After School Programs

SPARK

The Supplemental Program in the Afternoon for Recreation and Knowledge (SPARK) is an after-school program designed to meet the needs of Lower School families who want a safe, structured place for their children to spend time at the end of the school day. Led by a capable team of GA faculty and staff, SPARK lets children participate in a variety of enriching, age-appropriate activities, including playground games, arts and crafts, sports, performing arts, and other creative endeavors. The SPARK schedule is designed to be flexible, offering daily after school care, extended day care on 1/2 days, full day care, and care on some days when GA is on break.

ASAP
After School Activities Programs (ASAPs) are open to all Lower School students. They provide specialized instruction once a week in areas outside of regular SPARK programming. Music ASAPs require full-year commitments, while others are offered by term in Fall, Winter, and Spring. ASAP offerings are emailed to parents seasonally.

ASAPs are timed to run during the first SPARK session, so students can sign up for an ASAP and the second SPARK session on the same day. Enrollment is limited in these courses and there are no refunds or credits for missed classes. Classes cancelled by an instructor will be rescheduled.

SPARK Options 2022-2023

SPARK for 2022-2023

Preregistration is required for all SPARK offerings (except Daily SPARK).

Daily SPARK - Care on any single day; preregistration is not required, but you must send a Blue Note in with your child on the day that you will need care.

Session 1: pick-up at 4:30-4:45pm
Session 2: pick-up at 5:30-5:45pm

Full Year Daily Afternoon SPARK - Care provided after school on each regular school day. Both sessions included.

Full Year SPARK Plus - Care provided after school on each regular school day plus all Full and Extended Day SPARK. Both sessions included.

Single Day(s) Weekly SPARK - Choose a single day of the week or any combination of days. Example: every Monday or every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the entire year.

Extended Day SPARK - half days; preregistration required one week before.

11/17     LS Parent-Teacher Conferences (12-5:30pm)
12/20    Winter Program (12-4pm)
4/13      LS Parent-Teacher Conferences (12-5:30pm)
5/26      Field Day (12-4pm)
6/9           Graduation (8-12:30pm)

Full Day SPARK - no classes; preregistration required one week before. Morning drop-off in the SPARK room.

8/29    8-4pm
8/30      8-4pm
8/31      8-4pm

10/27 8-4pm
10/28 8-4pm

11/18 7:30-4pm
11/28 8-4pm

2/17 8-4pm

3/10 7:30-4pm

4/14 7:30-4pm

6/7 8-4pm
6/8 8-4pm

Pre-Week and Spring Break SPARK - Preregistration required; there is a minimum of 10 students required to run the program. Germantown Academy will make a decision on the first of each month to determine if there is adequate enrollment to run the program. Hours: 8am-4pm, drop-off in the SPARK room.

Pre-Week: 8/22-8/26, registration closes 8/14/22
Spring Break: 3/22-3/24, registration closes 3/1/23

Registration and Fees

All SPARK Program billing will take place on the ACTIVE Network, starting in August. Custom filters and a calendar view let you explore all the programming described above. Once you select your program, you will be asked to create an account and register a credit card. This card will be automatically billed according to your selected payment plan. Additional programming can be added to your account at any time. Students can only attend SPARK if they are first registered. If you have questions about the billing process, please contact the SPARK Director, Stephanie Dempsey, at Stephanie.Dempsey@germantownacademy.org.

Fees (Per Student)

Full Year Daily SPARK

$2550/year
regular school days

A student may attend up to 10 sessions per week of SPARK after school (all available). Parents are billed a $250 deposit upon registration plus an equal remaining balance per month from September through May. This fee is billed regardless of your child’s attendance. Full day SPARK and Extended SPARK are not included in this fee. There are no refunds or credits for this option.

Full Year SPARK Plus

Daily SPARK

Single Day(s) Weekly

Late Pick-Up

Pre-Week

Extended Day SPARK

Full Day SPARK

Policies and Procedures

Goals of SPARK

Safety of Children – SPARK staff will ensure that children are physically safe and emotionally secure at the end of the school day.
Enrichment for Children – The SPARK program will provide a structured environment for the enrichment of social and specialized skills.
Service to Parents – Parents and their children are welcomed, recognized, and well cared for by a competent team of individuals.
Consistency of GA Community – The SPARK program is modeled after the same mission and values of the school, and works in conjunction with Lower School teachers and staff.

Arrival and Dismissal

SPARK students are to stay in their classroom at dismissal. A SPARK teacher will come and check in students, and bring them to their designated SPARK space.
Spark will have two car lines. Session 1 4:30-4:45pm and Session 2 5:30-5:45pm
Students must be picked up by an individual who is 16 years of age or older who is on the approved pick-up list.
Due to SPARK staff supervising groups of students, they are not available to escort individual students to other areas of campus to participate in non-SPARK sponsored programs. If your child is enrolled in a non-SPARK program on campus during SPARK hours, parents need to arrange for someone 16 years of age or older (on an approved pick-up list) to provide supervision and transportation to that program. Students in SPARK who participate in private instrumental lessons after school are transported to and from lessons by their private instrumental instructors.
Children must stay on the sidewalk or under the pavilion along the bus lane.
Children must enter their car on the curb side.
For everyone's safety and to keep the traffic flowing, please do not get out of your vehicle during carline.
Drivers should disengage gears or put cars in "Park" while picking up children.
Drivers may not use cell phones while driving on school grounds.

SPARK Student Citizenship and Expectations

Student expectations regarding citizenship, behavior and playground safety are exactly the same as those during the school day and are supported by the GA Mission Statement, Civility Pledge, Lower School expectations and disciplinary procedures. Our systems of support and accountability are built upon trust, responsibility, and respect.

Contact

Stephanie Dempsey, Director of After School Programs
267-709-3255
Email SPARK

Registration for the 2022-2023 School Year is now open!

Registration

Registration is now open on the ACTIVE network.

New Users
Instructions for New Users

Returning Users
Login to your ACTIVE account

2022-2023 Extended Day SPARK Dates

Half days ($40 /day). Preregistration required one week before.

November 17, 2022 - LS Parent-Teacher Conferences (12pm-5:30pm). Register by November 10.

December 20, 2022- Winter Program (12pm-4pm). Register by December 13.

April 13, 2023 - LS Parent-Teacher Conferences (12pm-5:30pm). Register by April 6.

May 26, 2023 - Field Day (12pm-4pm). Register by May 19.

June 9, 2023 - Graduation (8am-12:30pm). Register by June 2.

2022-2023 Full Day SPARK Dates

No classes ($75 /day). Preregistration required one week before. Morning drop-off in the SPARK room.

November 10, 2022 - LS/MS/US Parent-Teacher Conferences (7:30am-4pm). Register by November 3.

November 28, 2022 - Faculty In-Service Day (8am-4pm). Register by November 21.

February 17, 2023 - Faculty In-Service Day (8am-4pm). Register by February 10.

March 10, 2023 - LS/MS/US Comment Day (7:30am-4pm). Register by March 3.

April 14, 2023 - LS/MS/US Parent-Teacher Conferences (7:30am-4pm). Register by April 7.

June 7, 2023 - 8am-4pm. Register by May 31.

June 8, 2023 - 8am-4pm. Register by June 1.