• Dear Extended Care Parents:
   

  Welcome to the St. Joseph Extended Care Program! For those new to our Program, this is our 5 th year as a state licensed child care center. We are a before and after school Program serving students at St. Joseph School from grades Kindergarten through 8 th grade. For complete details of our rates and offerings, I invite you to check out our Extended Care Policies & Procedures posted on the school’s website.
   

  I know you have many questions, and I’d like to address some of them here. Before I do, let me share a little bit about the Program’s staff. As your Extended Care Director, I personally oversee our Program to ensure that not only does it meet the goals and expectations set out in our Policies, it also meets or exceeds the state rules that govern all child care centers. Although my degrees are in law, criminal justice and business technology, I worked diligently to educate myself in this new field. Since starting this Program, I have taken more than 60 hours of training and coursework related to Childhood Education. Each year, our Program teachers and I fulfill the annual 15 hour training mandated by the state. Of the 12 steps in the Oregon Registry Pathways to Professional Development (ORPPD), I am currently at Step 10.

  With the departure of our previous Assistant Director/Teacher to pursue her fieldwork in student teaching and the departure of our long-time Aide/Teacher, it has left some pretty big shoes to fill. We are thankful for Guadalupe Torres who has stepped in to fill in as Interim Assistant Director/Teacher until a more permanent hire is in place. Ms. Torres is a graduate of Willamette University and has been a teacher in our Program during the past three summers. For the last several years, Ms. Torres has shown unwavering dedication to the safety, happiness and success of our children. We are so blessed to have her with us for this extended period as a substitute.
   

  We have added another great teacher to our Program—Ms. Katherine Straight. Ms. Straight hails from the University of North Texas where she graduated magna cum laude, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Human Services. Like myself, she has and will continue to take the necessary training and coursework in Childhood Education to remain versed in this new field. As we have been with many of our teachers, we are very fortunate to have Ms. Straight mentor and tutor our children during homework time.
   

  The following are Q&A’s that I anticipate parents will have regarding our Program:

  • The first week of school is a half day for kindergarteners. Will you offer care during that time?

  Yes, we will. Please see our contract for rates during our half-day kinder care week.

  • When and where do the Morning & Afternoon Programs take place?

  
  The morning program is from 7:00am-7:45am and is held in the Media/Library Room downstairs. The opening times vary depending on need but will never open earlier than 7:00am per our state license.
   

  The afternoon program is from 3:00pm-6:00pm. The children meet in the Media/Library Room Program for attendance. We are in multiple locations after that point (upstairs parish center, playground, gym).
   

  • What is a typical schedule during a regular school day?

  7:00-7:45—Attendance in Media/Library, reading, socializing, puzzles, games, coloring. Children are escorted to the school and sent into the school building through the front entrance.

  3:00-3:15—Attendance in Media/Library

  3:15-3:45—Wash hands/PM Snack in the upstairs Parish Center

  3:45-4:00—Recess (Gym or playground, weather permitting)

  4:00-5:30—Homework Time in Media/Library

  5:30-6:00—Free choice in either Media/Library or Gym (signs to be posted)
   

  • Do my children need to pack a PM snack?

  No. Our snacks are provided to the children at no additional cost to parents. Extended Care snacks follow USDA nutritional guidelines. You may always pack alternative snacks if your child has certain allergies or would prefer something other than what is served in the Program.
   

  • What do you do during Homework Time?

  Homework time is mandatory for our kids unless parents specifically request that they do not want their child completing homework in our Program. Homework time is held in the resource room where children are provided a quiet space to do their assignments. Teachers, Aides and Volunteers will walk around the room assisting children and ensuring that each child completes his/her work to the best of their ability. It remains incumbent upon our parents to check and review their children’s work so that it is done to the parent’s satisfaction.
   

  • Does my child get to complete Mathletics assignments or take AR Quizzes in the Program?

  Absolutely!  In addition to the Media/Library's supply of Chromebooks, we have Program Chromebooks and three laptops in the Program to give our kids an opportunity to get Mathletics assignments done and take AR Quizzes .
   

  • What happens after my child is done with homework?

  If your child is done with homework while other kids are still working on theirs, your child will participate in quiet activities until the rest of the group is done. These activities may include puzzles, board/card games or crafts.
   

  • What do the children do during Free Choice?

  They are given a wider range of activities to choose from that include both quiet and loud activities (i.e. Legos, Tinker toys, magnetic darts, perler beads, structured group games, etc.). Sometimes they may play in the gym, time permitting.
   

  • What happens when all the children in the Program do not have homework?

  Fridays tend to be our slower paced days with little to no homework. Oftentimes my teachers will let the kids play for a longer recess period in the playground or gym.
   

  • If I have already chosen days my child will be in the Program (i.e. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), can I just switch them?

  No. The days you chose in your contract are the days we will provide care. Because other children may have taken up the slots that your child will not be with us (using the same example above, i.e. Thursday & Friday), you cannot simply change those days without the risk that our Program will exceed capacity.
   

  • If my child is not attending on a particular day due to illness/appointments or simply because I’d like to pick him/her up early, do I need to let the Program know?

  Yes. Our policy is to follow up on all absences whether through the school office or through parents to locate the child.
   

  • What if I pick up my child late?

  Our Program closes promptly at 6pm. At 6:01, late fees will be incurred. Please check our Policies and Agreement for more information in that regard.
   

  • Where can I call to reach your Program directly?

  Our EC cell phone is 503-931-0820; please be sure that you program this number into your phones just in case you have any difficulty finding us on campus. Your calls will be answered or returned during Program hours only. The cell phone is turned off at the end of the day/Program and kept here at the school until the next day. The director's hours vary throughout the week; to reach her, you may call the school office. If she is unavailable to take calls, you may leave a message on her voicemail. Alternatively, you may contact her via email at carmeng@stjosephchurch.com.
   

  • Can I volunteer in Extended Care? What can I do?

  Of course, you can! Your time volunteering in our Program will count towards your annual PIE hours. Our greatest need is usually during homework time. In previous years, we had a school parent volunteer and a Blanchet student volunteer. If you are interested, please contact our Director for more information regarding background checks and orientation information for volunteers.
   

  After experiencing our Program, I hope you will see that we strive to maintain a safe and nurturing environment where our children grow to love and respect one another. We foster problem solving skills, responsibility for actions and reinforcement to always do our best. I welcome your questions and inquiries into our Program and look forward to having your family join us in Extended Care.
   

  Sincerely in Christ,

  Katherine Straight
  Extended Care Director