Somerville YMCA Expands School-Age Child Care Programs

Press release from Greater Somerset County YMCA:

Aug. 18, 2020

Somerville YMCA, a branch of Greater Somerset County YMCA, has expanded its school age child care offerings for the upcoming academic year in response to Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 175 allowing all public and nonpublic K-12 schools to open for limited in-person instruction in 2020-2021.

Adding to its portfolio of before and after care options, Somerville YMCA will also help facilitate online learning with a school day virtual learning option to support working families, which includes additional Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Before care, after care, and virtual learning support options vary in price and timing to align with student schedules provided by local school districts. Somerville YMCA currently serves Van Derveer Elementary and Somerville Middle School in the Somerville School District, and all primary, intermediate and middle schools grades K-8 in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. Offerings may expand to other school districts based on expressed community needs.

“We have been working closely with our local school districts to fully understand their reopening plans, so that we can support our families in the community in the best way possible – through safe and supervised care that ensures healthy development of the children enrolled in our programs,” said Bridgewater & Somerville YMCA’s Branch Executive Director Kate Russo.

Somerville YMCA’s School Age Child Care program options focus on academic support and extracurricular enrichment: homework time, reading, sports, games, arts, and more. All child care staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

“We know this health crisis has put added stress on working parents and their schedules, and we want them to rest assured that their children are in capable hands when they come to the Y – safety is our top priority,” Russo said.

Elementary students who attend school within walking distance from the Y will be escorted on foot by Y child care staff to and from school based on the care option selected. Middle school students will walk to and from the Y independently.

For more information about Somerville YMCA’s School Age Child Care program offerings, and to register for care, visit www.gscymca.org/sy-sacc.

This press release was produced by Greater Somerset County YMCA. The views expressed here are the author's own.