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Message |
    
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 154
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 2:44 pm: | 
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Finally, after nine years, my wife is going back to work now that my three kids are in school full time. My one problem comes down to 15 minutes, the kids (fifth, fifth, and first grades)get out of school at 3:15, my wife can't get to the school until 3:30, I'm not comfortable with them waiting outside alone, and I'm not sure if the school will let them sit in the hall for the 15 minutes, I called the afterschool program, they weren't very friendly, told me there is a waiting list and I would have to pay full freight, so that won't work. We go to Tuscan
Would anyone have any ideas?? |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 603
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 3:41 pm: |
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So many people hang out at the playground (weather permitting). I would maybe ask a few friends if the kids could be under their watch for a few minutes, perhaps one or two days per week. If you're walking distance to the school it shouldn't matter too much, even if the weather is bad, but not many people have room for three extra kids in their cars.
You could try a carpool too, maybe take two extra kids in the morning TO school if their parents/caregiver can bring your kids home. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1355
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 4:04 pm: |
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Don't assume that the playground is a daycare option (plus, what if it's raining?) It's a definite nono at Marshall for liability reasons. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 195
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 4:35 pm: |
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Are you allowed to hire one of the school aides for a nominal amount (but enough to make it worth her while)to watch the kids for 15 minutes? |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1842
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 5:27 pm: |
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Do you have a middle school or high school aged neighbor with baby sitting experience who would be willing to pick-up the kids and watch them for about a half hour or so after school each day? The cost would be far less than the after school program and you and the kids would be more comfortable with someone you all know. It might also be easier to deal with emergency situations such as delayed trains or extra heavy traffic if you had this sort of arrangement. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 658
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 8:53 pm: |
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If your kids walk home (or in that direction), perhaps they could just do that if it uses up the 15 minutes or if they could meet your wife at some intermediate point by 3:30. You might want to have a backup plan with a neighbor, in case your wife was held up ... as most people whose children walk to/from school probably should do anyway. Would that work?
Or perhaps the kids could walk to whichever library is closer to your home, where your wife could meet them. That would probably use up most of the 15 minutes and give them a safe (and constructive) destination also. In the case of the main library, there are crossing guards at every key intersection between the school and the library. For Hilton, there is one unguarded intersection, right near the library, but I'm thinking that fifth graders should be able to negotiate that one and be responsible for the first grader also.
Many Tuscan kids walk regularly between home and school even in inclement weather, so I think that they would have lots of peer company. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 606
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 8, 2003 - 10:35 pm: |
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Just to clarify, I didn't mean they should hang out at the playground unattended. I just meant that since there are so many people who DO spend time there after school you might be able to have a friend, or their friends' parents look after them for a 15/20 minutes.
I also think the middle schooler idea is a good one. Since MMS is so close to Tuscan, it could work but obviously only if you live close enough to the school (or the parents of the middle schooler don't mind your three kids there for a while each day). |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 155
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 9, 2003 - 9:14 am: |
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Thanks to all for the suggestions
I like the idea of finding someone to give them a ride home or take them home until my wife gets there (probably 5 minutes), I can bring their kids to school in the morning, I guess I'll have to wait and see who is in their class before I can look into this.
Although my two son's will be 10 in November, I'm not comfortable letting them walk home with their 6 year old sister, we live on the Millburn side of the Golf Course, they would have to cross Valley, walk to Millburn Ave, then walk past the car dealer to cypress, I'd probably be a wreck everyday. I was thinking about the library, however, I'm just not sure the kids are responsible enough at this age.
I never thought I'd have this much stress over 15 minutes.
My boss said I could use my lunch hour for awhile until I get something arranged, I'll have to shoot up from Newark (Federal Building) transfer them to my wife and shoot back. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 349
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 9, 2003 - 11:25 pm: |
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Just a note that aides and teachers are not available for child minding at dismissal, since they typically are not dismissed until 15 -30 minutes after the children are. Also, there are faculty meetings and other "official" things that they must attend.
I'd probably look for a parent who might be willing to walk them part way or let them hang out at his or her house until your wife could get there. You might be able to barter some services so that you're not asking them to do it for nothing, but wouldn't have to pay money. |
3mom
Citizen
Username: 3mom
Post Number: 98
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 12:09 pm: |
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Have you asked whether they could simply sit in the office at the school for 15 minutes? At our school, that's where kids go when their parents are a bit late picking them up and as far as I know, that's not a problem. Or maybe they could wait quietly in the school library. |
ral
Citizen
Username: Ral
Post Number: 56
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 11:37 am: |
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Another idea: Is there a babysitter on your street who picks up kids from Tuscan at that time and walks them home? If so and if she and her employer agreed, maybe you could pay her extra to pick up your children as well and stay with them for the few minutes until your wife got home.
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spw784
Citizen
Username: Spw784
Post Number: 349
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 1:53 am: |
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3mom - the office staff nor the librarian are meant for day care purposes. Both have of plenty of duties during the time between when students are dismissed until the end of the staff day. I also think the office staff cannot be officially supervising children, (as they are not certified teachers). Children waiting in the office, for late parents is not usually a problem, except it should not be an every day occurance. Best bet for grw is to find a HS or MS student to walk with them or supervise them until his wife can arrive. |
duncanl
Citizen
Username: Duncanl
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 4:47 pm: |
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Hi 3mom.
I am also a Tuscan parent. I have one 4th grader this year. She is in the after school program, but we all dislike it and are frustrated that we have to pay for it full time even though we may not need it every day.
I am toying with the idea of pooling efforts with a couple of other families and hiring a Columbia student to bring her home, and stay until 5 or 6 pm depending on my husband and my September schedules which are not definite yet. Would you keep me informed if you come across someone that may work for me if it is not quite right for you? I can also keep you posted on any feedback I get if it seems like it will work for you. Maybe we can combine our efforts?
Thankyou!
duncanl |
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