Program Information
Parent Information
Please download and review the Parent Handbook, which has been prepared to provide you with information about the policies and operation of the School Age Programs.
Click here to open the Parent Handbook
Hours of Operation
Before School – 7:00 a.m. to approximately 9:00 a.m. (end time varies according to start time of each school).
After School – School dismissal to 6:00 p.m. (includes Friday early dismissal for both the Public & Separate Schools and early dismissal on the first Monday of each month for Separate Schools)
Full Days – 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
We may implement collaborative programming, where two or more programs combine at one location, in an effort to reduce the amount of staff required or in cases where not enough staff are available due to sickness or time off. Children are required to attend the program location that is designated for their particular school. Locations are chosen based on school availability and every attempt is made with the schools to try rotating locations on a consistent basis.
Programs will be closed for Statutory Holidays or days in lieu of should they fall on a weekend. We may also be closed for school year and summer program planning, school closures or days when attendances are predicted to be very low.
Cancellation of Services
We require notification from the registering parent six (6) business days prior to the start of the month in which you wish to terminate services with IT’S A BLAST. If we do not receive the 6 business days notification, you will be charged for the month according to what you had previously booked.
Late Pick Up Fees
Programs end at 6:00 p.m. and children must be picked up by then. Any parent, or other person, arriving to pick up between 6:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. will be charged a late pick up fee of $25.00. An additional $25.00, for every 5 minute increment after that, will be charged until the child is picked up. Late pick up charges must be paid within five (5) business days.
NSF Fees
A $25.00 service fee is charged for any payments returned as non sufficient funds. NSF payments, including the service charge, must be replaced by cash, debit, credit card, certified cheque or money order within five (5) business days and failure to do so will result in the termination of all services.
Registration
An online registration must be completed prior to a child attending any of the programs.
At time of registration, we require advance payment in the form of cash, pre-authorized credit card agreement dated for the first (1st) day of each month or pre-authorized debit agreement dated the first (1st) day of each month or the twentieth (20th) day of the preceding month. i.e. Payment for September fees are dated for September 1 or August 20.
Staff to Child Ratios
Staff to child ratios for our Before and After School programs are one staff for every fifteen children. When six or more children are present at the program, a minimum of two staff are required. Staff to child ratios for the lunch program is approximately one staff for every twenty-five children.
Staff Qualifications & Certification
In our licensed programs, Summer, Kinder Kare, Before and After School, IT’S A BLAST requires the program staff to have a Criminal Record Check, Child Welfare Check, current First Aid Certificate and Alberta Child Care Staff Certification before having unsupervised access to children in the programs.
Subsidy
Subsidy to assist parents with payment of Summer, Kinder Kare, Before and After School program fees is available through Southwest Alberta Child & Family Services. Parents can apply online at www.child.gov.ab.ca .
Parents who are on subsidy, or are applying for subsidy, are required to give advance payment in the form of a pre-authorized debit or credit card agreement at the time of registration. Even though subsidy has been approved, parents must still pay a deposit equal to one month’s fee for each child registered. This deposit will be held for the duration that the child is registered in BLAST to cover any prorated fees from the first to the last month of care.
Note: Existing subsidy parents who have children attending both school year and summer programs are required to notify Subsidy each time the location of the school they attend the program at changes.