About
TOSSafter is an afterschool art program for students in k-8th grade. Students are trained in creative, critical thinking and familiarized with visual mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and photography. Thematics areas include social justice, environmental stewardship, and the future of work. Students are given tools to design, exhibit, and sell their art at the conclusion of the term.
Enrollment
Space in the program: We reserve 40% of our class space for scholarship recipients.
Enrollment timeframe: The enrollment timeframe is open and ongoing.
What if there is a waiting list? In the event that the number of applicants surpasses the available openings, a lottery will take place on a set date, announced here and via email. You will be notified if there is space in the program for your student.
Lottery details: Preference is given to previously enrolled students and their siblings, placing them at the top of the list. Names will be drawn to match the number of available spaces, and any extra names will be placed on a waiting list in the order they are drawn.
Grade Levels/Schedule*
Monday - Middle School *
Tuesday - 4-5th grade
Wednesday - K-1st grade
Thursday - 2-3rd graders
3:30-4 | Flexible Drop off (free-time art projects)
4-4:15 | Learning circle time
4:15-5 | Art projects
5-5:45 | Assessments, discussion, and project revisions
5:45-6 | Clean, pack up, pick ups
When
Fall Term: September 9th - December 12th
Spring Term : January 6th -May 16th
Studio hours are once weekly for a 2.5 hours.
We break for Federal Holidays as followed by the BCPS system. Consult our calendar for the schedule.
TOSS operates on BCPS 1/2 days and teacher workdays but does not provide transportation those days.
Cancelations due to inclement weather will be determined, case-by case, since, for example, BCPS cancellations for snow in the morning may not be relevant by the afternoon).
Students enrolling in the fall term must indicate their interest in continuing in the spring before winter break.
Where
647 Hopewell Road, Morganton, NC 28655
(Entry on the far left)
Rates
$50/ month: $200 - Fall term (4 Months)
$250 - Spring term (5 Months)
Payment is due by the 1st week of the month
Regardless of the variant number of weeks per month, the $50 monthly rate will remain the same- it is averaged to accommodate holidays etc.
Discounts
+After full-price tuition for first the child, siblings can attend at a 30% discount.
+Register and pay upfront for the entire year and receive a 10% discount
Scholarships
We award full scholarships based on need. You can indicate your interest when filling out the application.
Get Started
Apply
If the classes are already filled, you can still join a waiting list for a lottery assignment.
The TOSS team will reach out by the end of August (for the fall) or by mid December (for the Spring semester) to let you know if there is room for your student. This program is not first come first serve and we reserve 40% of our class space for scholarship recipients.
More about the Program
While one of our main goals is give students a baseline of technical experiences in visual art, we are also building their cultural competencies by introducing them to contemporary artists. We invite them into the economics of art making, showing them what their art is worth and helping them sell their works. We help them experience art as a team sport - hosting group critics and discussions. We leave room for play, facilitating centers-based free-time to allow innate interests to blossom. Our curriculum always explores interdisciplinary themes, bring STEAM connections, English language learning, and social studies into play. This program has been developed by artists and educators and was inspired by Popular education (developed in the 1960s and 1970s by the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire), The Reggio Emilia approach, Room 13, and Studio Habits of Mind.
Financial Transparency
We are committed to offering affordable opportunities for our community, but what are the real costs of running a studio? This breakdown of our expenses helps to demonstrate our rates. Grants and donations play a huge role in keeping TOSS operational.
Why
At TOSS our goal is to offer an art experience that will have a lasting impact at an affordable rate. We want to give every child a chance to experience the discipline of thinking through the art of making. Studies show that art education equips students with better problem-solving skills who test higher in every subject at school. Our emphasis is to cultivate sophisticated learners using the visual arts as our guide; we offer a wide range of tools, and on any given day you might see the unfolding of theatrical productions, animation, or product design. We are invested in developing the skill sets and abilities of students in our community, who will someday be the next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals, practitioners, and leaders.
