Helpful Information About ESS
HOURS - after school daily until 6:00pm
*Summer and holiday hours (see calendar for days ESS is open when school is closed) will be 7:30am-5:30pm
A late pick up fee will be charged after 6:00 pm. Refer to Terms & Conditions for amounts.
ADMISSION - This program is open to TK through fifth grade students. Children who will attend kindergarten in the fall are eligible to enroll and attend ESS the summer before they start kindergarten, subject to availability due to limited space. Kindergarteners must be registered at Garden Road School before registering for ESS.
REGISTRATION - A completed registration packet and fees must be received prior to entry into the ESS program. Registration packets are available in the ESS office or by email.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS & MINIMUM DAYS - Please see our Program Information page for more information on each of these options.
FEES - Refer to the ESS Fee Chart for the monthly fees.
***Please note that there is a $125.00 registration fee (non-refundable) per family per year and a $75.00 re-enter fee after dropping from the program for any length of time.
Fees are due on the first day of each month for full-time and part-time options. They are due at time of sign-up for the minimum day option (Fridays). A fee of $20.00 will be assessed if payment is not received by the 15th of the month. The ESS program is self-supporting and financially independent of the Poway Unified School District.
SUMMER PROGRAM FEES - All fees for scheduled activities and an afternoon snack are included in the summer program fees.
SIGNING IN & OUT - GR ESS Staff signs students in/out daily. Only an authorized person with a picture ID can sign a child out of ESS. Changes to your authorized pick up list must be done in person. Your child is expected at ESS each day. Please notify us whenever your child WILL NOT attend ESS.
VACATION & ABSENCES - Monthly fees can be prorated only when a two-week notice has been given on a Fee Adjustment Request form. Credit is given in five-day increments only and each child is allowed two weeks per school year, excluding Presidents Week and Spring Break (optional attendance). Two vaction weeks are also available during our summer program with the same guidelines. If you choose to extend the two-week allotment, a withdrawal from the program is required and a $75.00 re-enter fee will be assessed upon return. There are no refunds for absences due to illness or partial attendance.
DISTRICT BREAKS - The District Breaks in February and April require advance sign up for the entire week (no single days).
ILLNESS - If your child is not feeling well, please do not send him/her to ESS. Students who have been ill must be well and fever free for 24 hours before returning to ESS or school. If your child becomes ill or suspected to be contagious, you will be notified to pick him/her up promptly. It is very important that you keep us updated on changes in work, home, cell, and emergency phone numbers. ESS follows all PUSD Covid Rules/Guidelines.
MEDICATION - ESS will administer medication (prescription or non-prescription) to students only if a PUSD Authorization for Medical Administration form has been completed by a physician and parent. All medication must be in the original container. Sunscreen, chapstick and non-medicated cough drops need only the parent's portion of the form filled in and signed.