Gloucester Township School Board Offers Summer Latchkey Program

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The Gloucester Township Board of Education will provide a Summer Latchkey Program to help meet the childcare needs of the township’s parents this summer, the board announced.

It will run Monday through Friday, from June 21 through Aug. 20, except for July 5. It takes place at two schools:

• Loring Flemming Elementary School, 135 Little Gloucester Rd., Blackwood, NJ 08012, 856-228-5417; and
• Union Valley Elementary School, 1300 Jarvis Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081, 856-309-5031.

“Our program aims to promote the development of social, emotional and physical skills, while providing the opportunity for full day childcare to parents,” the Board of Education said in its announcement. “The Summer Latchkey Program is an extension of the regular school year Latchkey program, and is available to all Gloucester Township students currently enrolled in preschool through fifth grade.”

Enrollment is limited to 100 children. All registrations received prior to the June 1 deadline will be assigned on a first come basis, contingent upon space availability and receipt of all registration materials, registration fee and the June 11 payment.

No child is automatically registered to attend the Summer Latchkey session. Due to the short duration of the summer session, waiting lists are not established. Minimum attendance for the summer program is 15 days.

Applications for registering children must be completed on MSBActivities.com website, and not at the child’s school or existing Latchkey site.

Children can be enrolled for a full day (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.); morning sessions (7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.); or afternoon sessions (noon to 5:30 p.m.).

All expenses including staff salaries, benefits, supplies and facility rentals are born through tuitions received. No tax dollars are used for this program. Payments can be made in four installments. Rates are as follows:

Full Time (5 days per week)

Full Day - $165 per week – first child

Full Day - $150 per week – sibling
Half Day - $99 per week – per child
Part Time (less than 5 days per week)
Full Day - $45 per day – each child
Half Day - $30 per day –each child
Minimum attendance for each child is 15 days for the summer session. Please be sure to review your child’s attendance schedule. It has been established as per your directive. As you are aware, you have paid for all days reserved. We cannot credit or “switch” days.

Payment Schedule - MSB invoicing will begin June1st.

Registration fee - $20 per Family - due with registration (non-refundable/non-transferable)

Payment #1 Due:June 11, 2021

• Covers childcare fees for June 21, 2021 to July 2, 2021
• Trip and Event fees due for June 28, 2021 to July 2, 2021

Payment #2 Due:June 25, 2021

• Covers childcare fees for July 6, 2021 to July 16, 2021
• Trip and Event fees due for July 6, 2021 to July 16, 2021

Payment #3 Due: July 9, 2021

• Covers childcare fees for July 19, 2021 to July 30, 2021
• Trip and Event fees due for July 19, 2021 to July 30, 2021

Payment #4 Due:July 23, 2021

• Covers childcare fees for August 2, 2021 to August 20, 2021
• Trip and Event fees due for August 2, 2021 to August 20, 2021

Failure to make full payment on dates listed will result in forfeiture of childcare eligibility and events.

The Board of Education also set forth the following information and guidelines:

Snacks/Lunch

Mid-morning and afternoon bagged snacks will be provided. Breakfast and lunch are not available through our program. Please send a bagged lunch, including a beverage, with your child daily. Due to COVID protocol, students are not able to use the water fountains. Please send in a reusable water bottle as they may fill it up at the refill stations. Mark your child’s name on his/her belongings. Microwaves are not available to children.

Medication

The Summer Latchkey Nurse is present for a limited amount of time daily. In the absence of the nurse, administration of medication of any type is the responsibility of the parent. The Latchkey staff cannot administer medication. There is no exception to this guideline. If you indicate meds or special needs, our nurse will contact you prior to the first day of Summer Latchkey. Disclosure of special child care accommodations must be made at the time of registration. Failure to do so may result in delay of services and/or removal from the Summer Latchkey Program. We do not provide one-on-one aides. All children participate in grouped supervision.

Behavior
It is expected that all children will comply with all building behavioral policies. The use of physical force (hitting, punching, pushing), inappropriate language, bullying, teasing and/or uncooperative demeanor will not be tolerated. Any of these acts may result in suspension and/or exclusion from Latchkey. Biting will result in immediate and permanent exclusion from Latchkey. There will be no exceptions.

Late Pick Up
Latchkey ends at promptly 5:30 PM. A late pickup penalty of $25 will be assessed for children picked up after 5:31 PM. At 6:01 PM, the penalty increases to $50, at 6:31 PM, the Gloucester Township Police will be contacted. Latchkey operational hours are based upon the clock in the school’s cafeteria. Should an emergency arise, please contact the Loring Flemming Summer Latchkey Site at (856) 228-5417 or the Union Valley Summer Latchkey Site at (856) 309-1336.