Child Care Options on Campus
With parents comparing Open Enrollment, Magnet, SAS, and other options, a frequent topic that comes up is whether the school has child care options, or not. Post your question as a comment here or share what you know about your school, and we’ll see what options exist at your school. Some schools have multiple levels of care, including a fee-based childcare, a free drop-in program such as Beyond the Bell, and individual enrichment courses that last about an hour afterschool.
7 Responses to "Child Care Options on Campus"
July 7, 2009 at 5:00 pm
My children will be attending Vintage Elementary (one is in 1st grade and one is in 4th grade). I’m looking for afterschool care options. My first grader is too young for the beyond the bell YS program. The school has another program called 21st century, but they require the students to stay until 5:45, which I feel is too long of a day. I’m concidering talking to the principal about changing this requirement, any suggestions or are there any other parents who know of another program they like?
July 7, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Definitely talk to your principal, Suzanne. My daughter’s school allows first graders to attend Beyond the Bell with a waiver–perhaps Vintage does as well, or could. It is of course a permissive program, but depending on how long need coverage, it might be enough.
Also ask to talk to parents in the 21st Century program, because it involves one hour of homework, one hour of enrichment, and one hour of organized games. While they expect to keep kids on campus until 5:45, you pick them up and their homework is done, which will save you time.
In addition, it appears that Vintage has library hours until 4 pm, so if the other program is too long, having your son supervised in the school library has some significant benefits.
July 7, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Angel,
Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately the library will no longer be open until 4:00 due to budget cuts. I will talk with the principal. At this time I would feel more comfortable with a more supervised scenario, that’s why I’m not planning on the Beyond the Bell program.
Thanks again,
Suzanne
July 15, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Check with City of Los Angeles Recreation Centers. Some of them have state-licensed onsite child care programs. The Northridge Rec Center, for example, would do after school pickups of children in their vans at specific local school sites (Balboa, Nobel, etc.). They would take the children back to the child care center and watch them until 6 p.m.
Some churches also have afterschool programs with transportation.
These programs are not well known or advertised so I wanted to pass the word. It is worth asking your local recreation center or church if they offer any child care or afterschool programs.
September 15, 2009 at 6:53 am
I have a child at Vintage Magnet and he did not make it into 21 Century. I do not want him on the playground because they only have one coach for all the kids, all grades. Plus, he doesn’t do his homework. There is no supervision to do that. I need an after school program that will pick him up from Vintage.
Do you have any suggestions? The school gave a list, but only 1 was available and I checked it out and wasn’t really trilled with their facility or philosophy.
I wok downtown so I need someplace that will pick up. Any suggestions
September 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Carol ,
I’m not sure which program you already looked at, but I just spoke with the after school program at Petit Park (aka Granada Hills Park) and they are receiving quite a few calls from Vintage parents that they are considering a pick-up from there.
I hope you find a program, I know how stressful it is.
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June 28, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Valley YMCAs
The North Valley YMCA operates on 13 campuses, listed here: http://www.ymcala.org/Branch/Webpage.aspx?ENT=3&ID=6976
The West Valley YMCA operates on 7 campuses listed at the bottom of this page: http://www.ymcala.org/Branch/Contact.aspx?ENT=73
Mid Valley YMCA provides transportation to/from these schools: Hazeltine, Valerio Primary, Valerio, Kester, Kittridge, Erwin, and Cohasset and operates a facility at Chandler Elementary.