For years, parents in the community have had to choose between the Coweta County School System or local day cares to provide after school care for their children. Beginning this fall, all of that is about the change. The Summit Y is offering a state licensed After-School Program for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The program will run from dismissal until 6:30pm, and the fee for the week is $50. Parents can register for the program at the Summit YMCA or by printing a registration packet from the internet and mailing, faxing, or returning the completed packet to the Summit Y.
The program is under the direction of Amy Girouard, the Child Services Director. Prior to piloting the after-school program, Girouard has run the YMCA day camp for the past 3 years.
As the nation’s leading nonprofit strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the YMCA after-school program is committed to helping families raise children to their fullest potential. Specifically, the program curriculum not only engages your children in education, imaginative, and physical activities, but as a unique addition the Summit will be offering aquatics and youth sports programs.
Another highlight of the program is their ability to provide homework help. In researching other programs in the area, Girouard noted the absence of homework help. Almost all programs had set aside time for students to complete homework, but very few offered the option to provide individualized help for students. This added bonus has the potential to give parents a peace of mind knowing that their child’s homework has not only been completed, but also facilitated by trained staff members. Parents familiar with the County program will also note that the Summit extends pick up time by 30 minutes which for some parents can make all the difference.
Although this program is one of thirteen around the state, the YMCA has staff at 100 plus after school sites in 6 counties and everything they do stems from the YMCA core values of honesty, respect, caring, and responsibility. The Summit Family YMCA program, like those already established, will strive to provide an after school experience that models the best practices in keeping kids safe and delivering impact through quality, affordable childcare.
For more information or question please contact the Summit Family YMCA at (770) 254-9622 or Amy Girouard at amygi@ymcaatlanta.org.
