any Mount Rainier Elementary parents here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am concerned that, if the reason MRE does not have aftercare is because Joe's has a corner on the market, then why don't they get priority? it seems like transportation is provided from UP and Hyattsville elementaries, but both of those schools HAVE an aftercare program. frustrating.

Yes, it is! Joe's doesn't have the capacity to handle the aftercare needed for our local schools. They have a wait list I've been on for over a year. I'm not getting in this year either, they said maybe a spot will open for the 2017-2018 school year. *sigh

I've posted on the Mount Rainier Yahoo group, but the only response I've gotten is to try the YMCA

[Anonymous]

I can't speak on UP's aftercare, but Hyattsville Elementary's aftercare is income/need based. I'm not sure who runs that program but it is separate from the ArtWorks after school program in the school at Hyattsville Elementary. I can speak directly about it because my child attends Hyattsville Elementary and the ArtWorks program. We have been very happy with the afterschool program with ArtWorks - it is more expensive than Joe's - it runs $125/week. The teachers are fantastic, they actually have an art program with an art show, and the kids go on field trips, etc. We also go to ArtWorks for days out from school and spring break (both of those are at the ArtWorks studio).
Another option potentially is the Just Rocks on Baltimore Ave in Hyattsville. I'm not sure but I think they do an after school program.
You will want to figure this out though because it's not just aftercare but there are a lot of days out of school (teacher workdays, etc) and these programs fill up fast. Sometimes if you sign up in advance you will get a discount (ie. summer camp at UMD and ArtWorks offers a discount if you register early).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak on UP's aftercare, but Hyattsville Elementary's aftercare is income/need based. I'm not sure who runs that program but it is separate from the ArtWorks after school program in the school at Hyattsville Elementary. I can speak directly about it because my child attends Hyattsville Elementary and the ArtWorks program. We have been very happy with the afterschool program with ArtWorks - it is more expensive than Joe's - it runs $125/week. The teachers are fantastic, they actually have an art program with an art show, and the kids go on field trips, etc. We also go to ArtWorks for days out from school and spring break (both of those are at the ArtWorks studio).
Another option potentially is the Just Rocks on Baltimore Ave in Hyattsville. I'm not sure but I think they do an after school program.
You will want to figure this out though because it's not just aftercare but there are a lot of days out of school (teacher workdays, etc) and these programs fill up fast. Sometimes if you sign up in advance you will get a discount (ie. summer camp at UMD and ArtWorks offers a discount if you register early).

Thanks, I will check out Just Rocks. Apparently ArtWorks is only in Hyattsville elementary for before/after care - they don't offer it at their actual location or at any other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, I'm OP. I'm bummed I'm not getting many replies or finding much info, but I figured I should post whatever info I find here in case there are other parents in the same situation.

I went to Mount Rainier Elementary and was told that there are not many options. They only 4 they know of are:

1. Club Joe's (no openings)
2. YMCA Calomiris (I am stopping by there today to get more info.
3. Agape Christian Learning Center
5. Gateway CDC

The people at the school lamented the lack of available aftercare.

I also just found this place, and am waiting for more info from them.

http://www.shiningstarkid.com/

PG Parks and Rec doesn't have any aftercare programs in the area unfortunately.

Artworks only does summer camp, no before/aftercare program

OP here, pretty sure I have a spot at YMCA Calormiris.

Shining Star Kids turned out to be a religious program run out of the Church of the Living God, and I'm trying to keep my son in secular places. The lady seemed really nice though.

[Anonymous]

Just a little backstory from the parent of a kid who is now in high school. MRE hasn't had aftercare since my child started school. I think they may have had it a few years prior to our start there, but it's been well over a decade. It's a small school, and I think I remember that aftercare may have fallen prey to need-based reductions in programming. Joe's was what we did the very first year they offered aftercare, and back then it was so new it always had spots open. Most folks we spoke with at the time found informal care in the neighborhood. It really is an unfulfilled need in our community. Some parents of my child's classmate had their kids at Agape on Rt. 1. in Brentwood, but note that it is VERY religious and used the ABEKA curiculum, which is chock-full of stuff like creationism. That said, when you're desperate...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a little backstory from the parent of a kid who is now in high school. MRE hasn't had aftercare since my child started school. I think they may have had it a few years prior to our start there, but it's been well over a decade. It's a small school, and I think I remember that aftercare may have fallen prey to need-based reductions in programming. Joe's was what we did the very first year they offered aftercare, and back then it was so new it always had spots open. Most folks we spoke with at the time found informal care in the neighborhood. It really is an unfulfilled need in our community. Some parents of my child's classmate had their kids at Agape on Rt. 1. in Brentwood, but note that it is VERY religious and used the ABEKA curiculum, which is chock-full of stuff like creationism. That said, when you're desperate...

OP here, thanks, it certainly is a big need for the area. Joe's has a long wait list now-a-days. I checked out Agape on Rt. 1, and made note that it would be an absolute last resort. Their brochure says they teach a "child evangelism" class, and says the students "attend Chapel, where they get to sing, clap, and jump for Jesus". They seemed really nice though, and their rates are crazy cheap. Infant care is $195/week, preschool is $150/week, before care is $45/week, aftercare is $80/week, and before/aftercare together is $100/week (info for you other parents in the area)

Honestly, I found YMCA Calomiris much nicer than I thought it would be and I'm glad we got a spot there.

[Anonymous]

Whenever I've inquired pgcps about after care, they've responded that it's something that is "up to the school," implying that parents can collectively choose to have a program or not. Did the pp end up contacting the school board rep dinora hernandez? what did she say? is there anything we can do (my kids are not even in school yet) to help? this seems ridiculous and yet another tally mark factor in the whole "stick it out in pg or defect to DC or Montgomery" decision process. They have to realize that this is a huge gap and will be a major deterrent to encouraging more families to support the county's public schools.

[Anonymous]

I've toured Gateway CDC and I have to say that many things I saw alarmed me. Perhaps the bizarrest thing of all was that there are two mini-rooms in the front of the building that are set up to be much nicer than the rest of the facility. If you peer in the window, this is all you will see. It looks as it's the learning space for a toddler group. When you enter & tour, you find that space actually used for the infants & toddlers has no space for tummy time, crawling, or playing. The cribs are all packed together with a narrow path leading to the changing station. The only child I saw who was awake and out of her crib was in one of two high chairs being fed. The other babies who were awake were left in their cribs - unattended, some crying, some not. I don't think this was an exception - the physical layout of the space made it clear that the staff have no place to put a baby or a toddler who is awake & not eating. There is no opportunity for physical development.

When I asked about the nice space in the front, thinking that perhaps story time would take place there, they said it's only for display and it's not accessible to the children. So, they seem overcrowded and in need of more space, they have more space available that happens to be very nice, and they're not using it. Why? None of the possible explanations sound good to me. What I saw was not good and what I didn't see but seemed likely was worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've toured Gateway CDC and I have to say that many things I saw alarmed me. Perhaps the bizarrest thing of all was that there are two mini-rooms in the front of the building that are set up to be much nicer than the rest of the facility. If you peer in the window, this is all you will see. It looks as it's the learning space for a toddler group. When you enter & tour, you find that space actually used for the infants & toddlers has no space for tummy time, crawling, or playing. The cribs are all packed together with a narrow path leading to the changing station. The only child I saw who was awake and out of her crib was in one of two high chairs being fed. The other babies who were awake were left in their cribs - unattended, some crying, some not. I don't think this was an exception - the physical layout of the space made it clear that the staff have no place to put a baby or a toddler who is awake & not eating. There is no opportunity for physical development.

When I asked about the nice space in the front, thinking that perhaps story time would take place there, they said it's only for display and it's not accessible to the children. So, they seem overcrowded and in need of more space, they have more space available that happens to be very nice, and they're not using it. Why? None of the possible explanations sound good to me. What I saw was not good and what I didn't see but seemed likely was worse.

Hi PP. Were you meaning to post in the infant care thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I've inquired pgcps about after care, they've responded that it's something that is "up to the school," implying that parents can collectively choose to have a program or not. Did the pp end up contacting the school board rep dinora hernandez? what did she say? is there anything we can do (my kids are not even in school yet) to help? this seems ridiculous and yet another tally mark factor in the whole "stick it out in pg or defect to DC or Montgomery" decision process. They have to realize that this is a huge gap and will be a major deterrent to encouraging more families to support the county's public schools.

I did, and also emailed the principal - no response as of yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've toured Gateway CDC and I have to say that many things I saw alarmed me. Perhaps the bizarrest thing of all was that there are two mini-rooms in the front of the building that are set up to be much nicer than the rest of the facility. If you peer in the window, this is all you will see. It looks as it's the learning space for a toddler group. When you enter & tour, you find that space actually used for the infants & toddlers has no space for tummy time, crawling, or playing. The cribs are all packed together with a narrow path leading to the changing station. The only child I saw who was awake and out of her crib was in one of two high chairs being fed. The other babies who were awake were left in their cribs - unattended, some crying, some not. I don't think this was an exception - the physical layout of the space made it clear that the staff have no place to put a baby or a toddler who is awake & not eating. There is no opportunity for physical development.

When I asked about the nice space in the front, thinking that perhaps story time would take place there, they said it's only for display and it's not accessible to the children. So, they seem overcrowded and in need of more space, they have more space available that happens to be very nice, and they're not using it. Why? None of the possible explanations sound good to me. What I saw was not good and what I didn't see but seemed likely was worse.

Hi PP. Were you meaning to post in the infant care thread?

Gateway CDC does elementary before/after care, so I think it's appropriate to post about them in this thread. Gateway is a seriously terrible option, would never send my kids there.

[Anonymous]

Gateway is a seriously miserable place to put any child. I looked at so many places and it was, by far, the worst. I wouldn't let my kid stay there for 5 minutes, and I can't believe there are parents out there who place their kids there.

[Anonymous]

Just Rock is really good as is ArtWorks. Brentwood Arts Exchange has programs for out of school days. Those are great but they fill up fast now that people have found out about them.

[Anonymous]

Bump

OP here, YMCA Calomiris is horrid. I need to get my son out of there asap! Any Mount Rainier parents here have any other suggestions, or know of any parents that do an aftercare nanny share type arrangement I may be able to join? I cried many times today thinking about him going back there. I'm heartsick over this.

[Anonymous]

Are you on the mount rainier parents list serve? I'd post there. Good luck!