SONYC After School
Welcome to the CSS Afterschool Community! Since 2015, the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood has partnered with Columbia Secondary School to implement completely free SONYC extended day and afterschool programming for 6th-8th grade students. Activities are taught by a mix of CSS faculty and outside professionals who help our students to explore new ideas, develop new skills and grow beyond the classroom. This collaboration is part of what makes the CSS experience unique!
Our electives include several sport and art programs such as Rugby, Theater Justice, Comedy & Improv, Girl Code, Sewing, Painting, Sports and more!
Although the Y's SONYC program is funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development, it is truly an extension of the CSS community. In addition to providing "traditional" after school classes, we support school wide events, social emotional learning spaces like advisory, and executive functioning programming for students and families.
Curious to find out more about our SONYC Afterschool elective offerings? Here are some classes we've run recently:
Martial arts
Learn to build your character and courage with martial arts! In our martial arts elective students learn various martial arts techniques such as blocks, strikes and kicks for self-defense while focusing on building self-confidence, self-control and self-defense skills. Students collaborate to build group respect and success and will end the elective as a confident artist!
Mandarin
Our introductory course to Mandarin teaches students the four essential skills in learning any language which are reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students will build skills and knowledge in the understanding of the Mandarin language and respect for the culture.
Rock Climbing
Learn to reach taller heights! This elective focuses on teaching students the correct technique and safety protocol when participating in rock climbing activities. Students will be able to progress through different levels of difficulties by building confidence and learning new techniques.
Basketball
Our boys and girls basketball teams learn the basic skill and knowledge associated with the sport of basketball. Through active participation, students have the opportunity to improve physical fitness, acquire knowledge of fitness concepts and practice positive social and personal skills. Students could gain the chance to participate in tournaments and team skill building activities.
Please email the SONYC Director for more information at sonycdirectorcss@columbiasecondary.org.
The Aurora Team shows off its winning design at the NYC Regional Future City Competition, a national, non-profit competition sponsored by the engineering community to promote technological literacy and engineering to middle school student. The competition was held January 18, 2020 at CSS. Our team will travel to Washington, DC to represent NYC in the national competition on February 18, 2020! Thank you to Professor Hubbard and SONYC for your hard work and support of our budding city planners and engineers!!
Learn more about Future City here: https://futurecity.org/
See pics and videos from the 19-20 competition here: http://www.ascemetsection.org/component/content/article?id=19&Itemid=523
Below is a complete list of our teams and awards!
- Aurora Team-#1st place.-will represent NYC at the National Competition
- Gaea Guard Team: Advanced Aviation and Aerospace Technology; Creative Architectural Design
- Neo Atlantis Team: Most Sustainable Water Use; People's Choice Award
- Ukulele Pikachu Team: Most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems
- Expired Milk 420 Team
- Aquaria Team
- Hydropolis Team
Director
Assistant Director