Kidspace
Before & Afterschool Enrichment Program for Kindergarten-5th Graders
Onsite at the Forest Park Elementary School
Finding Kidspace
ENROLLMENT FOR 2013-14 HAS BEGUN!
Quick Links
Hours of Operation
About Our Program
Afterschool Forms
Enroll at Kidspace
Contacting Kidspace
Newsletters & Calendars
Employment Opportunities
Vacation Day Programming
Hours of Operation
September through June
Monday - Friday
K-5 Before School Care Program – 7:00 am - 8:00 am
K-5 Afterschool Care Program – 2:15 pm - 6:00 pm
NOTE that Kidspace Afterschool Care will be CLOSED for the Forest Park School Carnival! For 2013 that date has been set for Friday, May 31st. Before Care will still be open but Afterschool Care will be CLOSED.
About our Program
MISSION – To create, build and maintain programs dedicated to the care, education, and development of children and youth during their out of school time. We emphasize life skills through community service and enrichment-based programming.
The Kidspace Program follows a philosophy of teaching developed by the National AfterSchool Association (NAA), which states that a programs goal or mission should be to provide a balance of activities in the day of the child whose time in an enrichment setting extends after school hours. To learn more about the philosophy of teaching developed by the National Afterschool Association, (NAA), please visit their website.
We encourage children to become responsible, self-confident, independent, active explorers and enthusiastic learners by stressing the process of learning and discovery through developmentally as well as age-appropriate activities that meet the children’s interests. The activities and environment at Kidspace are specially structured to address the interests and development levels of children in Kindergarten through 5th grade.
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Fun enrichment activities, focusing on arts and STEM!
- Well-equipped indoor activity areas for exploring: arts & crafts; drawing; science discovery; dramatic & imaginative play; board games; building & construction; plus much more…
- Opportunities for resting, relaxing and reading
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Opportunities for children to work towards Homework completion, Monday-Thursdays, for about 45 minutes during Tea Time!
- Large outdoor play areas and gym time when applicable
We have a capacity for 60 children each day and our ratio requirement is 1:15 by state law, but we strive for lower ratios which we find provides for more activites, better supervision and a more enjoyable experience by children, families and staff.
Enrichment-Based Program
At Kidspace, we create an atmosphere where children can socialize, prosper, learn and enjoy themselves. Children are given time to relax individually or with friends, create, play rest and be active. We strive to create an environment where children feel safe, important and nurtured.
Everyday children are provided with a balance of free-play opportunities and structured play opportunities. Children are given the choice of what they wish to do each day and have the freedom to change their mind, explore their own personal interests, try out new skills and even make new friends.
Because the Kidspace program is based on choices and community service, children gain independence, have the freedom to learn more about what interests them, and develop into caring, responsible citizens of their community.
Afterschool teachers plan an enrichment activity AND active group game for children to participate in everyday. Enrichment activities may include opportunities for: arts and crafts, science, cooking, language/culture study, nature, community service, music, etc…
AFTERSCHOOL FORMS
All our forms are availabile in a writeable PDF format for your convenience. Paper copies are also available at the program and upopn request.
Kidspace Homework Contract (writeable)
Kidspace Contracted Class Release Form (writeable)
Kidspace Medication Form (writeable)
Parent Involvement
We aim to create a partnership between parents and afterschool teachers for the benefit of every child in our program, and we promote and encourage daily communication. Our doors are open to parents at all times and we welcome families to drop in and observe, have snack, or just hang out with their child.
Our Staff
We believe the strength of the Kidspace program is in the dedication of our caring teaching staff. We support our afterschool teachers with continued professional development opportunities, resources, and the freedom to create unique learning experiences for the children in our program.
All our afterschool teachers are registered with the State of Oregon as required by law and all go through background checks. Every afterschool teacher at Kidspace is also equipped with certifications for First Aid, CPR, Food Handling, and Recognizing/Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.
Our afterschool teachers come to us with a variety of background education and experience levels all contributing to the unique environment we have created here at Kidspace.
Healthy and Nutritious Snacks
We are committed to serving food that is both appealing to children and supportive of their growth and development. Snack is a pleasant occasion with lots of opportunities for social interaction and learning. We follow strict nutritional guidelines for school-age children established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (NAEYC), and the National Afterschool Association, (NAA).
Kidspace snacks include 100% juice, fruit or vegetables, a dairy option: generally cheese, milk or yogurt, and a grains portion of crackers, pasta or other breads.
Vacation Day Care (Care on Non-School Days and Late Starts)
Participation Forms for the 2013-14 Late Openings and Fall Term Vacation Day Programs will NOT be available until LATE August/Early September. All enroll families will be contacted via email when forms become available!
In addition to our morning and afternoon on regular school days, Kidspace offers special Full-Day Care Programs for holiday breaks, school conference breaks, teacher in-service breaks and more. These are called Vacation Day Programs and are held on-site at Kidspace as well as at Kidscorner, our Southwest Portland sister site.
Please refer to the 2013-14 Kidspace Calendar for specific Vacation Day Programs offered this year!
Then check out the Vacation Day Program page of this site for more specific Vacation Day Program details, dates and participation information.
Kidspace WILL be OPEN for all Eight (8) of the PPS 2-hr Late Starts. Seperate registration is REQUIRED in ADVANCE!!! The care IS offered in the Gym at Forest Park School by our PJA-Kidspace staff.
Please fnd the Late Opening registration form on our Vacation Day Program page, complete and return at least one week prior to the Late Start. Please note that this one form is good for all 8 during the 2013-14 school year!
If there is inclement weather at Forest Park School then our Late Opening Care program WILL be cancelled as we are required to follow the PPS Inclement Weather Policy. Stay Up to date on the PPS Inclement Weather closures by following PPSAlerts via twitter (note you do NOT need to be a twitter user to use this feature as it can send texts to your mobile phone instead of tweets!)
The Kidspace Calendar
Click here to download & print 2013-14 Calendar.
Enroll your Child at Kidspace
Enrollment at Kidspace remains open during the school year providing there is space available in the program.
There are 2 ways to get your child’s enrollment process started…
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You can download our program handbook and enrollment application. Complete and return via fax, email or postal mail.
Space availability depends upon our daily attendance numbers. Kidspace strives to maintain a low teacher to child ratio, and is limited by space available afterschool at Forest Park. Please contact the Afterschool Department Registrar for current availability in our before and/or afterschool care programs.
STOP - Before enrolling your child in the Kidspace program we ALWAYS RECOMMEND you carefully read the Program Handbook for all our enrollment information as well as our standard program policies and procedures. We also HIGHLY RECOMMEND families review our Program Calendar BEFORE enrolling their child in our program, as our calendar indicates when our program will be CLOSED and/or offering care on Non-School Days.
OPTIONAL – Auto-payment plan. These forms are for enrolling in our tuition auto-payment plan
Enrollment and Tuition Assistance Downloads
2013-2014 Enrollment Paperwork
These forms can be downloaded and filled in by hand for faxing or mailing back, or opened and directly typed-into for emailing back. Paper copies can be ALWAYS requested!
Download and review our Program Handbook
Download and review our Program Calendar (in DRAFT mode until the start of school)
Download and fill out or print out our Enrollment Form (NOTE Signatures are REQUIRED to complete forms)
PDF version DOC version
Optional Tuition Auto-payment Form (Credit Card or Checking Acct - please complete only one of the two options!)
PDF version DOC version
2013-2014 Tuition Assistance Paperwork
As we are a private company, we are able to offer Tuition Assistance to many families who think they would not normally qualify for assistance. Our goal at PJA-Kidspace is to provide quality, enriching Before and Afterschool care to every school-age child in need.
Tuition Assistance Application
PDF version DOC version
IRS 4506 Form
Submit completed Enrollment Form along with your Registration Fee to our Registrar's Office via email to Afterschool@pjaproud.org, Fax to 503.452.7001, or mail/drop-off at PJA (PJA-Afterschool, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219)
For questions or more information about our programs or enrolling for next year, please contact the Afterschool Department Director at 503.535.3546 or email Afterschool@pjaproud.org
If you have specific Tuition Assistance questions, please call or email Beth Germain, 503.535.3593.
Contacting Kidspace
Jennifer Merrill, PJA-Afterschool Department Director & Registrar
Phone: 503.535.3546, Fax: 503.452.7001
Email Jennifer
Kidspace Site Supervisor
Phone: 503.535.3611, Email Kidspace
Physical Address (NOT our mailing address):
Forest Park Elementary School
9935 NW Durrett
Portland, OR 97229
Mailing address:
Kidspace
c/o Portland Jewish Academy
6651 SW Capitol Highway
Portland, OR 97219
Mail Tuition Payments to:
Portland Jewish Academy
Attn: Billing Department; RE: Kidspace Tuition
6651 SW Capitol Hwy.,
Portland, OR 97219
