Explorers Before & After School [PreK - 5]
LITTLE EXPLORERS:
Little Explorers is offered at BLOCKS, Harmony Grove, and McCarthy Elementary Schools. It offers the same high-quality programming as the Explorers Program, but is specifically designed for Pre-K students.
UPDATED TUITION INFORMATION FOR LITTLE EXPLORERS:
The Little Explorers program now has a monthly tuition rate of $550. This fee covers both morning and afternoon programming, providing families with added convenience and flexibility. Even if your child does not attend every day, this flat rate ensures that a spot is reserved for them. This tuition model is aligned with the one used at our Partnerships for Early Learners locations. If you have any questions about the Little Explorers program, please don't hesitate to reach out.
School year registration for Explorers and Little Explorers, FPS’s in-house childcare program, is now open to current students entering Pre-K through 5th grade for the 2026–27 school year.
SY26-27 Registration will be open for families during the following periods:
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Incoming K: June 1st at 4pm - June 30th, 2026 at 4pm
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Incoming Pre-K and 1st-5th grade: April 1st at 4pm - May 15th, 2026 at 4pm
If the number of interested families who register by the deadline exceeds the amount of slots available in accordance with our EEC license and staffing ratios, we will run a lottery. Families will be notified no later than June 1st (for incoming Pre-K and 1st-5th) or July 3rd (for incoming K) if their child has been assigned a slot. Students who are not assigned a slot will be automatically added to a wait list.
Explorers' tuition rates for SY26-27 (updated 3/31) can be found here (FY27 Tuition Rates). Following family feedback, we have standardized rates across all locations and applied a modest 2.5% increase (staying below the SSA's 2.8% COLA estimate) to reflect projected increased staffing costs. Families with financial need may request financial assistance during the registration process. Please note that in order to be eligible to register for the 2026-27 school year, all balances (including late fees) from the 2025-2026 school year must be paid in full prior to June 30th.
Registration takes place on our Arux Registration Portal linked here. To get started on your registration using Arux, follow these steps:
1) Visit Framingham Arux
2) Set up your profile by selecting “Sign In” and use the link to “Create one now.”
3) Complete the Register a New Account form.
4) Once your profile is set up and you are logged in, go to the Explorers Landing Page, select Enroll Now and complete the enrollment steps for each student.
For directions on creating an account, click here ( Create an account ). For directions on submitting a registration, click here ( Enrolling in Child care). A video walkthrough is available here .
If you need additional assistance, please email ostinfo@framingham.k12.ma.us and someone from our team will reach out to you.
CONTACT INFORMATION
| School | Contact Person | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCarthy. | Ceraty Jimenez Bonilla | cjimenezbonilla@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 988-5322 |
| Barbieri | Derek Marifiote | dmarifiote@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 745-7981 |
| Brophy | Phylicia Daniels | pdaniels@framingham.k12.ma.us | (774) 278-3092 |
| Dunning | Andrea Aguilar | aaguilarmellado@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 893-1084 |
| Harmony Grove | Eluisa Mendes | emendes@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 782-2873 |
| Hemenway | Gabriella De Souza | gdesouza23@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 745-0785 |
| Blocks | Joselynne Ramos | jramos70@framingham.k12.ma.us | (774) 279-6119 |
| Potter Road | Isabella Tofani | itofani@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 309-8096 |
| Stapleton | Lisa Bleasdell | lbleasdell@framingham.k12.ma.us | (774) 414-5923 |
| King | Andrew Smith | asmith99@framingham.k12.ma.us | (508) 745-7972 |
All Other Questions:
Phone: 508-782-6165 ext. 26165 / 508-903-0805
Email: OSTinfo@framingham.k12.ma.us
Heather McCormack
Director, Expanded Learning Time Department
Heather McCormack is an accomplished education leader with over 14 years of experience managing Out of School Time (OST) programs in diverse urban communities. Previously, she led district-wide extended learning efforts in Boston, Everett and Somerville, designing innovative summer and afterschool programs, securing competitive grants, and building strong community partnerships. Heather holds an Ed.M. in Prevention Science and Practice from Harvard Graduate School of Education and is fluent in Spanish. She is deeply committed to educational equity, youth development, and continuous program improvement.
508-686-0104 / hmccormack@framingham.k12.ma.us
Noah Dawson
Assistant Director, Expanded Learning Time Department
Noah Dawson holds a degree in Communications Media with a concentration in Theater. Before joining Explorers, Noah worked as a professional theater artist, performing in the longest-running children’s theater tour in the United States. He also worked as a teacher in various fields and grade levels, where he grew the existing after-school drama club to become the largest extracurricular program in the school!
Starting in 2020, Noah joined the Explorers team as the ELT Coordinator at Potter Road Elementary, where he focused on creating a program that was inclusive and full of joy. He later served as Quality Coach for all ELT programs, supporting site coordinators in strengthening program quality and student engagement. From there, he became the Interim Manager for Elementary Programs, and later to Assistant Director of Community Resource Development. Noah now serves as the Assistant Director of Expanded Learning Time, where he continues to champion programs that balance social responsibility with a whole lot of fun.
Fun Fact: “I see over 100 shows a year including plays, musicals, stand-up, and concerts alike!”
508-686-0104 / ndawson@framingham.k12.ma.us