About Us
Welcome to The Learning Bridge After school program. Our goal is to provide a safe and fun environment for your child. We are now accepting registrations for the 2023-2024 school year. You may access the registration forms by clicking on the registration tab. Please completely fill out the forms. We look forward to getting to know your child!
We operate at all 19 elementary schools in Paulding County. We offer a wide range of activities arts and crafts, homework assistance, science projects, table games, STEM projects, individual and team play on the playground and in the gym, dramatic play and social opportunities all on the school site.
2024 - 2025 Program Tuition
Full Time/Weekly Tuition - $40 per child
*Part Time - $25 per child
Registration Fee: $40 per child
No drop-in or short term services available.
Parent Handbook
The information in this handbook will help you understand the policies practiced during the day-to-day operations of this after-school program. Learning Bridge is located on-site in Paulding County elementary schools.
The Learning Bridge accepts all children into the program regardless of national origin, race, and creed.
At Learning Bridge we understand the importance of having a safe, fun way to connect with friends, enjoy a variety of activities including a structured homework time, extra learning activities, organized physical activities and expressions in art.
It is the mission of the Learning Bridge to:
- Foster the self-worth of each child
- Assist in developing personal and interpersonal skills
- Provide assistance with homework and provide developmentally appropriate enrichment activities to enhance child’s learning.
- Provide recreational and physical activities to develop physical skills
- Provide students with the opportunity to have input on and help plan the program activities with the assistance of the staff.
If you have any questions please contact us:
2356 Villa Rica Hwy
Dallas, GA 30157
Phone-770-693-8386
Fax: 770-693-8946
www.learningbridgepaulding.com
Staff
All of our sites are state licensed and monitored by state consultants. An experienced site director is designated at each school and all of our employees are required to have a clear background check. All staff is required to have 10 hours state-certified training every year. C.P.R. and First Aid certification is also required.
Operating Schedule
The Learning Bridge will follow the Paulding County School System calendar. The Learning Bridge will only be open when school is in session. Please refer to the school calendar for days that Learning Bridge will not be operating.
Services provided:
All regular days of Student Calendar (dismissal to 6:00 p.m.)
(Including Early Release Days)
Late fees of one dollar ($1) per minute per child will be charged after 6:00 PM by the official school clock. At 6:00 PM, the Site Director will first call both parents/guardians listed. He or she will continue to call all adults authorized to pick up the child until someone is reached who can immediately pick up the child. The child will be released to the first adult who arrives at the school. Paulding County requires that we vacate the school building by 6:00 PM. Unless an acceptable arrangement has been made with the Site Director. Please have a local friend or relative on your list who can help you in emergency situations. Excessive late pick-ups may result in dismissal.
Tuition Policies
Parents must designate the Full Time or Part Time program. In order to appropriately staff, these days cannot be changed on a day-to-day or a weekly basis.
Part-Time Program (1-3 days) - Part-time may not be available at your child's school. Each school has a certain number of part-time spots. You are able to attend less than 4-5 days but will be charged the full-time/weekly rate.
If a change in your work schedule occurs and the program times need to change, please contact the Director as soon as possible or no later than the Friday before the schedule changes.
Registration: A registration fee has to be paid before you can start. You may be charged the Registration fee and first two weeks tuition in order to start in the program.
Important Tuition Notices
- Checks should be made out to “Learning Bridge ASP.” Write your child’s first and last name on every check.
- No payments can be made through a child or during regular school hours. Payments can be made directly to Learning Bridge staff in the afternoons. If you choose to pay with cash, you will be required to sign a cash receipt at the time of payment.
- Automatic payments will be paid every Monday.
- You are able to make payments online through your account with Arux.
- Debit and credit card payments can be made at the school.
- Tuition should be paid biweekly no later than the Friday prior to attendance. After two weeks of non-payment or non-attendance, your child will be withdrawn from the program, and your spot will be given to a child on the waiting list (if applicable). If your withdrawal isn’t approved by administration, the current registration fee will be charged to re-enroll your child.
- A late fee of $1.00 will be charged for every minute after 6:00 your child remains onsite. This will be charged according to the school clock. Late fees should be paid in full to the staff present and not added to the tuition check at a later date.
- Two returned checks will require all future payments to be made in cash, by money order or online.
- Learning Bridge can email Statements as a courtesy; however, payment is due prior to using the program even if you fail to receive notice.
- Delinquent checks need to be corrected within 24 hours of notification and a returned check fee of $25 will be charged.
- There will be no credit issued for one or two day school holidays.
- Your weekly tuition amount will be the same regardless of absences or entire weeks missed unless approved by the Administrator. (Includes suspensions for non-payment, behavior and excessive late pickups).
Enrollment
All students must be enrolled in one of the elementary school sites that the Learning Bridge services. The Learning Bridge accepts students from Kindergarten to 5th grade (ages 5-12).
All parents must fill out a complete enrollment packet for each child annually. The parent is responsible for updating packet information during the school year if needed. Learning Bridge does not provide a 1:1 student service. No child will be allowed to enter or leave the premises without being escorted by an authorized adult. It is the policy of the Learning Bridge to refuse any person to pick up your child if we suspect that person is driving impaired, or we will contact the Sheriff’s Department. If your child is participating in an extra-curricular activity at the school (Beach Club, chorus, tutoring, etc.), the parent will fill out a permission form or amend the authorized pick up list allowing the activity leader to sign your child out and back into the Learning Bridge Program (They will have a Learning Bridge snack before they leave). Learning Bridge employees will take attendance on a daily basis. Parents or authorized persons will sign the child out every day providing time of pick-up and initials. Any person picking up a child who is unfamiliar to Learning Bridge staff will be required to show a valid picture I.D. If your child is on restricted pickup involving custody issues you must provide the program with legal documentation.
Withdrawal Notice
A written notice of withdrawal must be emailed, faxed or mailed to Learning Bridge two weeks prior to withdrawing to avoid any additional fees. Please indicate your reason for withdrawal on this notice. Students will be withdrawn automatically after two weeks of non-payment. Parents will be responsible for the two weeks of tuition if advance notice is not given.
Child Abuse Policy
Learning Bridge employees, who have cause or reason to believe that a child is being abused, deprived or neglected, are mandated to report immediately to the Director. Director will notify Learning Bridge Administration, who then will take appropriate action in accordance with Georgia Law.
Allergies
If your child has severe food allergies, please alert the staff prior to sending your child to the after school program. Learning Bridge will make every reasonable effort to provide an alternative snack and remove your child from any contact with the food. No outside snacks will be allowed unless there is medical condition or doctors note.
Medication and Medical Policies
The Learning Bridge staff will not dispense any medication; however, please inform the staff of any medical situation that may require the use of emergency medication such as an Epi-pen, inhalant or insulin. Please contact Director for forms and policies.
The Learning Bridge does not offer transportation. If a medical emergency requires transportation, emergency medical services will be notified and the student and an employee of The Learning Bridge will be transported to Wellstar/ Paulding. All attempts will be made to notify parents and the Director. No Learning Bridge employee will deter a child from receiving emergency medical care. In non-emergency situations, basic first aid will be given and an accident report will be filled out by staff. A child will not be accepted or allowed to remain at the Learning Bridge program if he/she has a fever of 101 degrees or higher or other contagious symptoms such as rash, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat, etc. A parent will be notified to pick up child immediately. Child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the program. The Learning Bridge reserves the right to request a doctor’s note stating the child can return. If anyone on site is found to have a contagious communicable disease parents will receive written notice.
Safety
It is the mission of the Learning Bridge to provide your child with a fun and safe after school environment. In doing so, each school will follow the policies set forth by the Paulding County School System for lockdown, bomb threats, and other emergency situations. The Learning Bridge staff will conduct monthly fire drills, twice yearly severe weather drills and at least one lock down drill to ensure the safety of your child. In the event of severe weather, we will operate according to Paulding County School safety policies. Each school has a set of guidelines for emergency situations posted in our after school area. Please review these rules. To protect the health of all students, Learning Bridge reserves the right to dismiss students who have excessive bathroom accidents or who willfully expose other children to their bodily fluids. If a student elopes/runs from their group it will result in an automatic write-up. Eloping could warrant a suspension or dismissal from the program. Any physical harm to another student or staff member is not tolerated. Physical harm will result in a write-up and parents will be called immediately to come pick up. It is to the discretion of the Learning Bridge Admin and Director for any suspension or dismissal for physical harm.
If school closes before the Learning Bridge begins, you must have alternative pick-up arrangements on file with your child’s school. If we need to close after our program has begun, for example due to hazardous road conditions, you will be contacted and asked to pick up your child as soon as possible. Please add several friends/neighbors to your emergency contact list for inclement weather or other emergencies, which could prohibit you from being available in a timely manner. In the event of severe weather, Learning Bridge staff will be focused on the safety of the children and may not be available to accept parent phone calls.
Transportation
Learning Bridge will not provide transportation for your child. Any emergency transport will be provided by an ambulance or by the police. In the event of a severe injury or life-threatening situation I understand the after-school personnel have my permission to obtain emergency medical care for my child.
Only authorized adults with a valid driver’s license will be allowed to pick up your child. Immediate family members age 16 and older; any person outside of family will need to be 18 years of age or older with a valid driver’s license. Absolutely no ride share/taxi service will be allowed to pick your child up. No exceptions.
Your child is not allowed to leave the building without being escorted by a parent, authorized adult or staff member. Only people listed on the registration
form will be allowed to pick up your child and picture identification will be
required. Your child must be signed out by you or your authorized adult
every day.
Regularly Scheduled Activities
- Snack – Please let the staff know if your child has any medical problems requiring a special snack.
- Consistent homework program–Academic activities such as math/spelling/reading/strategic games will be available for those children without homework. It is the parent’s responsibility to check homework and to complete items needing individual assistance such as quizzing spelling words, fluencies, and/or projects.
- Outdoor recreational and gym activities–free play and teacher directed
- Individual/Small group activities
- Students will also participate in:
- STEM
- Art and Crafts
- Science Explorations
- Computer
Early Release Day Activites
- In-house field trips
- Special crafts
No off site field trips will be planned so no transportation permission slips will be required.
Discipline Policies
Disciplinary procedures are designed to maintain a safe and secure environment for all children. Rules are enforced at the discretion of the Learning Bridge Program Administrator.
- Explanation/reinforcement of rules/warning
- Redirection/temporary removal from activity
- Time out – older children may use this time to create an action plan
- Loss of Privileges
- Notification of Director
- Notification of Parents
- Parent Conference with Staff/ Director
- Referral to school counselor
- Short term suspension
- Expulsion from Learning Bridge program
All parents/authorized adults will be also held to the Learning Bridge Code of Conduct. A child may be dismissed from the program due to parental/adult misconduct.
Suspensions and Dismissals are at the discretion of the Learning Bridge Administrators.
If a student has been suspended from school for any reason, they will not be able to attend Learning Bridge ASP until the suspension is over.
Restroom Policy
All students must be able to use the restroom unassisted. Learning Bridge ASP does not assist in changing clothes, pull-ups, or diapers when an accident occurs. The parents or guardians will be called to come pick up immediately when an accident occurs. If multiple accidents occur, that student may be asked to be temporarily withdrawn until the student is able to go unassisted.