PS 15 PTA Aftercare
Fees and Policies
Welcome to the PS 15 PTA Aftercare Program! Please read the policies and procedures included here before enrolling. Scholarships are available for families that qualify (see details under the heading “Financial Aid.”)
The Aftercare Committee
The PS 15 PTA Aftercare Program is a non-profit venture managed by our Aftercare Committee. Membership is open to any PTA member. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email [email protected].
PROGRAM FEES
There are two tiers of care: Aftercare from 2:43 – 4:30 and Extended Care from 2:43 – 6:00. There will be an hour of extra-curricular activity from 3:15 – 4:15, available to children in both Aftercare and Extended Care.
Families can sign up for an entire week of care or for a particular day or combination of days. There is also a drop-in care option, for those who need care on an occasional basis. Finally, there is a drop-in “punchcard” option for families that often need occasional care but do not want to commit to a particular schedule.
Aftercare: 2:43 – 4:30 …….…….….….….. $25/day
Extended Care: 2:43 – 6:00 ………….….… $30/day
Drop-in Care (until 6:00) .….….…….….…. $35/day
Drop-in Punchcard ……………….………. $320/10 drop-in days (expires June 24, 2022)
Aftercare will be available from the first day of school until June 24th and will be organized into three trimesters: Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Fall Trimester
September 13 – December 23
Winter Trimester (Includes Midwinter Recess and Spring Recess)
January 3 – April 14
Spring Trimester
April 25 – June 24
REGISTRATION FEE
There is an annual non-refundable registration fee of $10 per family, per trimester. This is an administrative fee. It does not cover, nor can it be applied to the program fee.
DISCOUNTS
There is a 35% sibling discount and a 10% discount for paying a trimester in full.
PAYMENT
You may choose to either pay the entire trimester fee at the time you enroll in the Aftercare Program or pay in monthly installments. Monthly fees are prorated for holidays and according to your particular start date, and may vary from trimester to trimester depending on the schedule you choose. No refunds, adjustments, or rollovers will be made to the monthly billing rate for incidental absences including, but not limited to illness, medical appointments, or family vacation.
You can pay by credit card at ps15aftercare.jumbula.com or via check or money order made out to PS 15 Patrick F. Daly School PTA. Payments are also accepted through PayPal by using the DONATE button on the PS 15 website at ps15k.org/pta. The first installment is due at the time of registration. Payments for current invoices for attendance in the Aftercare Program are due by the 1st of every month.
If the Aftercare Program finds it necessary to terminate your child’s participation, you will be responsible for payment for the days or weeks your child attended prior to the termination date. Additional fees, including but not limited to late pick-up fees and late payment fees, will be applied if necessary. The PS 15 PTA Aftercare Program reserves the right to cancel your child’s enrollment in its entirety if payment is not received in a timely manner. If you are experiencing temporary financial hardship and need to discuss payment options, please contact the Aftercare Committee at [email protected].
LATE FEES & RETURNED CHECKS
If you have not paid the entire fee up front, each payment is due by the 1st of the month and a late fee will be applied after that point. Failure to pay on time will result in a $15 late payment fee and may result in your child’s dismissal from the Aftercare Program. You will be charged $35 for checks that are returned for any reason. After bouncing a check, you will be asked to make future payments by credit card or money order.
FINANCIAL AID
Each year the PS 15 Aftercare Program offers financial assistance in the form of partial scholarships. Scholarships are limited and are determined based on financial and childcare needs. We use a sliding scale, as detailed below, to determine scholarship amounts:
Qualified applicants must provide financial documents, either tax documents, an employer letter detailing salary, or, if they are full- or part-time students, a letter from their school. Applicants must also provide their work or class schedules to determine whether or not care is needed.
To maintain your privacy, only the Aftercare Director and PTA Treasurer will review scholarship applications; they will make recommendations to the PTA Executive Board and Aftercare Committee. Applications are available by contacting the Aftercare Director or Aftercare Committee at [email protected].
AFTERCARE POLICIES
DROP-IN CARE POLICIES
Please sign up online for drop-in care, ideally with 24 hours notice, and with proper notifications to your child’s teachers and/or the Main Office. If you cannot provide 24 hours notice, please contact Debbie Riservato at (917) 538-4012 by 12:30PM at the latest, and call the Main Office to make sure they are aware of the schedule change.
CHANGING YOUR CHILD’S SCHEDULE
We want your child to enjoy aftercare on their selected day or days. We realize, however, not every choice works out, because of changing work schedules or simply because your child does not enjoy the activity for a particular day. Most schedule changes can be accommodated and implemented promptly, but please make requests in writing at [email protected]. The Program Director will then work with you to adjust your schedule and payment methods.
HALF DAYS
On half days due to Parent-Teacher conferences, “Midday Care” is available from 11:30 – 3:30. If the half-day falls on a day in which your child is already signed up for Aftercare or Extended Care, they are automatically signed up for Midday Care. If your child is not already signed up for Aftercare on that particular day and needs drop-in care on a half-day, you can sign up online or by email at [email protected].
If your child is in Pre-K and is signed up for Aftercare on one of the days when Pre-K dismissal is earlier than K-5, Pre-K students may still attend aftercare, but it will not be available until 2:43, so other childcare plans will have to be made for the hours of 11:30 – 2:43. Alternatively, parents may request a refund for those days.
On half-days due to holidays, inclement weather days, or other emergency closings, Aftercare will not be available. There will be no refunds for care missed on these days.
DAILY SCHEDULE
2:43 – 3:15
Snacks, playtime, and/or homework help. Outdoor play weather permitting.
(Free hot lunch available)
3:15 – 4:15
Extra-curricular activity, according to daily schedule
4:15 – 4:30
Clean-up and dismissal
4:30 – 5:30
Counselor-led Extended Day Activity (games, arts & crafts, sports, story time)
5:30 – 6:00
Wind-down and dismissal
EXTRACURRICULAR SCHEDULE
The extracurricular schedule will begin in February as we finalize plans for the remainder of the school year. The following schedule is an example of what the schedule might be. We will have a more accurate schedule available mid-January and will contact families when ready. If you would like to be included on that mailing list, please email [email protected] with the subject line “Mailing List.”
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE
HOT SUPPER AND SNACKS
All children will have the opportunity to eat a free hot meal at Aftercare. There will also be snacks available for children. Children may bring their own snacks. Please pack it in their backpacks for the days they have Aftercare. Please be sure to pack it separately from your child’s lunch so that it does not get eaten during lunchtime.
SNACK SPONSORS
The Aftercare Program relies on monthly Snack Sponsors to help provide healthy non-perishable snacks. If you’re interested in being a snack sponsor, please email [email protected].
DISMISSAL & LATENESS POLICY
There are two dismissal times: 4:30 (after enrichment classes) or 6:00. Please be sure to check in with a counselor before you leave with your child. After 6:15, you will be charged a late fee of $25. If you are going to be late, please call Debbie Riservato at (917) 538-4012 (late fees still apply.)
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
If school is closed due to an emergency (such as fire, snow day, etc.) the Aftercare Program will be cancelled. No refunds or adjustments will be made for unexpected school closings due to emergencies.
WITHDRAWING FROM THE PROGRAM
If you wish to withdraw from the program, you will be responsible for paying the balance of the month. If you have paid the session in full we will refund you any full months that are remaining. We must receive your request in writing.
TOYS, CELL PHONES and ELECTRONICS
Children may bring toys with their parents’ permission. Parents should write their child’s name on their toy in case the toy gets mixed in with Aftercare toys/supplies or if another student tries to claim the toy. The Aftercare Program is not responsible for lost or damaged toys.
Children may use cell phones and electronics during Aftercare, but only at specific times (usually during open play periods) and/or according to guidelines set forth by their parents. Children can make calls to their parents if instructed by the parent to do so at a particular time. Children may NOT call or text one another, nor may they share phones. They can play parent-approved games on their phones, for a parent-approved amount of time. They may only play games that are already downloaded into their phone. They cannot download new games during aftercare hours; all downloading must be done at home. If you do not want your child to engage with screens of any kind, including looking at other children’s phones, please let the Aftercare Director know or email [email protected] with your request, and we will make sure your child is directed toward other activities.
INJURY & ILLNESS
All children enrolled in Aftercare are expected to follow the COVID health and safety guidelines issued by the NYC Department of Education, including, but not limited to, the following:
Every child and staff member must complete a Health Screening Form (healthscreening.schools.nyc) prior to entering the school building each day. Anyone entering the building must confirm that they are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have not recently tested positive, and are not currently required to quarantine based on close contact with an infected person.
All children and staff must wear a face covering anywhere on school property, indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status, unless they have a medical exemption. Forgot a mask? No problem – we will have a supply on hand for children and adults. During snack time, masks may be removed so students can eat comfortably at a safe distance from one another. Masks may also be removed during designated “mask breaks,” during which students will maintain physical distance from each other. Hand sanitizer will also be available.
Please do not send your child to the Aftercare Program if he or she is not feeling well and/or has had a fever within 24 hours. In case of serious injury or illness, a parent or emergency contact person will be called to pick up the child.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Please let us know if your child has food allergies, and we will be happy to work with you to accommodate them.
STAFF EXPECTATIONS & GOALS
The first responsibility of our staff is to ensure the safety of the children in our charge. We will always be alert to any safety hazards, including inattentiveness and poor supervision of the children. We will ensure that families feel confident and informed about their child’s care by discussing our concerns directly with parents. We encourage families to discuss any problems or concerns, either by emailing or calling the Aftercare Director or emailing the Aftercare Committee. If a family would prefer to speak to someone not directly involved with Aftercare, they can email the PTA Executive Board at [email protected].
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I get a message relayed to my child during Aftercare?
Please contact the Aftercare Director.
What if I need to extend my child’s care to 6:00 on a day when they are scheduled for a 4:30 pick-up?
There will be a fee of $10 for last-minute extension, but you do not need to indicate this online via Jumbula. Instead, contact the Aftercare Director and also send an email to [email protected]. You will be invoiced separately for the amount.
Who can answer my questions about the program? How can I make a suggestion for the program or recommendation for a class?
Please email [email protected] with your questions and suggestions. The Aftercare Director or a member of the Aftercare Committee will reply, usually within 24 hours on weekdays.
When my child eats the hot meal at Aftercare, they have no appetite for dinner. How can I make sure they don’t eat the meal provided?
The hot meal is a free service that provides a hearty snack for children who attend the Beacon/Good Shepherd program as well as the PTA’s. We understand that not all children will want a meal, so that’s why we also provide healthy snacks. If you would prefer that your child not eat the hot meal provided, please let the staff know, and we’ll remind your child of your preference.
My child does not want to participate in the extra-curricular activities/do homework/eat the snack I packed/play outdoors, but it is important to me that they do these things. How can I make sure they’re participating?
Please let Aftercare Director know your preferences regarding extra-curricular activities, homework, and snack, so that we have a better sense of your expectations. Sometimes children just need a gentle reminder of their parents’ wishes; other times, there might be a particular issue with homework or with an extra-curricular activity that requires additional discussion. You know your child best, and the Aftercare staff welcomes your suggestions and ideas about how to address their needs.
There’s an interesting parent-child program happening after school. Could the Aftercare Program attend it?
The Aftercare Program works in close coordination with the PS 15 Administration, and whenever possible, will involve children in school and community events, such as viewing a puppet show, attending an author presentation, or stopping by a bake sale. However, some programs are reserved for parents and children only, and the PS 15 Administration makes that determination.
I want my child to be outside as much as possible. Can you make sure to take them outdoors, even on cold days?
The Aftercare Program follows school policy regarding weather. If it’s colder than 32 degrees, children remain indoors. If it’s 32 degrees or above, and fair weather, they will have the opportunity to go outside for open play, according to the daily schedule.
What is the difference between the PTA’s Aftercare Program and the Afterschool Program provided by Good Shepherd Services?
Good Shepherd is our community partner for extended day programming for students in grades 1-5. They do not provide care for Pre-K or Kindergarten students, and they do not provide drop-in care. Enrollment is no cost, and admission is by lottery. They also run evening and weekend programs at PS 15. For more information, call (718) 522-6910.
What is your tax ID number for deducting childcare expenses?
Tax ID: 82-1763489
Name: PS 15 Patrick F Daly School PTA
CONTACTS
PTA Aftercare Committee | [email protected]
PTA Executive Board | [email protected]