Melrose YMCA Mission

The Melrose YMCA is a community organization open to all regardless of age, sex or religion. The Y evolved from values of its Christian heritage: which are to live life guided by love, kindness, and charity towards all. It is the purpose of the YMCA to utilize these values to significantly improve the quality of life of its members, families, community and staff by providing a healthy atmosphere for the development of mental, spiritual and physical potential.

Program Description

The Melrose YMCA School Age Program in Stoneham provides state-licensed, out-of-school care for children in kindergarten through grade six including transportation from Stoneham Public Schools. The programs are designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment with activities that promote a sense of physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being. Children are encouraged to challenge their creative selves and develop new and lasting friendships. All children, while enrolled in the program, become automatic members of the Melrose YMCA.

Program Facility

The Melrose YMCA School Age Program in Stoneham is located on the third floor of the Melrose YMCA Child Care Center in Stoneham at 39 Pleasant Street in Stoneham. The state of the art facility features individual program spaces for younger, middle, and older children, a fully equipped kitchen and a large multi purpose space. Outdoor activities are located in several town play areas. The program is also equipped with a security system accessible only by program families and staff.

Program Staff

The staff includes a Site Director, Kindergarten Coordinator and group leaders who meet or exceed staff qualifications set by the Office of Child Care Services. All staff participates in training specific to school age children and possess a broad spectrum of interests and skills.

Wrap Around Kindergarten Care & Extended Kindergarten Care

Half day care is provided on Mondays with transportation provided to and from school. Full day care is provided Tuesday through Friday. Activities include KidzLit, arts and crafts, gym games, computer, cooking, outdoor play, field trips and more.

Kindergarten Swim Lessons

A weekly swim lesson at the Melrose YMCA Main Street facility will be included in the Wrap-Around Kindergarten tuition fee. Lessons will be on Tuesdays for Kindergarten Session II and Fridays for Kindergarten Session I for the Fall II, Winter, Spring I and Spring II YMCA program sessions. This covers approximately November thru June. Children will be transported to and from lessons on the YMCA van.

Program Activities

A variety of positive, healthy and interesting activities are offered including gym games, arts and crafts, individual and group choice activities, projects, clubs, computers, outdoor play, snack and homework time, special events, occasional field trips and a weekly shuttle service to the Melrose YMCA swim and gymnastic classes. Class fees are extra. Specific class schedule to be announced in September.

Vacation Programs (K-6th Grade)

Full day care is available from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on most school holidays, school vacation days and school cancellation days for an additional fee. See "Vacation Program" in tuition chart below.

Stoneham Program Site and Hours

Wrap-Around Kindergarten Care
Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

After School Care
Monday thru Friday School dismissal to 6:00 pm (K-6th Grade)

Before School Care

Before School Care is offered from 7:00 am to 8:20 am. Transportation will be provided to school using a YMCA van. An optional breakfast is offered for a small additional cost between 7am-7:30 am.

Transportation

Transportation is provided to and from school using contracted school buses. The following schools are currently on the van route: South, Colonial Park, Robin Hood, St. Pat's and the Middle School. A supervised walk is provided from the Central School.

Refund/Credit Policy:

The YMCA requires advanced notice of any cancellations IN PERSON at the YMCA Business Office BY THURSDAY of the week prior to the scheduled program day. Participants may request a refund (note: a $5.00 service fee will apply) or a credit for the full amount paid. Cancellation notices received after the advance date are non-refundable.

No Shows

Failure to notify the vacation program of a child's absence will result in forfeiture of registration privileges for the next scheduled vacation program.

Things to bring for a full day program:

lunch, two snacks, two drinks, napkin, utensils, etc.

Closures:

The School Age Program provides service for all regularly scheduled school days as well as vacation program days as listed above. Any additional days of service will depend upon school opening and closing dates. All School Age Programs are closed on the following days:

Inclement Weather Policy

If schools are cancelled and the Governor has declared a state of emergency, the School Age Programs are CLOSED. If schools are cancelled with no emergency, the School Age Program will operate a full day program from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Stoneham and Beebe School sites. PARENTS MUST CALL THE PROGRAM SITE BY 9:00 AM IF THEIR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING. If no children arrive by 11:00 am, the program will close.

If an individual school is cancelled due to a particular emergency, a full day program from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm will be held at the Stoneham or Beebe School site. PARENTS MUST CALL THE PROGRAM SITE BY 9:00 AM IF THEIR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING. Space will be limited - call early to avoid being closed out!

All inclement weather programs are subject to additional fees (see Tuition Chart) payable on the day of attendance regardless of the number of hours used. In the event the schools are dismissed early due to inclement weather, parents will be contacted with as much notice as possible if the YMCA is unable to transport children because of extremely dangerous driving conditions. In the event that school opening is delayed, Before School Program will open at 8:00 am and will provide transportation to schools at delayed opening time FOR REGULAR BEFORE SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS ONLY.

Registration Dates/Sites

For Current Participants/Siblings:
Pre-registration Week Begins: April 28-May 2, 2008 at the Stoneham site..

For current Melrose/Stoneham Child Care Center Participants:
Begins April 30, 2008 at the Stoneham site during regular program hours.

For New Participants:
Begins May 5, 2008 at the Stoneham site during regular program hours.

Registration Hours: Monday through Friday 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
June 23-Aug 22 hours: Mon-Fri 8-9 am and 3-6 pm

School Age Registration Form

You may download a School Age Program Registration form by clicking here. This form is for either the kindergarten or after school program registration. Registration forms are also available at the program site: 39 Pleasant Street - 3rd floor, Stoneham, or by calling 781-279-2720. You must be able to open .pdf files to use this form. If you cannot open .pdf files, you can download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader here:

Registration Procedures

1. Submit a completed registration form and registration fee for each child ($50 - Kindergarten & After School Care/$25 - Before School) IN PERSON to:
   Melrose YMCA School Age Program in Stoneham
   39 Pleasant Street - 3rd Floor
   Stoneham, MA 02180
   Registration fees will be credited to June 2007 tuition.
2. Enrollment will be confirmed at time of registration. Your receipt and a welcome letter will be mailed to you.
   
   Please note that enrollment is limited. Children who cannot be accommodated will be placed on a waiting list.

Financial Assistance Policy

It is the policy of the Melrose YMCA to make fee adjustments based on financial eligibility. These adjustments are made based upon the availability of funds raised from all sources in our community to provide assistance to those in need. The YMCA does all it can to see that no individual is turned away due to an inability to pay. Financial aid forms are available at all program sites, at the Melrose YMCA Main Street Business Office, downloadable from our web site or by calling 781-279-2720.