Now that schools have announced their protocols for the return to school later this month, social services agencies that serve students after classes are gearing up to play their part.
One agency, the YMCA of Metro North, which encompasses Lynn, Saugus, and Peabody, is preparing for the resumption of school with child-care options for remote learners.
The Y is enhancing its out-of-school time program with all day care, academic support systems and an extension of its food-distribution program.
Metro North will open all-day-care programs for grade-school students in districts with both hybrid and remote learning plans. The program will be open to kindergarteners through sixth-graders with enhanced academic support and recreational activities. Enrollment is open, but space is limited with reduced capacities due to state guidelines. Students will begin attending Monday, Sept. 14.
The YMCA of Metro North out-of-school time and after-school programs continue to be a familiar place where children can be safe, active, learning and engaged during their time out of school — something especially important as children adjust to the many changes related to COVID-19, said spokeswoman Ashley O’Donnell on Thursday. Through a balanced approach to youth development, the Y offers activities, mentorship and academic support, helping kids to thrive throughout the school year, she said.
“Every school district in our association has different schedules for students with some hybrid and some all remote learning. We are developing a program that will be modified at each of our branches to coordinate with the school schedule,” says Jen Conway, executive director, Saugus YMCA. “Everyone is juggling schedules the best they can right now with new guidance shifting daily. At the end of the day, we want to offer a stable child care option for families when their children are not in school.”
Metro North has modified its child-care operations throughout the year. In the middle of March, it opened emergency child-care centers to essential workers. The Y also provided virtual group-learning sessions and Zoom story time reading to its Y Academy families during the shutdown.
The association opened its summer camps in June with new equipment and social distancing procedures, and resumed its normal infant-through-toddler child-care programs in early July. In addition, the association operates a drop-in youth center for teens at its location in Lynn, and has been distributing food and other supplies over the past six months. The modified out-of-school time program will operate in Lynn, Saugus, and Peabody.
“I’ve talked with many parents in the past month and there is a lot of interest in these child-care options,” said Robert Lowell, executive director, Torigian Family YMCA in Peabody. “We have limited capacity right now due to state guidelines, but the demand is still there.
“We are creating as much space as we can and hiring more teachers. We’ve also been actively seeking partners in the community who have suitable facilities so we can expand and assist more students,” he said.
In addition to child care and academic support, the YMCA of Metro North added structured physical and recreational activities to its program, so students can get up from their seats, move around, and play with friends during the day. The association also recently received an extension from the USDA to support its food program and provide breakfast and lunch to children through Dec. 31.
“There is so much need out there and fewer resources to go around,” said Kathleen Walsh, president and CEO, YMCA of Metro North. “We’re going to continue to think of new ways to use our spaces to benefit our community.
“Space is tight and guidelines for social distancing leaves our capacity half of what we can normally take in,” she said. “I want to invite others to partner with us and help us open up more opportunities for kids to learn and grow.”
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].