Pittsburgh suburbs -- any full day kindergartens? what about extended day? (Hampton Township: 2014, chapel)

[alexlaw2001]

Hi, I will be moving to Pittsburgh with my 5 year old daughter who is on schedule to start kindergarten in September. Our current school district in VA offers full day kindergarten, followed by onsite extended day programs until 6PM -- which is really really great for working parents. I've recently seen from posts here that most Pittsburgh suburbs seem to offer only half-day kindergartens. Are there any full-day kindergarten programs in a good school district in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, in a relatively close commute to downtown Pittsburgh? And do any of them offer extended day programs that go to 6PM or so? I really wanted to avoid paying for private kindergarten and/or getting a nanny (she's been in a full day daycare up to now).

Thanks in advance! Alex

[Hopes]

I found this about Shaler.

Half-day kindergarten out at Shaler Area - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The before and after school programs aren't at the school, but the children are transported to/from school.

Kindergarten Registration

If Shaler went full day, I'm sure others have too. I'll keep looking, and I'm sure others will post.

[Hopes]

North Hills School District has full day kindergarten too.

K-Registration

2014-15 Kindergarten Registration

Here's information for before/after school care. It's available via the district itself.

http://www.nhsd.net/parents.cfm?subpage=50250

The website says before and after school care is at no cost to families living in the district.

[mdzmura]

Chartiers Valley school district (Scott Twp, Heidelberg, and nearby) offers full-day kindergarden. It's only 5 miles or so from downtown Pittsburgh in the South Hills area.

[robrobrob]

Fox Chapel Area has full day.

[Goodjules]

Crafton has full day kindergarten. Short distance to downtown PGH.

Carlynton School District

I know neighbors whose kids go to after school programs. Not sure if they're at the school site. My kids were grown before I moved here.

[caroline2]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Fox Chapel Area has full day.

And great after-school programs, including coordination with the community center so kids can ride over their for programming, camps, ballet, etc.

But in general, I think half-day-only K is pretty rare in the area. Mt. Lebo is the only district I know of that has half-day.

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by caroline2

And great after-school programs, including coordination with the community center so kids can ride over their for programming, camps, ballet, etc.

But in general, I think half-day-only K is pretty rare in the area. Mt. Lebo is the only district I know of that has half-day.

Hampton and North Allegheny are also half-day. Not sure about NA but Hampton does not have after school care on site. And they call their early drop off program "the latch key program" which I thought was a very strange name.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by DaisyDaisy

Hampton and North Allegheny are also half-day. Not sure about NA but Hampton does not have after school care on site. And they call their early drop off program "the latch key program" which I thought was a very strange name.

One correction. Latchkey is in the afternoon too, on site at the elementary schools.

Hampton Township Community Website - Childcare

The name could be better, but the entire purpose of these programs in any district is to prevent latchkey children.

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by Hopes

One correction. Latchkey is in the afternoon too, on site at the elementary schools.

Hampton Township Community Website - Childcare

The name could be better, but the entire purpose of these programs in any district is to prevent latchkey children.

Thanks for the clarification. I think I misunderstood because I was speaking to Hampton about kindergarten so only the morning care was an option (because K is done early so there is no aftercare for them on site).

I agree about the principal of offering on site care but I still dislike the name . The kids aren't latchkey if they're there and that name just has negative connotations to me. I like "extended day" or "before/after care."