Kids Center FAQs

What is Kids Center?

Kids Center is the after school program of the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC designed for K5-5th graders. It enables children to socialize and participate in enrichment activities outside of school in a relaxing, yet structured environment.

What is the Kids Center Mask Policy

March 2022: All JCC spaces and programs, including Gan Ami, will become mask discretion spaces. Members, families, children, program users, staff, and guests are encouraged to mask at their own preferences across JCC facilities and program areas. Read our full JCC Community Update: Health and Safety Protocols.

 

How are the children grouped together?

Children will be grouped in classrooms based on grade.  You will receive an email the week before Kids Center begins with your child’s classroom assignment.

Where will my child’s classroom be?

Each group in Kids Center will have their main classroom, where they will have snack in the afternoons and engage in fun, teacher led activities. Based on the daily scheduled, we will also use various spaces throughout the JCC, such as the Family Gym, Ritz Theatre and swimming pool, where the children will also engage in teacher led activities, games and adventures.

How is bus transportation managed?

Our branded JCC buses will pick the children up at their school’s dismissal time. The bus driver will take attendance and bring the children to the JCC. Children will have assigned seating on the buses. HEPA air filters will be used on all buses. Seats will be cleaned in between school bus routes. Kids Center Transportation Process Form. Last Updated August 2022. 

Will there be class vouchers this year?

This fall, we are bringing extracurricular classes to the class room! Organized gym classes, art classes with our art specialist, theatre and swimming rotations are built into our class room schedule. Because of this, we will not be offering vouchers for JCC classes at this time.

What about Early dismissal, half days, etc.?

Kids Center partners with our local schools and coordinates with their calendars.

 

If your child’s school has a regularly scheduled early dismissal day, our staff will pick your child up from their school at that time.

 

If your child’s school has a half day or a day off, we also offer Vacation Day programs as they come up on the calendar. Families will be contacted throughout the year with details on Vacation Day options.

 

If you does not have school?  We offer a  Please see our Vacation Day registration for more information and dates provided.

Will there be snacks?

Kids Center provides nutritious, kid-friendly, kosher snacks daily. If your child has any food restrictions or allergies, please let us know. We do not allow additional snacks to be brought in due to Kashrut and allergies.

Illness Policy - at home

The staff of Kids Center are concerned about the health and safety of all the children in our care. PLEASE, KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME if your child has symptoms of illness. Please use our Transportation Hotline to call report your child absent, as well as list the symptoms your child has.

Illness Policy - at Kids Center

If a child develops a COVID-19 related symptoms (fever 100.4 or greater, shortness of breath, a new cough or rash, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, and/or vomiting) during the day, the child will be immediately removed from the classroom and moved to the designated, staffed isolation room. The parent will be notified by the administrative staff; if parent is not available immediately, emergency contacts will be used. Fever reducing medication will not be administered by Kids Center staff. Other medication still requires a physician’s note to dispense and must come in the original packaging with dosage amount. They will also need the state required medication authorization form on file, in order for us to administer any medication. If a staff member develops a COVID-19 related symptoms (with any of the same symptoms listed above), they will be sent home.

 

Anyone (staff member or child) with a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above must be isolated for a minimum of seven days after symptom onset and 72 hours after their fever resolves without fever-reducing medication. For example, if the fever and symptoms resolve on day seven, the staff member or child can return on day 10. Staff with household contacts with adults or children with COVID-19 must be quarantined for 14 days after their last household exposure. For most, this will be 14 days after the household contact with COVID-19 is released from isolation. Please see the below graphic for further clarification.

We understand that all children become sick at one time or another, especially in a school environment. Our goal is to keep the children well and to diminish the possibility of spreading communicable diseases. We appreciate parental assistance in determining the wellness of your child. Please do not send your child to school if he/she exhibits the either COVID-19 related symptoms or those of other communicable disease: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, viral blisters, or rashes.

 

If your child arrives showing signs of being ill, they will immediately be separated from their Kids Center group and monitored. If your child becomes ill during Kids Center hours, someone must be able to pick up your child in case of an emergency. For this reason it is necessary for the JCC to be informed immediately about job changes, phone number changes, schedule changes and changes in authorized pick up contact information.

Our staff are trained in safety procedures, and emergencies will be handled accordingly. The safety and welfare of your child is our primary concern. The Registration Form asks you to list specific allergies or food restrictions as well as a notation of actions to be taken in the event of an allergic reaction.

What if I know my child will be absent from Kids Center?

If your child will be absent on a day they are normally scheduled for Kids Center, you must call our transportation hotline at 414-967-8267 before 2:30 PM on the day of absence.

 

Please leave a voicemail with your child’s name, school, grade, and date (s) of absence. If you need to call in an absence after 2:30 PM, please call the Kids Center cell phone at 414-429-8740.

 

Due to the size of our program, it is imperative that absences are called into the hotline. There will be a $15 fee charged to your ac-count for each forgotten call after a second no-call.

Who may pick up my child at the end of the day?

On the registration form, you have listed persons authorized to pick up. If someone other than a previously designated adult is picking up your child, please notify the Director by e-mail or by phone. We will not release your child without checking photo identification. Please share the assigned pick-up time and location with whomever will be picking your child up.

What if I am late picking up my child?

The program hours of operation are 3:00pm-6:00pm (3:00pm-5:30pm Friday), except during days of early dismissal, where we will begin our program earlier on those specified days. Children must be picked up promptly.

 

Families who pick up their child beyond the scheduled pick up time will be assessed a fee at the rate of $1.00 per minute for every minute after the program officially closes. Extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you know you are going to be late, please call and let us know so we (and your child) won’t worry.

When are my forms due to the JCC?

Per our State licensing laws, we are required to have these forms submitted prior to the start of your child’s first day of Kids Center. If they are not submitted before then, your child will not be able to attend our program. There will also be a $50 late fee applied.

What are the fees for the 2023-24 School Year?

Prices listed are per month for 9 months

BEFORE SCHOOL CHILDCARE (includes bus transportation)
5 Days per week • JCC Members $217 • Community $239
4 Days per week • JCC Members $191 • Community $225
3 Days per week • JCC Members $161 • Community $195
2 Days per week • JCC Members $127• Community $164

AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE (includes bus transportation)
5 Days per week • JCC Members $409 • Community $451
4 Days per week • JCC Members $388 • Community $432
3 Days per week • JCC Members $340 • Community $384
2 Days per week • JCC Members $278 • Community $324

AFTER SCHOOL CHILDCARE (without bus transportation)
For on-campus partners
5 Days per week • JCC Member $281 • Community $313
4 Days per week • JCC Member $256 • Community $309
3 Days per week • JCC Member $228 • Community $272
2 Days per week • JCC Member $210 • Community $233

AFTER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION TO JCC ONLY (No care)
For JCC Members Only • 9 years and older
5 days per week MEM $165
4 days per week MEM $133
3 days per week MEM $101
2 days per week MEM $69
1 day per week MEM $47

Hebrew School Transportation
JCC Member $329 / Community $382

What is your fee policy?

A payment plan must be made with the JCC or payment received in full before the first day of your child’s attendance. Failure to make proper payment arrangements will result in your child’s withdrawal from the program.

Special circumstances

Kids Center makes every effort to work with all children and families enrolled in our program. On rare occasion, circumstances may occur that bring the program to the conclusion that it cannot meet or provide for the needs of the child and or family. In this case the program reserves the right to ask you to seek a more appropriate alternative if it is determined by the program, in it’s sole discretion, that it is in the best interest of the child and the program.