The Visser Family YMCA will be providing child care at West Ottawa Public Schools this year, bringing child development programs designed to help kids discover who they are and what they can achieve. At the YMCA’s licensed Child Development Center, in partnership with West Ottawa Public Schools, center professionals recognize the importance of nurturing young minds as they discover the world around them. Its curriculum is designed so that each child gets excellent care and early learning experiences, right inside West Ottawa schools.

The Kinder Care program, for ages 3-5 years old, will be at Lakeshore Elementary School. The program balances learning, fun, rest and play with inside and outside physical activities to keep children’s interest and excitement for knowledge at a high level.

Panther Place, for ages 6-12 years old, will be offered at Lakeshore, Lakewood and Waukazoo Elementary schools. At Panther Place, children are provided with a reliable, safe and fun environment as they prepare for the school day and unwind from it. Nurturing staff provide families with dedicated care during these critical hours.

The 6 a.m.-6 p.m. programs are open Monday through Friday. A $50 non-refundable enrollment fee is charged, with the enrollment dropping to $25 for each additional child, and the enrollment fee is waived all together for current enrollees.

Tuition rates for 2012-2013 are as follows:
Age Group                    Full Time    Part Time/Daily
Early Childhood:        $170            $36
School age:
• Before and After       $90              $19
• Before-Only               $50              $11
• After-Only                   $50              $11
Rates for snow days, school delays, and in-service days are as follows:
• “Scheduled Day”: An extra $15 is charged for care on days there is no school (i.e. snow and in-service days) or for extended care on days school is delayed (i.e. 2-hr. weather delay and late start days) during the week a child is already enrolled for Before & After care.
• Non-Scheduled Day: The rate is $35 for care of a child who is not already scheduled for Before & After care during that particular week.
• Spring Break and Winter Break charges are $135 weekly and $35 daily. Meals are included unless West Ottawa Schools are closed; then parents or guardians will have to provide meals. There is also a 10 percent discount for each additional sibling in child care.

For information, contact the YMCA offices at Lakeshore Elementary School, 3765 N. 168th Ave., Holland, MI 49424, or call (616) 786-1479. 

West Ottawa Wonders Preschool serves students ages 3-5. Located in Lakeshore Elementary, this non co-op preschool offers morning or afternoon classes. Running from September through May, the preschool addresses all areas of development including social, emotional, intellectual, and physical. Areas of emphasis include aesthetics, construction, language, fine motor, gross motor, pretend play, sensory, cognition, and social interaction.

This program is tuition-free to families that qualify and are accepted into the program. You may want to consider sending your child to the Panther Paws Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) if:

• Your child is 4 by November 1 of the program year
• Your child resides in the West Ottawa Public Schools District
• Your child and/or your family qualify for at least two state determined factors.

A child in the GSRP program will have experiences in initiative, social relations, creative representation, music, movement, language and literacy, and hands-on mathematics.

Children meet for half-day sessions Monday through Thursday during the program year (September – May). The GSRP program is located in our Early Childhood Center at Pine Creek Elementary School. Transportation is not provided.

If interested in the Panther Paws Great Start Readiness Program, please contact David Gough at (616) 786-1699.

 GSRP Registration form – English

  GSRP Registration form – Spanish