Before & After School Programs

Monday, August 19, 2013 – Friday, May 30, 2013
The program will be closed during all school holidays, professional development days and breaks. The Embarcadero YMCA is the agency for the 2013-2014 before and after-school enrichment program at our school. The program is available to all students.

Before School 8am-9:15am
After School 3:30pm-6:30pm (on early release days, 2:30-6:30)

Students are expected to attend 5 days a week from 3:30 to 6:15pm and be prepared to work on assignments, engage in enrichment and recreation activities, and have fun!

Is my child enrolled in the before and after school program?

If you submitted the Before & After School registration packet your child is automatically  enrolled in both programs. The YMCA will make all necessary registration copies for grant reporting. They can start attending Before School care at 8am, Monday August  19th and 3:30pm for After School care.

What will my child do during Before School Care?

The Before School program is geared toward families needing additional child care in the morning hours before school starts. Students will sign in (in the cafeteria) and have several stations  to choose from: recreation (outside), reading and/or art. Stations  will vary throughout  the year. This time is not used for academic support.

What will my child do during the After School Program?

Our program provides academic assistance, recreational activities, program enrichment and youth development. Please keep in mind that the first  two weeks of the program will be a transition period. We are aiming to align with the schedule below but will adjust the schedule as we see necessary. We will look at total attendance, space and staffing to develop the best schedule possible for the program. We anticipate  having a set schedule by the beginning of September as school will be in full swing with homework and students  will have had the time to adjust to their surroundings.

Our Daily Schedule: (tentative)
3:30-3:40 Sign-in and snack in the Cafeteria
3:40-3:55 Recreational time and announcements in the Cafeteria and yard
4:00-5:00 Homework Center and Academic Tutoring
5:00-6:00 Enrichment Classes (Activities vary and change every 6-8 weeks)
6:00-6:30 Games, clean-up and sign out in the Cafeteria

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 3:30pm-6:30pm on regular school days and from 2:30-6:30 on early release days. Pick-up time is from 6:15 to 6:30 In the Cafeteria.

Please note: this is not a homework completion  program, it is a partnership program to help students and families at HMCRA receive academic support and build on the foundation of youth development.

My child needs to leave early some days/does my child need to attend everyday?

HMCRA receives funding to provide a free after school program to those families in need of child care. The requirements of the grant state that each participant  must attend  5 days a week, from 3:30-6:15pm in order to stay enrolled in the program. In the event of early pick up there is a mandatory Early Release Form that needs to be filled out (for reporting  purposes to the district). This is not a drop in program as it’s free and aimed at assisting those families that do not have child care for their children during Out of School Time hours.

With that being said, the Embarcadero YMCA understands that the needs of the HMCRA vary by each family. We will honor all students registered  for the program and we will work through this school year and address the needs of the school. We are currently looking into alternate child care options for families such as a licensed program that runs simultaneously as the free ExCel program and allows all the flexibility of a drop in program. This school year will be a transition and provide the YMCA with the opportunity to hear and actively address the needs for after school programming at HMCRA.

Will you offer  the same Friday Clubs as we have had in the past?

We will structure  Fridays very similar to last year’s offerings  BUT we have a different  process for doing this. Here is some general info:

  1. After School staff  will be in charge of running enrichments that they are qualified to run-we have also set aside funds to pay for contractors to come in
  2. All contractors must follow  YMCA of San Francisco policies (we require a certificate of insurance for 1 Million dollars for their business and a contract that is drafted by our lawyer). They will not receive payment from parents as the cost of the program will be negotiated by the Senior Director of Programs at the Embarcadero YMCA and will be paid for through grant funds.
  3. We will survey the kids 4 times during the year and will pick enrichments based on that information (this may vary)
  4. Principal Tracy Peoples has been very clear about having Hip Hop, Tae Kwon Do and technology enrichments. We are currently looking into those options.
  5. We are very open to having parents come in and run enrichments in a volunteer capacity (they must go through our fingerprinting process/paperwork).

I am concerned that  there is not enough physical activity for the children in the daily after  school schedule, will there be any changes to the schedule?

The structure  of the program is in alignment with SFUSD and 21st Century grant guidelines. All of YMCA of San Francisco after school programs operate with a very similar schedule. This is not a recreation or homework completion program, it is a partnership  program to help students and families at HMCRA receive academic support and build on the foundation  of youth development. Students will have recreation  time 3:30pm-4pm  every day and depending on their selected enrichment class (Mon-Thur 5-6pm) they will then have the opportunity to have additional time for recreation. The enrichments we offer will always have a sport/recreation option.

Can I accompany my child to the before & after school program?

We understand that this question comes up frequently with new/entering Kinder parents. As the start of the year we will be as flexible as possible and allow parents to observe their children during the before and after school program for the first week of school but will ask that you slowly transition out. The YMCA of San Francisco has very clear child abuse prevention polices and every person working in the after school program has received a criminal screening and received appropriate training to align with our policies and procedures. These policies are for the protection of all participants in the program.

What kind of training/qualifications do the after school staff have/receive?

All staff  receive 8 hours of live/in-person YMCA of San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Training, led by our YMCA of San Francisco training  department, 8 hours of YMCA of San Francisco After School Program Training, led by after school specialist for the YMCA of San Francisco, site specific training  with Senior Director of Programs and are 1st Aid/CPR certified. All HMCRA staff have prior experience working in after school programs.

Registration form and information:

Information for the 2013-14 school year will be provided here when available. For reference, here are the forms from last school year (2012-2013)
HMCRA 2012-13 After School Program Information and RegistrationForm (PDF download)
HMCRA 2012-13 Before and After School Program Information (PDF download with information included on this page)

Applications must be filled out entirely and turned in using one of these options:

  1. at the back to school picnic on August 18, 1pm-4pm
  2. complete the application, scan it and email it to sdelfosseatymcasfdotorg (faxes not accepted)

Please note: if you are enrolling in Before School care then you will receive additional information after your registration for After School has been submitted.

For any questions, please contact Stacy Delfosse, SDelfosseatymcasfdotorg, (415) 615-1309

The program’s Site Coordinator is Shiante Lewis, SLewisatymcasfdotorg