Frequently Asked Questions
Thinking of signing your child up for the before or after school CARES program, but need a little more info? Below are some FAQ’s that might help you get a better understanding of the CARES program.
What exactly is CARES?
WELCOME! The Wilmington Public Schools CARES (Children’s Art, Recreation and Enrichment Services) provides children with a fun and enriching out-of-school experience. We focus on creating an environment that supports the needs of each individual child. This safe, caring environment offers activities designed to promote an individual child's physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being and growth.
What hours does this program cover?
We provide a Before and After School program for parents in need of our services.
If your child attends the Boutwell:
- Before School hours are from 6:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.
- After School hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If your child attends the Wildwood:
- Before School hours are from 6:45 a.m. to 7:35 a.m.
- After School hours are from 1:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
You may choose the before school program, after school program, or both. You may choose as many days a week as you need, but they must be consistent each week. However, there is a 2 day minimum required in order to enroll. If you are choosing A.M. and P.M., they do not need to be the same days (i.e. Mon-Fri A.M. and Tues & Wed P.M.).
What if I cannot pick my child up by 5:30 p.m.?
Please consider your needs against our hours of operation when deciding on a program for your child. Pick up times are strictly enforced. We do understand that meetings can go long sometimes and accidents and weather can cause traffic delays. As such, it is the parents’ responsibility to have a reliable back-up plan in place so that they have alternate plans for their child to be picked up by 5:30 p.m. each night in the event that you are delayed.
Will my child entering kindergarten be eligible for Summer CARES?
Not this year. The summer program is for children entering grades 1 through 6 in the following school year.
When will the registration be available?
Registration for the Before and After School programs is now available online through Community Pass/Wilmington Public Schools early in May. Instructions for Community Pass are on our website.
What if I do not know my fall schedule by the registration deadline? Should I sign up for every day and then drop what I do not need?
We encourage you to plan ahead and enroll for the days and times that you will actually need in the fall. Our staffing and program planning are based on the number of enrollments that we have for each day so as to maintain a safe program with a consistent ratio of 10:1. Kindergarten Only families can make morning schedule changes effecting October schedules up until September 15; future changes follow the 1st of the month policy (see billing/tuition below).
* Remember, you will be placed on a waitlist after registration deadline.
How do we know if our child got into the program?
Your child is accepted into the program once your registration is processed through our online Community Pass system. For enrollment received after the deadline, your enrollment will be processed in the order in which it was received; however it may go on a waiting list and there is no assurance that it will be before the school year starts. You will then receive a call to discuss a start date if and when space becomes available. If enrollments for any program are not sufficient to maintain the cost of running the program, the program may not operate and you will be notified.
What is the coverage for Early Release Days?
There are usually several early release days (ERDs) set aside each year for curriculum development and parent conferences. If those happen on a days that your child is already scheduled for after school CARES, they will also be eligible for care on that ERD. However, there is a separate registration and fees for ERD’s. ERD days must be requested at the time of registration, and may not be added once our registration deadline.
Handbook
There is a parent handbook available online. It explains our procedures (such as snow delays and early release days) in detail.
Who can we contact over the summer if we have questions?
Gina Haerer, CARES Program Coordinator or Stephanie Kelley, CARES Program Assistant will be available throughout the summer. Our office is located at the North Intermediate School at 320 Salem Street. We can be reached by phone at (978) 284-6111. Also, check out our webpage periodically for more information.
Billing/Tuition:
There are 10 tuition payments for the school year due on the 1st of each month. First payment due at registration. Second payment will be due October 1st, your last payment will be June 1st. There is a different number of school days in each month, so each payment covers one tenth of the number of school days in a year. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure timely payment. Payments will be made through Community Pass. The current rates are posted on the website, but these rates are subject to change.
Click on the image below for the pdf version of the FAQ.
