SACC: Off waitlist. Words of wisdom on deciding if it is a good fit?

[Anonymous]

We just received email notification that my 2 children have a spot for this Fall. They are rising 2nd and 3rd graders. The staff in the SACC office (registrar, supervisor in charge of our school) were very helpful in answering questions we had. My two biggest concerns were 1) their ability to deal with DS's ADHD and high functioning autism (he is very high functioning, and is 100% mainstreamed with minimal support in school) and 2) the influence of older children. I teach in an elementary school, and there are some behaviors I'd rather they not pick up at their age. I felt they were a bit insulated, since they mostly socialized with like age peers. I know every school is different but if you chose SACC:

1) what made you decide to stay ?

or

2) why did you leave?

TIA

My kids had an afterschool nanny last year, but with teacher workdays, and snow delays, etc it was too hard (plus she got sick).

[Anonymous]

Most of the older kids leave SACC when they can latch key it. And I expect more to leave now that they raised the SACC price and removed Mondays early dismissal (SACC price went up before the county removed monday dismissal).

Each SACC is different, but my school had the big kids and the little kids separated most of the time. My school also has a special program that causes lots of pupil placement, so I think older kids stayed longer. I think there were six 6th graders this year. They kinda stayed away from the little kids.

My 6th grader left because of graduation. I have told my rising 3rd grader that he will go to SACC till 6th grade just like his brother (we have no transportation. However, I kinda expect stuff to change when I have a high school student and an elementary age kid). It was a sad day with the director who had known him for all 6 years.

I stay at SACC, because that is how my kids can do the afterschool activities that the PTA runs like drama, runfitkids and other such events. My oldest never did homework (actually he just never did homework - got it all done in class). My youngest doesn't like to do it at SACC, so we do it at home. We've got an IEP, so I like to see what is going on.

My oldest is an introvert and he did fine. My youngest is a politician and knows everyone's name in SACC and is always running into parents and kids and saying hello at the grocery store. (There is one mom who my son hugs goodbye at Sacc - I don't get a goodbye hug at SACC!)

You'll enjoy SACC. I had a nanny for my youngest, but kept SACC for my oldest, just to make all that nanny drama easier. (The nanny also drove to therapy and stuff, so schedule wise, she couldn't have had two, but sick days and snow days - I only had one to beg off to g'ma or elsewhere!)

[Anonymous]

My HFA son Hated sacc. Very noisy and teachers yelled alot. He needed more peace and quiet so pulled him out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My HFA son Hated sacc. Very noisy and teachers yelled alot. He needed more peace and quiet so pulled him out.

Similar experience, also an SN child. We ended up pursuing lots of afterschool activities instead through the school.

[Anonymous]

I have a child that is introverted and one that is extroverted. The introverted DC gets very stressful out in crowded, noisy places so I am also worried about how she'll cope with SACC.

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks for all the replies. DS is not terribly noise sensitive, though he always tends to isolate himself in large groups. He will have his sister, but she'll likely seek put other girls to play with. The regional director was really great on the phone, and put me at ease a bit. Our school does not have a ton of after school class options. I'm a teacher, and really need teacher workday coverage too. I think we will try it out. If it's a disaster, we will revisit. Now I need to work on activities and neighbors to drop in on my middle schooler.......