Dear Parents,
Our school is clearly one at which after school programs are very well supported! We appreciate all the questions we have been receiving and would like to try to address the most common concerns in one reply.
We appreciate your patience as we transition to the after school programs moving over to the control of the YMCA. They are working hard to make registration available, while meeting the needs of vendors with existing enrolment needs and waitlists. This is all done so that our parents can have the same experience with the YMCA as they have been accustomed to when we were running programs directly through the PTSA.
Please contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Fiona Kotzenberg
FAQS
When will online registration be available?
The YMCA is experiencing some technical difficulties and are working to resolve the issues. They have assured us that online registration will be available any day now! We will broadcast this widely.
Do I register on the YMCA website?
YES. Regardless of the program you are signing up for, one run by the YMCA or one run by a 3rd party vendor, you will sign up on the YMCA website.
What is the difference between KidsU and After School Programs?
KidsU is staffed and run by the YMCA. This is a collection of back to back classes that keep children safely entertained and enriched for the whole afternoon after school. What used to be our PTSA run after school programs now fall under the umbrella of KidsU, but they are run by the vendors we have selected. The advantage is that the YMCA is responsible for all the duties our parent volunteers were previously doing.
Can I sign up for vendor classes if my child is in KidsU / Enrichment Pass?
YES! You will be charged the additional cost of the program that you are signing up for.
Where will the classes be held?
The classes will still be at Samantha Smith, just as in the past. You will sign your children out at a central point, where the YMCA will have a staff member present to assist you. They will have signs at the front of the school to direct you.
Do I have to volunteer?
NO. In prior years we were completely reliant on parent volunteers to keep our programs running. Now we are no longer required to have a PTSA member present, so parents are no longer obligated to volunteer for each session.
