Author: Alissa Martinson

Shoreview YMCA

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
or IDEAS?
Please contact:
Nicole Becchetti
Site Director
(P) 651–
(E)Nicole.Becchetti@ymcatwincities.org
Kim Spry
School-Age Care Program Director
(P) 651-490-4882
(E) Kimberly.Spry@ymcatwincities.org
Tamara Boeck
School-Age Care Program Director
(P) 651-490-4887
(E) Tamara.Boeck@ymcatwincities.org
Jon Spry
District Supervisor
(P) 651-490-4886
(E) Jon.Spry@ymcatwincities.org
Customer Service
Information:
2125 E. Hennepin Ave
Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(P) 612-230-9622
(F) 612-223-6322
Customer Service Center Hours:
M-F 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-12 noon
Customer Portal: http://ymcatwincities.custhelp.com
Choose “Ask a Question” to send written requests

School Age
Care News

Valentine hills y care

September 2015

Welcome to a Great Year at
Y-Care

Thank you for choosing the YMCA for your child care needs.
Child care provided by the Y is more than looking after kids. It’s about nurturing development by providing a safe place to learn foundational skills and develop healthy, trusting relationships.
Did you know?
Our School Age Child Care program is a curriculum based program.
Kids are given activity choices where they make friends, learn, play and thrive. Our program provides well-rounded experiences that nurture and enhance your child’s development through activities in:
Arts and humanities
Character development
Conflict resolution
Health and fitness
Homework support
Literacy
Science
Global Learning
Service learning (volunteering)

Meet Our Staff of the Month!

Hello, my name is Nicole Becchetti and I am the new Site Director at Valentine Hills Elementary School. I have been with the Y for over 10 years but just started working with School Age Child Care a year ago. While working for School Age Child Care, I have helped out in many different capacities. I started as a part time lead at Davinci Academy in Blaine, went on to be a full time lead at Turtle Lake and ended the year as a Site Director at the St. Paul Eastside Y running the Summer Power program there. I am really excited to spend the whole year at Valentine Hills and really get to know all the kids here really well. I look forward to getting to know all the kids and to see them grow and thrive in the coming year. When I'm not working, I love to play board games, dance and give back to the community.

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Y Customer Service Center

The main responsibility of the Customer Service Center staff is to provide service to families with information related to inquiries, registration, billing, statements, account updates and information, third party billing, collections, adjustments, financial assistance, credit card billing and the processing of refunds. You may reach the Customer Service Center Monday – Friday between 7:00 am – 6:00 pm by calling 612-230-9622

Changes to Registration Schedule

Please note: There will be no reduction in fees for sessions registered if your child does not
attend program for any reason. If your child will not be in program for a registered day please
contact the program site immediately.

You are able to manage your child’s calendar online through “My Account”. Once logged into your Y account, there is a link to “My Childcare”. This convenient calendar tool will allow for flexibility in your weekly schedule and ensure accuracy of the attendance roster. This tool will be your option for schedule flexibility! You may add sessions or switch sessions.
You are not able to delete sessions below the minimum requirement of three sessions. Changes to the calendar must be made online by Monday one week PRIOR to the week of care. Session additions made after this deadline will incur original schedule tuition fees per session plus an additional charge of $2.00 per session for each calendar variance.

Tuition Payment Due Dates/Fees:

Weekly Payment: Represents one week’s tuition (unless in arrears)
Due on Monday, one week prior to the week of care
(EXAMPLE: Tuition for Care Week of 9/2/13 would be due on 8/26/13)
Bi-Weekly Payment: Represents two week’s tuition (unless in arrears)
Due on Monday, one week prior to the next 2 weeks of care
(EXAMPLE: Tuition for Care Weeks of 9/2/13 and 9/9/13 would be due
on 8/26/13)
Monthly Payment: Represents full month’s tuition (unless in arrears) (weeks will vary
month to month)
Due on Monday, last full week of month prior to the next month of
care
(EXAMPLE: Tuition for Care Month of September 2013 encompasses 4
weeks tuition 9/2 - 9/27/13 would be due on 8/26/13)
You may add sessions to your child’s permanent schedule, however additional fees of $2.00 per
session will be incurred if made after change deadline. These fees are in addition to your regular
AM and/or PM session tuition fee and will be applied to your account.

A late payment fee of $10.00 will be assessed if payment has not been received
AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER or through Online Payment system (not in the mail or postmarked) by the Friday after tuition due date.
Late payment fees will be assessed each Saturday.
Should you choose the easy option of automatic Payments (EFT), payments will be deducted each Tuesday of the due date schedule shown above.

Valentine hills y care

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Planning For Each Day

What to Bring Each Day -
Make sure to label all belongings!
· Healthy morning & afternoon snack
· Water bottle
· Appropriate indoor and outdoor clothing
Please Do Not Bring
· Cell phone
· Electronics
· Games
· Valuables
· Money
We will do our best to ensure the safety of your youth’s belongings; however, we do ask that
you please not send unnecessary items with them. The Y will not take responsibility or be held
liable for lost, stolen or damaged items.
Please DO NOT send items of value from home with
your child.
Weapons, tobacco, illegal substances and alcohol of any kind are not allowed in the Y programs.
If a child is found to have any of these things, the items will be confiscated and disciplinary actions will be taken up to termination. “Weapons” also means toy guns, squirt guns, knives and weapons of any kind are not allowed and will be confiscated. Any violation may result in suspension.
The Y provides the majority of supplies your child will need while in our care. Depending on your child care program, parents are responsible for providing supplemental items for their child.
Examples of this would be change of clothes, appropriate outdoor apparel, medical
Accessories, etc.

School Release Days

When school is out, the Y is in. A variety of theme-based activities geared toward individual interests and grade levels keep kids engaged.
The registration form will be available online and at the site in the next few weeks.
Our first School Release Days will be:
October 9th– Grand Slam
October 16th– Afton Apple Orchard
October 17th– Down on the Farm
These Release Days will be held at Island Lake Elementary, Turtle lake Elementary and Bel Air Elementary.
PROGRAM FEES
$40 per child per day.
Advanced registration is required to receive the standard program rate. Registrations received later than
Monday, one week prior to the release day will result in a $10 premium increase in the school release day
tuition. Fees are due Monday, one week prior to the Release Day.
$50 per child per day.
Registration received after Monday, one week prior to service.
What you need to bring:
Each School Release Day you will need to bring
A morning and afternoon snack
Disposable lunch
Weather appropriate clothing
Tennis shoes and socks

Health, Wellness & Fitness

Game Spotlight: Dr. Dodgeball!!!
First you start by splitting into two teams. Each team will pick a doctor, this person can save people that have gotten out.
The way you will get out is by getting hit by a ball or if you throw a ball and a person from the other team catches your ball.
The way to win is to get everyone from the other team out.

Staying Active as a Family

The 40 Developmental Assets!!
At the Y, we like to focus on developing the whole child. So we took a look at the Search Institutes research around what helps a child be successful. They have a list of 40 developmental assets that kids need to be successful. They get these assets from their family, school and community.
Every month we will spotlight on one of these assets and how you can help your child develop and grow!

Spotlight assest is Empowerment: young people need to be surrounded by a supportive community and to be shown how to give back:

Fall is a great time to get out and do something fun and active as a family.
We recommend checking out a local zoo!
Here is the address for Como Park Zoo, a free zoo in St. Paul
1225 Estabrook Drive
Saint Paul, MN 55103