Two young children create crafts at a table covered with colorful paper, small baskets, bowls, and toy pieces in a classroom.

Auxiliary Programs

Afterschool • Clubs • Vacation Camps • Summerfun

Learning at The Common School keeps going after the school day ends. Afterschool runs until 5:30 on school days. Clubs, Vacation Camps and our Summerfun camp fill afternoons, school breaks and summer weeks with art, building, games and time outdoors on Larch Hill.

Auxiliary Programming

  • Smiling child in a flamingo-print shirt and superhero cape using a toy hammer at an outdoor craft table

    Afterschool Programming

    Runs 3:00 to 5:30 on school days. Afternoons include cardboard engineering, art, forest walks, chess and cooking.

    more info here
  • Child in a blue cap digging in a sandy outdoor play area with a shovel

    Clubs

    Choose-your-own programs that let children go deeper into one interest. Open to students outside The Common School!

    check out our clubs
  • Child painting colorful artwork with leaves and natural materials at a classroom table

    Vacation Camps

    Winterfun and Springfun run 8:30 to 3:30 during February and April breaks for ages 3 to 13. Register for one day or the whole week. Past camps include Nature Play, STEAM, Mixed Media Arts, and Dungeons & Dragons + Magic: The Gathering. Open to the public!

    save your spot
  • Child wearing glasses standing in a grassy park surrounded by floating bubbles

    Summerfun

    Six weeks of summer camp for ages 3 to 14, June 21 to July 30, 2027. Younger campers explore the farm and forest. Older campers pick camps like clay, art, STEAM and tabletop games.

    register

Staff Bios

Director of Auxiliary Programs

Em MacDonald

emily@commonschool.org

Emily began their career in education in 2008 working for the youth outreach non-profit South Shore Stars. They wore many hats in the 8 years working for Stars: summer camp counselor, after school specialist, a van driver, a unit head, STEM specialist, mindfulness specialist, and more. The next step in their journey was earning two degrees from Bridgewater State University: one in biology and one in elementary education. After graduating, Emily worked as a sixth grade science teacher in Revere for 5 years before moving to Western MA. Now, Emily works as the Advancement Manager. Emily spends their free time enjoying their home and pets, performing in their band, and learning new crafts and skills.

Headshot of Emily MacDonald, white person with long straight dark brown hair, smiling widely against a backdrop of trees and sky