REEF at Yu Ying: Exceptional Program, Worth the Investment

We're thrilled with REEF at Yu Ying, despite the premium price ($460/month). Our daughter loves it so much that we pay for the full program, even though we don't need aftercare.

Our 4-day schedule costs $460. 5 days would be $560. The program is incredibly well-run, offering:

- 15+ specialty classes for 1st grade and up (e.g., violin, chess, soccer, LEGO, art, superhero fitness)
- Bi-monthly field trips on half-day Fridays (e.g., Grover Farm for 1st & 2nd graders)

The diverse activities and enriching experiences make it well worth the cost.

Anonymous wrote:We have Flex and it matches what OP describes. It’s just playtime and crafts but the staff is mostly nice and my young kids like them just fine. Standard 10% discount for #2 means about $650 a month for both and care runs till 6 (though we pretty much always get them earlier).

We have half days included and pay extra for coverage on maybe 2 PD days a year. Our school does a lot of half days so that being included in the rate is big.

Hello, fellow ITDS family!

My kids are very happy in aftercare and complain about being picked up too early no matter what time we come.

For my ECE kid there is usually something projected on a screen after 5pm, some kids are watching, others playing on the rug, others drawing at a table. By that time the kids have been at school for roughly NINE HOURS and some screen time seems totally reasonable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free at DCPS! There's some programming, like soccer once a week, and maybe dance/theatre, but mostly it's playground or free time, which i like. No coverage for days off, we don't have half days, and no coverage the day before a holiday (so like on Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

It isn’t free. Taxpayers are covering it. I think everyone no matter income should pay a certain % for after care even if it’s just $10 a week.

People are complaining but it amounts to what $5 an hour? Come on, would you want to watch 15-20 kids for $15 -$20 hour? I pay a high schooler $15 -$20/ hour to watch my ONE child! You get what you pay for (or don’t apparently).

Do you think the DCPS teachers and staff who work aftercare at Title I schools who offer it free are not getting paid??

It appears the people complaining on this thread are the ones who do pay, not the ones who don't, because their extra money seems to amount to basically the same as the free programming run by staff their kids already know.

Taxpayers are paying for a lot of stuff they don't use.

I forget the exact amount off top of my head but after care teachers in the DCPS programs are very very underpaid. Which means a lot of teachers either don't work after school at all or find work in a private provider at a different school that pays more, which leads to staff teacher shortages at a title 1 school aftercare. It is often hard for the school to find staff for aftercare, further limiting spots.

We're at our second Title I school and haven't had that experience at either one. Fully staffed, plenty of spaces, and the teachers are current teachers at the school who do aftercare as an optional add-on for extra money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free at DCPS! There's some programming, like soccer once a week, and maybe dance/theatre, but mostly it's playground or free time, which i like. No coverage for days off, we don't have half days, and no coverage the day before a holiday (so like on Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

It isn’t free. Taxpayers are covering it. I think everyone no matter income should pay a certain % for after care even if it’s just $10 a week.

People are complaining but it amounts to what $5 an hour? Come on, would you want to watch 15-20 kids for $15 -$20 hour? I pay a high schooler $15 -$20/ hour to watch my ONE child! You get what you pay for (or don’t apparently).

Do you think the DCPS teachers and staff who work aftercare at Title I schools who offer it free are not getting paid??

It appears the people complaining on this thread are the ones who do pay, not the ones who don't, because their extra money seems to amount to basically the same as the free programming run by staff their kids already know.

Taxpayers are paying for a lot of stuff they don't use.

I forget the exact amount off top of my head but after care teachers in the DCPS programs are very very underpaid. Which means a lot of teachers either don't work after school at all or find work in a private provider at a different school that pays more, which leads to staff teacher shortages at a title 1 school aftercare. It is often hard for the school to find staff for aftercare, further limiting spots.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

There are not plenty of spots as 60% of the school was shut out due to mismanagement. We ended up pulling our kid out last year because there was no supervision, many altercations, and my child ended up injured. Right now we are struggling to handle pickup but I’m not going through that again. I do understand they let the main director go, so things might have changed this year.

Don’t listen to the haters, LAMB aftercare is a solid very good to great. I have 3 kids there, including one who is let’s say not the easiest. So I’ve seen a lot. Including all the over the top LAMB parents who get a bee in their bonnet over every little thing (not saying that’s you prior poster, but I’m not saying that’s NOT you).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free at DCPS! There's some programming, like soccer once a week, and maybe dance/theatre, but mostly it's playground or free time, which i like. No coverage for days off, we don't have half days, and no coverage the day before a holiday (so like on Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

It isn’t free. Taxpayers are covering it. I think everyone no matter income should pay a certain % for after care even if it’s just $10 a week.

People are complaining but it amounts to what $5 an hour? Come on, would you want to watch 15-20 kids for $15 -$20 hour? I pay a high schooler $15 -$20/ hour to watch my ONE child! You get what you pay for (or don’t apparently).

Do you think the DCPS teachers and staff who work aftercare at Title I schools who offer it free are not getting paid??

It appears the people complaining on this thread are the ones who do pay, not the ones who don't, because their extra money seems to amount to basically the same as the free programming run by staff their kids already know.

Taxpayers are paying for a lot of stuff they don't use.

+1

I pay taxes so my taxpayer dollars go to free aftercare at Title 1 schools. But my tax dollars go to many services and programs I don’t use. My kid doesn’t ride a school bus. That doesn’t mean that kids who need school buses should have to pay extra. That’s how government services work in many circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

There are not plenty of spots as 60% of the school was shut out due to mismanagement. We ended up pulling our kid out last year because there was no supervision, many altercations, and my child ended up injured. Right now we are struggling to handle pickup but I’m not going through that again. I do understand they let the main director go, so things might have changed this year.

I'm sorry to hear this was your child's experience. My kid loves aftercare at LAMB. I haven't heard of any altercations in any of the primary classes, I don't have enough experience with the higher grades. While there is a waitlist, and I get not having guaranteed aftercare year after year is stressful, it's nowhere near 60% of the school - more like 15-20%. Still too high--I get it--but no need to grossly exaggerate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free at DCPS! There's some programming, like soccer once a week, and maybe dance/theatre, but mostly it's playground or free time, which i like. No coverage for days off, we don't have half days, and no coverage the day before a holiday (so like on Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

It isn’t free. Taxpayers are covering it. I think everyone no matter income should pay a certain % for after care even if it’s just $10 a week.

People are complaining but it amounts to what $5 an hour? Come on, would you want to watch 15-20 kids for $15 -$20 hour? I pay a high schooler $15 -$20/ hour to watch my ONE child! You get what you pay for (or don’t apparently).

Do you think the DCPS teachers and staff who work aftercare at Title I schools who offer it free are not getting paid??

It appears the people complaining on this thread are the ones who do pay, not the ones who don't, because their extra money seems to amount to basically the same as the free programming run by staff their kids already know.

Taxpayers are paying for a lot of stuff they don't use.

Anonymous wrote:Free at DCPS! There's some programming, like soccer once a week, and maybe dance/theatre, but mostly it's playground or free time, which i like. No coverage for days off, we don't have half days, and no coverage the day before a holiday (so like on Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

It isn’t free. Taxpayers are covering it. I think everyone no matter income should pay a certain % for after care even if it’s just $10 a week.

People are complaining but it amounts to what $5 an hour? Come on, would you want to watch 15-20 kids for $15 -$20 hour? I pay a high schooler $15 -$20/ hour to watch my ONE child! You get what you pay for (or don’t apparently).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

I agree that it’s not true that almost no one gets in. FARMS is free and reduced meals and I think those kids should get the first priority.

It’s generally a good program, the kids do a ton outdoors. The biggest challenge is the lack of space for all children who want a spot, I wish the school focused more on hiring and retaining aftercare teachers.

I wish the school (LAMB) focused more on retaining teachers full stop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

There are not plenty of spots as 60% of the school was shut out due to mismanagement. We ended up pulling our kid out last year because there was no supervision, many altercations, and my child ended up injured. Right now we are struggling to handle pickup but I’m not going through that again. I do understand they let the main director go, so things might have changed this year.

Anyone have experience with the Wonders extended day programs at your school? It has a bunch of options, before/after care plus drop-ins. We haven't used it yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

I agree that it’s not true that almost no one gets in. FARMS is free and reduced meals and I think those kids should get the first priority.

It’s generally a good program, the kids do a ton outdoors. The biggest challenge is the lack of space for all children who want a spot, I wish the school focused more on hiring and retaining aftercare teachers.

Anonymous wrote:I’m jealous of all of you. We are at lamb. Aftercare is terrible and almost no one gets in after teacher preference and FARMS Preference. It costs 500 for before and aftercare and 440 for just aftercare. Glorified babysitting at best. Terrible!

We are at LAMB too. There are plenty of spots, albeit still a shortage. I have no idea what a FARMS preference is.

It is totally fine, the teachers are generally good and there are no screens. Apparently the snacks are good. Outdoor time everyday, and free dance, yoga, art. Can pay extra for soccer and music classes. It is $110/wk but my kids enjoy going.

My kid was in Polite Piggy’s at Maury last year and there was a lot of giving candy for rewards.