Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 21, 1993 TAG: 9301210419
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY WALKER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
MAGIC PLACE CASTS SPELL ON LATCHKEY KIDS
Annabel Sandler wore her tap shoes to the first grade at Highland Park Learning Center. When she stayed after school for the Magic Place, a child-care program, she was unable to run and play in the playground with the other kids because of her shoes.Fortunately, there was someone she could talk to - Berit McCue, a staff member of the Magic Place.
In the sunshine of a warm January afternoon, Annabel sat on McCue's lap as McCue swayed on a playground swing. They discussed feminine concerns, such as beads, lipstick and dresses. They also talked about mysteries of the adult world, such as: What is a business card? Why do grown-ups carry them? (It's because they have to work.)
The staff's relationship with children is the key to the Magic Place, said Cal Johnson, executive director of YMCA of Roanoke Valley. The YMCA operates the Magic Place in conjunction with Roanoke city schools.
The Magic Place is offered before and after school at eight Roanoke elementaries: Crystal Spring, Fishburn Park, Garden City, Grandin Court, Highland Park, Raleigh Court, Round Hill and Westside. Full day care is available on teacher workdays, holidays and during the summer. Boys and girls ages 5-12 are eligible.
The first school to offer the Magic Place was Grandin Court Elementary.
"It started as a need expressed to us from some parents from that area, and we went to the school system to see if they would allow us to open a program using this school site," Johnson said.
One of the early challenges was government red tape. While an older building may be approved for school use, it may not necessarily meet requirements for day care, Johnson said. However, this bureaucratic roadblock was overcome and an after-school pilot program opened in 1989.
The program was mainly designed to provide working parents with affordable and convenient child care.
Ruth Leggett is a legal secretary at Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove in Roanoke. Her 7-year-old, Caroline, and 5-year-old, Louis, attend the Magic Place at Highland Park.
"I don't have any option other than extended day care because I work," she said. "The YMCA program, being here after school, is a lifesaver for me. Otherwise, I'd have to leave work at 3 or hire a baby sitter."
Leggett has nothing but praise for the Magic Place. "This year's program is fabulous," she says. "This year I can't get 'em to leave. They get 'em outside and do lots of fun things."
Justin London, 8, is a four-year veteran of after-school care at Highland Park. He's pleased with the Magic Place, which replaced another after-school program at Highland Park this year.
The Magic Place, he says, is "cool. Get to do stuff. This year, with the YMCA, it's neat. Go on field trips to the YMCA. Go swimming and stuff."
Justin is one of the nation's growing population of "latchkey kids."
"The trend for latchkey kids is one we've seen for the last five to 10 years, and certainly there's no evidence that the need will decrease," Johnson said.
In branching into child care, the Roanoke YMCA is following a national trend. The YMCA is the largest single, child-care provider in the country, and YMCA/school partnerships are common nationwide, Johnson said.
By offering child care in a school building, the YMCA avoids the expense of having to build a facility. Another way the YMCA keeps care affordable is by relying on parents to provide transportation. Parents may drop off children after 7 a.m. and pick them up until 6 p.m.
Prices range from $6 per week for three mornings of before-school care, to $32.50 per week for five days of before and after-school care. There is a $20 one-time registration fee. No one is turned down because of inability to pay.
Activities include age-appropriate games, arts and crafts, field trips, speakers and homework time. Staff members provide tutoring, if needed.
There are 30 to 35 part-time staff members. Staff members receive 16 hours of orientation, plus six hours of training every other month.
The consistent presence of supportive adults is especially important in the lives of those children who rarely get to see their parents or parent, said Patty Moore, youth director.
That's why staff members play several roles. "They're not only a child-care provider, they're a friend and role model, and they're able to give positive feedback."
The Magic Place has retained its emphasis on staff-child interaction as it has expanded. Before-school care was added in 1991. The program serves nearly 300 children and could serve many more.
"Certainly we're interested in expanding where the need arises," Johnson said. "There's a lot of low-income parents who need this. To keep scholarshipping and providing financial aid will be our biggest challenge."
Close to 20 percent of the children receive help with program costs. Johnson hopes the YMCA's endowment program, the Heritage Club, eventually will be able to provide financial assistance for the Magic Place, as well as other youth programs.
"Once we're committed, we're going to find a way to do it," he said. "That's part of the mission of the YMCA."
To register a child in the Magic Place or for more information, call the YMCA at 343-2476.