Enrichment Classes

Enrichment classes are offered to all after school attendees at an additional cost to ensure regular attendance, self-commitment and personal growth in the respective enrichment course. Registration is based on a first-come, first-serve basis with a minimum registration requirement needed for programming to come to fruition. Waitlists will be created for each class, but acceptance into the enrichment class is not guaranteed if you are placed on the waitlist. 

Car Pool Pick-Up:

When you arrive at the Jr. School via South Braddock Avenue, please join the carpool line around the front of the main building via the traffic circle. Feel free to text us a few minutes prior with your child’s first and last name, location “carpool line” as well as an estimated time of arrival at 412-254-4772.  It will take a few minutes to dismiss your child from activities and gather their belongings. If you do not text, no worries, simply tell any outside staff member overseeing dismissal, including our Campus Safety Officer and pull all the way forward in the line. Your child’s counselor and/or our dismissal staff will then walk your child directly to your vehicle. We ask that you please remain in your car (see Buckle-Up Spot below) so that we can safely and efficiently dismiss.

Buckle Up Spot: Staff are not permitted to buckle children into cars or car seats. Once our staff has delivered your child to the car, please simply pull-up to the front by the main office and buckle up from there. This will assist our carpool line to be safely located directly on the sidewalk by the gym dismissal doors and keep it efficient.

Inside Pick-Up:

Park your vehicle in the spots along the chain link fence or the back parking lot and walk to the side gym doors, these are the doors closet to the field/fence. We ask that you do not park in the carpool line itself.  To enter the building please make sure to check-in with our Campus Safety Officer or an ASE Staff Member. If we do not recognize you, we will ask that you do not enter until we receive confirmation that you are authorized to pick up the child in question.  If anyone that is not authorized to pick up, i.e. that is not listed on your Camp Brain account as an emergency contact or in the household file, please inform us at  explorers@shadysideacademy.org or give us a call or text at 412-254-4772.

Gate on Ben Hur St. for Pick-up: 

To ensure continued safety, the Ben Hur Street gate will always remain locked during After School and our staff will unlock to dismiss and re-lock immediately after.  Please text 412-254-4772 with your child’s first and last name as well as an estimated time of arrival and the location “back gate.”  All authorized pick-up guardians will remain outside the gate until your child is brought to you and our staff unlock.  Please note that the Ben Hur Street gate should only be used by local families in the surrounding neighborhood.  In hopes of also maintaining a fantastic relationship with our neighbors, we ask that no cars park on Ben Hur St. directly during pick-up.  The Ben Hur Street gate will only be utilized as weather permits.  If there is inclement weather, we move the program inside entirely and the gate will not be utilized for dismissal.

Late Pick-Up Policy:

After 6 p.m., a late pick-up fee of $10/child will be added for the first 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the late fee increases to $10/child per minute. Families who are late more than three times in one term will be charged $10/minute/child on subsequent late pick-ups. Charges will be added to the end of term bill.

Additional Pick-up Notes

-Please don't forget to drive slowly around campus, especially when you are pulling out of the pick-up line.

-We ask that all children enter the vehicle on the passenger side, closest to the building for ease of access and safety.

-If you are waiting for more than 5 minutes, please feel free to text twice! At busy times of dismissal, we will have a long list of communications from parents and gathering multiple children having loads of fun across the school.

Absences:

To maintain proper records and ensure the safety of our students and staff, there will be no refunds or pro-rated fees for missed days/time at SSA After School programs. This includes, but is not limited to, due to illness/injury (including COVID-19), vacation time, or early dismissals. 

Enrollment & Enrichment:

All enrichment programs are in addition to the Daily Care fees. Enrichment classes are only eligible to those enrolled in Daily Care. Each enrichment class requires a minimum number of students enrolled to conduct the class, and cancellations can not be made after enrichment classes begin. All Drop-in Daily care attendees must enroll formally via the Camp Brain system at least one time per term. If attending Cross Country or any non-After School clubs and needing After Care, families must enroll in the Drop-In Daily Care or the appropriate Daily Care day of the week. Please note, there will be no billing adjustments for any cancellations following the first week of After School per term start.  

Billing & Payments:

Starting this Fall, all After School fees will no longer be applied to, or paid through, your Shady Side Academy student billing account. All After School billing will go through the Camp Brain software and Auxiliary Programs Department. After School programs must be paid for using a debit or credit card. All enrollment requires a 20% deposit, of the term total, on credit card at the time of enrollment. If you wish to pay by check, you must pay the deposit online via credit card, select a payment plan, and then contact us at explorers@shadysideacademy.org for the Junior School or adventurers@shadysideacademy.org at Country Day to pay the remaining balance by check. Once we deposit the check we will remove the subsequent installments.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Full Pay: Simply pay the full amount owed at time of submitting registration via credit or debit card. 

Deposit + Term Installments: Separate your After School term bill into term installments using the “deposit + installments” payment option. The deposit will be one fifth (20%) of the total term bill and will be due immediately upon registration to secure the enrollment. Please note that this application deposit is subtracted from the total balance and is not in addition to program fees. The 20% deposit required for enrollment is non-refundable. 

All installments are automatically billed via Camp Brain to the enrollment credit card on file and the household balance must be paid in full by the last installment date of the term. Installment dates for the 2024 Fall Term will be September 13, October 15 and November 15.  Missed installment payments, including declined credit cards, will incur an additional 10% fee of that installment’s total. Failure to meet installment payment schedules will result in loss of any discounts and possible disqualification from the programs registered at any payment date threshold, without any previous paid fees returned.

Waiting List:

If a program and/or day is sold out online, please make sure to formally enroll in the specific waiting list. If space becomes available we will be in contact immediately for a seamless transition into the program. Being waitlisted does not guarantee a spot. 

Drop-Ins:

We currently have day of drop-in rates along with a 10 day drop in package. If you are in need, please contact explorers@shadysideacademy.org immediately so we can assist! Each new enrollment, per term, requires a one-time online registration.

Enrollment Changes/ Late Enrollments:

You are only permitted to make changes to your schedule during the first week of the new term. Changes requested after the first week of a new term are not guaranteed, and a change fee of $50 will apply to any registrations submitted after the first day of the new after school term.

Rules: 

SSA After School subscribes to the Guiding Principles of Shady Side Academy: Honesty, Kindness, Responsibility, Respect and Safety. It’s paramount that children act accordingly and participate as good citizens in the community.

Things that are never okay to do at After School:

• Hitting, shoving, pushing or physical violence
• Verbal abuse, offensive language or bullying
• Lying or manipulating the truth
• Stealing or taking things without asking
• Destroying property
• Possessing, using or distributing drugs or alcohol
• Bringing weapons of any kind to school
• Ignoring staff or staff directions

Consequences at After School:

We expect all children to follow the "Shady Side Way" and demonstrate care, respect and responsibility at all times; children must also exhibit self-control, kindness and follow instructions. Children who do not follow the rules will be asked to take responsibility for their actions. 

If a student breaks a rule, they will receive a verbal warning from a counselor and will talk through their choices and come up with a plan to rejoin the group after they have taken some time to calm down and reflect on their actions. 

If the child ignores the verbal warning and continues with poor behavior, both the child and a parent/guardian may be asked to meet with the Director or Site-Coordinator to help the child make a constructive plan for improved behavior.

If, after the meeting, the child still does not follow the after school rules, they may be suspended and/or asked to leave the program. In this case, a refund will not be issued.

In extreme cases, to ensure the safety of the after school community, the Director or Site-Coordinator(s) reserve the right to expel a child at their own discretion. In this situation, refunds will not be provided.

How do I register?

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. At the beginning of each term, you will receive an email to let you know that registration is open. Visit the Register Now! tab above to find the link to our online registration site when registration is open.

Late Enrollment Fees of $50 are applied to any registrations submitted after the first day of the new after school term. 

Do I need to send payment with my registration?  

Yes. Starting this Fall, all After School fees will no longer be applied to, or paid through, your Shady Side Academy student billing account. All After School billing will go through the Camp Brain software and Auxiliary Programs Department. After School programs must be paid for using a debit or credit card. All enrollment requires a 20% deposit, of the term total, on credit card at the time of enrollment. If you wish to pay by check, you must pay the deposit online via credit card, select a payment plan, and then contact us at explorers@shadysideacademy.org to pay the remaining balance by check. Once we deposit the check we will remove the subsequent installments.

How do I pick my child up from After School Explorers?

For the safety of your child, all doors to the Junior School are locked and children will be picked up from After School using SSA's car pool process. When you arrive to pick up your child, please send a text with the child's name to 412-254-4772, and an ASE staff member will bring your child to your vehicle. We strongly prefer texts rather than calls to this number to reserve the line for any emergencies. 

If you need to come inside for any reason, please check in with our Security team and park your vehicle away from the carpool line. 

Can I use the gate on Ben Hur St. for Pick-up?

To ensure continued safety and security, the gate will remain locked at all times during the After School Program. If you plan on using the locked gate on Ben Hur St., please text 412-254-4772 that you have arrived at the back gate and include your child's name in the text. We kindly ask that you remain outside the locked gate until your child is brought to you. Pick-up from the Ben Hur gate should ONLY be used by families who live within the surrounding neighborhood, it is not an alternative pick-up spot to avoid traffic on Braddock Ave. In hopes of also maintaining a fantastic relationship with our neighbors, we ask that no cars park on Ben Hur St. during pick-up.

Who are the instructors for the program? Are students properly supervised?

Along with the After School Director Sarah Chedwick, a consistent group of qualified and experienced staff supervise students during daily ASE activities, enrichment classes, homework help and playtime. These adults can range from substitute teachers, SSA Faculty, members of the local community, or local college students. 

How do after school terms work?

Each year, we have 3 terms in after school. For the 2024-25 school year, the Fall term runs form Aug. 27- Nov. 22, Winter term is December 2nd-Feb 28, and Spring Term is from March 3rd to June 6th. Each term, you may pick a set of consistent days to enroll in and pick new enrichment classes for the term. 

What do private piano, voice, or ukulele lessons include? 

We offer private 30 minute piano, voice, or ukulele lessons during after school hours. You may choose the day of the week and time slot during Fall enrollment. This time slot and day of the week is yours for the entire school year! This year, we are offering an inclusive price that includes your music lesson and ASE coverage to that day. Therefore, if you decide to enroll in a music lesson, you will not need to enroll in any Daily Care plans to the specific day your child has music lessons. 

Please keep in mind that Private Music Lesson slots are very limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. 

How often should my child practice piano?

Our ASE Private Music teacher, Mr. Mac, suggests that our young students practice for 10 minutes at least 3 days a week. Older students can increase their practice time, in an effort to play with both hands and have their music memorized. Each year in May, music students have the opportunity to showcase their talents and play for the ASE community in a special recital!

Can I add or subtract the days I need or enrichment classes for after school? 

You are only permitted to make changes to your schedule during the first week of the new term. Changes requested after the first week of a new term are not guaranteed, and a late enrollment fee of $50 will apply to any registrations submitted after the first day of the new after school term. 

How do drop in days work? 

For all drop in days, please email explorers@shadysideacademy.org and jstransportation@shadysideacademy.org prior to 2pm on the day you require drop in care. This allows us to add your child to our rosters and inform their classroom teachers and Junior School administration of their change in plans. Drop in requests past 2 pm may not be able to be accommodated, unless it is a true emergency.

How does the 10 day drop in plan work? 

Each term, you may add 10 drop in days to your account for a flat fee. You must still follow the above procedure for informing the school on the days your require drop in care. Any days not used expire at the end of the term, with no monies adjusted, and do not carry over to the next term. 

How do I pay for after school?

There are a few options in how you can pay for after school.

Full Pay: Simply pay the full amount owed at time of submitting registration via credit or debit card. 

Deposit + Term Installments: Separate your After School term bill into term installments using the “deposit + installments” payment option. The deposit will be one fifth (20%) of the total term bill and will be due immediately upon registration to secure the enrollment. Please note that this application deposit is subtracted from the total balance and is not in addition to program fees. The 20% deposit required for enrollment is non-refundable. 

All installments are automatically billed via Camp Brain to the enrollment credit card on file and the household balance must be paid in full by the last installment date of the term. Installment dates for the 2024 Fall Term will be September 13, October 15 and November 15.  Missed installment payments, including declined credit cards, will incur an additional 10% fee of that installment’s total. Failure to meet installment payment schedules will result in loss of any discounts and possible disqualification from the programs registered at any payment date threshold, without any previous paid fees returned.

Why do I need to enroll in Daily Care if I would just like my child to attend an enrichment class?

All enrichment classes are conducted under the guidance of the ASE Director and ASE Staff. Our ASE staff insures that children get to their assigned enrichment on time, and accompany them to class to assist the instructor and any student's individual needs. Therefore, all enrichments occur within our after school program, which is the daily care price plus enrichment cost. Our partners for enrichments come from other organizations in the community, and must be compensated for travel, material costs, time, etc. Some enrichment classes have extra fees applied to cover material costs like cooking ingredients, art supplies, dance costumes, etc.

Can I cancel my after school enrollment? 

Changes to schedules and cancellations can be made within the first week of a new term. After the first week of the term, changes or cancellations are not guaranteed, and fees are non-refundable.