After-School
After-School
Veronica Arts Media partners with schools to extend the learning day and give students more ways to discover what they're capable of!
Veronica Arts Media
partners with schools to extend the learning day and give students more ways to discover what they're capable of!
Apply For After-School
Our COMPASS/SONYC through the Department of Youth and Community Development program blends academic enrichment and homework help with a full range of hands-on experiences: STEM and STEAM projects, performing and visual arts, media production in filmmaking, podcasting, and sports media, plus physical fitness and recreation. This mix keeps students engaged, closes the opportunity gap that too many young people in under-resourced communities face, and turns afterschool hours into a seamless extension of the school day. By pairing real-world creative skills with strong academics and whole-child support, we deepen learning and nurture the social and emotional growth of every student we serve.
Activities
Program Activities
Stem
STEM activities cover various content including Lego and Advanced Robotics, Video Game Design, Drone Exploration and Flight, App Development, Making Art or Music with Scratch, Engineering & Design, Advanced Hydroponics & Data Science, Virtual and Augmented Reality Design with CoSpaces, Entrepreneurship, and more.
Literacy
Veronica Arts Media supports literacy development through fostering a love of reading and building students' literacy skills year-round using NYC Reads. NYC Reads aligns with five critical areas of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Academic Support
At Veronica Arts Media, academic support goes deeper than supervised homework time. Our staff work closely with each partner school to understand where students need the most reinforcement, then build targeted support around it—from small-group help in core subjects to focused test preparation.
Sports & Visual Arts
Each year, we offer more than 420 hours of physical activity to over 1000 students. This includes opportunities to participate in intramural sports leagues for basketball, soccer, tennis and more. Visual Arts Students can participate in activities such as Global Crafts Painting, Bookmaking, Collage, - Recycled Arts - Origami & more…
College and Career
Veronica Arts Media academic enrichment offers students a range of supports including lessons in effective study skills, group study halls, and project-based experiential learning experiences with college professors and college students. We also provide high school application and transition support for middle schoolers.
Performing & Media Arts
We offer instruction in dance, step, playwriting, musical theater, chorus, drama, and improv. Students put on performances throughout the year and enjoy having a platform to share their talents. We offer filmmaking, podcasting, and sports journalism. Programs where students step into the real roles, actively exploring the media careers they may want to pursue.
"At Veronica Arts Media, we are committed to ensuring that every child has access to enriching experiences that inspire creativity, academic success, and lifelong learning."
Maurita Salkey, Veronica Arts Media Founder
Summer Camp
For the 27-28 school year, we will offer free summer day camps that provide a safe, fun, and educational setting for children. Summer Camp activities include a variety of visual and performing arts, STEM, physical education, active play, leadership, field trips, and much more!
*Funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and operate in partnership with the NYC Department of Education as part of the Summer Rising initiative. Registration and selection decisions are managed centrally by NYC.
To signup and register for the 2027-2028 school year visit discoverDYCD (dycdconnect.nyc).
Our School Partners
- MS 890 Ralph Waldo Emerson School
- P.S 126 Dr. Majorie H. Dunbar
- PS 246 The Poe Center
Become a Partner
Veronica Arts Media is committed to building strong, lasting, and collaborative relationships with our school partners. Each program is thoughtfully designed and continuously refined to meet the unique needs of every school community we serve. Our program leaders work closely with principals, educators, students, and families to develop engaging after-school experiences that strengthen academic achievement, support social-emotional growth, and respond to the specific needs of our participants. Together, we ensure that learning extends beyond the classroom in meaningful and impactful ways.
If your school is interested in partnering with Veronica Arts Media, we welcome you to connect with us at info@veronicaartsmedia.org or 646-481-2042. We look forward to working together to support student success and build stronger communities.
Download the Enrollment Forms
Send completed application to afterschool@veronicaartsmedia.org. Include the School name in the subject line.