Registration for the Before and After School Care 2019-2020 school year programs will begin:
- May 1, 2019 – Elizabeth and Rahway Branch
- May 1, 2019 – Washington School (Union) – Five Points Branch
- May 6, 2019 – Connecticut Farms School (Union) – Five Points Branch
- May 9, 2019 – Livingston School (Union) – Five Points Branch
- May 15, 2019 – All Remaining Schools (Union)
Families with children in multiple schools may register on either date. Children registering during the early registration period (May 1 – June 30) for a 5 day per week program and paying via bank draft will be eligible for a complimentary youth YMCA school-year membership. Early registration ends June 30, 2019.
The Gateway Family YMCA offers programs to school-aged children throughout the Elizabeth Public School District, Rahway Public School District and Township of Union Public School District to keep youth active, busy and engaged during out-of-school time. Through a well-rounded approach to youth development, the Y’s programs offer activities in a caring and safe environment during the critical hours after school. Whether through sports, mentorship, or academic support, the Y nurtures the potential of youth throughout the school year.
At the end of the school day, 1 in 5 children kids do not have someone to care for them after school, according to Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness organization. “Over 11 million children are unsupervised between 3pm and 6pm, an essential time to help increase children’s success in school,” said Krystal R. Canady, CEO, The Gateway Family YMCA. “Afterschool at the Y is an opportunity for families to ensure their kids are receiving additional support, continued learning and a chance to participate in meaningful activities that can inspire children’s motivations and help them reach their potential.”
The Gateway Family YMCA employs Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards in afterschool programs that help build a healthier future for our nation’s children by encouraging healthy eating habits, limiting screen time and providing physical activity to keep every child healthy. Careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) are projected to grow 17 percent over the next few years, and the Y is helping youth develop strong problem-solving, planning, analysis and decision-making skills to succeed in the classroom and in high-demand careers through curriculum integrated within programs.
In The Gateway Family YMCA’s afterschool program youth receive academic time to complete homework and can also explore arts, physical activity, sports integration and cultural awareness and projects. The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, supporting their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development from birth to career. Financial assistance is available to those in need, to ensure every child and teen has the opportunity to learn and grow at the Y.
The Y helps children from low-income communities challenged with meeting math and literacy proficiency as well as important developmental milestones. These children fall significantly behind their middle and upper middle-class peers on test scores and graduation rates. That “gap” is known as the achievement gap. The Gateway Family YMCA is addressing the achievement gap in Eastern Union County and Northern Middlesex County through the programs such as Early Learning Readiness, Power Scholars Academy and School Age Child
The Gateway Family YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, health and community service organization of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community and stands For Youth Development, For Healthy Living and For Social Responsibility. The Y impacts the community by providing quality services to people of all ages, races, faiths or incomes. The Y is a powerful association of men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life joined together by a shared passion: to strengthen the foundations of community.
For more information about The Gateway Family YMCA’s afterschool program, contact the Elizabeth Branch (908) 355-9622, Five Points Branch (908) 688-9622, or the Rahway Branch (732) 388-0057.