After School Care
2024-2025 Latch Key Information
Purpose
The program is designed to meet the needs of working parents in our community. We will provide a safe, enriching and nurturing environment for students. Assistance will be given to students to promote their physical, educational and psychological growth. The program is structured but allows children the freedom to choose from and to participate in a variety of enjoyable activities.
A typical day includes:
- 2:00 PM PM Pre-K Students Roll Call/Snack
- 3:00 PM Roll call and snack
- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Homework and scheduled activities for all grades which includes supervised play.
Admission
The Latchkey program is equipped and staffed for Pre-K through third-grade students. The children must be enrolled at Brookhill Elementary to attend Latchkey. The program is available on a full-time basis only: drop-in or daily rate services are NOT available. Children re-enrolling the program will not be admitted until all fees from the previous enrollment/year are paid in full.
Hours of Operation
Latchkey will open at 2:00 PM for Pre-K students only. The rest of the grades will start at 3:00 PM Extended Day Children will report to the gym at the end of the regular school day and are to be picked up by 5:00 p.m. Homework Children will be provided a quiet, supervised setting in a teacher’s classroom or the lunchroom, in which to do homework. Children are responsible for bringing all books, materials, and assignments to the homework area. The extended day staff is not responsible for checking with the classroom teacher about assignments or supplying paper, pencils, books, etc. It is the responsibility of parents to check the child’s homework.
Health and Safety
If your child becomes ill or injured while attending our program, he/she will be isolated and you will be notified to pick up the child immediately. All information concerning the child’s personal and medical information must be kept updated and current in the Brightwheel app. You will have access to your child’s health information and will be able to make changes as they become necessary. Any changes or updated information should be reported to the extended day program, as well. This program does not offer accident insurance on the children enrolled in the program. Please keep in mind there is not a Nurse staffed for after school care.
Emergency Plan/Cancellation of Activities
Drills during the Latchkey program are conducted periodically. An emergency plan of action has been developed and will be followed in the event of a tornado warning, storm warning, fire, etc. Should the child need to be checked out during one of the described conditions, it is required that the child be checked out directly with the supervising personnel. The Latchkey program will follow the schedule of the school.
Discipline
All school rules are in place for after school care. The discipline of children will be consistent and fair. Limits and rules will be explained to the children. When a child exhibits disruptive behavior such as fighting, abusive language, disrespect, theft, or disobedience, parents will be notified. Upon the second infraction, the parent may be called to pick-up the child, and/or suspended for a period of time. The third behavior infraction will result in dismissal from the program. A child dismissed from the program will not be eligible for re-enrollment in the program.
Dress Code
All children will be expected to follow the dress code established by the Athens City Board of Education. Please be sure to keep extra clothes for your child in their backpack or classroom in case of accidents.
Snacks
The school provides a healthy snack every afternoon to the Latchkey program. If your child has “food-related” allergies, this should be on file with the school AND the program. If your child does not like what is provided, we will not be able to give them a different option, so please pack an extra snack just in case this happens. Please remind your child not to share their food with other children as they may not be aware of allergies.
Brightwheel App Information
Check-Outs/Pickups
Once your student is registered in the Brightwheel App, you will receive a unique 4-digit check in/check-out code. This code should not be shared with family members. This unique code is attached to the individual parent/approved pick up and records who signed them out and at what time. Code sharing will not provide an accurate record in the event something should happen if everyone uses the same code. All adults listed as ‘approved pickups’ will be invited to the Brightwheel app. Once they have downloaded the app and created an account, they will be given their own unique code to use in the event they have to pick your child up.
Attendance/Waitlist
After the limit of 50 students have been reached, your child will be placed on a waiting list. When a space opens up, you will be notified of the availability. Waitlisted students will be entered into the Brightwheel app and placement will be offered in the order it was received. If your child is enrolled full time and does not show up for more than 3 weeks, your child will be removed from the program in order to make room for students who are on the waitlist.
Payment Information
Tuition Information
You will have the option to pay weekly, biweekly, or month. Below you will find a breakdown of the cost for each of the options. All accounts will be billed using BRIGHTWHEEL. Latchkey and office staff will NOT be collecting payments except for initial payment or registration fee. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to pay online. Children may not attend the program after two weeks of non-payment of fees. Families who have multiple students in attendance, the payments will be assigned to the oldest child. Meaning the full payment will be charged under one of your children, not all of them. All fees are payable as scheduled regardless of attendance. This means if your child attends one or five days during the week, he/she is charged the weekly rate. Exemptions from payment will be given only for death of an immediate family member, illness involving one week or more in duration, school-closed holidays, or weather days. Weather days are considered a full day, and NOT an early release for severe weather. This means if there is no school due to weather, you will not be charged. However, if severe weather happens in the middle of the school day, and the school closes down, payments will still be issued, as they are unforeseeable. Late-pick ups will be charged starting at 5:01 pm. Your account will be charged $1 for every minute you are late. Please let the Latchkey staff know that you will be late using the Brightwheel app, so we are aware of the situation. Exceptions from this late pick up charge will be made on a case to case basis.
Registration Fee Information
The registration fee is $25 PER Student and will be paid before your child can start Latchkey. Returning students may pay using Brightwheel. New Latchkey students can pay cash or check.
Download Registration Form
2024-2025 Important Dates to Remember
First Semester Dates: (August 2024 - December 2024)
Start and End Dates
- First Day of Latchkey Services: August 12, 2024 (Monday)
- Last Day of Latchkey Services: December 19, 2024 (Thursday)
Early Closure/Cancellations (EARLY CLOSURE 4:00 PM)
Early Closure
Friday, October 11, 2024 (Fall Break)
Cancellation
- Friday, September 27, 2024 (Homecoming Early Release Day)
- PK Services ONLY (2:00-3:00): Friday, November 22, 2024
- PK Services ONLY (2:00-3:00): Friday, December 20, 2024
Second Semester Dates(January 2025 - May 2025)
Start and End Dates
- First Day of Latchkey Services (2nd Semester): January 8, 2025*
- Last Day of Latchkey Services: May 17, 2024
Early Closure/Cancellations (EARLY CLOSURE 4:00 p.m)
- PK Services ONLY (2:00-3:00): March, 21, 2025
*Student’s account must be paid in full from the previous year/previous semester in order to start Latchkey services.