, and recognizing that any incomplete work will still need to be completed later that evening at home. The after-school academic support teacher will provide executive functioning support, help plan and prioritize work, break down large assignments, help set time goals for work, check in on the status of assignments, and answer questions or help students get the answers they need. 

Arts & Crafts - Thursdays, September 18th to November 20th

Arts & Crafts will allow students to develop art skills in a relaxed environment. Students will use their creativity to create fantastic works of art that will range from 2D to 3D art. The projects will include painting, clay, photography, and using textiles to create embroidery, cross-stitch, and other fun projects. 

Chess - Wednesdays, September 17th to November 19th

In an age where digital skills and critical thinking are increasingly important, chess offers a unique opportunity for students to enhance their cognitive abilities while having a great time. Our team competes by playing each other, and there are opportunities for online games through our esports platform, allowing students to challenge their peers from other schools or engage in friendly matches with teammates without having to leave CA. With guidance from coaches and a supportive team environment, your child will develop valuable skills such as problem-solving, concentration, and strategic planning.

Model UN - Tuesdays, September 23rd to November 18th

This program is only offered to upper school students. Any exceptions must be confirmed by Mr. Stanton. The Model UN team runs the full year, but it is broken up by seasons. The fall season will run for nine weeks. Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation or model of the United Nations (UN) where students act as delegates from countries around the world and debate topics like climate change, global security, global health, and many more. It's a popular extracurricular activity that helps students learn about the UN, international relations, and diplomacy and stresses public speaking, writing, negotiating, and leadership skills. While students learn about real-world issues, they also learn about countries of the world, how the past shaped the present, and how international diplomacy works. 

Practices are held weekly in the fall but may increase in the winter season as that is when the main Model UN events take place. We plan to attend a few different events this school year and families are responsible for costs and transportation to and from those specific events, as well as possible hotel fees. If you think your child is interested in Model UN, have them talk to Mr. Stanton or e-mail him at: gstanton@commonwealthacademy.org

PC Building, 3D printing, & Social Gaming - Mondays, September 15th to November 17th

Under the expert guidance of our Director of Instructional Technologies, Mr. Moreno, we are offering a combo session to connect strategic thinkers and gamers alike! Participants can freely engage in either activity.  PC building will start on the initial steps to plan and build a computer around a powerful NVIDIA RTX GPU. Additionally, students can come in at any phase of their own personal project and get advice, or work on their home-provided parts/supplies, even occasionally performing repairs for the school and other students. 3D printing will allow students to bring their creative ideas to life, where they'll design and create their own objects from a digital model to a physical reality. Join us to explore the exciting world of additive manufacturing, from hobbyist projects to real-world applications.

Robotics - Middle School - Mondays / Upper School - M, T, W, Th, F, - September 8th to November 1st

The CA Robotics Team will provide one day of practice per week for our middle school students and our upper school students will be practicing 5 days a week to prepare for their competition at the end of October (10/31 and 11/1). The team will be designing and building a robot to compete at the two-day BEST Robotics competition in Grove City, PA. Students will work to understand the practical use of math concepts and applied physics. They will solve real-world science and engineering problems, training that is transferable to all academic disciplines and career pursuits, and also experience “design-to-market” product development. Through the course of the season, students will understand what engineers do - the engineering profession is “demystified”. We will find out the details of this year’s competition on Saturday, September 6th.

In addition to competing in the robotics competition, students have the opportunity to compete in a marketing competition where they act like a company trying to sell their robot, similar to Shark Tank. They can also compete in a T-shirt design contest, show off their robot through a team exhibit, and participate in a video competition. On Saturday, October 18th, CA will transport the team to and from Pittsburgh, PA for a mid-season practice session where they can get advice and insights from other teams and league affiliates. The season will wrap up at the end of October (10/31 & 11/1) with a two-day competition at Grove City College in Grove City, PA. Families will be responsible for getting their student to the final competition events. 

Strategic Board Games - Tuesdays, September 16th to November 18th

Strategic board games are screen-free opportunities to engage in challenging board game battles and collaborative problem-solving together with your friends! In strategic board games, students explore a multitude of genres with games personally curated by Mr. Moreno, offering experiences tailored to their skill levels and interests.

Theatre Arts - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, September 29th to March 21st.

  Lights! Sound! Curtain! Cue Actors! Our after-school theatre arts program teaches drama through participating in the all-school play via auditions.  Students can participate as lead actors, supporting actors, ensemble, crew, stage management, technical lighting and sound, set building, costume management, and makeup – something for everyone’s interests and talent on and off stage. Each year a different stage play is selected, cast, and rehearsed for public performance in the Spring.  No experience necessary – everyone welcome! Expect to have fun, become bonded with castmates, and learn theatre from the inside out. This program, though not graded, acts as an after-school elective credit, completed by performing in the school play.  

Therapeutic Dungeons and Dragons

Middle school - Tuesdays, September 16th to November 11th, Upper School - Thursdays, September 18th to November 13th (5 student max for each group)

Therapeutic DnD will be division-specific with a middle school group and an upper school group. While the CA DnD club has a faculty supervisor/trained counselor, the game itself is student-run. The faculty supervisor is there to help with behavior management but otherwise does not intervene. The game storyline is student-created and isn’t centered around any specific learning goals because the goal is to play the game and have fun. 

The DnD Therapeutic Social Skills Group is run by lower & middle school counselor Lindsay O’Keefe who has spent 18 hours training in the Game to Grow method (see all credentials below). The story content has been developed to reinforce specific developmental capacities like regulation, collaboration, and perspective-taking. Additionally, individual treatment goals will be developed in collaboration with participants, parents, and the facilitator to help guide each participant’s individual story. 

Facilitator Credentials - Lindsay O’Keefe Lower & Middle School Counselor

• Master’s of Arts in School Counseling from George Washington University 
• Virginia Licensed Professional Counseling Resident
• Game to Grow Therapeutically Applied Role-Playing Game Trained (Level 1, 2 & 3)
• Ongoing Game to Grow Supervision and Training

What is the Game to Grow/Critical Core TTRPG method? 

“Critical Core invites children to enter a shared world of fantasy and social problem solving to build social confidence and empowers them to flourish socially on their own terms. Developed under the guidance of autistics, therapists, educators, and psychologists” (Critical Core).

Unlike many social skills groups, it does not teach neurodivergent youth to mask, but instead, helps them learn to shift perspectives and develop skills that help them connect more with the neurotypical world. 

How will this benefit my student? 

Critical Core’s TTRPG will help participants develop important self-regulation skills and improve perspective-taking skills. They will increase their ability to read emotions and facial expressions, learn how to build and maintain social relationships, develop social problem-solving skills, increase gray-area thinking, and learn to deal with change and disruption in routine. They will also build improved skills for self-reflection in a safe and supportive atmosphere. 

Additionally, TTRPGs can “provide a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem boost when the players succeed in completing a quest or defeating a monster. It also provides a way for players to safely explore and express emotion by role-playing their characters. Additionally, TTRPGs require teamwork and communication, which can help improve social skills, form resilience, and build relationships” (Bean & Connell, 2023). 

Critical Core is a tabletop role-playing game (TT-RPG) that is very similar to Dungeons and Dragons (DnD). It is a collaborative game where players must work together to solve problems and accomplish goals. This group is intended for students to build social confidence, communication, and collaboration skills, develop frustration tolerance, emotional resilience, and caring for others, all while rolling dice and having fun (Critical Core). 

The game is designed to teach, build, practice, and reinforce 5 core capacities that are necessary to develop effective social skills. 

1. Regulation - the ability to be attentive and available in adverse conditions. This is the bedrock for perseverance, problem-solving, and patience, as it enables individuals to connect socially and maintain composure during stress.
2. Collaboration - Neuroscience supports the importance of enjoying other people and shared social problem-solving. A robust capacity for interpersonal collaboration helps participants build and strengthen relationships.
3. Planning - This is a skill that everyone needs. To plan effectively, one must use logic, sequencing, and critical reasoning. This planning must not only be analytical but also “out of the box.” 
4. Perspective - To understand someone else’s perspectives, one must first understand your own personal feelings, beliefs, experiences, history, and knowledge. Understanding that these are different in other people takes time and practice.
5. Pretend Play - Pretend play allows children to explore themes, roles, and power differentials. It also helps them develop their own internal sense of right and wrong. Play also releases feel-good neurochemicals and relieves stress.

The immersive gameplay is guided directly by a trained facilitator to help the group collaboratively create their story. It is designed specifically to help participants connect with other youth in a safe and supportive environment. 

Social Flourishing Model

The Critical Core system utilizes a “social flourishing model” instead of a “social deficit model” as its emphasis for their therapeutic social skills group model. The social flourishing model focuses on participant’s interactions with others and works to help participants understand and communicate complex emotions. It also focuses on building relationships and building confidence and negotiation skills. 

Individual Student Benefits

Critical Core’s TTRPG will help participants develop important self-regulation skills and improve perspective-taking skills. They will increase their ability to read emotions and facial expressions, learn how to build and maintain social relationships, develop social problem-solving skills, increase gray-area thinking and learn to deal with change and disruption in routine. They will also build improved skills for self-reflection in a safe and supportive atmosphere. 

Additionally, TTRPGs can “provide a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem boost when the players succeed in completing a quest or defeating a monster. It also provides a way for players to safely explore and express emotion by role-playing their characters. TTRPGs require teamwork and communication, which can help improve social skills, form resilience, and build relationships” (Bean & Connell, 2023). 

• What is included in the enrichment classes?
  • Every enrichment class includes teacher/staff supervision, planned activities with associated supplies, and a daily snack.
     
• Will you be offering any programming before school starts?
  • No. There will be no early drop-off for students outside of what is offered by their division. Students should follow the arrival procedures designated by their appropriate division director.
     
• What if my child needs to be picked up before 5:30 p.m.? 
  • A student can be picked up at any time after school as we will have someone working the front desk until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. We ask that you park on the curb directly in front of the main entrance and call the front desk (703-548-6912) to have your child released. Session fees will not be prorated if a student leaves early. 
     
• Would there be any reason my child cannot attend a certain enrichment class if they are grade-appropriate?
  • Each of the enrichment classes have a minimum requirement of participants to operate. If a certain class does reach this requirement then we will have to cancel that class. You would receive a full refund for this type of cancellation. Additionally, each enrichment class will be capped at 10 students. 
     
• Can I give my child permission to leave early and/or on their own? 
  • Yes. We would need your written permission to release your child without adult supervision after their session. Those arrangements can be made directly with Paul Harrington through email (pharrington@commonwealthacademy.org). 
     
• My child has dietary restrictions, can they bring their own snacks?
  • Yes, a student can bring extra snacks to have after school. We encourage students to bring a snack on the days they have an activity after school. The snacks provided by the school are supplemental.
     
• What is the cell phone policy after school? 
  • Students are able to have their phones on with them set to vibrate. While they will not be accessing their phones during activities, students will be able to use their phones during breaks, downtime, or to communicate with their parents or their scheduled transportation contact. All activities conducted on a mobile device will need to adhere to the school’s Responsible Use Policy, which will be in effect.