After-School Program Schedule

Here is what our after-school schedule and staff schedules typically look like, but please note it is flexible to accommodate children's interests and needs. We strive to create a dynamic and engaging environment that adapts to the interests and needs of the children in our program.

Children's Schedules

P.A. DAYS, MARCH BREAK & SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

We are a small non-profit after-schol childcare centre, and all of our educators work elsewhere when the centre isn't running full-day (non-instructional days) program. This means we only staff for full days like P.A. Days, March Break, and school holidays based on the number of children who are registered in advance to attend CARE.

Because of this, we need all parents to respond to attendance survey emails sent out by the specified deadlines. This is particularly important when we have booked field trips, as trip sites need to know at least 3 weeks in advance the total number of children attending. This is why we cannot accept last-minute drop-offs.

If the centre closes due to low enrollment, regular fees still apply because we have fixed costs (such as staffing and operational expenses) that we must cover regardless of attendance (see Fee policy).

We know this might be different from larger childcare centres, but it’s how we’re able to keep fees affordable and run quality programs for our families.

Thank you for understanding and working with us!

Educators' Schedules

Our dedicated staff ensures a safe, clean, and engaging environment for all children in our afterschool program.

Instructional Day Staff Schedule- After-School

Monday to Friday: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM: Room Safety Checks, Disinfecting, Check Messages, and Snack/Room Setup

Staff arrives, performs safety checks around the room, ensuring all play areas are safe and secure.
Disinfect high-touch surfaces, including tables, chairs, and toys.
Check any important messages, notes from parents, or reminders for the day.
Set up the snack area and prepare room for activities (art projects & crafts, games, etc.), make changes as needed so that program plan is reflected in what's being offered.
Review any special instructions or activities planned for the day.
Ensure the room is organized and ready for the children’s arrival.

2:50 PM - 4:00 PM: Pick up Children from Schools, Facilitate Outdoor Play & Supervise

Educators ensure the timely and safe pick-up of children from local schools.
Monitor children during the transition, ensuring all children are accounted for as they check in with you and before leaving the school grounds.
Lead children in outdoor activities such as group games, free play, or sports (e.g., soccer, basketball, tag).
Ensure children are visible, safe, and follow all safety rules (e.g., no rough play, use equipment properly). Encourage active play to promote physical exercise and cooperation among peers.
Ensure appropriate gear (e.g., jackets, hats) is worn during colder months.
Supervise interactions, monitor for conflicts, and assist children as needed.
Ensure children follow the established boundaries for outdoor play.
Give 5, 3, and 1-minute warnings, then walk children safely back to the centre., r On arrival, remind children to store their belonging in cubbies, wash their hand so they’re ready for the snack or activities children.

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Facilitate Snack & Indoor Group Activities

Snack (4:00 PM - 4:30 PM):
- Ensure children wash their hands before eating.
- Monitor snack table: encourage healthy choices and support self-regulation, social skills and peer interactions during snack time. Ensure children clean up after themselves and wash their hands.
- Put away snack, disinfect tables , and set up for activities.
Indoor Group Activities (4:30 PM - 6:00 PM):
- Facilitate structured group activities, such as board games, art projects, group challenges, or STEM projects, etc,.)
- Provide a mix of quiet activities (e.g., reading, puzzles, drawing) and group games (e.g., cooperative team challenges, trivia).
- Encourage creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- Help children engage in clean-up routines after activities.
- Ensure a fun and educational environment for both group work and individual activities.

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Prepare for Pick-up

Continuous headcount: Confirm a final headcount before and during pick-up to ensure all children are accounted for (done throughout the day).
Assist children in gathering their personal belongings and preparing to leave.
Documenting Observations: Any final observations about the day’s activities or any specific child behaviours should be noted in the Lillio App before the end of the day.
Parent Communication: Use pick-up time to share any important updates with parents (e.g., behavioral notes, milestones, or highlights from the day).

Non-Instructional Day Staff Schedule (8:45 AM - 5:30 PM)

for PA Days, March Break, and Winter Break Schedule:

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM: Check-in / Arrive and Prepare in the CARE Room

Staff arrives, performs room safety checks, disinfects high-touch surfaces, and prepares for the day.
Review any important messages (parent notes, emergency updates, etc.).
Set up snack area and materials for activities. Make changes as needed so that program plan is reflected in what's being offered.
Children check in, hang up belongings, and settle into the room.

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Supervise Morning Snack & Activities

Ensure children wash hands before and after eating.
Monitor snack table: encourage healthy choices and support self-regulation, social skills and peer interactions during snack time.
Put away snack, disinfect tables , and set up for activities.

9:45 AM - 12:00 PM or 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Facilitate Activities

Facilitate planned activities based on children’s interests (arts projects, board games, science, reading, etc.).
Encourage both independent and collaborative play.
Engage children in both structured and free-play activities, ensuring balance throughout the day.
Ensure the environment remains tidy and encourage children to clean up after themselves.

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM or 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Supervise Outdoor Play

Facilitate active play with organized games and activities, or allow for 'free play' (e.g., on the playground, running games, etc.).
Support the development of physical skills and cooperative play. Encourage and model cooperative play, turn-taking, and teamwork. Provide guidance on physical skill development (e.g., balancing, throwing, jumping). Enforce safety rules (e.g., no pushing, proper footwear, etc.).
Conduct continuous head-counts.
Provide time warnings (5, 3, and 1 minute) to help children transition smoothly to return to the centre.
Inspect and clean outdoor equipment: Make sure all equipment used during play (e.g., balls, mats, toys) is returned to the storage area and is in good condition.
Ensure no equipment is left behind on the playground or outdoor area.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM: Oversee Lunch

Ensure children wash hands before lunch.
Supervise eating, encourage seated eating, and promote social eating habits.
Facilitate appropriate conversation and socialization during lunchtime.
Monitor and support clean-up afterward.
Ensure children follow safe behaviors (e.g., remain seated while eating).

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Art Projects & Wrap-up

Continue with art projects: Children can work on individual or group creative projects (e.g., painting, drawing, collage, crafting) from earlier in the day.
Encourage children to express their creativity and complete their projects.
Educators assist with project completion, offer ideas, or provide guidance as needed.
Encourage children to clean up their art supplies once they finish.

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Prepare for Pick-up

Assist children in gathering their personal belongings and ensure everything is ready for pick-up.
Continue supervising children as they finish up their art projects.
Communicate with parents during pick-up, discussing any important updates or special moments from the day.
Parent Communication: Use pick-up time to share any important updates with parents (e.g., behavioral notes, milestones, or highlights from the day)
Documenting Observations: Any final observations about the day’s activities or any specific child behaviours should be noted in the Lillio App before the end of the day.

Additional Keu Tasks

Staff Breaks: Educators take a 30-minute break during instructional days, ensuring that children are always supervised.
Fire Drills: Fire drills are conducted monthly to ensure that both children and staff are familiar with safety procedures.
Room Clean-Up: The room is tidied up after each group activity to maintain a clean and organized space, especially before transitioning to snack time or other activities.
Activity Planning: A variety of activities are planned daily to cater to children’s different interests and abilities, balancing quiet time, physical play, and creative projects.
Monthly Observations: Educators document detailed observations of each child’s progress, behaviours, health and developmental milestones on a monthly basis using the Lillio App. These notes help track each child’s growth and are shared with parents during updates.
Parent Communication: Educators ensure open communication with parents through multiple channels:

In-person: Quick check-ins during drop-off or pick-up to share updates or address any concerns.

Lillio App: Regular updates, photos and observations about each child’s day, behaviour, and progress are shared directly with parents through the Lillio App.

Newsletters & Email: Seasonal newsletters and emails (ongoing) are sent to keep parents informed about upcoming events, important notices, and program updates.

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