Before and after school care at Bagley

There are some great options available for Bagley families who need before- and after-school care:

• *NEW*: The Washington Karate Ballard Dojo is enrolling now for the After School Karate Program. They provide transportation to and from Bagley. For more information, call 206-784-3171 or send an email to ballard_dojo@washingtonkarate.com.  

• The Bagley Boys & Girls Club offers a fun, affordable, and safe on-site childcare program before and after school. Activities include snack, homework help, arts, crafts, and games. Hours of operation are from 7am-6:30pm during school days, 7am-6pm on non-school days and during summer camp. Fall enrollment started on April 1st for new families. Enrollment for summer tween camp kids entering 4th grade through 7th grade started in March. For any questions call 206-853-5297 or email Christine Taylor.

• Illumination Studio (ILS) provides a fun and engaging before and after school program with a number of movement activities to get out some energy, including Tai Chi, Yoga, and Fitness Movement. Students then rotate between piano instruction, drama and performance, learning-based projects, and yoga. Daily homework help is given to all students. The program runs the duration of the school year. Students may enroll at any time as availability allows. Hours of operation are from 7am before school and 3pm until 5:30-6 after school. Daily transportation is provided to and from Bagley. ILS also offers amazing summer camps. Check them out!

• The YMCA offers after-school care at the Phinney Neighborhood Center until 6pm, including transportation from Bagley. Registration has not opened yet. For more information, please email universityprograms@seattleymca.org. 

• The Bagley after-school enrichment program will offer on-site classes five days a week until 5pm. (A second class from 5 to 6 may be offered this year, but has yet to be determined.) In the past, classes have included Spanish, chess, LEGO engineering, coding, piano, sports, show choir, clay, watercolor, cooking, music and movement, broadcast journalism, and more! Seattle Parks and Recreation is taking over administration of the enrichment program beginning this fall. Families will need to register through the SPARC website, so be sure to sign up for an account if you don't have one already!

K-2 After school care at the Phinney neighborhood center

Hello!  I was contacted by the YMCA regarding this new program. Here is the info they sent me!

"The YMCA is offering afterschool care at the Phinney Neighborhood Center beginning in the fall. It is being offered for students at the new North Seattle French School at the PNC but is open to children from all local schools. One unique feature of the program is that it is for Kindergarten through 2^nd grade only, so it’s customized towards the younger age group of the elementary spectrum, and will have a very low child to instructor ratio.

 The Y will also provide transportation from nearby schools (including Bagley)

 You can sign up for the YMCA PNC Program here or you can contact Andy McClenahan at the YMCA atamcclenahan@seattleymca.org or call 524-1400 to sign up/ask questions."

Onsite before- and after-school childcare with Boys & Girls Club

If your family needs childcare, the Boys & Girls Club onsite at Bagley is terrific!  My kids LOVE it there.


The staff are fabulous.  They provide lots of activities for the kids, snacks, 'power hour' for homework, outdoor playtime, school break programs, early dismissal care, etc.  Pick-up right from the classroom at 3:35 and/or from afterschool programs (like Lego club) that end at 4:40.


But, if you are looking for fall childcare, get your application in NOW, even if you are undecided.  I saw a notice in the portable last week:  only 10 spaces left for the fall. 


Call Christine Taylor, the director: (206) 853-5297 or email ctaylor at positiveplace dot org

Bit and bites from this morning's playdate (waitlist, teachers, after-school classes, etc.)

Thank you to all the families who came out to our New Family playdates!  It was wonderful to see all the new (and older) students making friends over the last two weekends.  We estimate that there were about 25 families who came out today, and about 25 last weekend as well.  That's a pretty good representation of the new Bees.

Here are a few thoughts on some of the items that came up this morning:

Planning for sick kids, early dismissals, and days and days and days off

Working parents, be forewarned: you should get your backup plans in place now.  There are early dismissals/PD days planned every other week, and lots of week-long breaks during the year.  At times, it seems like the kids are out of school more than they are in it.

Let's take a look at some of the reasons your students will not be at regularly scheduled school, and you can plan around them.  A handy calendar is at the end of this post.

Drop-off, Pick-up, Lunch, Snacks, Boys & Girls Club

You received a 'what to expect your first week of school' letter in your June mailing from Bagley. Here's a summary of how key parts of the school days work:

Drop-off

* School starts at 9:30; students line up in their class line up (in the playground behind Bagley) by the 9:25 bell.

* Typically, your child will find their line, drop their backpack, and play until the 9:25 bell.

* On the first day, you may come into the school with your child to see them off (ask your teacher where their line will be - it is the same place all year), and then stay for coffee with other parents and the all-school first day flag raising ceremony.

* Car drop-offs can be done in the parking lot, or you can walk or bike to school. There are bike racks in the playground near the garden.

Pick-up

* School ends at 3:35.