Cardinals Club & Summer Program

Cardinals Club

MCS Students who are currently enrolled in or have completed kindergarten through age 12 are eligible to enroll in our After School Program and Cardinals Summer Program.

Our on-site programs are licensed through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). KDHE requires specific paperwork to be completed for each child enrolled in a licensed childcare program. Required paperwork will be sent to families prior to their child’s first day. All paperwork must be completed correctly and on file before a child may attend their first day.

Please see below for specific program details. Enrollment for the After School Program and Cardinals Summer Program begins in early spring.

After School Program

Our After School Program (ASP) provides care Monday through Friday from school dismissal until 5:45 p.m. The first day of ASP will be the first full day of school, and the last day of ASP will be the last full day of school. ASP will not operate on the first or last day of school, as these are half-days.

We will also provide full-day care on select days when school is not in session. Full-day care hours will be 7:15 a.m.–5:45 p.m. Our program does not operate during Spring Break or on other major holidays and holy days. A calendar listing the days care will be provided will be distributed to families before the beginning of the academic school year.

Enrollment in the After School Program is strictly for students attending MCS.

While in our care, children will receive a snack, have designated time for homework with assistance available, and participate in outdoor play, weather permitting. On full-day care days, each child will need to bring a sack lunch, as the school cafeteria will also be closed.

If field trips or other off-premises activities are scheduled throughout the year, parents will be required to complete a permission slip before their child may attend. Any activity fees associated with scheduled trips will be included in tuition.

ASP Fees:

• $75 Registration Fee (non-refundable)
• $350 Deposit (non-refundable)
• Fall Semester Fee: $950
• Spring Semester Fee: $950

Cardinals Summer Program

The Cardinals Summer Program is designed for school-aged children. Children must have completed kindergarten by May of the current school year to enroll in the summer program.

Registration for Summer 2027 will begin in February 2027. The registration link will be posted on the MCS homepage.

Our goal is for children to have fun while enjoying a variety of engaging indoor and outdoor activities throughout the summer. Activities may include:

• Swimming at local pools
• Trips to Sunset Zoo, Topeka Zoo, and Rolling Hills Zoo
• Movies at the theater, depending on summer movie releases
• Visits to the Flint Hills Discovery Center, K-State Beach Museum of Art, and Topeka Discovery Center
• Trips to local parks and trails
• Participation in the Summer Reading Challenge through Manhattan Public Library

We will visit the library once a week to check out books. Each child will need to bring a library card to keep on-site for library visits. Classroom teachers will be responsible for tracking reading minutes throughout the summer.

Transportation

Children will be transported in our 14-passenger school buses, which are driven by program staff. Staff members must complete the driving curriculum required by the Salina Diocese for transporting children before they are permitted to drive.

For out-of-town trips, we will use USD 383 buses when possible.

Summer Meals

In recent years, we have utilized the free summer lunch program offered through USD 383. We plan to continue participating in this program for as long as it is available.

Please contact Anna Bonilla with any questions or to apply.  

abonilla@manhattancatholicschools.org