Our After School Program (ASP), licensed by the NJ State, Department of Children and Families (DCF), offers high quality before and after school care. Children will be in a safe and secure environment under the supervision of experienced professionals. Group activities include both indoor and outdoor environment: arts & crafts, homework assistance, board games, reading, sports, usage of playground equipment, etc. One snack and drink will be offered daily. Parents may send a snack from home. Due to food allergies (sensitivities), snacks (and lunches on full days) must be entirely nut-free. Enrichment activities may include: robotics, science, cooperative games, art, jewelry making, etc. There is a separate fee for enrichment activities offered from outside vendors. Our program also provides coverage when schools have early dismissals, parent/teacher conferences, and most full days when school is not in session. (Please check the  Parent Handbook  for exceptions.)

Staff receive an intensive orientation and training program that includes: positive behavior management, conflict resolution, strategies for redirection of inappropriate behaviors, positive reinforcement techniques, child development, American Red Cross first aid, CPR/AED training and a 10 hour on-line training mandated by the Federal government. Children will only be released to those parents and individuals designated on the ASP application under “release of children”.

After School Programs are at the following locations:

Princeton schools

• Riverside Elementary
• Community Park (Johnson Park students are transported to Community Park)

Homework time is not mandated, but left to the parents’ discretion. Homework is usually done during quiet time.  Staff may answer general questions, but do not engage in one-on-one teaching sessions. It is important for parents to check their child’s homework each night. The After School Program is not designed nor staffed to offer a comprehensive homework program. Please inform the head site supervisor in writing (information board) if you want your child to participate in the Homework Club. You may choose to have your child enter or exit the Homework Club at any time during the school year using the Homework Club list on the information board. When homework time is over, students will move on to the next group activity.

Parents/Guardians must notify the ASP Office (Administrative Assistant at mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org or 609-497-2100 x336) before the start of the program if their child will not be in attendance on a specific day. If there is no notification given, the parent/guardian’s account will be charged a fee in the amount of $5. This includes a club/activity in which your child will not be present for the beginning of the ASP.

YWCA Princeton ASP offers an in-house aid through the Pearl Bates Scholarship Fund as well as through CCDF subsidy for those who qualify.

Please call our Financial Aid Coordinator at (609) 497-2100 x 319 for assistance.

During the online registration process, you will pay a $250 Deposit (which will be applied to the year’s final month’s tuition) plus a $50 Registration Fee.

At the end of the registration application process, you will be prompted to enroll in auto-payment using either a credit card or a bank account. Your are strongly encouraged to enroll in this auto-payment. On the first of each month, you will be automatically charged for that month’s tuition. If you chose not to enroll in auto-payment, you are responsible to log in each month and pay your balance.

Payment information is controlled by the account holder and can be changed at any time.

Accounts with balances not paid by the fifth of the month will be assessed a $25 late payment fee. Children with accounts delinquent for two months will not be allowed to participate in the program until the account balance is paid.

Our payment schedule is consistent monthly; we do not pro-rate for shorter months, nor do we charge additional fees for staff in-service, early dismissals, etc. on your regularly scheduled days.

We accept Master Card, Visa, Discover and checking accounts.

The start time is directly following school dismissal, which varies from school to school. The program ends promptly at 6:00pm. Late pick-ups will be charged a late fee.

On your child’s first day in the ASP, be sure to write a note to your child’s teacher to let them know that it is the first day your child will be attending the ASP. Our staff will be expecting your child.

Facility closings are announced on our website in the upper right corner as well as recorded on our telephone hotline: (609) 497-2100 x 9.

If your child is going to be absent from ASP, please call the ASP office at (609) 497-2100 x 336 or email mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org and the Administrative Assistant will inform the site of your child’s absence. If there is no notification given, the parent/guardian’s account will be charged a no call fee.

Parents should notify the ASP site in writing that their child will be attending a school activity, specifying the name of the school activity, date(s), time, and length of the activity. If the student begins ASP and is then picked up for the school activity during ASP time, they must be signed out by the instructor of the school activity. If the child goes directly from the regular school day to the school activity, the child will not be considered in the YWCA ASP until the child is brought to ASP and signed in by the instructor of the school activity. It is vital to relay this information to the ASP staff in advance.

When school has early dismissal, our ASP will run from dismissal until 6:00 pm. Please refer to the ASP  Calendar on days that have school closures. The ASP program will be open most days that have school closures from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (refer to  Parent Handbook for exceptions).

For full time students, there is no additional charge for these days. Part-time students attending on a regularly scheduled day are not subject to additional fees. Students may attend on unscheduled days by notifying the Administrative Assistant 24 hours in advance and a fee of $50. Please contact:

Administrative Assistant
(609) 497-2100 x 336
mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org

When the ASP will be in session for a full day, we plan special activities such as chess tournaments, dance, arts and crafts, etc.  Princeton sites go to the YWCA Princeton located at 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ 08648.

Yes. Changes go into effect on the first of each month and can be made by emailing or calling at least three school business days in advance of the first of the month when the change will take place. To change status from FT to PT or PT to FT or enrolling in a 5-Day Pass schedule, there is a $25 change fee. To make any of these changes, please contact:

Administrative Assistant
(609) 497-2100 x 336
mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org

Parents should talk to the head site supervisor regarding any issues or concerns. Staff should notify parents on the day of the incident or concern. If resolution is not reached, please contact:

Director of Youth Programs
(609) 497-2100 x334
toshea@ywcaprinceton.org

Our approach to discipline is based on teaching children how to behave appropriately. Positive discipline respects the rights of the individual child, the group, and the adult. Methods of positive discipline shall be consistent with the age and developmental needs of the children and lead to the ability to develop and maintain control. Positive discipline is different from punishment. Positive discipline tells children what they should do; it teaches self-esteem.  (For further information, please refer to Princeton Parents Handbook).