The Westport Weston Family Y's After School Program for Westport students in grade K through 5 will resume with the beginning of the school year on Aug. 25.
The Y's After School program will take place at Saugatuck Elementary School at 170 Riverside Ave., with buses transporting students daily from their grade schools to Saugatuck Elementary, where the children will play games, do crafts, enjoy a snack and outdoor play and get homework help from Y staff until pick-up at 6 pm.
On Thursdays and Fridays, children will be taken by bus for swim lessons and recreational swimming at the new Westport Weston Family Y, at 14 Allen Raymond Lane on the Y's nearby Mahackeno campus. Children may be picked up at the Y on those days or will be brought back to the school site for pick-up at 6 pm.
"We're delighted once again to be able to have Saugatuck Elementary as our After School base this year," says Meg George, Camp & Family Services Director. "The bright and airy cafeteria is a great space for doing crafts and games, having a snack and getting homework done, and just out the back door is a really fun playground.
"And, of course, we can't wait to introduce our After School kids to our brand-new Y upon its opening on Aug. 29. They're going to love our warm-water family pool, with its basketball hoops and "splash pad" play features. We also have a big new gym and the Nussbaum Kids' Club, with the Fort Mack playscape," Meg adds.
Children can register for 2, 3 or 5 days a week. School half days are included from dismissal time until 6 pm if they fall on the child's regularly scheduled day.
The new Family Y is also offering a free Child Watch program in our Kids' Club for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old who are part of a Family Membership. Children who have a youth membership or who are the children of Adult members may use the Kids' Club for a fee of $5 per visit.
Made possible through the generosity of Gloria and Peter Nussbaum, the Kids' Club is located just inside our new Y's Welcome Center and includes games, crafts and our indoor jungle gym, Fort Mack. Children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old may play in this room for up to two hours a day while their guardians remain in the building using the facility or taking part in a class.
"We look forward to being able to offer local families these exciting new opportunities for their children, whether it's through our After School Program or our new Kids' Club," says Rob Reeves, Family Y CEO. "Whether you're a family with two working parents or a stay-at-home mom or dad looking to work out or spend some quality time at the Y with your child, we're here to help."
For more information about the Y's After School Program, including registration forms and fees, please visit www.westporty.org and click on the Youth Development tab, through to the Early Learning Program section. For specific questions, please contact Meg George at 203-226-8981, ext. 179 or mgeorge@westporty.org.