Schools in the Riverbank Unified School District were not only busy this past Monday morning due to the regular school day, but it was also the first day of open enrollment for the After School Program (ASP) for the 2016-2017 school year.
The program is offered to families in Riverbank and has limited capacity, therefore it is on a first come first served basis.
Parents began lining up at Casa del Rio around 5 a.m. to make sure when the doors opened at 8 a.m. their children would be able to participate in the program.
There will be 132 students accepted at Riverbank Language Academy, 110 at California Avenue Elementary, 100 at Mesa Verde, and about 80 students at Cardozo Middle School.
“We usually hit our limit on the first day,” stated Keenon Krick, Program/Grant Manager. “In the after school program students get help with their homework and get to participate in all the activities we offer.”
The students are selected based on their academic needs and available space. Enrollment forms must be submitted by Monday, April 25 at any of the following locations: California Avenue, Mesa Verde, Riverbank Language Academy, and Cardozo Middle School.
“Almost every year we have a waiting list,” added Monica Villarreal, After School Program Advisor. “It is always very busy the first day of open enrollment.”
The same rules apply to the after school program participants as they do during a regular school day.
The attendance policy is as follows: to receive continued funding for ASP, elementary school students (grades 1-5) must maintain an 85-percent attendance record. To ensure this attendance requirement is met, all student participants must attend ASP every day they attend school. Middle School students (grades 6-8) must attend ASP a minimum of three (3) days per week.
Also, students who do not meet the attendance requirement will be removed from ASP, placed on the waitlist and given another opportunity to meet the attendance requirements if their name is selected to re-enroll at a later time during the 2016-17 school year.
“Monica did a great job organizing the process, getting parents in quickly to complete their enrollment forms,” added Krick. “The line of families that were there this (Monday) morning was all able to get through by 8:30 a.m.”
On Friday, May 20 families will be notified if their child has been successfully enrolled in the program.
“Currently, the Riverbank Language Academy and California Avenue After School Programs (ASP) are near capacity,” said Krick. “Once enrollment is completely full within each grade, we will be taking waitlists.”
Several families take advantage of the ASP to get their children assistance with their studies and for working parents or single parents that need the extra time for their children to have the supervision and homework help.
