After School Program (ASP) Frequently Asked Questions General Questions Does the PA use the ASP as a source of fundraising? No. The PA operates the After School Program at-cost. Who is the After School Program run by? The ASP is a joint venture by PS 144 and the Parents Association. The PA s ASP Committee is staffed by volunteers. After School Program Programming When will the After School Program start in a new school year? Keep an eye out on our website for announcements about the start date of the program. On what days will you have ASP? The ASP is offered on all full days that school is in session. After School activities may also be cancelled per the DOE if there is a weather emergency. Who provides the After School Program? On Mondays and Tuesdays, the program is provided by ThinkingCap. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the programs are provided by a mix of PS144 teachers and outside vendors. How are prices determined? The After School Program collects enough tuition to break even after paying our teachers/vendors, supplies, administrative support, and overhead costs. The base price for outside classes are determined by the vendors and the teachers are paid according to their contract rates. The ASP is not a source of fund-raising for the Parents Association. What is provided in Homework Help? Period III, Homework Help, is our most challenging period for which to provide programming. We have too few students to justify having actual classes, and the students that stay have a variety of different interests across all grades. The teachers will ensure that students take out their homework and complete it. They will provide assistance to students who have questions. However, it is not intended as a tutoring session, nor will assistance for outside homework (e.g. Kumon) be provided. Please make sure that your child has the homework assignment and knows to complete it (the teachers will not check a student s bag for homework if he/she does not wish to take it out). Assignments that require additional materials (e.g. internet access) will not be able to be completed.
Why can t the program go beyond 5:50pm? As stated above, we have few students that stay for Period III. In addition, because our school day starts at 8am, it is a long day for our teachers that are at the school for over 10 hours. We believe that there are many programs in the neighborhood that can provide programming for families who need care past 6pm. Registration When will registration happen? The ASP is divided into two semesters: Fall, which goes from September to the mid-winter break in February, and Spring, which goes when the students return from mid-winter break until June. The PA website will contain the latest information on registration. For Fall 2015, we plan to publish the schedule in mid- to late-august. Registration will follow in late August to early September. This is subject to change to please check our website for the latest information. What is the registration process? Effective in Fall 2015, registration AND payment will be offered online and processed on a firstcome, first serve basis. Completed and paid applications will receive priority in processing. You may still register online and submit a paper check, or submit a paper application and paper check, but you may not receive your preferred class. We will publish the class schedule for a preview period so that parents can do some planning before registration is officially opened. How much is your tuition per day? The prices on our schedule are based on the semester. For each day of the week, we ll note the number of sessions and the tuition price. So, for example, if there are 18 Wednesday sessions and the tuition is $170, the tuition is $9.44 per child per class. Can I register for a class in a later period without signing up for an earlier period? For example, can I sign up for a Period II class without signing up for a Period I class? No. In order to register for a class in a later period you must sign up for all earlier periods. In addition, once you re dismissed from the school for the day, you cannot re-enter the ASP. If I register my child for a class that is full, can my child be waitlisted for that class? Yes, your child will be automatically waitlisted for a class that is full and you will be notified if space becomes available in that particular class. I need to know that I have childcare before your registration period. What should I do?
We will place every child into a class, though some classes may be size-limited so you may not get your first choice. Is there a registration fee for the After School Program? No, there is no registration fee for the After School Program. However, a late registration fee may be assessed if you register after the Open Enrollment Period. I submitted my registration, now what? You ll receive a temporary confirmation in your email. You may be contacted by us during this period if we had a question about your registration and your prompt response is appreciated. Once registration is closed, we will confirm your classes, or inform you if there are any changes. If we cannot place you in a class you have requested, your tuition for that class will be refunded. What if I want to change/add/drop a class after the registration period? Please email us at afterschool.ps144@gmail.com. We do our best to accommodate requests but after the initial registration period certain class movements may not be possible. In addition, we limit class changes to once a month. If I drop out of a class, can I receive a refund? No. Our vendors and our teachers are paid for the semester and unfortunately we cannot offer a refund. We can, however, offer a credit for the following semester. The only exception is if you are unable to be enrolled in a class you requested during or immediately following the Open Registration period. During Open Registration, if a class for which you have registered is full, or if we cancel a class, you will be refunded your tuition for that class. Do you offer a sibling discount? Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a sibling discount at this time. However, we may offer this in the future. Is the entire balance due at registration? Yes. The Parents Associations pays our vendors and teachers at the beginning of each semester. Because the program is offered at-cost, we require payment up front from the parents. To whom should checks be made payable? We strongly encourage you to submit your application and payment online. However, if you wish to pay by check, they should be made payable to The Parents Association of PS 144 Q. Your child s name, classroom, and confirmation ID if you registered online, should be clearly written on the check.
We do not accept cash.
After School Program Logistics Where do we pick up the kids? Adults on the authorized pickup list can pick up their children by the front door. What should I do if I have more than three authorized pickup persons? You must notify the After School Program Committee in writing. Should I send a snack? Yes, between the 2:20pm dismissal and the 2:35pm start of the program, there is an opportunity for kids to have a snack. Please send a nut-free snack. How are the children going to their ASP classes? Children are brought down to the cafeteria after dismissal, where they ll have an opportunity to have a snack. They ll be seated at tables designated for their next class. Their teacher will pick up and drop off in the cafeteria for the next class or dismissal. What happens if I need to reach the After School Program? If you are running late, have an issue with dismissal, or anything else that involves the staff at the front desk during the After School Program, you must call the ASP phone at 646-256-3538. The administrator for that day will have the phone with them during ASP hours. DO NOT call the school or email the After School Program. If you have a question about the After School Program, the best way to reach the committee is by emailing afterschool.ps144@gmail.com. Members of the committee are volunteers and are not at the school, and phone messages may not be retrieved in a timely manner. My child is enrolled in the ASP, but I d like to pick him up at the classroom dismissal. What should I do? For the safety of the children, we ask that parents proceed to the front door. Children will be dismissed into the cafeteria and they can be signed out from the ASP program. What if I am late for pick up? A late pickup fee will be assessed if you are late in picking up your child. Continued lateness may result in dismissal from the ASP.