
We've had our DS in daycare, and it's great that pickup time is 6! When we transition into public school (silver spring/MCPS), our schedules will still make earlier pick up very difficult. Do people generally just try to have their children stay for aftercare at their home school, or is it common to get bused to a different location for special programs???? Are all of the programs run through MCPS or are there opportunities provided by private entities? Are there choices in the types of activities, or is it generally considered after school babysitting? I would be grateful to anyone with experience who is willing to share. We've also thought about hiring someone to watch him after school, but it's not like we've got anyone who comes immediately to mind. I don't even know how we'd begin that search. TIA. |
The Silver Spring YMCA provides before and afterare for several Silver Spring elementary schools at a location in the Indian Spring neighborhood. Kids are bused there from Sligo Creek, Montgomery Knolls, forest Knolls, New Hampshire Estates, Highland View, and possibly more. They have limited slots though. The aftercare at the elementary schools is generally easier to get into, and in soem cases is better with more organized activities. check with your elementary schoolf or which company provides there aftercare (Kids After Hours, Bar t,etc). |
They aren't run by MCPS. However, many schools have on-site after-care run by private entities. In addition, many schools bus to other after-care locations. Our elementary school provided us with a list of options. We use the on-site one (run by YMCA). It is open till 6:30 and they also take the children on field trips on the days when school is closed. |
I don't know what elementary school your child will be going to, but Kids After Hours (KAH) runs the aftercare program at a number of Silver Spring schools. They run the program at our school in Rockville, and it's a great program.
http://www.kidsafterhours.com/Locations.html |
We do BAR-T after school. I is definetely not just babysitting. There are clubs which change everymonth, sports teams, and field trips. They also cover almost all no school days, 1/2 day and most snow days. Kind of pricey.. |
You should call your local elementary school and ask about the options for your school. Many schools offer aftercare on site. Also, there are programs that are not affiliated with the school that do before and aftercare and will do the drop off and pick up at school. An advantage of the latter is that they are open even when the school is not. Once you see how many planned days and half days off your kids get in public school (something like 20 this year) and then consider the emergencies where schools are closed (water main breaks, loss of electricity, etc.), you may realize that you need something more than what the school offers. |
12:46 again. And, get your kids on the list early because depending on where you live, the slots for aftercare fill up and then you have no option except to hire someone. |
Our son liked Woodside Childcare Center, on Georgia Avenue:
http://www.silverspringdowntown.com/go/woodside-child-care-center Buses from a number of elementary schools go there. We liked it MUCH more than Rockville Daycare at Sligo Creek ES, fwiw. |
Our aftercare provider, which is located on site, is also open every day that school is open. I think that's standard. If you're in MCPS, MoCo also has some after school programs at various community centers. |
Karasik in Silver Spring offers before/after care through elementary as well as an awesome full day summer camp which is nice because there is the year long continuity. I know that Forest Knolls has a bus stop there and there are several buses but I'm not sure what schools they are for. |
One advantage of the on site is that your child can participate in after school activities and then go to the after care program. |
definitely call your school. Our elementary school after program is run by Bar-T. Its all onsite and open until 6:30. |
One advantage of the on site is that your child can participate in after school activities and then go to the after care program.
There are busses that will take your kids to the aftercare programs that pick up from your elementary school if your kids participate in MoCo aftercare prgrams. Some of the after school programs qualify for this transportation and some don't. Your school can give you more information on this. |