BR Cares
Contact
Mr. Kevin Stianchi
Coordinator
Phone: 908-685-2777 ext. 937553
Onsite Program Managers and Program Emails
Dr. Angelina Pecoraro
Adamsville
Mrs. Gizelle Felice-Carter
Bradley Gardens
The mission of the Bridgewater-Raritan Community After/Before School Recreation & Enrichment is to provide a safe environment where children can develop both socially and emotionally during the before/after school hours on the school grounds. Students will be given the opportunity to have recreational time outside, enjoy a snack, and complete homework with supervision from caring district employees.
- Registration
- Contacts and Dismissal Changes
- Program Hours
- Fees
- Policies
- Change Requests
- Frequently Asked Questions
Registration
BR CAREs registration is open for the 23-24 school year. Registration is on My School Bucks. There is a non-refundable $65 registration fee. Instructions for registration can be found here. If you have any questions about registration please email Kevin Stianchi (kstianchi@brrsd.k12.nj.us).
Processing registrations and enrolling a child in BR CAREs can take up to a week. Registrations are processed as quickly as possible in the order that they come in. Students cannot attend BR CAREs until registration is reviewed, enrollment is completed, and the first fee is prepaid.
BR CAREs requires a minimum of 5 children enrolled to operate a program.
Contacts and Dismissal Changes
Program Hours
For All BR CAREs Locations:
Before care: 7:00 AM until student arrival
After care: Student dismissal until 6:00 PM
BR CAREs does not provide care to bridge the gap between AM kindergarten and afternoon care or the gap between morning care and PM kindergarten.
On scheduled half days the after care programs will run from Dismissal until 6:00 p.m.
On scheduled delayed openings the before care programs will run from 7:00 AM until student arrival.
If school is closed due to an emergency BR CAREs will not run.
Parents are expected to pick up their children by the program end of 6:00 pm. If a child remains after 6:00 pm the staff will attempt to contact either the parent or someone on the child’s emergency contact list. Any child not picked up by 6:00 pm will incur an additional charge of $20 for every 15 minutes late. In the 23-24 school year the charge will be $25 for every 15 minutes late. After 3 late pick ups the minimum charge for late pick ups is $50.
Checking in/out
Staff will check students in and out of aftercare. Staff will check students into before care.
the Aftercare program
Children will arrive at the school's designated location for BR CAREs at dismissal. Attendance will be taken. A nutritious snack will be served during aftercare.
Children will have the opportunity to complete their homework in a quiet environment with supervision from our staff members.
The children will be encouraged to participate in either self directed or group activities. The school’s gym will be used as our indoor recreation area, and outdoor play equipment will be used when the weather permits. The programs have a variety of activities and sporting equipment available and special programs and crafts will be scheduled.
Fees
Policies
Payment Policy
Tuition must be paid prior to the month services are rendered. On Demand Tuition must be paid prior to a student's attendance. Tuition is charged monthly or at an on demand rate and tuition will not be pro-rated due to any circumstance.
Parents will receive email alerts from My School Bucks, and are encouraged to make payment as soon as possible. Payment can be made by either check or credit card.
Payments made by credit card will be accepted via My School Bucks. My School Bucks charges a transaction fee.
Payments by check (payable to Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District) can be sent to the following address:
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
Attention: Colleen Donnellan
836 Newmans Lane - P.O. Box 6030
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Payments by check can also be handed to a lead care provider or manager at the program.
Payments that are not received prior to the start of the month will be considered delinquent. Delinquent payments will be charged a $25 late fee, if processed after the 1st of the month. Students will not be eligible to participate in the CAREs program until payment is made.
If a child is registered and parents/guardians wish to make a change to the child's enrollment, the parent/guardian must make this request by emailing the program coordinator, Kevin Stianchi, (kstianchi@brrsd.k12.nj.us), prior to the month that the change will be in effect.
Behavior Policy
Attendance Policy
Children may be registered for a minimum of two days per week or for on demand attendance and will be charged on a per month or on demand basis. Tuition is charged monthly and tuition will not be pro-rated due to any circumstance.
The center is open on all school days. The CAREs program will be closed if there is an unscheduled early dismissal. If this should occur, parents will be contacted by the District’s mass notification system by 10:30 a.m. and should make alternative arrangements. If there is an unscheduled delayed opening, the before care center will not be available.
Attendance in the BR CARE's program is allowed only at the school where the student attends. No transportation is provided between programs.
Change Requests
Please email the program coordinator, Kevin Stianchi, (kstianchi@brrsd.k12.nj.us) about changes to your child's enrollment. If you are withdrawing your child, there is no refund or discount for withdrawing a student in the middle of a month. Monthly fees stop the month after the program coordinator is notified that you are withdrawing your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone other than the parent/guardian pick-up a child?
Yes, with written consent from the child’s parent/guardian, the staff will release the child to the designated individual. Designated individuals can be added during registration or emails can be sent to the program and coordinator. Designated individuals should be 14 or older and have valid photo ID.
If a student would normally be a walker, can they walk home with their parents’ permission at a designated time?
No, a parent/guardian or designated individual must pick their child up from the BR CAREs program. Safety and accountability is our main concern and as such we require a parent/guardian to pick up.
If my child attends a neighboring school to where BR CAREs is currently taking place, can my child get bused to that school to attend the program?
No, BR CAREs only serves the students at their particular school/location. Busing or transportation between schools is not offered or allowed.
Does my child have to be toilet trained to attend the BR CAREs program?
Yes, all children must be able to go to the bathroom without assistance.
Can I get a refund for withdrawing my child half way through the month?
No, refunds are not provided for early withdrawal.
Do you provide care during the school day for half-day kindergarteners?
BR CAREs does not provide care to bridge the gap between AM kindergarten and afternoon care or the gap between morning care and PM kindergarten.
Can children in Pre-K attend BR CAREs?
The earliest a student can attend BR CAREs is Kindergarten.
My work schedule has changed, and I would like to adjust the number of days that my child is attending the program. When will the change go into effect?
Attendance changes can be made by contacting the program coordinator the month prior to the month that the change will be in effect. Tuition will be adjusted for the following month.
I have an emergency today and need my child to attend aftercare, what do I do?
For children who are already enrolled in aftercare, follow your school/aftercare program's dismissal exceptions procedure. If your child is not already enrolled, BR CAREs cannot care for the child. There are no emergency exceptions to this.
I would like to set up an FSA (Flexible Spending Account). What is the information I need from the district?
Our Tax ID # is 22-6001692, we can also provide you with your monthly tuition amount.
If a parent has already paid for a month and they decide they no longer want to utilize the program; can they use their unused days to apply that to a purchase of on demand care?
No, the money that is used toward a monthly tuition for the BR CAREs program cannot be transferred to purchase another option within the program.
Is a parent’s medical insurance policy number necessary for their child to attend the BR CAREs program?
Yes, in the case of an emergency the staff will give your medical insurance information to medical care professionals.
Is medication allowed to be administered during the BR CAREs program?
Medication cannot be administered at the program as there is no nurse present. BR CAREs will make reasonable accommodations based on what the staff present are qualified to administer if failure to administer a medication or healthcare procedure would jeopardize the health of the child. Please contact the BR CAREs Coordinator for more information.
If a child is injured and needs medical attention, can my child go to the hospital of the parents choosing?
No, the child will be brought to the nearest hospital in proximity to the school location where the child is injured.
Are other children allowed to play on the playground while BR CAREs is utilizing the equipment?
The Board of Education regulation 7440 states:
Access to School Buildings and School Grounds
1. Access to school buildings and grounds during the school day will be permitted to all students enrolled in the school, all authorized school staff members, and visitors pursuant to Policy and Regulation 9150.
2. Access to school buildings and grounds before and after the school day will be permitted to:
a. Members of the Board of Education;
b. Administrative and supervisory staff members, teaching staff members, and support staff members assigned to a school building or grounds in the performance of their duties;
c. Other school staff members in the performance of their professional responsibilities;
d. Students involved in interscholastic athletics, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities, and authorized spectators;
e. Members of organizations granted the use of school premises pursuant to Policy and Regulation 7510;
f. Police officers, fire fighters, health inspectors, and other agents of Federal, State, and local government in the performance of their official duties;
g. Members of the public present to attend a public Board of Education or public school-related function; and
h. Others authorized by the Superintendent or designee and/or by Board Policy.