SECTION THREE - THE ZONE EXTENDED-DAY PROGRAM MPCS offers an extended-day program for all MPCS full-day preschool and lower school students called The Zone After-School Care Program. The Zone hours are 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Students who are registered, with a confirmed reservation, will be taken to The Zone After-School Care program as school is being dismissed. While in The Zone, children will participate in playground time, snack, homework time (as needed), arts and crafts activities, structured games, and other campus activities. For your child to be able to attend the extended-day program, they must be present at school until 3:00 p.m. Your child cannot be checked out earlier in the day and then returned for the extended-day program. The Zone is only offered on days when school is in session, except for half-days leading into extended breaks. Enrollment Only enrolled MPCS students are eligible to participate in The Zone. Students will not be eligible for The Zone After-School Care service until a financial contract is signed, be it an annual Zone agreement or a daily drop-in form. Three-day options are predetermined for staffing and cannot be changed. If a three-day student needs to attend on a day on which they are not scheduled, drop-in procedures and requirements will apply when space is available, and notification must be received by 12:00 p.m. by the after-school care program.Expectations The Zone service eligibility is contingent upon adherence to the school handbook. The same health and behavioral expectations as outlined in the parent/student handbook will be followed in The Zone. Students may not attend The Zone sessions unless they have attended school that day. Any behavioral difficulties that are exhibited on a regular basis will be addressed by the head of preschool or head of lower school and may result in removal from the The Zone program.Financial Terms The Zone rates and fees are disclosed in this Financial Contract. All other terms and conditions stated on the Tuition Financial Contract will apply to this contract, and the pay plan will default to the same pay plan as elected for tuition.Injury or Illness In case of illness or serious injury, parents will be notified right away. In the case of illness, arrangements must be made to pick up your child within 30 minutes.Lost/Damaged Personal Items The Zone program cannot take any responsibility for lost or broken personal articles.Drop-In Service A drop-in after school care service is an option when space is available and the school receives notification by 12:00 p.m. The drop-in attendance requires the following: • Completed Zone drop-in registration forms prior to attending • Payment by the time of pick-up on the day the student attends The ZoneThe Zone Use of Campus The Zone for preschool/TK students operates out of the Sewell Cottage and on connected playgrounds appropriate to the age of the students. Lower school students remain in Mulkey Hall for The Zone. From time to time, students in The Zone may be given the opportunity to participate in additional activities in other parts of the campus (i.e. gymnasium, media center, etc.) as a standard part of The Zone program.Snacks The Zone includes a school-provided snack for students who are scheduled to stay until 6:00 p.m.Picking Up from The Zone The Zone hours end by 6:00 p.m. • Pick-up must be prompt by or before the conclusion of the student’s enrolled Zone session only and by the custodial parent/legal guardian or a designated emergency contact on record with the school. • In case of need for a release of a student to anyone other than the custodial parent/legal guardian or designated emergency contact on record with the school, the after-school care program manager must be notified in writing of the change. • The after-school care manager must also be notified in writing by the custodial parent/legal guardian of any persons who are specifically barred from picking up the student. Classroom clocks will be utilized as the official time to determine if the student is picked up late. Results of picking up a student late include: • Students picked up after the conclusion of the student’s enrolled Zone session incur a late fee of $2.00/minute, which will be billed to your student account at the conclusion of the billing period. • If the student is picked up late five or more times, there will be an additional $10.00 fee charged, and the student may be removed from the program. • If late fees remain unpaid after five school days, the student may not attend The Zone until payment clears the late fee balance. • If a child is not picked up by 8:00 p.m., and the program staff have not received communication from the custodial parent/legal guardian or designated emergency contact on record with the school, the student will be turned over to the appropriate Cobb County authorities.Payments The Zone contract rates are billed on the student account online and follow the same payment options as are available through that account for tuition and other school fees. • If drop-in or late fees are not paid to the after-school care program, they will be added to the student account, and a service charge will be added. • Students enrolling in The Zone after September 1, will receive a proration for prior days not enrolled. This proration will be reflected in the student account. The Zone rates are per student per school year.