Afterschool Programs Currently Closed
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are not currently operating any of our Afterschool programs.
To create, build and maintain programs dedicated to the care, education, and positive development of school-age children during their out of school time. We emphasize life skills through community service and enrichment-based programming.
PJA Afterschool programs are committed to offering the highest quality care for our families. We strive to provide unique experiences that will strengthen each participating child’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical and creative development and we understand that, as caregivers, we must give children’s needs first priority. We respect the family as the primary and most important care provider and believe that parents, school, and afterschool are all partners in each child’s care, education and success.
PJA Afterschool programs are enrichment-driven and choice-based. We provide students with a healthy balance of teacher-directed, hands-on activities and child-initiated, creative free play. In our teaching we utilize strategies that support the distinct learning needs, interests, aspirations and backgrounds of the children in our care. Our fun enrichment projects expand on student learning and impart knowledge and skills that can be applied in the world at large. We encourage children to become active, self-confident and enthusiastic learners by focusing on the process of discovery.
Unique themes are introduced on a weekly or monthly basis and focus on ideas that may not be typically explored in the classroom, such as “Grossology: Fun with science!”, “Artstravaganza: Exploring the Arts!”, and “Culinary Adventures!”
Service Learning is a key component of our monthly programming and is integrated into our monthly themes. Our service learning projects encourage children to take part in their community, to learn about caring for one another, and to connect to the greater needs of humanity. Whether we are supporting our school communities by donating to the school auction, raising money for a special cause by selling child-made crafts, or making badges of honor & thank-you cards for teachers and school staff, our students are learning to give of themselves - a skill we hope they will continue to use once they leave our program.
Life Skills refers to the skills that we need to make good decisions so that we are managing and living our best life. We know the value of teaching these skills to children and we take care to ensure that our enrichment programming provides ample opportunity for students to learn and practice concrete skills like how to tie shoelaces, make healthy food choices, manage money, plan, organize and set goals. We also focus on the soft skills of developing empathy, leadership, conflict resolution, stress management, etiquette and good communication. Our goal in focusing on life skills, is to prepare students for the everyday situations of life as well as for more abstract, long-term choices.
We believe the strength of our programs lies in the dedication of our caring teaching teams. We support our afterschool educators with continued professional development opportunities, resources, and the freedom to use their passions and skill sets to create unique learning experiences for the children in our programs. All PJA Afterschool teachers are registered with the State of Oregon as required by law and all go through background checks. Every afterschool teacher is also equipped with multiple health and safety certifications including CPR/First Aid, Food Handling, and Recognizing/Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.
We aim to create a partnership between families and our afterschool educators for the benefit of every child in our program, and we promote and encourage daily communication. Our doors are open to families at all times and we welcome families to drop in and observe, have snack, or just hang out with their child(ren).
We are committed to serving food that is both appealing to children and supportive of their growth and development. We follow strict nutritional guidelines for school-age children established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (NAEYC), and the National Afterschool Association, (NAA). Snacks include 100% juice (never diluted) or milk, fruit or vegetables, a dairy option: generally cheese, milk or yogurt, and a grains portion of crackers, pasta or other breads. All snacks served are Kosher. Water is ALWAYS available.
September through June, Monday - Friday
K-7 Before Care Program - 7:00 - 8:45 am
K-7 Afterschool Care Program - 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Covid-19 Update: Due to school and office closures, we are not able to accept faxed or postal mailed application paperwork at this time. Please EMAIL completed enrollment paperwork. Thank you for your understanding.
Enrollment at PJA Afterschool programs remains open throughout the school year providing there is space available.
There are 2 ways to get your child’s enrollment process started:
PJA Afterschool offers need-based tuition assistance and accepts DHS child care subsidy payments. Families with financial need are encouraged to apply.
2020-21 Tuition Assistance Application
To apply, or for more information, please contact Beth Germain, PJA’s CFO, at 503.535.3593 or bgermain@pjaproud.org.
PJA Afterschool Department Director, Natalie Haskins
Phone: 503.535.3546, Fax: 503.452.7001
Kidsplace Site Director, Jolene Williams
Phone: 503-936-0234, email Jolene
Program Hours: 7:00 - 8:45 am and 3:00 - 6:00 pm
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Click here to fill out our inquiry form.
Physical Address (not our mailing address):
Skyline Elementary School
11536 NW Skyline Blvd.
Portland, OR 97231
Mailing Address:
Kidsplace
c/o Portland Jewish Academy
6651 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219
Mail Tuition Payments to:
Portland Jewish Academy
Attn: Billing Department, RE: Kidsplace Tuition
6651 SW Capitol Hwy.,
Portland, OR 97219
All forms are available in PDF for your convenience. Paper copies can also be made available upon request.
2020-21 Parent Handbook
2020-21 Automatic Payment Form
Go Green E-Statement Enrollment Form
Kidsplace Homework Contract Form
Kidsplace Contracted Class Release Form
Kidsplace 2020-21 Enrollment Application
Kidsplace 2020-21 Program Calendar
2020-21 VDP Emergency Card (non-members only)
PJA Afterschool offers vacation day care on days when school is closed for in-services, conferences, seasonal breaks and even some of the federal holidays. During vacation care days we offer fun and educational field trips as well as a variety of in-house activities that may include special guests, presentations, theme related movies, special snacks and more!
Vacation Care Programs are offered by term (Fall, Winter and Spring) and held either on site or at Kidscorner, our Southwest Portland site. Families must complete and return the current term’s Participation Authorization form in order to participate.
Please refer to the 2020-21 PJA-Afterschool Calendar for specific Vacation Care Programs offered this year!
Full-Day Care Programs 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, unless otherwise noted
Half-Day Care Programs 12:15 - 6:00 pm (for PJA students only and only on specifically marked days). Early closures may occur and will be listed on the form.
For information on vacation care rates and more, please visit our Fee Schedule page and review the current vacation care term’s participation authorization form.
The Vacation Program Emergency card is for non-program members only and is required for Vacation Care participation.
You can contact your Program Site Director or the Director of PJA-Afterschool Department for further details.
PJA Spring Vacation Day Programs Registration Form
PPS Spring Vacation Day Programs Registration Form
Once we receive and process your form, we will email you a participation confirmation.
The PJA Afterschool Department must receive a completed and signed form before any child is eligible to participate in any Vacation Day Program. This form acts as your legal permission slip for your child to be in our program's care for the extended hours as well as participate in all planned activities and field trips. Incomplete and/or unsigned forms will be returned unprocessed. Enrollment is not guaranteed.
Please send participation forms to:
Postal Mail ATTN: PJA-Afterschool, 6651 SW Capitol; Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
Fax ATTN: PJA-Afterschool at 503.452.7001
Email to Afterschool@pjaproud.org
Hand Deliver to PJA Office to put in the Afterschool Inbox
**Forms are considered incomplete without your signature. Please do not return incomplete forms as they will be returned to you unprocessed which may result in losing your space in the program.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are not currently operating any of our Afterschool programs.