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After-school Programs WCCUSD

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > West Contra Costa County School District > After-school Programs WCCUSD

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Harding after-school programs

April 2008

Our three children will attend Harding Elementary next year, and I am wondering if any one out there can offer some insight into the Afterschool Program, as well as any other insights or comments about the school in general. Our kids will attend the on-site Afterschool, and because it is run by the City of El Cerrito, I am a bit hesitant. We have not been impressed with their school-run programs in the past, and I am wondering what it is like at Harding. In addition, what is the school culture? How are the teachers? Kids? Parents? Thank you for any information you can share! Because they will be new, and not starting in kindergarten, I appreciate any insights you can share with me. -Kati

The after school program is really three programs: (1)Harding Park--This is a city-run on-site wrap around daycare program. It includes most of the elements you would find in any rec program: some structured activities (dance, Spanish, crafts), homework help, snacks, and lots of opportunities for free play. There is also a before school program available for parents who need it.

(2)There is also low cost/free childcare available for families who are low-income. This grant-funded program includes all of the above plus offers after school tutoring/academic intervention. For kids who are struggling academically, it provides extra help. Children receive a healthy snack in the cafeteria and then are escorted to small group tutoring. After tutoring, they go back to join the other kids. Tutoring is also provided for kids who are not low-income.

(3)The Harding After School Enrichment program is a partnership between the PTA and the City. K-6 students take a variety of classes: dance, guitar, tennis, chess, science, etc. The offerings change each term and there is a fee for each class. The PTA and city also provide scholarships for any student who cannot afford the fees.

All 3 of these programs use the Harding campus and the integration is fairly seamless. My kids absolutely love the enrichment classes and my son met his best friend in the on-site after school program. It's not perfect (what is?) but when compared to most of the schools in the district, I think this is one of the strongest, most diverse (in terms of what is offered) and most affordable programs around. Harding mom

After-school care for kindergartener in El Cerrito

Jan 2008

Our 4 year old will be starting up kindergarten at Madera School in El Cerrito in September 2008. After years of full time daycare and preschool, the short school day seems so short! How have other parents with full-time jobs dealt with this? Can you give me feedback about your experience with the El Cerrito (or other) after school care programs? Thanks! Mom of soon to be big kid

We also work full-time and our kindergartener is enrolled in the on-site Madera afterschool care. We are very happy with the afterschool program, which is run by the city of El Cerrito. The short kindergarten day means that there is not so much time for play and fun, but this is compensated for by the afterschool program, where there is plenty of time for play and making friends. The children play, do art, cooking projects, and games. The teachers are really great, easy to talk to, and the program is very well organized. The kindergarteners are separated from the bigger kids most of the day, and have their own program (the Kindergarten afterschool program ends at 3pm, but even after that they tend to have K together with first grade kids only). If you are interested you should sign up asap at the El Cerrito Community Center. Last year I believe we signed up in February. Good luck! -Madera parent
The before and after care program, and summer and holiday programs, offered by the City of El Cerrito Recreation Dept is very popular among many Madera families. Call the city at 559- 7006 and ask to visit the site. --working mom

JCC After Care-Tranportation from Harding

May 2007

I have signed my daughter up for the JCC kindergarten after care program, Center Stage, in North Berkeley. She will be attending kindergarten at Harding Elementary in El Cerrito in the Fall and needs to have transporation from Harding to the JCC 3 days / week at 11:50. The JCC needs to have 3 or more kids from each school in order to schedule a pick up. I would love to hear from any other Harding families who are signed up for the same program or would consider it. You can go to their website to get more info and print out an application http://www.jcceastbay.org/jcc/center_stage.htm. It's suppossed to be a great program, open to everyone and serves the Albany, Berkeley and WCC schools. Additionally, If anyone has any suggestions for a transporatation service I might use that would pick my daughter up from school and take her to the JCC after kindergarten gets out I would love to hear about it. Thanks, Nicole

I've heard good things about the JCC program. We considered doing an off-site program and ended up going with the on-site program instead. From what I can tell, most of this year's current kindergarten families are enrolled at Harding Park. They also provides escorts to and from after school tennis, art, yoga, basketball, music and science classes--the offerings vary each term. Recently, we were informed that this city-run program is eligible to receive an after school grant that may significantly reduce the cost for incoming families. JCC is an excellent program but I would encourage families to check out all the after school options, including the on-site daycare facility. Spots at Harding Park tend to book up fast so if you are interested, I would reserve space ASAP. For more info about after care options: http://www.hardingpta.org/school/childcare

After-school programs for 1st grader, El Cerrito

Jan 2006

I've checked past postings, but wonder whether anyone has more recent experience or advice about after school programs for a first grader? We live in El Cerrito and our son is to go to Mira Vista Elementary School in the fall as a first grader. The Y runs an after school program at Mira Vista. But we are wondering about other options in the area. For example, we are considering the possibility of sending him to the after school program at Castro Elementary. We're also looking at private after school programs but have not found many so far. Another issue will be transportation between school and after school. We've heard of ''A Car 4 Kids,'' which provides transportation but wonder if anyone knows of other providers . We appreciate any information or tips you may have. (We have not found much current information in the postings.) Thanks very much. Debora

There is this great afterschool program at the Berkeley Richmond JCC. My daughter (kindergarten) goes there, and she has a lot of fun. They do art, cooking, drama, aikido, capoeira.. and they help with homework. The children's program director, Karen Cagan, is just GREAT with kids, and she has a great team working with her. So, check them out at their web page: www.brjcc.org Elena

Harding Park Before and Afterschool Program

Oct 2005

My child will be a kindergartener next year, possibly at Harding Elementary in El Cerrito. I will require before and after school care and have looked into the rec. center program at Harding Park. I was shocked to find out that this program will cost $850 per month! Do any current parents using this program have insights about this program, thus warranting the very high cost for part time care? I'd appreciate the feedback. The last review was not favorable and a few years old. Thanks!

I wish the City of El Cerrito would increase the subsidy for its on-site after school programs. Affordable after school care is a challenge most parents face in this district and throughout the state. It's really unfortunate that our governor promised to fund after school programs before he was elected and has yet to deliver. It puts parents like you in a difficult situation. Harding Park is expensive compared to some of the other options but, for me, it's worth it because of the convenience of on-site care. Also, I understand that approximately 50% of the Harding kindergarten kids go there so your son or daughter is likely to be with other kids they know. The facility is very cheerful and they have their own separate play structure. Rayel, one of the staffers, is a particular favorite of mine. He is very kind. I sometimes also see the kids walk in and give Nousheen, the director, a hug. It will be even nicer next fall when the landscaping is finished at the school because there will be a lot of greenery around the Clubhouse.

Harding Park works fine for most of the parents I know but if you have concerns about the program, I would suggest looking at other alternatives such as hiring someone to provide care (perhaps sharing with another family to reduce the cost?) or looking at home-based preschools that offer after-school spots. I have heard good things about De Los Ninos near Del Norte BART too. Also, just so people know, not all elementary schools in El Cerrito have the option of on-site after school care. Fairmount students are transported over to Harding Park in a van for after school care.

My twins attended Grace for 3 years. It was a wonderful, relaxed, non-academic (which I wanted!) environment for them. One of Grace's biggest pluses is the large play yard. It has a number of different areas for the kids to disperse to and is really much nicer than many of the playyards in the preschools I visited. The families were very warm and friendly and committed to the school. The only negative I would say, and I think it is a negative common to co-ops, is that when you have parents working sometimes it seems like discipline is a little tentative. My son, in particular, could be somewhat intimidated by loud, rough, aggressive boys ! and not all parents were willing to take that on in their co-oping days. That was really only a problem one year -- it was just the mix of kids attending that year. If you'd like to talk any further please email me off- list. I usually don't read the schools message board and just happened on it this time. Erin
My daughter is in kindergarten at Harding and attends the daycare at the Harding clubhouse. Yes, at $5.50/hr, the monthly total is a little high. But the most expensive block, kindergarten care from 11:50-2:30, goes away after one year. Also, you don't pay for days the program is not open, thus November, with four holidays, is slightly cheaper than was September. I like the convenience of the program being onsite; I like the sense of community my daughter feels by being together with older Harding students and the students who come by van from Fairmont and Castro; I like it that after being in a classroom with a lot of structure, that she has a lot of free play in day care. We visited the daycare three times the spring before she started kindergarten. I would recommend making an appointment to visit and asking for references from current parents. --Liz

Before and Afterschool programs for Harding in EC

Sept. 2005

My daughter will possibly attend Harding Elementary in El Cerrito next Fall. I am looking for before and afterschool programs besides the recreation department. I'm in shock at the cost of this program and imagine that there must be other alternatives close to school. Thanks.

We used Harding Park a few days a week for after school care when my son was in kindergarten and it was very convenient (the staff collected him from the classroom and walked him across the lawn to the clubhouse). Also, he had a few friends going there so it was nice for him to see familiar faces. I think the City of El Cerrito does offer some scholarships but don't know what the income cut off is to qualify.

There is also a family day care called ''A Mother's Care'' near the school. The owner, Colene Turrell, has a few after school spots for kindergarteners. It is a Waldorf-based program. She reads books and does artwork, crafts, and sometimes bakes or gardens with the kids. I don't know what her fees are but if you would like to check it out, her e-mail cturrell AT sbcglobal.net

Childcare at Harding Park is expensive but that's pretty much true of most after school rec programs. The staff need to make a living wage.

I wanted to suggest a low-cost alternative. I know of at least one SAHM at Harding who gets paid to bring another child home with her every day from school. She wants to be at home with her children because her youngest is a toddler but she needs to makes some extra income. Her ''client'', a single working mom, needs to work so she has a place for her that is cheaper than an after school rec program.

You may want to consider which friends or neighbors are planning to go to Harding for kindergarten and ask how they would feel about this kind of an arrangement. Also, I think if you pay the registration fee which is around $50, Harding Park will let you do pay-as-you-go drop-in so that gives you a backup in case of emergency.

Afterschool programs for Kinder in El Cerrito

Feb 2005

I moved to El Cerrito last year, and I'm looking for a kindergarten for my son from this fall. Also, I'm interested in afterschool programs. Does any public kindergarten provide good program? ps. Bacically, is registration of public kindergartens first- come first-served system? New comer

March is kindergarten sign-up month in El Cerrito. Go to this link to determine your school: http://www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/RSD/ResSchDir/resdir.htm Regarding before and aftercare, I hope someone can help me out too. The before and aftercare offered by the city (info available at the community center on Moeser Lane) is market value and sliding scale, but full price is expensive. Does anyone have any less expensive ideas that include transportation? Liz
Try Casa de Ninos in El Cerrito, near Windrush. The director's name is Dee Dee Julian, and it's a pretty good program. They currently do pickup at Castro, Harding, and St. Johns, but might be willing to consider other schools. Kindergarteners get lunch after pick up, plus a warm snack, homework time, and the opportunity to participate in a number of extra-curricular activities (swimming, gymnastics, museum trips, etc). She also runs a good summer program. Her # is (510) 232-0690 Lisa

Afterschool care for Harding Kindergartener

Sept. 2003

Hi, My daughter is in K at Harding Elementary in El Cerrito. Though she/we love her teacher, kindergarten in this district is released at 11:50 a.m., thus necessitating, for our family, after-school care. She is currently enrolled in the after-school care program run by the city of El Cerrito, which has been, to say the least, disappointing for us, and not at all cheap. Does anyone know of a good, dependable, affordable afterschool program that would pick my daughter up at Harding and provide her with a reasonable amount of enrichment and kindness until 5:30 p.m.?

Re: Afterschool care for Harding Kindergartener
Recommendations received:

  • Casa de Ninos
  • Pride and Joy Preschool
  • Willow Street Schoolhouse
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