After School Day Care Aide

Extended Day Care AidePart-Time (negotiable) School: St. Joan of Arc School City & State: Hummelstown, PA Payroll Grade: 11 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Hours and days are negotiable. Will provide CPR and training.Nature of Position: The typical school day does not compute to an adult's typical workday. To fill in the gap of time, some working parents choose to send their kids to an extended school day care program headed by a team of care providers. As the job title implies, their first job is to take care of kids, which can include several different activities.Playtime After school is over, school-age kids are usually ready for a little rest, relaxation, and fun. One of the main duties of after-school care attendants is planning and supervising activities for kids. This can mean fun play such as arts and crafts or activities that focus on skills in sports, music, or dance. Children in after-school care spend a lot of time outside the home and away from parents, so it's important that during these activities attendants keep a close eye on the kids, watching out for any behavioral or emotional issues they may need to discuss with parents.Snacks Most kids like to eat and they're typically pretty hungry after a long day at school. As such, after-school care providers are often responsible for planning and serving snacks and meals for kids. They may need to prepare food and drinks, clean dishes, and put away food. Depending on the environment, providers may also be responsible for getting the kids to help serve and clean up after eating.Schoolwork Some after-care settings are located in schools, and some after-care attendants double as tutors or educational helpers. They may coordinate with teachers to provide additional support for kids outside the classroom, helping with reading, math, or other subjects. In other settings, after-school attendants may simply ensure that kids get their homework done.Safety As the responsible adults in the room, after-school attendants need to be able to respond to basic emergencies and to look out for children's welfare while in their care. Care attendants are often trained in CPR and basic first aid, which may be required upon hiring or for licensing. Care providers need to be apprised of state laws on child safety procedures and creating a safe environment for children. If kids need to take medications, the care providers also need to know the protocols involved and know how to respond to a health emergency.Logistics Taking care of children's needs is an after-care attendant's first duty -- but she often has other logistical aspects to her job. Attendants may be responsible for setting up and breaking down the care space, especially when the after-care program takes place in a school gym, cafeteria, or other space used for different purposes during the day. They may also be responsible for writing daily, weekly, or monthly reports of children's behaviors and habits, and communicating that information to parents and educators. Some attendants also keep track of payments and help schedule the right amount of staff for the number of kids attending the program.Reports to: Director of Extended Day Care ProgramQualifications Must be at least 21 years old. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Must be willing to obtain state and federal background checks and take required trainings for clearances. Must be willing to respect the Catholic Church's teachings on morality.