Berkeley Afterschool, Club J & Edah

Schedule

• The 2024–2025 year runs from August 14, 2024 – June 5, 2025.
• Berkeley Afterschool and Edah offers 2, 3, 4, and 5 days/week options.
• Tuition is based on 10 equal installments, billed monthly as all months do not have the same number of days/weeks. You may also choose to pay for the school year in full and receive a 5% discount.
• Enroll 2 or more children in JCC preschool, BAS, or Kids’ Club at Joaquin Miller for an additional 5% discount.
• Drop-off begins at either 1:30pm, 2:30pm, or 3:30pm depending on when your child’s school is dismissed. Wednesday minimum days are assumed, and not used to calculate rates. Use your school’s M/T/R/F dismissal times to determine which option to choose.
• Pick-up is at 6pm. Edah programming ends at 5:15, but students may stay until 6pm.

$50 non-refundable registration fee

$200 deposit, refundable or optional donation to the JCC upon completion of the school year

Rate Sheet

The JCC East Bay recognizes that all families have different needs and we are committed to helping families pay for our high-quality aftercare program. 

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis, taking many factors into consideration, including but not limited to financial status. Applications are accepted until July 1, after which point they will be reviewed on a rolling schedule as funds are available.

Please use this form and submit completed applications to Aaron Atlas, CPO, aaron.atlas@jcceastbay.org.

Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are open!

Click here to register for Berkeley Afterschool and Edah for the fall of 2024.

Please note that spaces are limited and this note will change to a waitlist message if we fill up. Waitlist spots are then determined by multiple factors, including submission date, and school bus availability if transportation is required.

What is this year’s calendar?
The 2024-2025 calendar will be available soon.

Is there a handbook with more information? 
Click here to view the 2023-2024 Parent Handbook.

The 24-25 handbook will be available soon.

Will there be transportation to JCC East Bay?
The JCC East Bay works closely with BUSD to provide transportation from most schools, including Cragmont (1st-5th only), Malcolm X, Oxford, Rosa Parks, Ruth Acty, Sylvia Mendez, Thousand Oaks, and Washington. We offer a walking pick up from the BAM School. BUSD schools without a bus to the JCC include Cragmont Kindergarten, Emerson, and John Muir.

Please note that a spot on the bus is not guaranteed until we receive confirmation from BUSD, which will not come until after August 1. We know that this is not ideal, and we understand the challenge this poses to you. We will contact you ASAP if we are waiting for a spot for your child on the BUSD bus. Our experience has been that they have been able to accommodate nearly all of our requests and waitlists by the end of the second week of school, but that is also not guaranteed.

We are not able to offer transportation from other schools not serviced by BUSD transportation. Students will need to be picked up and dropped off at the JCC East Bay Berkeley branch at 1414 Walnut St. Inquire about Hop, Skip, Drive, a school pick up service that we contract with and recommend for students that need transportation outside of what BUSD offers. 

Tell me a little more about Berkeley Afterschool!
BAS offers a safe, affirming environment that allows all students to be their authentic selves. Youth will develop lasting relationships with peers and adults, building bridges with our community and beyond. We believe in a balance of structure and freedom, providing students with the opportunities for free play and organized activities. We encourage youth to explore their interests and passions, develop their voice, and grow as individuals.

Staff is well trained in communication, conflict management, and lesson planning, and is here to support your child’s needs whether it be helping with homework, reading a story, painting, or playing an energetic game of soccer out in our yard.

How about for the 4th and 5th graders?
An added bonus of BAS and Edah for our 4th and 5th grade students, Club J for BAS, and Bogrim for Edah, provides a tailored experience for older elementary school children, with the opportunity to shape their own curriculum, and serve as mentors for younger students. Included are special field trips, volunteer opportunities, mitzvah projects, and leadership experiences.

And what is unique about Edah?
Edah is our learning village! Our day is divided into three parts: learning stations, group time (zman kvutzah) which includes Hebrew learning and Chugim, and circle time (ma’agal). We emphasize choice, support engagement, and empower children to be the masters of their own learning. Our learning stations offers: 

Bonim – Building
Explore the weekly torah portion or holiday theme, while creating scenes and solving engineering challenges.

Misada – Restaurant
Enjoy a warm meal with friends after ordering from the “restaurant” in Hebrew.

Omanut – Arts & Crafts
Go deeper into the unit’s themes while stretching the imagination with facilitated arts and crafts projects.

Zman Kvutzah – Group Time
Gather in age cohorts to explore the big questions of Jewish thought while strengthening friendships.

Maagal – Circle Time
Develop your Hebrew reading and writing skills with an individual learning plan and one-on-one guidance.

Facilitators of Learning
At Edah, we encourage inquiry and emphasize choice. Our educators are trained in pedagogies that put the child at the center and we teach Hebrew and a joy for Jewish learning in a way that activates the learner’s innate potential for language acquisition, cultivating motivation alongside mastery.

How do you handle poor air quality?
The JCC East Bay has a comprehensive Air Quality decision-making matrix that we employ when the AQI reaches unhealthy levels. Generally speaking, for AQI levels between 51 and 150 (Moderate and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), we will take more breaks and do less intense activities outdoors, and also decide to move activities indoors. We will utilize HEPA filters when indoors to filter out air particles from the outdoors. At Unhealthy levels (AQI 151-200), we will assess the current levels and hourly projections to determine program closures. If we decide to keep the building and programs open within this level, we will keep everyone indoors and utilize HEPA filters. At Very Unhealthy levels and beyond (201+), we will close our building and suspend all of our programs. As air quality changes rapidly and is hard to predict, we will take building and program closures on a day by day basis. We are in constant communication with local school districts and will also consult with them on AQI if/when appropriate.

What is your refund/credit policy?
We’ve all had to learn how to be flexible! The JCC East Bay coordinates our offerings to complement school districts, schedules, air quality, and more. We begin the year with a certain schedule and options and recognize that circumstances can change. Please see the parent handbook, or your enrollment agreement for the exact conditions regarding schedule changes or withdrawals.

In the event where the JCC East Bay is unable to provide planned services for an extended amount of time (more than 2 weeks) due to natural disasters, public health concerns, teacher strikes, etc, refunds for charges already made may not be provided — however, future charges will be suspended until services can resume.

Rebekah Sherman
Assistant Director, Berkeley Afterschool
rebekah.sherman@jcceastbay.org
510-848-0237, ext. 131

Sonia Brin
Assistant Director, Berkeley Afterschool
sonia.brin@jcceastbay.org
510-848-0237, ext. 131