Co-Curriculars
Co-curricular activities support the academic endeavors and mission of The School at Columbia University. These activities and support systems are considered an integral part of school life, and are central to The School's commitment to the academic, social and emotional well-being of students.
After School Program (K-8)
The School at Columbia’s After School Program (ASP) functions as an extension of the school day. The program encourages students to try new things, take risks, and just play. The goal is to offer students a diverse set of extracurricular activities that embrace multicultural perspectives, and are academically challenging, innovative, and engaging. More than 80 class options are offered every semester. The After School Program runs Monday to Friday, 3:30-5:30 pm, every full day of school.
Athletics (Grs. 5-8)
The School at Columbia offers basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, and volleyball teams for Grade 5 through 8 students as part of our Athletics Program. TSC teams compete with peer schools, and the school aims for a well-rounded program where students learn about being part of a team. The School also works to ensure TSC athletes receive sufficient support so they may enjoy both academic and athletic successes.
Chess Program (K-8)
TSC's chess program is offered to students across all grades and includes a weekly lunchtime program, an after-school chess class, and a chess team that competes in area tournaments. Dozens of students participate in the program each year.
Clubs (Grs. 6-8)
Clubs at The School are designed to give students in Grades 6-8 enrichment and leadership opportunities, as well as new ways to collaborate across grades. Clubs can include Art Portfolio, Debate, Robotics, The New Roar Times student newspaper, and more. Please see below for more information about Club offerings!
Clubs
Clubs at The School are designed to give students in Grades 6-8 enrichment and leadership opportunities, as well as new ways to collaborate across grades. Throughout the year, many of these clubs and teams participate in events throughout the tristate area, where they present their work to peers from other schools and often receive accolades.
Please note, Clubs are dependent on continued enrollment and participation. The School may discontinue a Club if there is not enough student interest to maintain an enriching Club environment for all participants.
Club Offerings Can Include
Robotics Team
Robotics Team (Grs. 6 & 7 Students Only)
Ready to build, code, and compete? Join our Robotics FIRST LEGO League Team! We are thrilled to invite students in Grs. 6 & 7 to join our team. This is an opportunity to delve into the world of autonomous robotics, real-world problem-solving, team building, and competitive innovation. Students will design and program a robot to tackle complex missions while developing a unique solution to a current global challenge.
No experience? No problem! We’ll teach you everything you need to know, from basic gear ratios to advanced coding. If you’re looking for a place to sharpen your tech skills, make new friends, and represent our community in an exciting robotics challenge, this is the team for you. Come see what the buzz is about—let’s start building!
Debate Team
Members of the TSC Debate Team explore a variety of topics and generate arguments through multiple perspectives. Debating promotes critical thinking skills while improving one’s ability to persuasively communicate with clarity and precision. By crafting arguments for all sides of an issue, team members develop empathy, learning about others through research, games, and conversation in a lively, communal space. The team competes occasionally with peer schools; our primary focus is to build on both academic and life skills.
Test Prep
Test Prep & Essay Writing Support (Gr. 8 Students Only)
This class will meet after school to develop, hone, and then practice the necessary test-taking skills to be successful on the various standardized tests students will take in the fall of their 8th grade year. Students will also have the opportunity to work on developing their writing skills so they can address the various types of written submissions required.
The class will cover a combination of test-taking strategies and content relevant to the tests, as well as work on managing time when taking these exams. Content topics will include, but will not be limited to, math topics such as backsolving, trigger words, and plugins and reading techniques designed to build students' ability to identify claim, warrant, and counterclaim. The classes will also involve students taking timed sections of tests.
There will also be time allocated to support students with their essay writing process. Students will practice writing timed essays, short responses, as well as longer form essays. Students will work on some of following:
- Continued support on an essay already in progress
- Guidance with the brainstorming and initiation process
- Timed essay practice
This time is meant as a supplement to work students are doing on their own to write their essays. In order to get the most out of this experience, we will encourage students to check in with the HSP Team to confirm attendance for a specific class and identify what they would need support with during the class. The HSP Team may also reach out directly to students who they think would benefit from this support to encourage them to attend.
This class is designed to support students who are newer to taking standardized tests, but also challenge students who have already been exposed to some of the concepts described above. This class will sometimes entail additional work done outside of class. However, this class will not provide preparation for a specific standardized test.
Student Leadership Collective
Where Student Voice, Belonging, and Action Come Together
We have reimagined Student Government at TSC to become the new Student Leadership Collective (SLC), an elected student leadership experience grounded in empathy, purpose, and community building. The SLC is more than just elections and meetings. It’s a space for elected Middle Division students to lead with care, collaborate across grades, and create meaningful change through events, true service, and student-centered initiatives. Whether you want to strengthen school spirit, improve student life, or help others feel like they belong, there’s a place for you in the SLC.
The New Roar Times
Calling all writers, photographers, researchers, editors, crossword puzzlers, and opiners (opiner: n. a person who likes to voice their opinion)! Do you want to write, edit, report, research, investigate, photograph, or voice your opinions? We’re looking to build a team of aspiring print journalists, photojournalists, and committed writers who want to capture current events related to the school and the world. So, if you’re interested in politics, racial justice, elections, sports, style, performing arts, studio art, science, the weather, or anything else that’s newsworthy, AND you like to write, edit, investigate, photograph, OR make crossword puzzles, then join the staff of The New Roar Times, TSC’s student newspaper. NO experience is necessary.
NYC Nature Club
An ornithology and botany club, in Central Park's North Woods. For older children and with more of a focus on the ecology of one of the greatest city parks. Also, it is a community-building opportunity, fostering relationships across different grades.
Portfolio Club
The Visual Arts Portfolio Club provides art education and related opportunities for dedicated Middle Division students, supporting their growth as artists, learners, and citizens. Participants engage in visual art projects and discussions and have the opportunity to assemble a visual art portfolio that may be used in the high school application process. The Visual Art Club is not only for those applying to arts high schools; it is a valuable opportunity for students to explore their own expression and creativity in visual art forms and to develop skills and understanding in the visual arts.