Got kids? Summer programs offered at Monte Rio School

Excitement mounts in local classrooms as kids eagerly anticipate the last day of school & the beginning of summer. No school! No homework! Just long, carefree, sun-drenched days of splashing along the shores of our river & ocean inlets, toasting marshmallows late into dusk, & watching 4th of July fireworks ... Fast forward 2 weeks later when the novelty wears off & the kids get bored & start whining. & whining. & whining. There's nothing to do. There's no one to play with. Telling them that if they're so bored, then surely they have time to help with some odious household chore only goes so far.

Here's where summer day camp comes in. There are three programs available, which will all be held at the Monte Rio School:

• West County Community Services' Monte Rio Summer Program: A new summer day camp program for children entering Kindergarten-7th grades at the Monte Rio School, which runs from July 9th-August 17th. Morning (9am-noon) & Afternoon (1-4:30pm) sessions at $50 per week each (morning session free to Monte Rio School students). For more information: Pick up an application at your local school or contact Nora Lomax 887.2226 x1006.
  
  
• Monte Rio School Age Center's (MRSAC) interim program: for children entering Kindergarten-7th grades at the Monte Rio School, which runs from June 18th-June 30th, not including the July 4th holiday. 8:30am-5:30pm. Cost $35 per day -- sliding scale offered to qualifying families.The interim program will be a continuation of last year's summer camp program & this year's vacation camps. For more information: contact Jynx Lopez at 865.0223.
  
  
• MRSAC's Preschool summer program: for children aged 33 months (2 years & 9 months) to 5 years at the Monte Rio School, which runs throughout the summer, beginning June 18th. $20.00 per morning session (8:30am-noon), $6.00 additional for extended care until 2:00pm & 6.00 additional for extended care until 5:00 pm (for a total of $32 for a full day). These are the same rate for the year-round preschool program. For more information: contact Jynx Lopez at 865.0223.

Costs for all of the above include meals, snacks, materials & field trips.

The folks at West County Services are excited about their new summer day camp, & several of the staff members currently work at the Guerneville School's highly-regarded after-school program. The morning sessions will take a fun, creative & hands-on approach to academic subjects like literacy, math, science, & art (in part, because funding for the morning session is geared to bringing up the Monte Rio School's test scores). The afternoon sessions emphazize more traditional summer activities, like swimming, sports, crafts & field trips.

The interim summer program will be run by MRSAC (which has been running the Monte Rio after-school & summer programs up till now) until West County Community Services takes over in July.

The summer preschool program is an extension of MRSAC's year-round program & is also a great way for prospective preschool parents to give their kids a head start for the upcoming school year. My daughter currently attends the Monte Rio Preschool, has learned a lot & has a grand ol' time. The staff are experienced, caring & wonderful. The play yard also has a fabulous new play structure.