After School Care FLYERS vs. Fort Mill Y (Baxter) (Riverview: home, neighborhood)

[DJV]

We are relocating to Fort Mill next month. I have seen a few old threads but wanted to see if anyone had an update on after school care in Fort Mill (our daughter will be in 4th grade). We will attend PKES and are curious which program is better- FLYERS or Fort Mill YMCA? Thanks in advance!

[martikus]

We use PKES for convenience. They have a good head teacher now so the staff has been more consistent. Outdoor time, some activities (this year was a fitness thing once a week and visits from greenway science folks). Homework is self-motivated though so your child may not come home with it all done. We've gone 4 years and will use again this year.

There are tons of choices in area if you prefer something else - Blooming Einsteins, YMCA, etc etc.

[SCCoqui]

Originally Posted by martikus

We use PKES for convenience. They have a good head teacher now so the staff has been more consistent. Outdoor time, some activities (this year was a fitness thing once a week and visits from greenway science folks). Homework is self-motivated though so your child may not come home with it all done. We've gone 4 years and will use again this year.

There are tons of choices in area if you prefer something else - Blooming Einsteins, YMCA, etc etc.

Ditto what martikus said -- we're in Sugar Creek. We've had the same head teacher for the past two years that we've been there. She's tough but caring and the kids really like her.

They had the occasional field trip to the Greenway for hikes and outdoor activities. They tried a homework sign-up sheet this year which would be nice again. Parents sign up if they want their child working on their HW while at FLYERS. With HW though, I do prefer that we work on it together at home so that I know what they're working on at school. Since my son is an only, I like for him to use the time at FLYERS to burn off some energy and play with his friends.

The other benefit to having him right at the school as that they get to meet and become friends with other kids that live in your neighborhood / area. A few of his closest friends are those that he's made through FLYERS and we end up meeting up with them in the neighborhood as well. The other places have more of a mix of kids from different schools.

FLYERS does tend to have a wait list, so if you go that route I recommend signing up soon.

[SCCoqui]

To add-- I have a friend that will be teaching 4th grade next year at PKES. She taught 2 & 3 rd grade in prior years and started her teaching career with 4th grade. She's really excited about returning to that age group.

PKES is a great school from what I've heard with excellent teachers -- pretty much all of Fort Mill.

[Girl]

My kids went to FLYERS at PKES for all of their elementary school years and my son, in particular, was very sad when he "graduated" and no longer eligible to go.

We also briefly sent them to the Boys & Girls Club at Riverview Elementary (which was a bit cheaper at the time) and my kids enjoyed it EXCEPT for the fact that it had organized homework time at the beginning to get the kids to complete their homework. While *I* loved that part, my kids did not. *lol*

But if you are okay with homework possibly NOT being done during FLYERS, it's still a good program.

[kelle]

FLYERS is OK - I've heard very good things about Blooming Einstein's if they're full.