College Gardens ES Before and After Care

[Anonymous]

I'm interested to hear about others' experiences with before and after care at College Gardens. I've heard some people say they prefer to send their kids to the school clubs and activities after school, but we need something consistent and that can handle an occasional late pick up. Thoughts on Bar-T? I saw that Georgetown Hill also handles before and after care for CG. Any other options people have liked (or disliked)?

[Anonymous]

We use Bar-T at another school, and find it just fine. They have been communicative, and my son likes the staff. Many of the staff are paraeducators at schools during the day.

[Anonymous]

I am dated for CG but my kids were fine there. They have lots of different activities/HW time/outside time. It is a lot of kids but I think I would prefer it to GH because that is very small and I would worry my child might not have a friend. Also the outdoor space it more limited and geared younger. Your child can also still do afterschool activities at CG. Bar-T will pick them up from the activity and escort them back to the Gym or where ever they should be.

[Anonymous]

We did Bar-T for my son when he was K-5. He loved it in the early years. He hated it by the time 4th grade arrived, I think because fewer of his friends were doing it then.

As PP said, they have their own activities, HW time and time for outdoor recess.... and can pick your child up from an afternoon PTA activity at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did Bar-T for my son when he was K-5. He loved it in the early years. He hated it by the time 4th grade arrived, I think because fewer of his friends were doing it then.

As PP said, they have their own activities, HW time and time for outdoor recess.... and can pick your child up from an afternoon PTA activity at school.

I am the earlier poster and I will also agree with this..by later ES some kids start staying home alone and the number of kids is smaller. My kids did not hate it later but it was not as great especially on no school days when they were there for a long while.

[Anonymous]

We are at CGES and find that we (and our kids) are happiest when we mix activities and Bar-T up.

Bar-T is fun because it's unstructured and the kids can hang out with their friends and play games, run around, be silly, and just be kids. But damn, some days I walk in there and it's controlled chaos.

So we so like 2 after-school activities (and my gracious, there are SO MANY to choose from!) and 2 days Bar-T. It's the perfect balance for us.

I do recall a teacher making a statement one day about how, especially by the end of the year, she could "always tell which kids were at Bar-T all morning and all afternoon." I can see how being around that much stimulation for hours before school and hours after school could wear a kid down, especially the younger ones.

[Anonymous]

Hi! Bumping this post. Any recent feedback on Before and After care for College Gardens. We are strongly considering buying in this schools zone.

Thanks!