SEED
Lincoln Extended Day is proud to present...
What is SEED?
We are so excited to share our plans for Spring 2021. SEED, or Sun Explorers at Extended Day, is a very special, once in a lifetime after-school session where kids can safely and confidently return to in-person play and growth.
Is it still Extended Day?
Yes! But SEED will feel a little different. In order to meet every state mandate and be together safely, we had to get creative-- and mix things up a little.
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Extended Day has always had a deep commitment to creativity, community, and fun. These values are also at the heart of SEED. Many parts of SEED will be familiar! Free Choice Time helps us unwind from school: to play, chat with friends, or create. Project Time allows us to learn new skills and try new games and challenges. You'll recognize familiar faces, too-- of both youth and staff varieties :) SEED is all this and more...
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SEED is Outdoors!
SEED will be 100% outside, on and around the grounds of Lincoln School!
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Rain or shine, our Sun Explorers will engage in outdoor activities for the duration of programming each day, including activities that have traditionally taken place indoors (arts and crafts, board games, reading, and more). Although this is a big shift, we have seen firsthand that this model is not only workable, but enjoyable (and beneficial!) for kids.
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What else will be different?
Other than being outside, our groups will be a little smaller than usual. Decreasing group size helps us minimize the risk of spread and potential shut-downs in the event we have a positive case within the program.
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We'll also have all necessary COVID precautions in place; including mask-wearing, increased hand hygiene, and additional cleaning and disinfecting.
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And yes.... There will be a garden :)
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Who can come to SEED?
Our first wave of enrollment will be offered to families who were actively enrolled at Extended Day during the 2019-2020 school year, including our incoming Kindergarten Lottery class of 2020.
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What's the Schedule?
SEED will operate in alignment with the Lincoln School (A/B) Cohort Schedule, open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. SEED will be closed on Wednesdays.
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Programming for Cohort A will be on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:30-6pm.
Programming for Cohort B will be on Thursdays and Fridays from 2:30-6pm.
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Programming for Kindergarteners + First Graders (K-1) will be held all four days that SEED is open.
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Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to offer +/- schedules. Grades 2-5 automatically opt into 2 days/week, and K-1s automatically opt into 4 days/week.
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Limiting current schedule options keeps our staffing model sustainable and our groups consistent so contact tracing stays clear and our community stays safe. If other schedule options become possible, we will let families know.
When does SEED start?
We hope to open SEED on Monday, March 29th, and intend to operate through the end of the school year.
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PLEASE NOTE:
The financial viability of SEED is dependent on enrollment interest, and it is possible we may not receive enough interest to open our program. We will let registered families know on or before February 26th if we are unable to open SEED due to low enrollment.
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How much does SEED cost?
Enrolling families will be required to sign a 3-month enrollment commitment contract.
4 day/week tuition for K - 1 is $1950 ($650/month) per child.
2 day/week tuition for 2 - 5 is $1200 ($400/month) per child.
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There will be an additional $60 registration fee per family + $20 per sibling.
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Extended Day accepts state childcare vouchers. If you have an active state voucher for childcare, you may indicate this on your enrollment form.
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Some tuition assistance may be available for families who do not qualify for a state childcare voucher, but are still experiencing significant financial hardship. If you foresee needing tuition assistance, you may indicate this on your enrollment form.
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How do I register?
Initial registration for SEED is now open for current LExD families, and will close Friday, February 19th at 10:00pm.
When we determine that the program is viable (on or before February 26), a formal online enrollment process will follow.
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Lock-in deposits (1st month's tuition + registration fee) will be due by March 15th.
What if I have more questions?
We'd love to hear them! We welcome questions from kids and grownups. Please use the form below to submit your questions about SEED.
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Colette and Brynn will do their best to answer your questions as they come in, and post the answers below!
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If we don't have a full answer to your question yet, we will reach out by email :)
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If I choose to not attend SEED, will I lose my placement at Extended Day?
SEED is its own unique program— and your participation in SEED will not affect your status as a currently enrolled family at Extended Day. However, the success of SEED may be integral to the long term sustainability of Extended Day-- so we hope to see you there!
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Will SEED open up to students not currently enrolled at Extended Day?
Families who are currently enrolled at Extended Day have first priority access to registration for SEED. If we have remaining placements available, we may open registration to the wider Lincoln School community.
In this scenario, SEED remains an independent 3-month session, and participation in SEED does not imply enrollment in any future general programming for families not already enrolled at Extended Day. Participation in SEED also does not shift or otherwise alter a non-Extended Day family's waitlist position for future general programming.
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Can my child attend more or less days per week?
Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to offer +/- schedules. Grades 2-5 automatically opt into 2 days/week, and K-1s automatically opt into 4 days/week.
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Limiting current schedule options keeps our staffing model financially sustainable. As a nonprofit, Extended Day relies solely on tuition to cover our operating costs, including payroll. Limited schedules also keep our groups consistent so contact tracing stays clear and our community stays safe.
If other schedule options become possible, we will let families know!
Can RLA students attend SEED?
We hope so! Because we plan to operate SEED entirely outdoors, we hope that RLA students will be allowed to participate. We are in conversations with PSB and Lincoln School admin about this question. If you registered for SEED as an RLA family, we will be in touch as soon as we have more information.
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What will you do in really inclement weather?
We are still developing hard and fast policy around this question, but the short answer is -- we will play in the rain! We have spoken with several local directors and staff who are running this type of programming-- including the Apple Orchard School in Brookline and The Neighborhood School in JP-- and we have seen firsthand that with the right gear and the right approach, kids can have fun and learn in almost any conditions.
All staff will have a wide repertoire of rain-based activities to keep kids engaged and moving. All students enrolled at SEED will be required to have a durable, waterproof set of rain gear to make sure they can safely play while staying warm and dry. As we get closer to programming, registered families will receive a list of required items and suggested brands and retailers. We'll also be holding a Gear Drive to assure that all kids have access to quality gear.​
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When prohibitive weather is forecasted (i.e., lighting, or steady downpour for an entire day), SEED will not open. We'll make a call by 8pm the night before and let all attending families know about the next-day closure.
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Where will students use the bathroom?
SEED will have access to the Lincoln School bathrooms for the duration of programming each day. To minimize contact and maximize distancing, we'll follow the standard procedures that kids are using in school: two kids at a time, with a magnetic name tag board to keep things organized.​
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