JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Registration is scheduled next week for Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Youth Programs' before- and after-school programs.
Access to the programs is determined by a six-tier priority system ranging from Priority 1 - the children of single or dual active-duty members assigned to Randolph - to Priorities 5 and 6 - children of active-duty military with employed spouses and Department of Defense civilians not assigned to Randolph, and all other eligible patrons.
Monday, the first day of registration, is reserved for Priority 1 applicants, while Tuesday, the second day, is for Priority 2 applicants - the children of active-duty military or Department of Defense civilians with an employed spouse assigned to Randolph. The remaining three days are assigned to Priority 3, 4, 5 and 6 applicants if space is available.
Parents have the option to register their children for the before- or after-school program, or for both programs; the sliding fee structure is based on family income.
The before- and after-school programs, also known as the school age program, "provide a safe, fun environment for children where they can spend time with their peers," Andrea Black, Randolph Youth Programs coordinator, said.
"Children in the program are assigned to a group of 12 youth and one staff member," she said. "They can make choices according to activities that are being offered and move around within the program."
One of the components of the program is learning life skills, Chris Kiser, Randolph Youth Programs School Age coordinator, said.
"We do a lot of life skills activities," he said. "We are actually teaching things like cooking, painting and other skills."
Black said many activities are "based on what the children want.
"We facilitate whatever their interests are," she said. "The kids are creative and come up with their own ideas."
Children enrolled in the school age program also have access to guitar, dance, gymnastics, piano and other lessons and classes offered by youth programs; those who are 9 years old and above may also join 4-H, Torch, Keystone and other clubs that are available.
The program is accredited through the Council on Accreditation, Black said. The council, an international nonprofit child- and family-service and behavioral health care accrediting organization, accredits more than 2,000 private and public organizations.
She said the program adheres to the council's standards, which include human relationships; indoor and outdoor environment; safety, health and nutrition; and administration.
Registration paperwork is available online at http://www.randolphfss.com or can be picked up at the youth programs front office, building 584.