Afterschool Clubs at Jones Elementary!
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Ira B. Jones FTO is proud to invite all Jones Global Scholars to participate in our Afterschool Clubs Program! This program, offered Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays this spring, features fun, enriching, interest-based sessions on the Ira B. Jones campus, providing an extended-day afterschool option for our students. Clubs are led by a mix of community members and Jones staff members, with topics varying from session to session.
This year, we are slightly changing the schedule: clubs will not begin until 3:30: before that, they will have time before the club - they will play outside. After clubs end at 4:30, students will either be picked up, or go outside for outdoor play until 5:15.
Spring Season
January Session*: January 5th - January 29th
Session 1: February 2nd - March 26th
Session 2: March 30th - May 28th
Spring 2026 Session 1 Club Offerings
Monday Clubs
Dungeons and Dragons (New and Returning Players): Both new and returning Dungeons and Dragons players can join us for a new 8-week long adventure on Mondays, led by Ms. Bee and Ms. Martinez! The groups will meet from 3:30-5:15 each week, with afterschool care provided until the club starts!
Pokémon Club: Pokémon fans, the time has finally come! Afterschool staff member Ryan Foster will teach students how to play the Pokémon card game, and lead other Pokémon-themed activities! Students will learn how to play and how to build their deck for the perfect battle! Students are welcome to bring their own cards, but we will also have cards available for those who don't have their own, so no supplies or previous experience is required!
Arts and Crafts: Students will make arts and crafts with Ms. Grace, everyone's favorite 3rd Grade Instructional Assistant!
PE Club: One thing we know about Mr. Axelrod is that he loves to play PE-style games. The group will either play on the playground or in the gym, depending on weather each day.
Tuesday Clubs
Basketball Club: Mr. Axelrod is back to play some more basketball! With a smaller group size, he will be able to provide more one-on-one guidance!
The Joy of Manga: Led by afterschool staff member Jordan Redden, this club will focus on introducing students to the world of creating manga, the popular art form of Japanese graphic novels and comics, and how to draw their own. Session 1 will be about learning how to draw and create our own manga characters, and Session 2 will be about learning how to create and draw a manga based around the characters we created in Session 1 to make a fully fleshed-out manga book.
Cardboard Creation Club: Led by afterschool staff member Jo'El Longacre, students will practice using different materials to create new things! Projects will include building with cardboard, shaping with clay, folding with paper, and more!
Wednesday Clubs
Dungeons and Dragons: This session, we will be offering 3 D&D groups on Wednesdays. Two groups of returning players from the fall will continue to work as a party to go on adventures with Ms. Bee and Ms. Martinez, and a group of new players will embark on a journey with afterschool staff member Ryan Foster! Ms. Bee and Ms. Martinez's groups will dismiss at 5:15, while Ryan's group will dismiss at 4:30, with the option of extended free play to pick up at 5:15.
Life Drawing: Students will practice drawing real-life objects using their observation! Students will learn how to use shapes, shadows, and light to create drawings of 3D objects as they observe them. Led by Ms. Grace!
Board Games: Let's play some games! And if the inspiration strikes, maybe we'll make some of our own!
Thursday Clubs
Lego Club: Ms. Tess is back for Lego Club! Legos are provided, but students are welcome to bring along their favorite minifigs!
Tae Kwon Do: Presented by Sun Soo, we are offering an 8-week session of Introduction to Traditional Tae Kwon Do! Learn more in the club details page.
Magical House Making and Woodland Folklore: Make tiny houses fit for fairies, trolls, and gnomes! Students will have fun crafting and creative miniature houses and accessories with supplies and found objects. We will use our imaginations and artistic talents to craft, create art, read stories and explore woodland lore and legends! Led by afterschool staff member Jo'El Longacre.
Interested in working with us? Email us at jonesafterschool@gmail.com!
Frequently Asked Questions
What will the afternoon schedule look like?
Upon dismissal at 2:35 pm, participating students will walk to the school’s cafeteria to eat a snack. They will then either transition to outdoor play or indoor independent reading, depending on what they are sign up for. They will then return to the cafeteria to be picked up by their club leader. Students will then either go out to the car line for pickup at 4:30 when their club ends, or go outside for outdoor play, from which they can be picked up either before or at 5:15.
Do clubs still take place when school is closed?
No. The Jones Afterschool calendar aligns with the Asheville City Schools (ACS) calendar, so we will be closed on holidays, teacher workdays, conference days, snow days, and early release days. Please review the ACS calendar and be sure to make other arrangements for your child as needed.
My student has a schedule conflict that will require them to be absent for one of the scheduled dates. Can they still join?
No problem! Simply email jonesafterschool@gmail.com to let us know of any absence in advance. Note there are no discounts/refunds/credits given nor make-up days available for missed sessions.
My child needs to ride the bus home. How will the bus pick them up?
Unfortunately, there is no ACS bus service available at this time. All participants must be picked up by parents or other designated adults.
How and when should I pick up my child?
Clubs will dismiss through the car line at either 4:30 pm or 5:15 pm, depending on your club selections. Please arrive at the school to pick up your child no later than 4:40 pm if leaving after one club, or 5:25 pm if your child is signed up for two clubs on any given day. Pickups after those times will incur a late fee of $1 per minute, per child, which must be paid before the following week’s session in order to continue with the program.
Please ensure that anyone picking up your child has been added to the approved pickup list. To confirm who is on your list or make changes, you can call the front office at 828-350-6700. Drivers picking up students must have a valid ID on hand and may be asked to present it.
Can I sign up for only one day of the week?
Yes! This program is flexible, and participants have the option of choosing Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or any combination of these days.
How can I pay?
Our registration platform, Jumbula, accepts PayPal for credit card payments (online payment incurs an additional processing fee), or you may drop off a check (payable to “Ira B. Jones PTO”) or cash with front office staff, who will deliver it to the FTO.
IMPORTANT: Please include your child(ren)’s name(s) and the name(s) of the specific club(s) you are paying for either in your check memo or in the notes with your online payment. Please pay promptly before the first session begins, or risk forfeiting your spot.
Scholarships are available for students as needed. If you would like to register for a scholarship, please email us at jonesafterschool@gmail.com.
What if a club I want to register for is full?
Please register them for another club and then email us at jonesafterschool@gmail.com with the subject line Waitlist. In your email please include your child/children's first and last name, grade, and the club they wish to wait for. If a spot were to open up we will email you to let you know. You will have 24 hours to confirm and pay any additional fees, if needed, to ensure your child/children's spot. After 24 hours we will move down the waitlist.
Do I need to send an afternoon snack for my student?
After school ends and before students walk to their club, they’ll have a break and the program will provide snacks (e.g., pretzels, granola bars, popcorn, or similar) at no cost. If you have specific dietary requests, please email in advance and we will make every effort to meet them with what we have on hand. We encourage you to send your own snack if your student has more challenging dietary restrictions. Please also ensure your student has their own water bottle!
Are materials provided for classes?
Yes – some, but not all, clubs require supplies/materials. Instructors have noted a flat materials fee that each student must pay, where applicable. For clubs that do have such a fee (for example, $14 for Arts & Crafts), the fee will be reflected in your registration total.
How can I reach out to program staff or the FTO with questions about Growing Minds?
Please email us at jonesafterschool@gmail.com. Afterschool staff will be busy during program hours (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:30-5:15 pm), so are unlikely to be able to check emails then. Please communicate earlier in the day or call the Jones front office (828-350-6700), which staffs its phone lines until 3:45 pm daily.
