OUR PROGRAM
The Ruffin Ridley Extended Day Program (RREDP) is a recreationally focused program for children in grades K-5 who attend the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. We were established to meet the need of the school community for quality after-school childcare that is nurturing, supportive of cognitive development, and developmentally appropriate. Since our inception in 1972, we have continued to evolve in response to that need.
RREDP has a volunteer Parent Board of Directors, a staff of professional administrators, and teachers. The program is located at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School in Brookline, MA. Our program is divided into developmentally age-appropriate groupings. We are an independent entity and as a private, non-profit corporation, our financial support comes primarily from tuition paid by parents. As a school-based program, we enjoy a close relationship with the administration and faculty at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School as well as the Public Schools of Brookline.
Our program operates from the end of the school day until 5:45 P.M. You may enroll your child for 2, 3, or 5 days. Priority is given to families needing 5-day per week of care.
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Scroll drown to learn more information and hear from enrolled parents.
OUR PURPOSE
The purpose of the Ruffin Ridley Extended Day Program is to provide supervised recreation for primary school children in an environment that is nurturing, supportive of cognitive development and is developmentally appropriate. RREDP is responsive to children’s individual needs and supports the development of self‑esteem, self-expression, autonomy, and social competence. Extended Day is available to children in grades K-5 who attend the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. Most children's parents work, are enrolled in school, or in employment training programs.
The goals of the program are to:
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Create a relaxing and welcoming environment where children can unwind from school and engage in fun activities.
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Support cognitive and physical development.
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Foster social and emotional growth.
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Teach decision-making and problem-solving.
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Enhance creativity and communication skills.
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Encourage non-sex stereotypic behavior.
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Help children become more aware of their natural environment.
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Encourage children to read and enjoy books.
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Foster cooperation with and respect for others, including peers, teachers, and parents.
WHAT PARENTS SAY
The staff is talented, caring, and professional. I feel absolutely serene leaving him in their care, knowing he is both learning and safe.
Our daughter was disappointed every time we would come to pick her too early. Looking forward to seeing the team next year!
My child keeps saying that he is going to miss his teachers so much during summer break. He really enjoys Extended Day!
APPLICATIONS
Our application process is conducted by mail or email. To apply, please fill out the application form below and submit it to the address indicated on the application. To be considered, applications must be filled out completely. If you live in a buffer zone you should apply to each extended day program for a school where your child might be enrolled.
If there are fewer applications than available slots, all applicants who meet the criteria mandated by the Brookline School Committee will be accepted. If there are more applications, we will have a lottery for program slots as well as for positions on a waitlist. Your application must be received by March 14, 2023, to participate in this lottery. You will receive notice by mid-April 2023 notifying you of your child’s enrollment status. This will tell you whether your child has been accepted into the program or placed on the waitlist.
We will keep a waitlist for slots that may become available during the school year. In order to maintain your spot on the waitlist, you must reapply each year by the lottery deadline, which is typically early March. Otherwise, your child’s name will be removed from the waitlist.
The 2023-2024 application will be available on Monday, February 13, 2023.
STEP 2
Fill out the document.
STEP 3
Send the completed program application via mail or email to our program's executive director.
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The Ruffin Ridley Extended Day Program
PO Box #470688
Brookline Village, MA 02447
Applications for admission may be discussed with school administrators and other relevant school personnel.
RREDP does not discriminate against any child on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, political beliefs, disability, parent(s’) marital status, religious, national, or cultural heritage.
A copy of Ruffin Ridley Extended Day’s Parent Handbook which enumerates the program’s policies and procedures is available at your request.
We do not accept applications at the school. Applications should be mailed to the address provided above or emailed to cathy.nowacki.rredp@gmail.com.
Email our director at cathy.nowacki.rredp@gmail.com if you wish to confirm receipt of your application.
TUITION & ENROLLMENT
APPLICATION FEE & ENROLLMENT DEPOSIT
If your child is accepted into the program, you will be asked to submit a $50 non-refundable application fee, a $100 enrollment fee and sign an enrollment agreement, for each child within one week of acceptance notice. Your space is not guaranteed until these payments and forms are received.
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TUITION DEPOSIT
To finalize your child’s enrollment in the program, you will be asked to submit a deposit equal to one month’s tuition for each child by June 1, 2023. This deposit will be applied to your June 2024 tuition payment if your child is still enrolled in the program at that time.
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PLEASE NOTE
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If you withdraw your child from the program after signing an enrollment agreement, you will forfeit the $50 application and your $100 enrollment fee.
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If your child withdraws from the program after July 15, 2023, you will forfeit the $50 application fee, $100 enrollment deposit and the full amount of your tuition deposit.
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If you live in a buffer zone and your child’s school assignment is determined by the Superintendent of the Public Schools of Brookline to be other than the Florida Ruffin Ridley School, your $50 application fee, $100 enrollment deposit, and your tuition deposit will be refunded.
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ENROLLMENT POLICY
Children may be enrolled for 2, 3, or 5 days. When you enroll your child in the Ruffin Ridley Extended Day Program, you commit to paying for your child to attend the program according to a particular schedule for the entire school year. In most cases, the program will not allow families to change the number or choice of days a child attends the program after signing an enrollment agreement. You should think carefully before selecting a schedule for your child at enrollment time.
If unforeseen events arise during the school year that make it difficult for your family to complete the year on the schedule you selected, you may petition the Parent Board in writing to request a change in schedule. The Parent Board will consider the reasons for the request and the needs of the program before deciding whether to grant it.
Families who intend to withdraw from the program must provide thirty (30) day written notice.
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CURRENT TUITION SCHEDULE
Annual tuition is divided into ten equal installments. The Tuition Fee Schedule is subject to change due to the budget requirements of the program as set by the Parent Board.
Current 2022-2023 tuition rates are:
5 DAYS
$700.00 per month.
3 DAYS
$556.00 per month.
2 DAYS
$412.00 per month.
TUITION PAYMENT SCHEDULE
You must pay each month’s tuition installment by the first of the month.
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LATE FEES
A late fee of $15.00 is due for any month in which your tuition is not received by the 10th of the month.
The Parent Board regards RREDP as an important community resource. We have designed these policies to ensure the financial health and stability of the program
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TUITION ASSISTANCE
Our goal is to assist low- or moderate-income families or families in special circumstances. Extended Day does not discriminate against any child based on race, color, sexual orientation, political beliefs, disability, marital status, religious, national, or cultural heritage.
Tuition assistance offered by RREDP draws on the combined resources of the family and our budget for tuition assistance funding. We are funded primarily through tuition, making funding for tuition assistance limited.​
If you wish to submit a Tuition Assistance Application at this time, please review all materials, complete the full application, and return all necessary paperwork.
The 2023-2024 Tuition Assistance application will be available on Monday, February 13, 2023.
STEP 2
Fill out the document.
STEP 3
Send the completed tuition assistance application via mail or email to our program's executive director.
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The Ruffin Ridley Extended Day Program
PO Box #470688
Brookline Village, MA 02447
If you have questions, please contact Cathy Nowacki, Executive Director, at cathy.nowacki.rredp@gmail.com or call the program at 617-879-4414.