Spencer Sacred Heart Summer Care offers activities, connection

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Families in the Spencer area who are affiliated with Sacred Heart School and Parish, once again have the opportunity for their children to participate in the Sacred Heart Summer Care Program that fulfills a big need – summer childcare with numerous activities to keep boredom at bay and a means to stay connected to other students.

According to Makayla Francis, coordinator of the afterschool and summer program, Sacred Heart has been offering this program for a few years and this summer students entering 4-year-old preschool through sixth grade are welcome to participate.

“We offer care from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,” she said.

The program is scheduled to start June 9 and will run until Aug. 14.

“We have 73 kids signed up so far for this summer,” said Francis, who noted that last year more than 100 children participated in the program. “We didn’t have 100 attend every day, but they were signed up.”

There is an hourly rate charged per child – with discounts for multiple children from a family.

“We do charge for a minimum of 12 hours every week,” the program coordinator explained.

Students who attend this program are able to participate in a variety of activities throughout the summer.
“We play games in the gym, have time outside and do fieldtrips,” said Francis. “Last year we didn’t get to do as many because we had the flood but we normally go to the pool, the library and the movies every Wednesday when they have the free movie at our movie theater.”

The program coordinator pointed out that a typical day includes playing in the school gym a couple of hours, a snack, outside playtime, lunch, rest/quiet time for 4-year-olds and crafts for older students, more outdoor time or special activities.

Typically, pool trips are twice a week and for the students who don’t go, they have water inflatables and activities at the school campus.

In her second year as coordinator of the program, Francis said she has received positive feedback about the program from parents. She believes it has remained popular because there is a need for this type of service. Many are drawn to the summer care as a way for their children to be involved in various activities and maintain connection with other students.“A lot of the older kids come so they can go to the pool, go to the movies and do some fun things with their friends over the summer,” she said.

This summer, added Francis, she plans to have the students visit the nursing home located near Sacred Heart.

“They will do games or crafts with the residents,” she said. “The students do that during the school year in the third and fourth grade classrooms – so we will continue that over the summer.”

Including Francis, at this time there will be nine staff members for this summer program made up of Sacred Heart teachers, aids, after-school staff and summer employees. Additional staff may be hired based on enrollment numbers.

Hot lunch is available, provided by the school’s food services director or they may bring a sack lunch.

For families associated with Spencer Sacred Heart School or Parish, CLICK Here to register.