BEFORE CARE PROGRAM

DAY PROGRAM FAMILIES IN NEED OF BEFORE CARE (7:45AM-8:45 AM), SUBMIT REQUEST HERE

KIDS’ NICHE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:

Kinnikinnick PROGRAM (neighboring K-3 children) Intent to Enroll is Currently OPEN

Apply HERE for Grades K-3

Shooting Stars PROGRAM (for day program families) Intent to Enroll is Currently OPEN

Apply HERE for SHOOTING STARS (Clark Fork Preschool Students ONLY)

Clark Fork School offers BEFORE CARE & AFTER CARE PROGRAMS for our community.

BEFORE CARE

Before Care starts at 7:45am and wraps up as the kiddos need to get to their classroom (8:45am) at which point, their Before-Care teacher will escort the children to their classroom at the beginning of their school day. The fee is $10/day for Before Care. Advanced registration is necessary. Billing for before care takes place at the end of each month because we only invoice for days in attendance. We adhere to an 8:1 student teacher ratio in our Before Care program and considerable planning is necessary to provide adequate staffing. To reserve or change regular care or to confirm same-day drop-in care, just contact our admin team.


AFTER CARE: place-based after-school programs for children age 2 through 3rd grade.

We offer 2 after care programs here at Clark Fork School. First, our Shooting Stars Kids’ Niche after care for our day program families, and Second, our Kinnikinnick Kids’ Niche after care program for Rattlesnake Elementary students, home schooled students, and students from Missoula County Public Schools from 3:15-5:30pm (2:30-5:30pm on Thursdays). We offer pick-up for students enrolled at Rattlesnake Elementary. All activities focus on having fun in the outdoors and deepening students' connection to the Missoula Valley.

Sample activities include: Sauntering to the PEAS Farm, building clay bird feeders, adopting a tree and so much more.


AFTER CARE PROGRAM Tuition Information

Shooting Stars Kids’ niche program (aftercare for our day program families)

5 days per week: $200 per month, 4 days per week: $190 days per month, 3 days per week: $145 per month, 2 days per week: $100 per month, and 1 day per week: $55 per month

kinnikinnick kids’ niche program (Kindergarten through 3rd grade)

5 days per week: $350 per month, 4 days per week: $308 per month, 3 days per week: $231 per month, 2 days per week: $154 per month, and 1 day per week: $77 per month



Kids’ Niche Philosophy

The Kids’ Niche After-School Programs follow the below mentioned guidelines, adapted from David Sobel’s Ladder of Development. The ages listed below are approximations; remember that every student matures at a different rate and all activities should be developmentally appropriate.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ~ 2-5 YRS

  • Activities explore the “magic” of the natural world and focus on building compassion.

  • Ex. “Become” neighborhood animals, celebrate seasons, make child-sized nests, dig animal burrows in the snow.

  • Focus on noticing and observing things (rather than naming or identifying).

EARLY ELEMENTARY ~ 6-9 YRS

  • Activities continue to build curiosity, empathy and allure for the outside world, and investigations deepen, as developmentally appropriate.

  • Ex. Make pine cone birdfeeders, plant a sunflower maze, turn over fallen logs, adopt a tree.

  • Focus on exploring things and concepts, but don’t focus on naming/identifying (unless a child is particularly interested). This is a great time to introduce and begin exploring guidebooks.

  • Be curious, indulge in exploration, and create special places.

  • Ex. Build forts, create imaginary worlds, play capture-the-flag, plant native plants, search for treasures.

  • Begin to explore things and concepts in more depth. Begin identifying species if students are interested (though it’s still ok to make up names).