Montgomery County aftercare

[Anonymous]

We're a year away from kindergarten, but with #2 on the way I'm trying to make plans for childcare. My son will go to Rosemary Hills and I'm trying to understand how after-care works. As far as I can tell, the aftercare program is run by Wonders, but I'm confused by the profusion of after-school (paid) activities like Spanish classes, Mad Science, and soccer. If you need routine aftercare (most if not every day in my case), do you sign up -- and pay -- for both the fee-based activities and the Wonders program? Thanks for any advice as I try to figure out a budget (mostly the decision about a nanny vs. daycare for #2)...

[Anonymous]

i second the OP -- i'm looking at a move to DC, and I spent 2 hours on the MCPS site today trying to figure out what the options are. (And off topic ... is school really only from 9.15 to 3.30?! You've got to be kidding! My kindergartener is in full-day K that goes from 8 to 3.15. How on earth do working mothers manage the mornings?)

[Anonymous]

"We" just started at RH and based on an entire 3 weeks experience I would not advise you to count on the various after school activities as covering after care. They are great, and it seems like there are a ton of them, but they all seem to run on slightly different schedules (e.g., 8 weeks, starting this week, or 8 weeks starting in 3 weeks, or longer but starting later). I wouldn't want to count on them as providing regular coverage (unless perhaps you have a very flexible schedule). Maybe a more experienced parent has done it though.

[Anonymous]

I suggest you contact Wonders directly and ask about their schedule (e.g. can you send a kid to an after school program and then to Wonders after, do you have to pay for Wonders all 5 days even if you're using it only after the school activities, etc.). They will be in a better position to help you than MC. And wow, I was unprepared myself for the profusion of after school classes -- my son is in K at RHPS.