Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about the afterschool program. For more in- depth information about the day-to-day operations of the afterschool, including emergencies, please contact the afterschool program office.
What are the 87 Afterschool program hours?
Program hours are from 2:40 PM (school dismissal) until 6:00 PM. Activities are in session from 3:30- 5:00pm; Dismissal is between 5:00- 6:00 PM.
How does my child get to Afterschool?
Children are brought to the cafeteria by the teacher and released to afterschool personnel. Afterschool personnel will also pick up from some classes.
Please explain the transition at 2:30/2:40 to afterschool; how will the children go from their classroom to the program?
Kindergarten and first grade students will be picked up from their classrooms by afterschool staff and taken to the auditorium. Second, third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be led to the cafeteria by their classroom teachers.
What happens between 2:30/2:40 and the time the classes start, and who will watch the children?
When children arrive at afterschool, they will be checked in, given the opportunity to have a snack, and be divided into smaller groups. Children will have the option of going to the gym, library, auditorium, or a classroom to do homework or just study. Please note, we will do our best to help children with homework. However, we cannot give individual instruction to every student. Afterschool staff will be with the children at every location.
Are children given snacks?
The afterschool program will provide a small snack for the children. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to pack a snack for their children. Due to allergy concerns, the program will not serve any snacks containing nuts, and children are discouraged from bringing any snacks containing nuts from home.
What if I want to pick-up my child early?
Personnel from afterschool are stationed in the main lobby during the afterschool program time. They will assist you in locating your child if you need to pick-up early. If your child is part of a traveling activity, please make arrangements ahead of time so that your child can be placed in an alternative club for that day. Otherwise, you will have to wait until the class returns to retrieve your child. Children will not be dismissed early after 4:45PM.
What are the Afterschool dismissal and pick-up areas and times?
Children will be dismissed via the main exit and the exit closest to Amsterdam Avenue on 78th Street. A list of which activities will dismiss from which exit will be distributed to parents and posted outside of each exit. Pick up begins at 5:00 PM.
What if I am late picking up my child?
The afterschool program provides a window for pick-up extending until 6:00 PM. After 6:00 PM, a fee of $5.00 per minute per child will be assessed. Please make every effort to be on time or to contact the Afterschool office in case of an emergency. If you can't reach us at the office, please call the program cell phone at (929)384-9346.
Can I observe activities?
No. Some activities will have showcases at the end of each term, and families are welcome to come by and observe those.
What is the average size of an afterschool club?
Club size is usually 18 students per activity, with some exceptions.
How can I reach you between the hours of 2:30pm and 6:00pm?
Please call the lobby cell phone at 929-384-9346
What is the 87 Afterschool Tax ID?
The Afterschool Tax ID is 87-0962589.
Frequently Asked Registration Questions
Can I create an account in Active prior to registration?
No. To register for the program, you must add the activities you want to your cart and create an account during the checkout process. Activities in your cart will be held for you until the process is finished. If too much time elapses, the activities will be re-released to the public.
I tried to register my child 3 minutes after the start of registration, and I was waitlisted. How is this possible? Was there a glitch in the system?
Our most popular activities tend to go very quickly. There have been instances where an activity sold out 1 minute after registration opens. Be sure to add your name to the waiting list just in case a spot opens up.
I’ve been added to the waitlist for an activity. What should I do next?
Nothing. If a spot opens up for an activity, the system will automatically email you and offer you the spot. If you do not respond by the deadline stated in the email, your spot will be given to the next person on the waiting list. If you do not get an email, it is because no spaces have become available. There is no advantage to emailing us regarding waitlists.
What are the extra fees associated with registration?
$65 Registration Fee: Cost to register for the program. This fee goes toward overhead expenses to run the program.
$12.95 System Registration Fee: This icovers the fee we pay to use the Active registration system.
Supplemental Fee: This fee covers the additional costs for some activities. These may be due to increased costs for instructors and/or materials.
$60 Payment Plan Fee: This fee covers the cost of administering the payment plan in the Active Network.
Is there a sibling discount?
No. We do not offer a sibling discount.
What is the 5-day discount?
The 5-day discount is offered to those families who sign up for all 5 days of afterschool. To qualify for the discount, families must enroll for all 5 days at the same time. If you enroll for 4 days and decide to add an additional day later (either due to changed circumstances or because you were on a waitlist), the discount will not apply. If you cancel a class at any time, the discount will be voided and will be deducted from any refunds you might receive. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Speaking of refunds, what is the refund policy for the 87 Afterschool program?
There are NO full refunds for 87 Afterschool. If you choose to drop a class, you may be entitled to a partial refund depending on when the request was received. We also do not issue any credits to be applied to a subsequent semester.
My child wants to switch to a different activity—can we do that?
Switching activities is an option throughout the semester, depending on availability. Please note that there is a $30 transfer fee per class to switch activities. For example, if your child wants to switch two of their classes, there will be a $60 transfer fee.
I signed up my child for afterschool 3 days a week, but I need to keep them in afterschool on a different day on an emergency one-time basis. Is that an option?
Absolutely. This is what we call a drop-in. For a $50 fee, we can keep your child on a day that they are not registered for. The activity that they will participate in will depend on availability. We know parents/kids might want to be in a certain activity because the child really loves it or their friend is in the class, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. The child must be registered in afterschool at least one day a week to be eligible for drop-ins on other days.
Is there a discount for low-income families?
Yes. Depending on your financial needs, your family may be eligible for a discount. Please fill out the form on our website (87afterschool.org) and submit the requested supporting documents.