Program Information

Kidzone is a non-profit school age child care program. offered to students between the ages of 5 and 13 years old attending St. Stephen the Martyr School. We operate according to the school calendar. During the school year, our hours of operation are 7:00AM - 8:00AM and dismissal time, 3:15PM - 6:00PM. We are also open on in-service days and days during school breaks.

You must register with Kidzone in order to attend. There is a minimal registration fee. You will receive additional information regarding other fees when you register. We offer exciting, fun-filled opportunities for children that will spark memories to last a lifetime!

Kidzone also offers a summer program for students and parishioners of St. Stephen the Martyr. Separate registration is required to participate in Summer Kidzone. We offer many exciting activities, field trips, swimming and FUN!

Background Information

St. Stephen the Martyr Kidzone is a Nebraska non-profit corporation, offering care for school aged children. Kidzone received corporation status on August 3, 1995.

Kidzone was created because there was difficulty in hiring a new director for the 1995-96 school year. The principal and the pastor did not have the time to run a new program and were considering bringing in the YMCA, or not offering the program at all. By setting up Kidzone, not only was the responsibility offset from the school principal and pastor, but it kept the program control with St. Stephen the Martyr Church and its parents, and the income from that program at St. Stephen the Martyr Church and School.

Basic Philosophies of the Kidzone Program

Realizing that the need for a school aged program exists, and will only become larger as the growth of the school increases, the following has been adopted:

1. The Kids come first!
   Expenditures that are needed for the kids and to run a good quality program are paid first. State regulations are a minimum, not the norm.
    
   
2. Reasonable rates for care will be charged.
   Kidzone rates are just under the Millard Public after school rates.
    
   
3. All income beyond staff and program expenses becomes a donation back to St. Stephen the Martyr parish and school.

Additional recommendations and philosophies of the Kidzone Program

• The director runs the program and handles discipline, budget, hiring staff, etc.
• The advisory board is a support structure for the director and advises on policies.
• Staff will be paid at competitive wages in order to retain good people.
• Hours have been expanded to include conference days, vacation days, and the summer holiday because alternate care for parents for these times is exorbitant.
• Additional space will be licensed as needed (i.e., portables, computer lab, first floor of school).
• Grant money is actively searched.
• Field trips are scheduled.
• Christian values are stressed, prayer and incorporation of Catholic celebrations is included.
• The program is constantly being IMPROVED.

Overview of Finances

The director does all the budgeting of supplies, snacks, staff hours, etc. Donations are given to both St. Stephen the Martyr Church and St. Stephen the Martyr School on a regular basis.

Kidzone pays for staff training. The director and an assistant attend the National Conference on Childcare, in addition to a management training seminar, in order to keep up on the childcare industry and possible ways to improve the Kidzone program.