MYTIME, City Wide After School Program
Have you ever noticed what happens between 3:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon? Over 7,000 middle school students across Aurora are dismissed from school, and many have no supervision or engaging activities to participate in during the after school hours.
In response to a community need to engage these students in a successful high-quality after school program, Aurora University’s Institute for Collaboration and community partners: The City of Aurora, Communities In Schools, the Fox Valley Park District, the Sci-Tech Museum, Robert Crown Health Center for Education, YWCA, Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois, the Aurora Police Department, the Aurora Township, School Districts 129, 131, 204 and 308 and other public and private organizations have designed and developed a collaborative city-wide after school program.
This free after school program for middle school students is designed to ultimately engage every student in Aurora with the opportunity to participate in a program designed by students, for students. Any student attending a participating school is encouraged to register for the program. Signed parental consent is required for enrollment.
Communities In Schools is the fiscal and programmatic manager of the after school program. The roles of CIS staff is to employ and schedule AU student leaders to work in the program, schedule and organize busing for the AU student leaders to and from Aurora University, recruit and schedule community agencies and organizations to provide curriculum based programs as well as coordinate and administer all operations of the City Wide After School Program.
We currently have the MYTIME program in eleven middle schools across Aurora.
East Aurora School District 131
- Cowherd Middle School 3:00-6:00PM
- Simmons Middle School 3:00-6:00PM
- Waldo Middle School 3:00-6:00PM
West Aurora School District 129
- Herget Middle School 3:45-6:30PM
- Jefferson Middle School 3:45-6:30PM
- Jewel Middle School 3:45-6:00PM
- Washington Middle School 3:45-6:00PM
Indian Prairie School District 204
- Still Middle School 3:00-6:00PM
- Granger Middle School 3:00-6:00PM
Oswego School District 308
- Bednarcik Middle School 3:00-5:00PM
The goal of this program seeks to engage middle school students in positive activities beyond the school day in the areas of academics, fine arts, and recreation. The intent is to help these students achieve academically by providing these structured, engaging activities.
Each day middle school students have an hour of homework time to complete their daily assignments with one-on-one assistance or group assistance from the after school staff. All students are provided a snack after school and the remaining time of the program is dedicated to engaging programs provided by staff and/or community partners.
The program, which has been named My Time, utilizes Aurora University undergraduates as staff members hired by Communities In Schools. CIS currently employs over 100 Aurora University student leaders to tutor, mentor and supervise the middle school students. They in turn gain valuable hands on experience by working in the program. AU student leaders can model the importance of a college education, build meaningful and trusting relationships with middle school students, and understand the value of working together to achieve more.
After school programs create opportunities for young people to develop other essential skills – creative thinking, problem solving, the ability to work on diverse teams, communication, self-direction, and the use of technology – the very skills employers know contribute most to success in the work force now and in the future.
By providing choices for creative learning opportunities such as arts, drama, music, sports, and community service projects, we help to prepare young people to be well-rounded and productive members of society.
MYTIME also host a monthly field trip for all students in the program to attend the Fox Valley Park District Prisco Center for concerts, events and recreational activities.
For more information please contact:
Communities In Schools
Karen Harkness
Director of City Wide After School Program.
630-844-3712