After School
LeConte After-School: What Happens After the Bell Rings?
There are several options for after-school programs: LeConte Community Kidz, and PTA-sponsored enrichment classes.
LeConte Community Kidz (LCK)
LeConte’s Community Kidz program is part of Berkeley LEARNS, which provides academic support, cultural enrichment, and recreation from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. during the academic year. In addition to having homework centers and tutoring sessions, the programs offer opportunities for developing literacy and math skills through hands-on activities such as: story-telling, gardening, cooking, performing arts, and writing centers.
To offer an array of enriching activities for children, parents/guardians are required to pay a fee closely aligned with family income. All families paying below the full-fee rate must provide income verifi cation, which may include one or more of the following: paycheck stub, tax return, and/or CalWORKS documentation. You will be asked to pay for the fi rst month and a deposit, which is equal to the last month’s fee. Start fees must be paid before your child begins the program. Special fi nancial circumstances and arrangements can be discussed. Parents and guardians of participating kids are required to volunteer 10 hours during the year. Some ways to do that is: attend family pot-lucks and evening meetings, tutor, offer to teach classes, be a chaperone, volunteer on the yard or garden, help clean-up at the end of a day. Or you may have other ideas of how you’d like to serve LCK.
New and returning families must enroll or register with the Program Coordinator, Charity DaMarto, who can be found in the cafeteria Flex room A. Packets to register are available for pick up before school starts. For more information call Charity at 883-5244.
PTA Enrichment Classes
The PTA organizes a stimulating selection of after-school enrichment classes are offered on-site and available for a fee. A fl yer advertising the classes goes home to families at the beginning of each term. Classes planned for the 2009-10 school year include: Spanish, circus arts, drama, visual art, fl utes, guitar, caporiera, cooking, chess and even an architecture project.
This is not a district-wide program—parent volunteers coordinate the classes. If there are not enough registrants, classes could be canceled. The PTA’s goal is to make them available to all students via partial and full scholarships. In 2008/09 the fee was $160 per class session (approximately $10 per class) in the fall, and approximately $100 per class session in the spring. This includes instruction and materials and a $10 non-refundable registration fee.
Contact PTA Program Coordinator Jessica Fiedler at 510-540-7818 or jfi ed@ earthlink.net, with questions or class suggestions.
Cancellation Policy: We encourage your child to try any classes they fi nd interesting. If they drop a class before the second class meeting you can get all tuition refunded. This must be done clearly and in writing so we can fill the space.
Berkeley BEARS
This program was cancelled as of Fall 2010 due to lack of State funding.
FAQs
Can my child do PTA classes and LeConte Community Kidz?
Yes, students can attend a PTA enrichment class and then proceed to another after-school program. After school staff will assist younger students with fi nding their class. Please note: variations of some classes/activities exist in multiple programs—for example, there might be an art class offered by the PTA and an art class in Community Kidz. Please check with the after school coordinator to clarify what enrichment opportunities are offered during each semester.
Does my child need to be in an after-school program to participate in PTA classes?
No, your child can sign up for any of the PTA classes, regardless of whether he/she is enrolled in another after-school program at LeConte.