Early / Late Bird

We believe that Physical Activity, Play, Social Emotional work, experiencing opportunities for Success, following a Strengths-Based and Restorative approach to problem solving and conflict resolution, Community Building with students, caregivers, teachers, and administrators, and Enrichment activities all support academic and intellectual growth.

Program Elements

• Unstructured Play Time with Activity Choices

• Social Emotional Work through Conflict Resolution and Mindfulness Activities

• Enrichment Opportunities

• Focus on Community and Relationship Building

Enrollment Dates

New Family Registration: You may Create Your MyProcare Account at any time.

Program Registration for Early Bird and Late Bird will open on July 1st and will close on July 31st. Any registrations received after July 31st may not receive a spot in our programs for September. Your child will be placed on a waiting list and will be given a spot based on availability and staffing. Open enrollment for October through June will reopen on September 1st, and registrations must be received at least 1 week before the start of the next month in order to be enrolled for that month.

Staffing / Capacity

As per DESE's Quality Standards for Public School District Operated School-Age Child Care programs, we maintain a staffing ratio of 13 students to 1 staff member for students in grades 1-5, and 10 to 1 for Kindergarten. We strive to make space for every family that needs childcare, but we prioritize safety at all times. If our staffing needs are not met, we may need to place some families on a temporary waiting list. In that case, we will work to hire additional staff as soon as possible and will reach out as soon as additional spots open up. We cap our Kindergarten enrollment to no more than 16 students, depending on staffing.

Kindergarten (Picked up from their classrooms)

2:15-3 Free Play with Game of the Day option on Kindergarten playground (or in classroom on indoor days)

3-3:15 Circle / Snack

3:15-4:15 Activity of the Day / Centers in classroom

1st-2nd Grade (Gym Check-in)

2:15-2:45 Free Play with Game of the Day option on big playground

2:45-3 Group Circle

3-3:15 Snack and indoor Activity options in Cafeteria (art projects, group games, etc.) and/or Activity of the Day / Free Play / various Activity options in Cafeteria, Art Room, Gym, Library, etc.

3rd-5th Grade (Cafeteria Check-in)

2:15-2:45 Snack and indoor Activity options in Cafeteria and/or Gym

2:45-4:15 Free Play with Game of the Day option on big playground (or various indoor locations) and/or optional Activity of the Day / various Activity options in Cafeteria, Art Room, Gym, Library, etc.

Enrichment Clubs 

2:15-2:30 Snack and Transition to Club Location

2:30-3:30 Activity (Clubs end at varying times from 3:30-4:15)

3:30-4:15 Students transition back to Late Bird for Free Play and/or Activity of the Day

Extended Late Bird

4:15-5:15 All remaining students free play and/or additional games and activities in Cafeteria, Gym, Activity Room, and/or Playground

*Note: Every day is different! We generally start outside with an open snack time and free play, which can extend all the way to 5pm on nice days. We frequently organize group games or activities outside, such as hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, kickball, capture the flag, obstacle courses, art projects, scavenger hunts, Yoga, etc. We occasionally bring groups inside for special activities.

On Rainy/Cold Days, we stay in the Cafeteria, where we set up various centers for the kids to explore - drawing and coloring, art projects, building, legos, ping pong, bowling, dramatic play, sensory station, etc. We often bring smaller groups to the Gym, Art Room, Music Room, Library, or Computer Lab for special activities - art projects, group sports and games, quiet reading, STEM activities, etc.

The Early Bird program runs from 7:00-7:45 with a cost of $7/day. The Late Bird program runs from 2:15-5:15 with a cost of $7 per hour. ($4-$0/hr for families that qualify for Reduced/Free Payments) All children must be picked up by 5:15pm at the latest and will be charged $1/minute for late pick ups past 5:15pm.

Pay Online (preferred) or make checks payable to 'City of Northampton'

Arrival

At 2:10pm, students are dismissed to the cafeteria where Late Bird staff check them in. For the first 10-15 minutes, students sit by grade level at designated tables and have time to use the bathroom and fill water bottles. Please remember to pack an extra snack for your child(ren) on their Late Bird days. After check in, bathrooms, and water bottles, we head outside to the playground to play (or sometimes the Gym or Art Room for special activities).

Dismissal

Late Bird is available every day until 5:15pm, and you may sign up in 1 hour increments - 2:15-3:15, 3:15-4:15, 4:15-5:15. Please be sure to pick your child up on time. We count on your accurate enrollment to keep accurate staff to student ratios.

First Dismissal: Pick up any time before 3:15pm

Second Dismissal: Pick up any time before 4:15pm

Final Dismissal: Pick up any time before 5:15pm

On warm, nice days, we will generally be outside most of the time, and caregivers should walk around to pick your child up on our back playground. Please be sure to check out with a staff member before taking your child.

On rainy or very cold or hot days, we usually move inside at some point. On these days, please pick up your child at the lower bus loop entrance by the main office. Just wait by the door, and we will send your child out to you. If no one is there, you can ring the bell or call 413-326-5348 to let us know you are here.

*Please let us know ahead of time if you are not able to walk around to the playground, and we would be happy to dismiss your child to the main entrance.

Please keep in mind, it can take students several minutes to clean up what they were working on and get packed up and ready to leave. If you will be in a rush, please call the office ahead of time to let us know what time to have your child ready.

Registration for September is open from July 10th-August 1st. Any registrations received after August 1st may not be guaranteed a spot in our programs for September. Registrations for October through June are accepted on a rolling basis from September 1st through April 15th. Registrations must be received by the 15th in order to be enrolled for the following month (ie. registrations must be received by October 15th in order to be enrolled for November).

Enrollment for Early Bird / Late Bird is on a monthly basis. Consistent weekly or biweekly schedules can be repeated for the semester (Sept-Dec, Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun) or for the full school year. We encourage families to sign up for a consistent weekly or biweekly schedule if possible, but we do offer a flexible scheduling option for a slight price increase. See our FAQ page for MyProcare info and tutorials.

This is not a drop in program. You need to sign up in advance to attend Early Bird, Late Bird, and/or Enrichment Clubs to ensure our staffing ratios are met. If you need to change your child's Late Bird schedule, please email ghollender@northampton-k12.us or send a Parent Square message. If possible, changes must be made with at least 1 week notice. If you have an extenuating circumstance and need to add your child to Late Bird one day, please email ghollender@northampton-k12.us and/or call the main office.