Makom Afterschool is a fun, inclusive, pluralistic Jewish and Hebrew learning program for kids in JK through Grade 5 in downtown Toronto. (For older kids, check out our middle school program!)
Why Choose Makom Afterschool?
Makom Afterschool's Vision
Every Jewish child in downtown Toronto has access to high-quality Jewish and Hebrew education, supporting their development as ethical, engaged, and empowered Jews within the diversity of religious and cultural approaches to Jewish life.
Makom Afterschool's Mission
Makom Afterschool provides high-quality, pluralistic Jewish and Hebrew-language education in neighbourhood public schools to students in JK through Grade 5. Children from the diversity of downtown Jewish families find their place in our warm and welcoming community.
Schedule
Students attend Makom Afterschool two afternoons per week, on the following schedule:
| Neighbourhood | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington Market | Tues & Thurs | 3:45-5:45pm |
| Roncesvalles | Mon & Weds | 4:00-6:00pm |
| Seaton Village | Mon & Weds | 3:45-5:45pm |
| Wychwood | Tues & Thurs | 3:45-5:45pm |
Makom Afterschool begins in the second week of the TDSB school year, and runs through mid-June. We are closed on TDSB breaks, holidays, and PA days, as well as certain Jewish holidays.
A Typical Day
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Arrival & Transition/Playtime
Children arrive after a full school day and need time to unwind before engaging in additional learning activities. At Makom Afterschool we encourage informal play outdoors, when weather permits. This is a time a time for children to bond with each other and with the staff.
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Snack Time
Parents are encouraged to send a snack with their children each day. During snack time, students and teachers chat together in Hebrew. Key vocabulary terms (for food items and related actions) arise during snack time and reappear during the course of the day. The b'rachot (blessings) for each category of food are recited.
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Centring Activity
Teachers and children begin each class with a routine to transition from arrival and snack into the learning activities. This often includes movement and song.
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Learning Activities
Children and teachers participate in learning activities together. These activities vary depending on the day and are designed to be engaging and experiential. Through arts, music, games, drama, yoga, dance, movement and more, children learn Hebrew vocabulary and literacy, and are exposed to Jewish values, holidays, traditions and teachings.
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Closing Activities
Children and teachers end with a closing routine to tidy up, get organized and say L'hitraot! (See you next time!) to one another.
Locations and Arrival
Makom Afterschool takes place at four downtown Toronto District School Board schools. Pick the location that’s most convenient for your family!
On-Site Pickup & Supervision
Students who attend public school at an Afterschool site will be met by our staff at their TDSB dismissal time and supervised until our program begins.
There is a fee of $200/year for this service. This fee works out to only $3 per session and covers the staffing costs for this supervision.
Transportation
We will pick up students from certain nearby schools and bring them to Makom Afterschool on foot or via TTC. There is an additional fee of $650 per child for this service.
Transportation routes are determined each year based on enrolment and staff availability. We will prioritise families registered by June 1st and routes with the most students, so sign up early and spread the word!
If you require transportation in order to enrol in Makom Afterschool, check the appropriate box on the registration form, and we will confirm with you once our routes are determined.
We are also happy to connect families coming from the same school or neighbourhood to discuss walking together or carpooling.
We do not offer transportation home from Afterschool.
Recent Pick-Up & Transportation Routes
Transportation routes are finalized each summer based on enrolment. In recent years, we've provided transportation or on-site supervision from the following schools:
- Da Vinci
- Dewson
- Dr Rita Cox
- Essex-Hawthorne
- Fern
- Garden
- Howard
- Howlett Academy
- Humewood
- Lord Lansdowne
- McMurrich
- Ossington Old Orchard
- Palmerston Avenue
- Pauline
- Perth Avenue
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau
- Rawlinson
- Regal Road
Our Curriculum
The Makom Afterschool curriculum covers Hebrew language, Shabbat and Holidays, Torah stories, Jewish values, blessings, and prayers. Click on a subject area for more details!
- Build Modern Hebrew conversational skills and vocabulary
- Develop Hebrew listening and reading comprehension for stories and prayers
- Acquire phonetic decoding skills for reading unfamiliar words and prayers
- Write in script
- Connect to the land and people of Israel
- Develop skills for celebrating Shabbat and holidays at home and in community
- Learn Hebrew vocabulary for Shabbat and holidays
- Learn berakhot (blessings) and prayers for home rituals
- Hear and retell the background/story of Shabbat and each holiday
- Celebrate Shabbat and holidays in Afterschool and Makom communities
- Experience the full cycle of the Jewish calendar, and connect each holiday to its month and season
- Become familiar with key Torah stories and actors, the arc of the Torah narrative, and some midrashim (rabbinic interpretations of Torah stories)
- Learn key Hebrew words for understanding Torah stories
- Identify values applicable to their lives
- Explore selected mitzvot (Jewish responsibilities) related to Jewish values
- Develop a working Hebrew vocabulary of Jewish values and mitzvot, and use these terms in classroom setting and family life
- Express Jewish values as they relate to their own lives
As a result of these learning experiences, students will grow as ethical, engaged, and empowered Jews.
What do parents and students say about Makom Afterschool?
Tuition & Fees 2026-2027
| Full Tuition | $3,750 |
| Transportation Fee | $650 |
| On-site pickup & supervision fee | $200 |
Tuition covers all classes from September through June, including any classroom supplies or workbooks.
Tuition may be paid in full upon registration or in monthly installments. The first installment is due upon registration; subsequent installments are due June 1, July 1, August 1, and September 1. Any applicable transportation or on-site supervision fees are due by August 1.
Once you've registered, you'll receive an email with a link to our secure payment processing site.
Tuition for children's religious education is fully tax-deductible; you'll receive a tax receipt for the year by the end of February. Please note that credit card processing fees, transportation fees, and on-site supervision fees are not considered charitable donations.
Financial Assistance
We are committed to ensuring that finances are never a barrier to participation and offer need-based bursaries to students who would otherwise be unable to attend Makom Afterschool.
To apply for financial assistance, check the box on the registration form, and you'll be sent a link to the application portal. Once your application has been reviewed, we'll be in touch about bursary amounts and payment schedules.
Registration
Makom Afterschool is for children in JK through Grade 5, and students can start at any age, regardless of Hebrew knowledge. We welcome students starting in JK provided they are completely potty-trained. (If you have children in Grades 6-8, check out Makom ATID!)
If your child has an individualized learning plan or needs specific teaching approaches, please speak to Sarah before registration to make sure Makom Afterschool is right for your child.
Makom Afterschool runs September to June. If you are moving or have other special circumstances, please contact us to discuss.