The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is pleased to announce that beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, it will be partnering with Portage Public Schools to bring its before-and-after school program, Prime Time, to the Portage Community!
The Y's Prime Time program is designed to help all children grow in spirit, mind, and body. This is accomplished by helping children build character, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, become better leaders, and learn about healthy lifestyles. Our daily schedule consists of group games, arts/crafts, STEAM projects, homework and quiet reading, a healthy snack, lots of physical activity time, and more!
TIMES: Our morning Prime Time program begins at 6:30 am every school day and runs until children are dismissed for school. Our afternoon program runs from dismissal from school until 6:00 pm.
RATES: The Y offers three different weekly rate options for before and after-school care. Families will have the option to register for just AM care, just PM care, or both AM and PM care, depending on their needs. Before and afterschool pricing for the 2022-2023 school year are as follows:
- AM’s only-$55/week
- PM’s only-$60/week
- AM and PM-$115/week
We also offer care on scheduled days off from school such as winter and spring breaks and half days, and make every effort to offer care on unscheduled days off from school such as snow days. We will share more information on our full-day, half-day, and snow day programs at a later date.
Our full-day and half-day care programs offer a daily rate where families are able to choose each individual day they need care. Full and half-day care rates for the 2022-2023 school year are as follows:
- Full day care-$45/day
- Half-day care-$25/day
The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is committed to ensuring that the ability to pay is not an overwhelming barrier for families. We have scholarships available and work with DHHS for qualifying families as well as offer a multi-child discount of 10% off for the second and each additional child.
MEET THE Y STAFF/ORIENTATION OPPORTUNITIES: The Y understands that many families have been with Portage Public School's Curious Kids program for years and transitioning to a new program comes with many questions and concerns. We are committed to addressing all concerns and answering every question to make the transition as comfortable as possible for families. Multiple opportunities will be available for families to meet with YMCA and school-age childcare department leaders prior to registration for the 2022-2023 school year. The first of such opportunities will come on Saturday, April 30, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm at the Healthy Kids Day/Portage open house event. There will be activities and snacks for kids and adults as well as an opportunity to tour the Portage YMCA facility and learn more about what all the Y has to offer. Corey Clark, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo School-Age Childcare Director, will be on site to meet families and answer questions. We will also have other in-person and virtual opportunities for families to ask questions and meet the staff. Those dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
FAMILIAR STAFF: The Y is committed to making this transition as comfortable as possible for the children. This starts with making sure that they see some familiar faces as they walk into the program in 2022-2023. The Y will be working with all of the current school-age Curious Kids staff and offering opportunities to join us in this transition and become a part of the YMCA staff family.
The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo looks forward to the opportunity and privilege of supporting Portage Public Schools and its families.
