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WELCOME TO FORT BLISS SCHOOL AGE SERVICES
School Age Services (SAS) is the bridge between early child care and middle school & teen under the Child and Youth Services (CYS) umbrella of oversight and management.  Our top priority is to bolster operations and increase availability of quality affordable services to families. We plan our program in cooperation with all CYS programs, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs, and all other community organizations that can support the health, safety, education, and welfare of children.
 
Fort Bliss SAS sites are nationally accredited by the National After School Association (NAA) formerly National School Age Care Alliance (NSACA).  This accreditation assures parents of a commitment to responsive and loving care, trained and competent staff, a safe and healthy environment, and consistent program improvement and quality.  We use Assessing School-Age Child Care Quality (ASQ) tools, a five-step process which guides us as we look at program quality so that we can develop important priorities.  We involve the children, families, staff, and community in an open dialogue about the program. Together, we make changes which benefit the whole community. The ASQ process provides that “you”, administration, staff, families, children and the community members are the best people to make the changes that will improve the program.
 
Safety
School-Age Services is committed to safety. We are annually inspected and certified by the Department of Army and comply with the Army regulations governing facilities providing care to children.  These regulations are intended to establish minimum standards in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children. Our activity space, supplies and equipment are high quality, maintained in good repair and inspected by the higher headquarters’ authority.  Parents as well as Training and Program Specialists are involved in observing and documenting the fact that we meet our own standards of quality that exceed the minimum state licensing regulations. For example, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (TDPRS) licensing regulations require a child to staff ratio of 26:1, but Fort Bliss School-Age Services provides a ratio of 15:1, so for a site with 78 children we provide six staff when state licensing regulations require only three. We know that child to staff ratios are the number one predictor of quality and safety in a childcare program. We understand that even with sound risk management, accidents sometimes happen. The School-Age Services participants are covered under an Army liability insurance policy.
STAFF CERTIFICATIONS
School-Age Services direct care staff is composed of Child & Youth Services Program Assistants.  Each has had extensive background checks by PMO, CID, SWS, ADAPCO (drug testing), EPPD and NACI.   Training in: Ages & Stages growth characteristics, Age-appropriate developmental and recreational activities; environments; guidance techniques; child health, sanitation, and nutrition; administering medication and communicable diseases; safety and emergency procedures; child abuse identification, reporting, and prevention; special needs awareness; CPR and first-aid; regulations and SOPs; and parent/public relations.  Each receives 36 clock hours of training per year when the state licensing regulations only require 16 hours per year.  We require all our staff to have CPR and first-aid certification, whereas, the state only requires that one person on duty be certified.  All staff is required to wear a name tag when on duty at any CYS operation.
School-Age Services Facility Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operation of their SAS program site. They lead the staff, communicate with families, build relationships with the school staff and faculty, and oversee all program activities. The Facility Managers are available to answer your questions and provide you with a program orientation.  
SITE LOCATIONS AND SCHOOLS SERVICED
SAS operates two before and after-school sites.  We transport children to and from all schools that are either on post or adjacent to post.  Working parents whose children do not attend the schools serviced by our programs in the EPISD can request a "Working Parent Transfer" to a listed school through Pupil Services at 6531 Boeing Drive.  Children arriving after buses have departed become the parent's responsibility to transport to school.  Please note that breakfast ends at 7:30am.  

Main SAS, Bldg. 131 on Doniphan Rd. provides before & after-school, full-day, and weekend programs for:
BLISS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HUGHEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MILAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ROSS MIDDLE SCHOOL
School-Age Services Bldg. 3505 on Ellerthorpe rd. provides before & after-school, and full-day care programs for:
LOGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MILAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TRAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BURNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
 
 
WHAT DO SCHOOL AGE SERVICE KIDS GET TO DO?
School-Age Services offers a variety of well-rounded daily activities for children to choose from that are safe, fun and educational. There are a wide variety of child-directed activities, staff-directed activities, clubs, 4-H projects, field trips, presentations and visits from outside groups, special events and daily snacks. Activities are planned in advance and outlined on a monthly activity calendar that families can use for home-time discussions and planning. Each day the activity area is transformed from the youth center into a model SAS indoor environment, which includes a quiet home-like area appropriate for relaxing, a homework lab, a Youth Technology Lab, special interest areas, a fine motor area, an open ended art area, a dramatic play area, an active play area, a strategy building games area, a snack area, and more! We offer arts and crafts with many craft materials to make whatever they want, imaginative indoor activities, outrageous outdoor games, science and nature, music and drama, international and multi-cultural activities, field trips, homework time, daily snacks and special events.
Child-Directed Activities:
Child-Directed Activities are open-ended activities that children are free to choose to participate in that require little or no help from adults. Some examples of child-directed activities are indoor and outdoor interest centers such as sand toys, sand play, Lego’s, Lincoln Logs, other manipulative, hand puppets, dress up, pretend businesses, other dramatic play, clay, play dough, art, creative expression centers, strategy games, etc.    
 
Staff-Directed Activities:
Staff-Directed Activities are scheduled activities that require some adult direction and supervision. Some examples of staff directed activities are Character Counts, Power Hour, or active games such as "Octopus" or "Loose Caboose", team sports such as soccer or softball, other activities such as a cooking or sewing project, or a more complex art project or a fine arts play.
 
Clubs:   
Clubs are special interest groups that children may join which are facilitated by staff and lead by children. Some examples of club themes are reading, science, drama, journalism, fitness, cooking and the environment.  These clubs will vary based on children’s expressed interest.  SAS sites also offer in conjunction with the Texas Cooperative Extension office, a 4-H club and projects.
 
Homework and Youth Technology Labs:
Within each SAS program site we have a Homework Center and a Youth Technology Lab. Children who chose to do their homework may go into the Homework Center for Power Hour. Staff will help them with their homework and provide additional educational opportunities such as special projects of fun Power Pages to practice math or vocabulary. When they are done with their homework they are free to put their books away and go play with their friends. If children refuse to complete their homework, that is an issue that they can discuss at home with their parents. SAS staff cannot "make" children sit and complete homework, it is their choice.
 
Children can sign-up for the Youth Technology Lab each day. Their name will be called in turn for the lab. Usually the lab can accommodate 9 to 15 children. The Youth Technology Lab technician has children work on projects and games together to build computer skills and social skills. The Youth Technology Lab is seen as an opportunity for children to build skills in technology, personal and written communication, cognitive and social skills.

Parents will be asked at registration to give permission for their children to access the internet. Screening software is installed on all computers and children are monitored very closely.

Hours of Operation:

Before School Monday - Friday

5:30am-First Bell

After School Monday - Friday

Dismissal Bell - 6pm

Super Awesome Saturdays every Saturday of the month at Logan SAS, Bldg. 3505

3-10pm

Summer, Winter, Spring Camps

5:30am-6pm

School Out Days

5:30am-6pm

Sunday & Federal Holidays

CLOSED
Main Sas
bldg.131 Doniphan Rd.
Main Post
568-7187/5544
 
Logan SAS
Bldg. 3505, Ellerthorpe rd.
Logan Heights
915-569-5779/5784

Eligibility:  Priority for Care:

  • Category I – Single (sole parent) active duty military patron; dual active duty military patron or single DoD civilian; CYS staff children and/or siblings of children already in a full-time program.

  • Category II – Active duty military or DoD civilian with full-time working spouse.

  • Category III – Active duty military or DoD civilian with a full-time student spouse.

  • Category IV – DoD contractors

  • Category V – Active duty military or DoD civilian whose spouse is not working or attending school full time.

Children participating in the Before and After School program must be enrolled in grades first through fifth.  Children participating in SAS summer camp program must have completed the first grade and be under the age of 12.  Transition from kindergarten/CDC into SAS begins on the first day of school.   CDS offers a structured age appropriate summer camp for children entering kindergarten and/or first grade.  Youth Services provides a youth & staff directed summer camp program for middle and high school youth.

Children of sponsors eligible to use MWR activities in accordance with AR215-2  may use the services provided by CYS programs.

WINTER, SPRING AND SUMMER FUN CAMPS
A full-day program for school age children during their intercession vacation, which provides recreational and developmental activities. Activities may include individual and group games, swimming, bowling, roller-skating, archery, arts & crafts, and field trips to museums, parks, and local areas of interest to the children. Admission fees for all activities are included in the child's program participation fee.

Click below for monthly calendars

Logan Site Main Site
June 08
 June 08

DAILY SCHEDULE
When visitors step into the School Age Services (SAS) building, they see happy, busy children, a rich environment, caring adults, and a variety of activities. We have found that talking with the children about what they like to do and observing them, planning the activity areas based on child preferences and developmental levels and maintaining a variety of activities is one of the secrets to a successful program. The other critical element is respecting children's freedom and choice. Children do not have to ask to move around the building, they are not directed by an adult to participate in projects or activities.
 
Children choose what they would like to do and what they are interested by using the “Children’s Choice Board” with their magnetic ID swipe cards. The “Board” is used to help children make their choices within certain limits set by staff to ensure children’s safety, but allow them freedoms to practice responsibility and autonomy within the program grounds.  The staff communicates on a continuous basis about the children's supervision and location by two-way radios.
 
Mornings: An organized staff-directed activity is scheduled every morning and children may also enjoy the child-directed activities, or participate in supervised in door/out door free play depending upon the weather. Breakfast is provided buffet style from 0630-0730. Milam School students are transported the earliest to school at 0710, others will leave at 0730-0745.
 
Afternoons: Children report to their designated pick up point as soon as school is dismissed.  Attendance is taken and any child who is absent is followed up on. The first half hour (1530-1715) of the after school program provides nutritious snacks buffet style and outdoor/gym play is available. Children can choose to eat a second snack, burn off some energy in active play - running laps, sit and talk with their friends - sit and rap, relax in the quiet area - read or do home work, etc.
 
From 1615 1730 all areas are open. From 1730-1800 areas of choice are gradually reduced and cleaned up as the numbers of youth are picked up.  Group announcements and discussion time usually follows snack on Mondays. Children hear what their choices are for the day and discuss things like their school day, family time, value words, scheduled activities, etc. Each afternoon there are two or more scheduled activities one active and one passive.  Children that do not choose to participate in the scheduled staff-directed activity may choose a child-directed activity or monitored indoor/outdoor free play. 
 
Parents may come into the program and observe children moving from one place to another and feel uncomfortable with so much freedom. The SAS program does not resemble a formal school setting - we like it that way. After a day at school, children want to move or rest, play or be quiet; it is up to them. Children don't like to wait; they want to do what interests them. They want to spend time with their friends or talking with a trusted adult or they are hungry for a snack. We find that behavior problems are kept at a minimum when children have interesting and age appropriate choices. We also find that children have many opportunities to extend their math and science learning by conducting hands on projects such as cooking, reading or using the computer. They build social skills by participating in clubs and group projects. They also build their bodies by playing active games outside, participating in fitness activities, and eating healthy snacks. During full-day intercession, field trips, sport events, swimming and special programs are planned.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
SAS utilizes government vehicles as a privilege to our patrons and trains our staff to safely operate them with the most precious cargo – children.  Our safe passenger rules must be adhered to at all times, please review them with your child, failure to follow these safety rules may result in suspension of their vehicle privileges.
 
* Seat belts must be worn at all times in vans.  Van can not move until everyone is buckled up.
* Everyone must remain seated and facing forward on buses.  Bus cannot move until everyone is properly seated.
* Inside voice is to be used at all times in vehicles.
* Eating, chewing, and drinking are prohibited in vehicles.
* Nothing may be extended out a window.
* Help the group keep the vehicle clean and trash free, place trash in designated trash container.