When the final school bell rings, the learning and connection are only just beginning for hundreds of students across the Murray City School District. Through the district’s After School Program, specifically highlighted at Horizon Elementary and Hillcrest Junior High—local educators and community leaders are redefining what after-care looks like.

By blending intensive academic intervention with experiential life skills, the program provides a safe, welcoming haven designed to boost achievement and build lasting community ties.

A Shared Mission for Equity and Growth

The core mission of the Murray City School District After School Program is rooted in equity. In collaboration with local Board of Education members, youth organizations, and community partners, the initiative explicitly targets academic enrichment opportunities for children, with a special focus on serving high-poverty and low-performing schools within the district.

Across all sites, the program strives to hit three vital benchmarks for youth development:

• Health and Safety: Students engage in structured daily physical activity, receive a nutritious snack, and participate in groups centered on prosocial behavior.

• Academic Achievement: Focused small-group, data-based instruction aims to elevate student performance in reading, mathematics, and science, heavily leveraging technology programs.

• Community Engagement: Families are brought into the educational fold through regular community activities, including reading, cooking, budgeting, STEAM nights, and "Show What You Know" showcases.

Horizon Elementary: Confidence Through Tailored Support

At Horizon Elementary, the program serves a robust community of over 120 registered students, hosting between 70 to 90 children on any given afternoon.

What sets Horizon apart is its access to licensed teachers who provide targeted academic interventions in core areas like math, reading, and writing. Horizon also offers tailored Spanish support to reinforce the school's Dual Immersion Program. This highly personalized attention does more than just fix report cards; it directly fosters student confidence and capability.

"YES! My student has had a breakthrough in being able to isolate the first sound in a word," shared Mrs. Christie, a Horizon Kindergarten teacher. "I tried and tried, but it was my After School ladies who really helped her!"

Beyond the classroom, Horizon students have the freedom to self-select from a dazzling array of enrichment clubs and activities, ranging from gardening, junior chef, and STEM to drones, Playworks, recreational therapy, and community field trips—such as a recent visit to Riftgate Games.

Hillcrest Junior High: Tutoring Meets Tabletop Adventures

For older students, the Hillcrest Junior High branch acts as a critical bridge between academic accountability and social discovery, boasting an enrollment of over 200 registered junior high students.

Each afternoon, between 60 and 120 students arrive for a balanced two-hour routine:

1. Hour One: Intensive, dedicated tutoring and homework help.

2. Hour Two: Immersive, skill-building enrichment choices.

Hillcrest aggressively builds community connections by taking students out into local businesses and nature. On any given day, students might be found taking pickleball lessons, visiting climbing gyms, or exploring local game stores to learn new skills from community mentors. On-site options are just as diverse, offering life skills like cooking, hair care, gardening, and biking, alongside social clubs like soccer, art, board games, and a collaborative Makerspace.

One of the program's crowning achievements is its Dungeons & Dragons club, which brings high school volunteers down to mentor and play with the 7th graders.

"For many, it's a way to let go of our world for 45 minutes to fight against goblins and to look for buried treasure in abandoned castles," says Gabe Smith, Site Leader and Dungeon Master, who notes that the tabletop game has become an invaluable tool for teaching kids how to roleplay and work together as a team.

The Social Spectrum

While data and grades prove the program's academic worth, teachers emphasize that the social-emotional gains are just as profound. Mrs. Stephenson, a 2nd-grade teacher, noted how vital these afternoon hours are for children navigating social anxiety.

"I do think it is beneficial for my student to have her after school program friends," Mrs. Stephenson observed. "She is very shy and quiet, doesn't talk much to anyone but does play with and talk to her friends that also happen to be in afterschool program."

 

By providing a space where Murray's youth can stand out, try new things, and catch up academically, the district isn't just minding the gap between the school day and the dinner table—they are actively building the foundation for a stronger community.