After School Program

Welcome to the Absentee Shawnee Tribe After School Program, where education is valued and being Indigenous is embraced.

Our Mission

The mission of Absentee Shawnee Afterschool Program (AST ASP) is to provide year-round out-of-school time services that meet the needs of children and their families through academic, social and cultural opportunities that promote learning and self-esteem necessary for life-long success.

AST-ASP year-round programming provides children with learning experiences after school, during school vacation weeks and throughout the summer months.  Our major focus is to boost the academic, social, emotional and physical development of the growing school-age child.

Core Values

1. YEAR-ROUND CONNECTIONS:

Afterschool programming starts from the moment the bell rings until 6:00pm to support families and engage students in opportunities that builds on school day learning. AST ASP full-day programs support the goals of partnering school districts by providing continuous learning during school vacation weeks and the summer months. AST-ASP closes only 16 weekdays each year for holidays and professional development to have the greatest impact on children and support working families.

2. WELCOMING AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT:

AST-ASP learning environment includes: skilled educators that love working with children; comfortable and child-friendly spaces; and a strength-based philosophy that the best learning experience results from encouraging a child’s natural curiosity and building on their skills and interests. Children have access to safe, welcoming environments that children and parents want to return to day after day, year after year. Through AST ASP school partnerships, children have access to valuable school resources, including libraries, computer labs, gymnasiums, and more.

3. ACADEMIC SUPPORT:

AST-ASP daily academic support and hands-on learning activities expands on and complements learning presented during the school day in innovative, fun and engaging ways

4. FINANCIAL HELP FOR THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN:

AST-ASP strives to ensure that services are available to help the most vulnerable, underserved populations. To support struggling families, AST-ASP secures public and private resources to provide financial assistance on a sliding fee scale.

5. SUPPORT FOR THE WHOLE CHILD:

With a strong emphasis on social-emotional development, children at AST-ASP learn to set and achieve goals, recognize and manage their emotions, appreciate the perspective of others, maintain positive relationships, and develop essential problem-solving skills.

The AST ASP Shawnee program is located on the AST Complex across the street from Building Blocks.  The AST ASP provides after school care for children in Kindergarten and up to age 12.  We also provide care during breaks and some holidays.  The program is DHS license exempt due to being on trust property but we try to follow the guidelines as closely as possible.  We do provide transportation from most schools in the Shawnee School District and the Tecumseh School District as well as South Rock Creek when the demand is there.  The AST ASP is free to AST enrolled children, children who's families receive tribal child care subsidy and Oklahoma state child care subsidy.