Published Friday, August 01, 2008
After-school program registration ends Tuesday
The Times-Herald
Pre-registration for Coweta County School System's after- school program -- 20 years old this year -- started Friday for the new school year and will continue through orientation on Tuesday until the spaces are filled at area elementary schools.
Many parents enroll children in the school system's day-care program during the program's first pre-registration period in May, but some spaces are still available before school starts on Wednesday.
Last year, about 1,400 students in Coweta's 18 elementary schools were registered in the after school day-care program, according to Alan Wood, the program's director.
"With their jobs, childcare, busy schedules and the rest of the issues parents face every day, they got to pull a rabbit out of the hat and we try to provide that hat," he said.
The program is available to any child enrolled in the school system, and costs $12 per day or $9 daily ($45 per week) if prepaid the week before. Parents have to pay by Friday of the week before to take advantage of the discount.
The after-school program is a nonprofit and self-sustaining program.
"We don't use tax dollars. Salaries, operations costs and everything else is paid by our program," Wood said.
The day-care service is available from 2:30 to 6 p.m. each day that schools are open.
"It's a non-curriculum program," explained Pam Lee, site coordinator for Jefferson Parkway's after-school program. "We don't teach or do any school things like that. It's all social."
While 30 minutes are set aside daily for homework, the rest of the time is devoted to arts and crafts, music, play or recreational activities inside and outside. Afternoon snacks are also provided.
"It's not all homework time. I'm a big believer in birds should fly, fish should swim and kids should play. They need time to interact and be with each other sometimes," Wood said. "Our dual responsibility is to provide a safe environment so that parents can feel very comfortable and secure with their children in the domain of the school system."
Kim Cain, the site coordinator at Thomas Crossroads Elementary, said her students last year participated in events such as luaus and "western day" in which the students dressed up in cowboy and cowgirl gear.
"One time we got to have a water fight," said Ryder Willard, a first-grader at Thomas Crossroads.
Ryder was at Thomas Crossroads on Friday with his grandparents, who were there to prepay for next week's care. The grandparents, Sharon and Jack Willard, were visiting from Chicago for the week and helping their son, Greg Willard of Newnan, with some of the back-to-school errands, including securing the children's spots again in the schools' after-school program.
Both Ryder and his sister Jaden, a third-grader, have participated in after-school programs since they began school.
Lee and Cain said one of the biggest advantages of the program is that students don't have to board buses or travel again to another site after school.
"And they're here with their friends," Cain said.
Space in the program is limited to about 100 students per school, depending on the school's size. The larger programs at Canongate, White Oak, Arbor Springs and Willis Road usually fill up the fastest.