Licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Registration for the 2013-14 school year is now open! Download the application below. Please make sure to select the application for the correct school year. 

Our Program
Agassiz Baldwin Kindergarten Afterschool Program is committed to providing programming for families who value creativity, culture and community as an important part of their children’s lives. Our program specializes in building community through creative explorations and our nurturing teachers are responsive to the unique stages of Kindergarten development and growth. The separate Kindergarten space and staff allow for an nurturing and safe environment. We welcome children from every school in Cambridge and Somerville as well as all other local communities.

Our Space
The neighborhood location and large backyard are a perfect setting for cooperative games and imaginative play. This environment encourages individual expression and supports social relationships. Cambridge Public School (CPS) students in our program arrive from their schools via buses and are met at the Maria L. Baldwin School entrance by an afterschool staff member. The students are then brought to the kindergarten program, which is located four houses down at 20 Sacramento Street.

Choice-based Activities

After a long day at school, youth are welcomed with a healthy snack and have time to unwind. Youth then gather for meeting where the afternoon activities are discussed. Children choose two activities, called “Choices,” every afternoon which may include cooperative sports, games, science exploration, visual arts, dance, music, drama, writing, poetry and creative play. The teaching staff develop choices informed by the children’s interests as well as monthly themes. In order for our teachers to provide individualized attention we maintain a 1:13 teacher to student ratio. Afterschool students have the opportunity to take classes at the Maud Morgan Art Center with a 35% discount if they are enrolled in afterschool on the same day of the class.

Our Staff

The Agassiz Baldwin Afterschool teachers are nurturing individuals who are attentive to each child’s needs and dedicated to the program. The teaching team is led by the Early Education Site Director, Kim Baldasaro who is trained in early childhood education. Our teaching staff represent a diverse group of engaging and creative individuals with an array of interests and talents. All teachers and the Site Director are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Schedule:
Baldwin arrival/CPS bus drop-off: 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
Pick-up: 5:30 pm
CPS early release days: 12:00 pm-5:30 pm

Agassiz Baldwin Afterschool follows the Cambridge Public School calendar. We are also open for vacation programming over the December, February, and April vacation weeks and CPS all early release days. Vacation programming consists of daily themes, field trips, and visiting specialists.

Project Based Learning

Imagination Playground Blocks in Action.

The Agassiz Baldwin Afterschool collaborates on long-term, interdisciplinary community projects. These projects are inspired and driven by children’s interests and natural curiosities. Project-Based Leaning immerses youth in valuable team-building, problem solving, and community engagement experiences. By going on neighborhood field trips, having special guests and collaborating with community partners, these projects evolve as youth explore the connections between different aspects of the project. Each project culminates in an event that invites participation from families and friends to create an authentic community experience. This might be a gallery show, drama performance or our student-run restaurant “The Flying Zucchini Cafe.”

Special Offerings
Our program has many features that make us unique as an afterschool. In addition to a variety of daily choices, Kindergarteners can explore specific subjects and art forms on a deeper level. Afterschool teachers this year will offer clubs which will meet weekly and work on ongoing projects or delve deeper into the topic. In addition to Clubs, Specialists, who are professionals in their fields, will guide students in furthering their appreciation and skill level in dance, drama and taekwondo.  The following are just some of the offerings throughout the school year:

2012-13 Specialists/Clubs (updates and teacher clubs to come!)
Mondays: Spanish Club
Tuesdays: Dance, Cooking with Kids,
Wednesdays: Drama
Thursdays:
Fridays: Taekwondo

Spanish Club will be taught by 1st-5th Grade Teacher Luis Mendez. Youth will learn in the natural way by participating in a variety of activities such as dance, cooking or art and learn the vocabulary associated with the activity.

Dance: Dance at afterschool is taught by Kayla Harkness. Kayla will teach several genres of dance throughout the year in 8 week sessions. The focus will be on creative movement and the basic foundation of various dance genres. Her classes are structured yet fun and allow students to explore their interest in dance.

Cooking With Kids: Afterschool is lucky enough to have volunteers from our Living Well Network of older adults to come in and cook healthy foods from around the world. The Kindergarten volunteer is Ellen Kramer. Students learn the basics of cooking and learn to appreciate a variety of foods. They always end the lesson with a taste test and children are surprised to discover all the new foods they like!

Drama: Gail Kelly will be teaching drama activities on Wednesdays. The focus will be on developing creative expression through drama games and exercises. Youth will also work on all aspects of creating short plays including set and costume design, script writing and acting. The group will also have the experience of performing their productions to a live audience.

Taekwondo classes: Days to be determined! Taught by instructors from C.W. Taekwondo in Cambridge, classes cover basic through intermediate Taekwondo levels. The cost for the fall semester will be $60 ($5 per class) plus an $18 uniform fee if your child does not have a uniform. If your child wishes to join the class later in the year you will be charged a prorated fee. To register please complete the registration (above) and return with payment to Maria Laine. Space is limited.

Piano or Cello Lessons
Individual cello or piano lessons with Sarvi Moshfegh or Vickie Chen are available for an additional cost of $35 per lesson (The cost for the 14 week fall semester will be $490). Scholarships are available. Lessons take place in the Maria L. Baldwin school music room. For more information please contact Maria Laine via email or at (617) 349-6287 x11.

As part of our Introducing Art Performance Series, Agassiz Baldwin Afterschool hosts a professional performance during each Early Release day.

The Introducing Arts 2012-13 Schedule:
October 17th, 2012: Jenny the Juggler
November 8th, 2012: George Saterial: Magician
February 21st, 2013: Our 17th Annual ABC Hip Hop Festival
March 5th, 2013: Li Min Mo: Storyteller
May 8th, 2013: Balla Kouyate: Musician

Program Cost for 2012-13 School Year

Monthly Tuition Fees
$495       5 Days per week (all vacation weeks included in tuition)
$400      4 Days per week
$315       3 Days per week
$230      2 Days per week
$120       1 Day per week

Families may add a day for which their child is not registered with the permission of the Site Director for $36/day.

Vacation weeks are $180 for part-time families.

Vouchers

Agassiz Baldwin Afterschool accepts vouchers through the Child Care Resource Center for eligible families. Please call the Child Care Resource Center at (617) 547-1063 and ask for a copy of the eligibility scale. Families who apply for a Voucher slot pay a two-week deposit, which is applied to the first and last week’s tuition fee. (See the EEC Financial Assistance Policy Guide and EEC Income Eligibility Table for more information.)

Scholarships
Need-based scholarships are available. To learn more, download the Scholarship application or contact Maria Laine, Director of Children’s Programs via email or at (617) 349-6287 x11.

Contact the Kindergarten Afterschool Program
Questions?  Contact Kim Baldasaro, Early Education Site-Director, at (617) 349-6287 x14 or kbaldasaro@agassiz.org.

Downloads:

Community Calendar 2012-2013
Cambridge Public Schools Calendar