Before Care Program
Our Before Care Program is designed to assist families who need to drop-off their children at school before the school doors officially open. The program is staffed by members of the faculty.
Time: 7:15 – 8:00am
Location: The Lower School Cafeteria ("The HUB") (Preschool - Grade 8)
Please enter through the back parking lot's door, rear entrance of 90 Pickering, up the ramp.
Cost: $4 per student per day
If you are interested in having your child(ren) participate in the program, simply direct them to enter anytime between 7:15 and 8:00 a.m. A staff member will be present to supervise the children.
All payments will be invoiced to your FACTS account. Even if your child(ren) attend sporadically, we will charge you through your FACTS account.
A member of the staff will accompany all Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten students to the Early Childhood building at 8:00am
Aftercare Program
Link to the 2023-2024 Aftercare Forms
Typical Afternoon
- Students in grades 1-8 meet in the HUB and check in with the Director.
- Students in PS, Pre-K and K meet in the Aftercare room to check in with a staff member.
- Students begin with a snack and then go outside for 30 minutes.
- After outdoor play students do homework or play educational games.
- Indoor activities and crafts are planned daily.
Policies & Guidelines
Program Activities
The Aftercare program is for students in Preschool up to and including eighth grade. Each month we select a theme. Aftercare activities include story time, arts and crafts, and other educational activities. Students may choose to play in a group or have individual free-choice. Students have access to multiple games, puzzles, and books. Outdoor activities are supervised on the enclosed playgrounds. For students in grades one through five there is designated homework time.
Program Schedule
- 2:40 p.m. - check-in and snack
- 3:00 p.m. - Playground
- 3:30 p.m. - Homework and free choice
- 4:00 p.m. - Dismissal at Early Childhood building for PS, PK and K children. Children in grades 1-8 will be dismissed in the main building.
- 4:30 p.m. - Grades 1-8 walk over to the Early Childhood Building.
- 5:00 p.m. - Activities, crafts, free choice
- 6:00 p.m. - Dismissal
Parents provide a peanut free snack and beverage.
Pickup Procedures
At 4:30 p.m., students in grades one through eight are escorted to the Early Childhood building.
For safety reasons, this eliminates students being released from two locations. It also allows us to have all students packed with coats on and ready to go home when you come to the door or to the gate when we are outside. A teacher will sign out each student before release to a designated authorized person at pick-up time. Please check in with a teacher before leaving the premises with your child.
This same procedure is in place for the 6:00 p.m. pickup time. If you are running late please text the Director your name and child’s name, so they can be packed and ready to be dismissed. Please tell family and friends to have ID ready if they are not the designated pickup person.
If you have last minute changes during the school day, please email your child’s teacher and the Aftercare Director. All changes must be communicated and confirmed with the Director for last minute pickup arrangements. If it is an emergency, please text or call the Aftercare Director.
Aftercare phone: 617-678-2098
Homework Policy
Grades one through eight stay in the HUB, have snack, go outside, and complete homework assignments supervised by Aftercare staff. Aftercare teachers do provide homework support, but cannot provide individual tutoring for students. We ask parents to recheck students’ homework.
Early Release Days
Early release days are included with the monthly fee schedule, only for those students already enrolled for the day of the week on which the half-day falls. Students need to bring a lunch and an extra snack for early release days.
Snow Days, Illness, Holidays, and Family Vacation
Fees for the month of December, February and April will be pro-rated to 75% of the monthly fee to reflect one week of school vacation during those months. Otherwise, monthly fees are not adjusted for COVID-19 related remote learning, illness, holidays, after school clubs, snow days, family vacations or other closing beyond the school’s control.
Please note: If your child chooses to enroll in a club and you still want the Aftercare spot available for “off” weeks, you must pay for both the Aftercare time schedule commitment, and the club.
Billing
All outstanding bills must be paid before students can register for the new school year. Charges for the current month will be sent to your FACTS incidental expenses account on the 15th of each month and are due by the 25th of each month.
We encourage you to choose automatic payment for these incidentals so that they don't get lost in the shuffle. Visit your FACTS account and choose “Enroll in Auto Pay."
Cancellation & Schedule Changes
Any request for a change of schedule will only be made monthly and are due prior to the first of the month. If additional days are requested for the school year, it is subject to availability and approval by the Director. After approval of new days and times please submit a new and updated "Enrollment Schedule" form and contact Mrs. Kim O'Brien at kobrien@sjs-needham.org.
Please note: Changes to enrollment are permanent and cannot be made for temporary situations.