SummerFun! 2021
Join us this summer for in-person classes with some of your favorite APS teachers! Classes will include:
- Creative, hands-on arts and crafts classes including drawing, painting, clay sculpture, collage, and glass art
- STEM programs in programming, electronics, robotics, engineering, physics, Lego, and hands-on science
- High-energy sports and games including parkour, ultimate frisbee, and rugby
- Strategy games including Dungeons & Dragons and chess
- Nature explorations including Audubon Habitat
- DayTrippers full-day field trips
- 6 full weeks of LARP
About SummerFun!
Grade Levels
SummerFun serves students entering grades 1-9.
Where
Classes are held primarily at Ottoson Middle School, 63 Acton St., Arlington.
When
2021 Dates
Week 1: July 6-9 (Tu-Fr)
Week 2: July 12-16
Week 3: July 19-23
Week 4: July 26-30
Week 5: August 2-6
Week 6: August 9-13
Hours
AM classes run from 9:00 am -12:00 pm
PM classes run from 1:00-4:00 pm
Full-day classes run from 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Supervised lunch/recess hour is included for students who do AM and PM programs. Staff will escort students to their afternoon classes.
Extended Day
Extended Day offers supervised activities and free-play from 8:00-9:00 AM and 4:00-5:30 pm (no PM program Fridays). Pre-registration required, full week only.
Absent or late
Call or text 617-800-4245 prior to 8:45 am if your child will be absent or late. Text is preferred. Please include child’s name and all classes. Or, you can email us before 8:30am at CommunityEd@arlington.k12.ma.us.
Parking
New this year: NO PARKING IN THE UPPER PARKING LOT; this is reserved for staff only. Parking is available in the lower school parking lot located at the corner of Appleton Pl. and Quincy St. and on surrounding streets.
Drop-Off
For morning/afternoon drop-off, students should meet their teachers in the lower field located at the corner of Acton and Appleton (see map). Look for your class sign. On the first day, children entering grades 5 and below must be escorted to their meeting point by an adult. For the remainder of the week, children entering grades 3 and up may check themselves in. Children entering grades 6-9 may check themselves in and out each day.
See below for Extended Day procedures.
Late Arrivals
If you arrive after 9:15, pull up to the curb next to the main entrance and call 617-800-4245 and staff will escort your student to class.
Pick-Up Procedure
If your child is entering grade 5 or below and you did not authorize your child to walk home alone when you registered, please walk and meet your child on the lower field by their class sign. Check your child out with the instructor using your FAMILY RELEASE CODE. This code is the month/day of your child’s birthday. Please provide this code to anyone you send to pick up your child. This code will serve as the identification check. We assume all students entering 6th grade and above have permission to walk themselves home and will be dismissed without an adult. Please communicate your dismissal plan with your child. See below for Extended day procedures.
Late Fees
Children MUST be picked up on time. After a 5-minute grace period, delays in pick-up will result in a charge of $1 per minute, payable immediately to the staff person waiting with your child. Late students should be collected from the school’s main lobby entrance (call number on door).
Lunch & Free Play
Lunch is not provided. Please send a packed lunch each day. Students who have registered for both AM/PM classes are supervised (for no additional fee) during the lunch/recess hour from 12:00-1:00 and escorted to their afternoon class. Students attending just a morning class have the option of staying for the lunch hour for an extra $50/week (full week only, pre-registration is required).
What to Bring
Each day, children must bring a mask (and a backup!), snacks, water bottle, lunch, any school/art supplies mentioned on your course confirmation, and if they like, a beach towel to use on the lawn for lunch. It is very important that you send enough food for a full-day or extended day if your child is staying that long. We often have kids finish all their food by late morning with not enough to get them through till the end of the day. If your child is prone to accidents, please send a change of clothes. All items brought to camp should be clearly marked with your child’s name; we cannot be responsible for lost items.
What to Wear
Children should wear comfortable, casual clothes and sneakers. All classes spend time outdoors. Please apply sunscreen before arriving at SummerFun. Staff are not permitted to apply sunscreen.
Screens & Phones
We ask that all students keep phones and screens put away in their backpacks during the program, including at lunch and recess.
Medical/Special Needs
There is no nurse or other medical staff on duty during SummerFun. If you have questions, please contact our office before your child attends. For EpiPens: Please send two, one for the director and one to stay with children in their backpack, the location clearly labeled. SummerFun staff will administer EpiPens in the event of an emergency. If a child exhibits any covid symptoms, they will be isolated from the other students and parents will be called for immediate pickup.
Behavior Policy
Children who attend SummerFun should be able to participate in group activities with teacher supervision and treat fellow students and staff with respect. If a child is unable to do so, the teacher or director will contact parents to discuss appropriate next steps.
Extended Day
Care is available 8:00-9:00 am, and 4:00-5:30 pm (no Fridays). Full week only, pre-registration required. Drop off and pick-up are through the main lobby entrance (you may park in the upper lot). Late fees of $1 per minute apply after 5:30.
Covid Protocols
Students and staff will be required to mask at all times while indoors. Students and staff may be unmasked while outdoors or when eating lunch. All classes will take outdoor snack and mask breaks at least once during their class period. Students will be distanced when eating in the cafeteria.
Please review this list each day of SummerFun and children MAY NOT ATTEND if on the day of class, or in the past 24 hours, they or any household members had ANY of the following symptoms:
- fever (temperature of 100.0F or above) or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
- lost or altered sense of smell or taste
- gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
- muscle aches
- headache or fatigue,
- or any other signs of illness.
If in the past 14 days, a student has had close contact with a person known to be infected with Covid, the student may not attend SummerFun.
If a student is awaiting the results of a Covid test, they may not attend SummerFun until they receive a negative result.
If a child reports to staff that they have ANY symptoms of illness, they will be isolated from other students and parents will be phoned for immediate pickup.
ACE will work directly with the board of health in the event of a positive Covid case.
Changes & Withdrawals
All withdrawals and transfer requests must be made via email to CommunityEd@arlington.k12.ma.us.
- Refunds will be issued minus a $25 fee per student, per class for withdrawals made by April 15. The fee is $50 per student, per class April 16-May 31. No refunds will be issued starting June 1.
- A $15 transfer fee is assessed for each requested change in a child’s registration. No transfers may be made after 4:00 pm Tuesdays for the following week’s classes.
- No refunds will be made for classes missed or dropped once a class begins.
- All tuition is refunded in the unlikely event that ACE cancels a class. If we cancel a class we will notify parents and every effort will be made to place the child in another class.
- ACE reserves the right to change instructors if necessary.
Virtual Classes
ACE is offering a selection of virtual classes for students who prefer. View class listing here.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is available for some classes for APS students who receive free and reduced lunch. Please contact us before registering and have your letter from Food Services handy.
Teen Counselor Program
The application period is now closed for 2021.
SummerFun! is a program of the Arlington Public Schools and Arlington Community Education.