MY After-School @ the Downtown Community Center

 

If your child does not attend any of our partner schools, they can still enjoy and participate in Manhattan  Youth's Afterschool programs at the Downtown Community Center!

Drop off begins at 3:15PM, while  pick-up is promptly at 5:50PM, daily.

Each day, students will have the option to attend an early class or Choice Time period from 3:30PM to 4:30PM followed by a late class or Choice Time period from 4:40PM until 5:40PM.  

At the Downtown Community Center, students will engage in a variety of activities designed to support the socioemotional needs of the whole child. After a long school day,  we know that school-aged children thrive when they are provided with a fun environment, where they can connect with their peers,  their favorite after-school teachers and experiened group leaders. Our weekly class offerings incude art, ceramics, dance, digital media, cooking, swimming and more!

When you sign up for 4 or 5 days of After school at the Downtown Community Center, you're eligible for a FREE Family Membership to the Downtown Community Center!  Please contact Blake Ruiz assistant director of the Downtown Community Center to activate your membership once you have signed up for Afterschool at the Center.

First Day of After-School:  Monday, September 14, 2026

Last Day of After-School:  Friday, June 25th, 2027

 


MONDAY

Monday 3:30pm

  • DCC Confectionary Creations (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Intro to Spanish! (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Ballet (Grade K– 3)
  • DCC Ceramics (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Claymation (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Spa Lab (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC MY Newsletter (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 1

DCC Confectionary Creations

With a steady hand and a wild imagination, students will learn how to design and decorate palm-sized sweet treats. Ranging from cookies and cupcakes, to lollipops and jello molds, everything beautiful and wacky can be made here!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Intro to Spanish!

Se Habla Español!  Your child will learn the basics of the Spanish language through a variety of activities such as brief conversations, directed dialogues, worksheets, and short writing exercises.  Additionally, audio and visual aids, as well as short reading passages, will be utilized to enhance the learning experience.  Learning a new language is a bridge, an essential tool in today’s global world, to learn across new different disciplines such as Science, Arts, History, Economy, and Business to achieve personal and professional goals.

×
Grade K– 3

DCC Ballet

An introduction to ballet vocabulary and technique. Students develop strength, alignment, musicality, and the grace that is inherent in the form. Dancers in our ballet classes are prominently featured in each semester's dance performance.

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Ceramics

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Claymation

This class will explore a range of techniques for developing concept, writing, designing, animating and editing stop-motion animation projects. Students will create armatures, puppets and sets, and complete the production process of an animated movie using professional capturing and editing equipment and software.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Spa Lab

Discover the chemistry involved in making things that you would experience in a spa! Soaps, body scrubs, cosmetics, nail polish and color, bath oils, lipstick, perfumes and more! Students will make their own line of products that are safe to use at home!

×
Grade 2–5

DCC MY Newsletter

Articles, cartoons, jokes, reviews, and photography, even puzzles about our beloved Downtown Community Centerr!  Your child will learn journalism practices and use creativity, art, and writing skills to put together issues that will be published and distributed to students and parents program-wide.  

 

×

Monday 4:40pm

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Appetite for Adventure! (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Advanced Español (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Game Design and Animation (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Pottery Wheel (Grade 1–5)
  • DCC Zoology & Animal Care (Grade K– 3)
  • DCC Martial Arts (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Appetite for Adventure!

A taste of travel for the brave hearted, students will engage the five senses as the classroom hops the globe for a delicious destination! By exploring flavors and styles of multiple cuisines, the travelers will learn about the many aspects that go into everyday foods.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Advanced Español

Focusing on elevating fluency, grammatical accuracy, and cultural appreciation. Designed for experienced learners, these courses replace basic vocabulary drills with real-world conversational practice and creative projects.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Game Design and Animation

Join our interactive club that allows students to explore Video Game Design and Computer Generated Imaging in a project-based environment. Through this hands-on experience, you'll have the chance to create interactive art, media, and narratives while learning valuable skills in computational thinking and mathematics.

×
Grade 1–5

DCC Pottery Wheel

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

×
Grade K– 3

DCC Zoology & Animal Care

Emphasizing the central role of evolution in generating diversity, your child will explore the many kingdoms, behaviors and ecology of animal species! Your child will also become Zookeepers learning the basics of animal care from feeding to cleaning the habitats in our Science Lab.
×
Grade 2–5

DCC Martial Arts

Students learn self-defense, focus, concentration and discipline in a non-contact weekly martial arts workout. Classes are grouped by age and belt level. All levels work on forms, and bag work: kicks, punches, blocks and footwork. Sparring begins at yellow belt. At the end of each semester, we have an exhibition and test, where students have an opportunity for belt advancement (by teacher recommendation).

×

Monday 5:20PM

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×

TUESDAY

Tuesday 3:30pm

  • DCC Tumbling (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Junior Chef (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Intro to Mandarin (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Green Science (Grade K– 3)
  • DCC Ceramics (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Piano (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Girls Only Coding (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Lego Construction (Grade K– 1)
Grade K– 1

DCC Tumbling

This energetic class builds strength, flexibility and fitness. Students develop acrobatic skills while having fun!!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Junior Chef

This class will feature easy, yummy recipes that your child can learn to make at home. It will feature both savory and sweet dishes, with students concentrating on their own single-serving fare. Besides different sauces and dips, students will learn to make veggie pinwheels, cheddar corn dogs, breakfast muffins, parfaits and more!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Intro to Mandarin

Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Let's go!) 

Our approach, in several ways, but a good starting point is to focus on Pinyin, tones, basic vocabulary, and sentence structure.  Your child can then move on to learning Chinese characters, engaging with native speakers, and immersing themselves in the language through media!

×
Grade K– 3

DCC Green Science

Students will learn all about ecosystems and how we can preserve them. From worm composting and recycling to green energy and sustainable power, students will explore how the world works, and what it will take to keep it going! Upper grades will participate in service projects at their schools and in the community.
×
Grade K– 5

DCC Ceramics

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Piano

We offer an introduction to the piano keyboard in a group lesson setting. All levels are welcome. These classes are an excellent introduction to rhythm, melody and music theory.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Girls Only Coding

This hands on-club offers girls the opportunity to explore Video Game Design and Computer Generated Imaging in a project-based environment that both celebrates their gender and boosts their confidence in technology. All Girls Coding aims to get girls programming and creating interactive art, media and narratives while imparting valuable skills in computational thinking and mathematics.
×
Grade K– 1

DCC Lego Construction

Kids will receive daily challenges of structures to build with Legos. There will also be time for students to explore on their own and in small groups, building creations of their own invention.

×

Tuesday 4:40pm

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Coding (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Gymnastics (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Chemistry Lab (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Advanced Mandarin (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Intro to Music (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Homemade Comfort Cooking (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Pottery Wheel (Grade 1–5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Coding

This class is designed for students who have some programming under their belts. Students will learn how to integrate more complex programming concepts into their games and computational art using MIT's Scratch programming language (such as custom functions, and more advanced math than they might have otherwise been using). Through hands on projects elucidating a single new concept that build upon one another, culminating in a project of the students' own design.
×
Grade 2–5

DCC Gymnastics

This energetic class builds strength, flexibility and fitness. Students develop acrobatic skills such as tumbling, balance, endurance and coordination.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Chemistry Lab

The science lab at the Downtown Community Center will be bubbling with curiosity as young scientists examine the curious reactions that everyday materials have when they combine or change state. This class will emphasize the fun of experimentation, while teaching the complexities of all matter, right down to the atomic level. Pick-up is at the Downtown Community Center at 5:50pm.
×
Grade K– 5

DCC Advanced Mandarin

Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Let's go!) 

Our approach, in several ways, but a good starting point is to focus on Pinyin, tones, basic vocabulary, and sentence structure.  The club focuses on refining fluency and accuracy in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with emphasis on complex grammar and vocabulary. 

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Intro to Music

In this fun-filled class, kids will learn the basics of rhythm, melody, and musical expression through songs, games, movement, and hands-on activities with instruments. From clapping beats to playing simple percussion, each session encourages creativity, listening skills, and confidence. No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and love for music!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Homemade Comfort Cooking

Our young chefs learn essential kitchen skills, from measuring and converting fractions to slicing and chopping to sauteing and plating. We develop and encourage nutritious food choices while working together to prepare snacks and meals. Every class ends with a delicious treat!

×
Grade 1–5

DCC Pottery Wheel

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

×

Tuesday 5:20PM

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday 3:30pm

  • DCC Ooey Gooey Science (Grade K– 2)
  • DCC Ceramics (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Delicious Delectibles (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Fashion Design (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC 3D Printing (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Robotics (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 2

DCC Ooey Gooey Science

Every kid knows that you don't really learn anything unless you make a mess and get your hands dirty. This class lets the creativity thrive by allowing  everything oozy, grimy, slippery and slimy to work with while making beautiful art projects. 

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Ceramics

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Delicious Delectibles

Our young chefs learn essential kitchen skills, from measuring and converting fractions to slicing and chopping to sauteing and plating. We develop and encourage nutritious food choices while working together to prepare snacks and meals. Every class ends with a delicious treat!

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Fashion Design

Students will sketch fashion figures, design fabrics, and create full lines of clothing, producing their own style books.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC 3D Printing

Once thought of as a magic solution of the future, 3D printing is now a booming industry that yields serious benefits for the world. This course introduces students to basic engineering theories and principles by using 3D printing. It introduces design and fabrication processes to build hands on artifacts that demonstrate complex engineering topics in everyday life.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Robotics

×

Wednesday 4:40pm

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Fencing (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Pottery Wheel (Grade 1–5)
  • DCC Musical Theater (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Delicious Delectibles (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC 3D Printing (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Mural Making (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Fencing

Let your child step into the exciting world of fencing—an Olympic sport that combines speed, strategy, and skill! Our Youth Fencing Class introduces kids to the fundamentals of the sport in a safe, supportive, and energetic environment.

×
Grade 1–5

DCC Pottery Wheel

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Musical Theater

Experienced performers help students develop singing, dancing and acting skills. Students work as a cast throughout the semester on scenes and musical production numbers.

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Delicious Delectibles

Our young chefs learn essential kitchen skills, from measuring and converting fractions to slicing and chopping to sauteing and plating. We develop and encourage nutritious food choices while working together to prepare snacks and meals. Every class ends with a delicious treat!

×
Grade 2–5

DCC 3D Printing

Once thought of as a magic solution of the future, 3D printing is now a booming industry that yields serious benefits for the world. This course introduces students to basic engineering theories and principles by using 3D printing. It introduces design and fabrication processes to build hands on artifacts that demonstrate complex engineering topics in everyday life.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Mural Making

Transforming blank, shared spaces into dynamic, inspiring environments for our community. Encouraging students to combine individual visions into a unified masterpiece while learning the fundamentals of color theory, grid enlargement, underpainting, and more!

×

Wednesday 5:20PM

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×

THURSDAY

Thursday 3:30pm

  • DCC Hip Hop (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Animal Science (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Global Cuisine (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Messy Creations (Grade K– 1)
  • DCC Ceramics (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Gaga Ball (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC 3D Printing (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 1

DCC Hip Hop

A high-energy, intense class for dancers of all experience levels. The dance studio will be hopping to today's pop stars as students learn individual and teamwork skills that evolve into polished dance numbers. All students participate in a Manhattan Youth dance performance at the end of each semester

×
Grade K– 1

DCC Animal Science

Students learn about modern animals and their prehistoric ancestors, from jellyfish to dinosaurs!
×
Grade K– 1

DCC Global Cuisine

Get ready for a tasty adventure around the world! In this hands-on cooking class, kids will explore global cuisines as they learn to prepare fun, simple dishes from countries like Italy, Mexico, Japan, India, France, and more.

Each week features a new country and its flavors, along with a little cultural fun—learning about traditional ingredients, kitchen customs, and food-related stories. Young chefs will build confidence in the kitchen while practicing basic cooking skills like mixing, measuring, chopping (with kid-safe tools), and following recipes.

×
Grade K– 1

DCC Messy Creations

Every kid knows that you don't really learn anything unless you make a mess and get your hands dirty. This class lets the creativity thrive by allowing  everything oozy, grimy, slippery and slimy to work with while making beautiful art projects. 

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Ceramics

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Gaga Ball

×
Grade 2–5

DCC 3D Printing

Once thought of as a magic solution of the future, 3D printing is now a booming industry that yields serious benefits for the world. This course introduces students to basic engineering theories and principles by using 3D printing. It introduces design and fabrication processes to build hands on artifacts that demonstrate complex engineering topics in everyday life.

×

Thursday 4:40pm

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Hip Hop (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Pottery Wheel (Grade 1–5)
  • DCC Global Cuisine (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Understanding Plants and Animals (Grade 2–5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Hip Hop

A high-energy, intense class for dancers of all experience levels. The dance studio will be hopping to today's pop stars as students learn individual and teamwork skills that evolve into polished dance numbers. All students participate in a Manhattan Youth dance performance at the end of each semester

×
Grade 1–5

DCC Pottery Wheel

Working with clay has been all the rage. This class will explore all the different ways of creating with clay.  Handbuilding and working on the pottery wheel helps develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities and creativity through a variety of stimulating projects. From animal-themed sculptures to crafting their own favorite cup or bowl, there are endless possibilities for imaginative, figurative, and function work.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Global Cuisine

Get ready for a tasty adventure around the world! In this hands-on cooking class, kids will explore global cuisines as they learn to prepare fun, simple dishes from countries like Italy, Mexico, Japan, India, France, and more.

Each week features a new country and its flavors, along with a little cultural fun—learning about traditional ingredients, kitchen customs, and food-related stories. Young chefs will build confidence in the kitchen while practicing basic cooking skills like mixing, measuring, chopping (with kid-safe tools), and following recipes.

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Understanding Plants and Animals

×

Thursday 5:20PM

  • After-School Swim Lessons (Grade K– 5)
Grade K– 5

After-School Swim Lessons

We are proud to offer Youth Swim Lessons as a choice in our After-School Programs. Children receive the same instruction and swim experience as our Youth swim lessons.  Your child will be picked up directly from their classroom at school dismissal, have a snack, and be transported to the Downtown Community Center for childcare activities provided by our After-school staff.

To find out more on our After-School programs, please click here.

Please note that swim offerings and schedules vary by school. 

 

If you attend a school that is not in our network, you may sign your student up for drop-off After School at the Downtown Community Center.

×

FRIDAY

Friday 3:30pm

  • DCC Tammy Treats (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Digital Game Design (Grade 2–5)
  • DCC Earth Science (Grade K– 1)
Grade K– 5

DCC Tammy Treats

×
Grade 2–5

DCC Digital Game Design

×
Grade K– 1

DCC Earth Science

×

Friday 4:40pm

  • DCC Ceramics & Pottery Wheel (Grade K– 5)
  • DCC Cooking Around The World (Grade K– 5)
Grade K– 5

DCC Ceramics & Pottery Wheel

Introduce your child to the world of ceramics! Develop motor skills and learn creative problem solving through projects aimed at stimulating imagination and creativity. Projects range from animal themed sculptures, making a new favorite cup or bowl, figurative work and more!

×
Grade K– 5

DCC Cooking Around The World

Learning about international food expands your culinary experience and knowledge. This class will highlight the many different cuisines around the world. Students will learn how to make the recipe but also learn what factors influence what we are cooking and why. Some examples of the recipes we will make are dumplings, shakshuka, quiche, apple cake, chickpea curry. We will also take student requests.

×
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