Program Activities - Before School Program
Our Before School Program, which begins at 7:00 a.m., is designed to welcome children and to respond to their physical and emotional needs in such a way that the children will be ready to start school in a positive frame of mind. We try to have a calm and pleasant environment for our children where they feel welcomed and also wake up at their own speed. Unlike our Afterschool Program, where children arrive at one time, we plan our activities in the Before School Program to allow for children to arrive at different times. The activities chosen also must end in such a way that the children are prepared to start school in a reasonably happy frame of mind. We make a special effort to provide activities that the children can participate in without waiting. Children may also bring their own breakfast snack to the morning program. After the child is signed-in and greeted by our staff they can choose an activity table. Children might elect to play with Legos, participate in arts and crafts, play table games, or complete homework assignments. Some children want to sit and chat or watch television as they await the sound of the school bell. Children assist in putting materials away at the end of the session (8:40 a.m.) and are encouraged to point out to our staff the kinds of activities, games or craft projects that they would like to engage in the next time they arrive at our Before School Program. For your child's safety, children must not be dropped off outside the school building or outside the classroom by parents who bring their child to the Before School Program. You must always escort your child into the classroom and sign the daily attendance sheet indicating the time/date that you dropped off your child. The Before School Program is based at each of the three elementary schools in our school district; Birch, Chatterton and Levy-Lakeside. Top
After School Program
Information Late/delayed
pick-up: The After School
Program is open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all full school days.
(Please see the official Merrick U.F.S.D. school calendar on our Website).
Parents are encouraged to pick up their children no later than 6:00
p.m. In order to help remunerate staff who remain beyond their normal
working hours to supervise children who will be picked up late, a late
fee of $ 10.00 will be charged for each 15 minutes/or part thereof, that
you are delayed beyond the 6:00 p.m. closing time. The late pick-up
fee will be added to your next month's tuition bill and will be due
along with your regular tuition payment. We recognize, however, that
there will be times when you will be delayed due to inclement weather,
unusual traffic delays, public transportation delays or unexpected emergencies,
etc. Please be assured that in the event of a delay in pick-up, our
staff will properly supervise your child until you, or someone designated
by you, arrive to pick up your child. If possible, it would be appreciated
if you could phone our program office to inform us of your delay and
the expected time of your arrival. If your child is not going to attend the After School Program
for any reason (illness, play date with a friend, extended class trip,
etc.) on a scheduled afternoon, please notify our Program Office as
soon as possible on/before the actual date of the absence. Our program
staff go to great lengths to account for each child who is scheduled
to participate in our after school program. If a child is absent and
we have not been notified in advance, our office staff will spend
whatever time is necessary trying to find out where your child is and
why he/she did not report to our program. Your cooperation in keeping
us informed will be greatly appreciated. You may reach our program office
by telephone:
(516) 379 - 4245
You can also E-mail us at: MERRICKBASP@aol.com
or in the [CONTACT US] section of our website.
Children will only be released to a parent or to the authorized person(s)
named on the enrollment application. If there is a last minute emergency
change in the person who will pick up your child, please telephone the
program office in advance and tell us the name of the person who will
pick up your child. Valid identification will be required (driver's
license/photo identification) upon pick-up of your child. Top
A word about
After School Program daily routines...
The After School Program begins at 3:00 each afternoon that school is
in session. Children who attend Birch, Chatterton, & Levy-Lakeside Elementary school, upon
dismissal, will be met and supervised by after school program staff
in a designated classroom where attendance will be taken.
Activities…
Group 1 - (K, 1st grade), Group 2 - (Grade 2, 3) Group 3 - (Grade 4,5,6)
The Merrick Before/After School Program offers structured as well as
non-structured activities for our children. Routine activities, including
student arrival, departure, snack time, participation in various program
activities and maintenance of the school facility are important for
the health, comfort and safety of the children who are cared for in
our school-age program. Program staff are constantly planning ways to
help children learn from and enjoy the time spent in our program. At
the start of the After School Program, and after the children's attendance
is recorded, children in Group 1, for example might participate in quiet
games or listen to a story read by their teacher or teacher assistant.
After this activity, the entire group will take time-out for milk, juice
and snacks. After snack, children will participate in a variety of activities
(e.g. board games, manipulative toys, coloring, etc.). Time is also
set aside each afternoon for the children to complete their homework
assignments.
Our after school program schedule is planned with the knowledge that
our children have had a long day in school and need time to release
stress and tension. Each child in our after school program will have
at least 45 minutes of each afternoon set aside for quiet homework time.
Arts and Crafts and cooking is also a regularly scheduled weekly program
activitie. Children will also spend time each afternoon on the outdoor
school playground (weather permitting) or in the school gymnasium. Activities
in the gym are geared towards recreation and are not instructionally
based. Supervised free-play activities are built into the gym program
to enable children to safely participate in sports activities that they
might enjoy. Students will also have time to play quiet board games,
Nok Kockey, or complete arts and crafts projects initiated by their
teacher. Top
