Y~KIDS DEPOT (Kindergarten through grade 6 Afterschool Program)

Chilcare Director: Linda LeBlanc, ext. 16

Licensing Agency:

The Y~Kids Depot program is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and is mandated to uphold all DEEC's rules and regulations pertaining to school age childcare licensing. Our school age program operates for the school year and most of the summer. The summer day camp program at Camp Selah in Tully is licensed by the Town of Orange.

Hours of Operation:

The Y~Kids Depot operates from the close of school until 5:45 pm on regular school days, early release days and emergency school release days. Children are bused directly from the Athol/Royalston and Orange schools to the Athol Area YMCA and should be picked up by an authorized adult or parent by 5:45 pm. The Y~Kids Depot is closed when schools call a snow day. The program is open for normal afternoon hours on delayed start days. If one of the school systems remain open and the other is closed, the Y~Kids Depot will operate its usual afternoon hours (3:00 - 5:45 pm). On school closings such as holidays and Vacation Camps during December, February and April school vacation weeks the Y~Kids Depot operates from 7:45 am until 5:45 pm.

Staffing:

Supervision is by mature and experienced adults and college students, many of whom are early childhood education majors. All staff have been CORI and SORI checked. We maintain a child to staff ratio of 10 children per counselor.

Program Plan:

A variety of activities is offered weekly including homework help, sports and games, open swim, arts and crafts, Kids Depot Science Room visits, free play, neighborhood walks and community playground and library visits. A daily schedule is posted on a whiteboard at the top of the stairwell with the snack of the day, choice of activities and other information for both children and families.

Enrollment Options:

Y~Kids Depot tuition fees are a blended rate including early release and professional development days, school vacation days and other extended care days. Payment is expected whether or not your child attends, including vacation weeks and the 10 fiscal year holiday/YMCA building maintenance week closings. These blended rates include an Athol Area YMCA Youth Membership and a seven week swimming lesson session at the current registration fee of $20.00. Enrollment options are as follows:

5 days: $80 per week
4 days: $65 per week
3 days: $50 per week

2 days: $32 per week

1 day: $16 per day

** If a child is enrolled less than three days per week a YMCA Youth Membership and swimming lessons are not included. For children enrolled less than three days per week the fee for any extended afternoon/full day care such as early release and school vacation day is an additional $10.00 per day.

Non Y~Kids Depot children may attend these vacation week and other extended care days for $22 per day for Y members and $27 perday for Non Y Members. Kids Depot registration forms must be completed in advance.

Tours of the Y~Kids Depot program are available by appointment. Limited financial aid is available. Pre-registration is required.

A DEEC licensed half-day Nursery School program is also available. There are openings in both programs. Please call 978-249-3305 x16 for more information.

"Giving children experiences to learn from, rather than information alone, teaches them to discover, test, ask about, evaluate, and not accept blindly what they are told. The things we really know and therefore live by we learn this way."

~ Katherine Wensberg

The Y~Kids Depot Philosophy:

The Y~Kids Depot provides a safe and supportive environment in which children can learn, have fun and make friends during afterschool hours, school vacations and other school closings. We believe in developing the whole child with a variety of hands-on experiences, balanced with quiet time, creative free play and homework help. The Y~Kids Depot fosters a family like atmosphere where caring staff set realistic expectations and actively teach and model the behaviors for meeting those expectations. Every opportunity is used as a "teachable moment" for fostering the YMCA values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. Friendly and honest communication between Kids Depot staff and parents/guardians enable the Y~Kids Depot to be a vital partner in the healthy physical, emotional, social and academic development of the children in its care.