sm banner

Schoolmates Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Schoolmates logo

Under the Schoolmates Umbrella, PRD offers two play-based extended care programs. 

The Who What Where's

Schoolmates (Grades TK-5)

Block Booking

  • What is It? Enrollment with predetermined timeslots, for families who need full-time, consistent after-school care, with minimal to no scheduling adjustments. 
  • Program Ages 4.3–11 years (TK–5 Grades)
  • Child to Staff Ratio 18:1 (Peak Hours) 14:1 (Non-Peak Hours)
  • Locations  Meets at Havens, Beach and Wildwood Elementary Schoolmates classrooms
  • Program Service Dates Tuesday, September 3, 2024–Tuesday, June 3, 2025
  • Program Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 3:00–6:00; Wednesday 1:45–6:00pm
  • Program Closures  See Schoolmates Closures for details

Flexi-Care

  • What is It? Flexible, hourly enrollment for families who do not need full coverage, and are looking for options to support early pick up, and/or care between various afterschool activities (e.g. PRD & ASE classes, sports, etc.) 
  • Program Ages 4.3–11 years (TK–5 Grades)
  • Child to Staff Ratio 18:1 (Peak Hours) 14:1 (Non-Peak Hours)
  • Locations  Meets at Havens, Beach and Wildwood Elementary Schoolmates classrooms
  • Program Service Dates Tuesday, September 3, 2024–Tuesday, June 3, 2025
  • Program Hours* Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday between 2:00–6:00; Wednesday 1:45–6:00 pm
  • Program Closures  See Schoolmates Closures for details
* Includes Kindergarten Hour from 2:00–3:00 pm on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday

 To view the Schoolmates Parent Handbook, click HERE.

Minimates (Grade TK)

  • What is It? A play-based before or after-school extended care program, exclusively for Grade TK. 
  • Program Ages  Must be registered in PUSD's Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program (Minimum Ages for 2024/2025: Turning 5 between September 2–June 2, 2025)
  • Child to Staff Ratio 7:1 (Approx.)
  • Locations Meets at Havens (AM/PM) and Beach (PM) Schoolmates classrooms
  • Program Dates Monday, August 12, 2024–Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (see Schoolmates Closures for details)
  • Program Hours
    • SUNRISE Mornings: 8:30 am–11:45 am; Wednesdays 8:30 am–10:20 am
    • SUNSET Afternoons: 11:45 am–3:00 pm; Wednesdays 11:45 am–1:45 pm
  • Program Closures  See Schoolmates Closures for details
 To view the Minimates Parent Handbook, click HERE.

Enrollment/Withdrawal Q's

  • How do I register for Schoolmates? Online enrollment is available via CommunityPass (see Enrollment Details page).  
  • When do I register for Schoolmates? Open enrollment for the 2024/2025 School Year opens July 2024.
    • Camp Kaleidoscope: Wednesday, July 10, at 6:00 pm
    • Minimates: Wednesday, July 10, at 6:00 pm
    • Schoolmates: Wednesday, July 31, at 6:00 pm 
  • My child is enrolled! Do I need to register again for Schoolmates each month? Later in the school year? 
    • Block Booking: No. Your child will have an ongoing space until a withdrawal request is submitted. If you decide to withdraw, and wish to return to SM/MM you will need to reeroll via CommunityPass.
    • Flexi-Care: Similar to Block Booking, enrollment can be rolled over each month through May 2024. 
  • Help! Schoolmates is FULL! What do I do?  
    • Block Booking: If your desired day is full, you will have the option to add your child to a waitlist. Families will be contacted, via email, as openings occur throughout the school year.
    • Flexi-Care: Pending space availability, open enrollment is available on the 20th of each month, with service dates beginning the following month (see Schoolmates Parent Handbook for details).
  • My child has a conflict with one of my enrollment days (appointment, playdate, early pick up, etc.), can I cancel and receive a credit/refund? Enrolled participants are reserving time, space, staffing, and provisions for your child, whether or not they attend. Refunds/credits are not processed for these conflicts.
  • Withdrawals: I would like to withdraw from Schoolmates, who do I contact? Contact PRD, via email, at [email protected]. Withdrawal opportunities are available monthly with a deadline on the 15th preceding the next month's service dates. Once withdrawn, PRD cannot guarantee a space will be available should you wish to return to Schoolmates.
    • Block Booking: If your child is enrolled in Block Booking, the withdrawal includes the entire range of time (3:00–6:00 pm; Wednesdays 1:45–6:00 pm), and will not be adjusted for partial hours (e.g. change from 3:00–6:00 pm to 3:00–5:00 pm). 
    • Flexi-Care: Please specify your child's individual timeblocks in your request, typically by the hour.
  • Transfer Requests: Can I transfer my current hours to another timeblock or module? No. Transfer requests between modules or timeblocks will not be processed unless initiated the request of PRD Staff.
  • Mid-Year Enrollments: How can I register? 
    • Block Booking Waitlists: When the school year commences, families are auto-waitlisted to the Block Booking module, and enrollment is managed in-house by PRD Staff. Opportunities to add your child is available monthly via CommunityPass (see Enrollment Details page). Waitlist Invitations are sent via email (between the 15th and 20th of each month), and families will have 48 hours to accept or decline the invitation. If accepted, please refer to the School Year Service Dates for mid-year start dates.
    • Flexi-Care Enrollment (subject to availability): Monthly enrollment opportunities  are accessible via CommunityPass. The enrollment window opens from the 20th (at 6:00 pm) through the 25th of each month during the school year. If enrolled, see School Year Service Dates for mid-year start dates.
  • As a COP/PUSD Employee, do I enroll into Schoolmates differently? If you are employed with the City of Piedmont or Piedmont Unified School District, and your child is participating in a PRD program, please contact PRD during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:00 pm) to review your account settings prior to enrollment.

Tuition/Payment Q's

    Based on an hourly rate approved by City Council, program rates are calculated for all Schoolmates programs, and fees are collected on a monthly basis.

    • Block Booking: Enrollment is set PER DAY; based on $11.20/hour fee structure
    • Flexi-Care: Enrollment is set PER DAY; based on $13.40/hour fee structure
    • Minimates: Enrollment is set PER DAY; based on $11.20/hour fee structure        
    • WHEN do I pay for Schoolmates? The first month's tuition is due at the time of enrollment, and all subsequent payments are processed around the 10th of each month.
    • HOW do I pay for Schoolmates?  Schoolmates tuition is set up on an auto-payment schedule and processed by PRD Admin, therefore up-to-date payment information must be active and stored on your family account.
    • WHAT payment options are available? Community Pass processes payments via credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) and e-checking (using a checking/savings account). To participate at Schoolmates, a payment option MUST BE STORED and up to date.
    • CONVENIENCE FEES: What and how much is it? On Community Pass, there is a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions, 1% for e-checking transactions. Convenience fees will not be charged if a family has a credit on file of equal or lesser value, or is waitlisted for a program.
    • TUITION ADJUSTMENTS: Are there tuition adjustments for PUSD holiday breaks? Tuition is calculated as a flat-rate monthly program fee, and PRD staff adjusts tuition, in advance, where PUSD breaks occur. Tuition adjustments will be reflected when PRD staff processes tuition payments.
    • My payment option was compromised / I have a new payment card: What do I do? Who should I contact? If you have a new payment option, you may add it to your Community Pass account at any time or contact PRD during office hours to assist. 
      • Please Note: Community Pass's automatic payment schedule does not automatically link your new payment, please contact Jessica Pomey to update your payment plan. 
    • I have an outstanding Schoolmates balance, how do I pay? Outstanding balances, or failed payment attempts, can be paid directly via Community Pass. If your family accrues a past due balance, and fails to pay it promptly, this may lead to the removal of the participant until all balances are paid in full.
    • Do you offer refunds/credits for missed days/hours? Refunds, credits, or prorated fees will only be considered by PRD staff under certain circumstances such as extended illness or family situations where the child will be absent for an extended period amount of time. Participants will not be credited or refunded for early pick up, or when they are absent due to early pick ups play dates, or other scheduling conflicts.
    I have more questions, who do I contact?

    Schoolmates Contact Information

    Please refer to the following contacts to connect with PRD Staff:

    Beach Schoolmates/Minimates: [email protected] |  (510) 420-3077
    100 Lake Avenue (portable located next to play structure on Linda Avenue)
    Schoolmates/Minimates Site Coordinator: Sarah Normart
    Schoolmates Site Lead: Summer Davis

    Havens Schoolmates/Minimates: [email protected] | (510) 420-3078
    323 Highland Avenue (Room 333: Access to classroom via Vista Avenue)
    Schoolmates Site Coordinator: Julia Shotz
    Schoolmates Site Lead: Deja Nair
    Minimates Site Lead Team: Maddie Mills & C'Airra Callum

    Wildwood Schoolmates: [email protected] |  (510) 420-3076
    301 Wildwood Avenue (portable located behind upper play structure on Wildwood Avenue)
    Schoolmates Site Coordinator: TBD
    Schoolmates Site Lead: Danielle Sanchez

    PRD Office: prd@piedmont.ca.gov |  (510) 420-3070
    358 Hillside Avenue  |  Monday–Friday from 8:30 am–5:00 pm
    Schoolmates Recreation Supervisor: Katrina Morris
    Recreation Program Coordinator: Kenny Wong

    Program Withdrawal Requests: [email protected]