By Lidia Martinez, Right At School Parent
My son, Caleb, and I came to Yuma, Arizona when he was 11 months old. We moved back home to Las Vegas to be with family during the COVID-19 pandemic, then returned to Yuma when he was in the middle of second grade.
When I looked online for daycare, I saw that Right At School offered a before and after school program at Caleb’s new school. I was excited about that. I’m a single parent, I don’t have family here who can help, so finding a program that was on-site at school was perfect for us.
In the beginning, Caleb struggled a little. The move was hard on him, and it was challenging being at a new school. I usually drop him off between 6:30 and 7:30 in the morning, and then pick him up right before 6:00. He was used to doing what he wanted at home and didn’t want to join in the after school activities, but after a few months, he was fine. Now he loves it!
One thing that helped a lot was that Caleb made friends at Right At School. At home, it’s just him and me, so this gives him time to play with other kids and socialize. He likes all the fun things they do, and he likes the staff and enjoys being there.
I like the fact that I don’t have to worry. I’m extremely busy every day, and there’s a lot on my plate. Not having to worry about Caleb’s safety and if he’s okay makes everything so much better. I can focus at work and go about my day. That peace of mind is huge for me.
The Right At School staff are great. When I walk in to say hi, everyone is in such good spirits. They communicate with me all the time about everything, which is awesome. I know that if something were to happen, I would get a call or text right away. But I don’t worry about that because I know Caleb is in good hands, and he’s having fun. Other families I’ve talked to say the same thing. I’ve heard nothing but good things from everyone.
When I compare Right At School to what I’ve dealt with at some daycares in the past, there’s a big difference. Caleb used to dread going to daycare, and I dreaded having to leave him there. But we don’t feel that anymore. It’s not a fight every morning. He gets up, and he’s ready for the day.
Yuma now feels like home in the sense that Caleb loves going to school here. He feels a sense of belonging, and it’s because of Right At School. It’s like a family atmosphere. He feels very secure there — and if he wasn’t, he’s the kind of kid who would let me know right away.
Another change I’ve seen in Caleb is that he’s more confident. When he walks into Right At School, it’s like he owns the place. Everyone says hello to him, and the staff call him by name. He likes to be acknowledged like that. It may not seem like a big deal, but it is to him.
I’ve also become very close with the staff. They’re knowledgeable, professional, and caring.
A good example of how Right At School has been so great is, that a few months ago, I was bitten by a brown recluse spider. I went to the clinic and they treated me, but it got worse over the course of two weeks. They told me to go to the emergency room, and I spent my whole day there. When they finally saw me and said they needed to do a procedure, I told them that it was 5:30 and I had to go pick up my son. They said that because the bite was so bad I had to be treated right away. I sent Right At School a text to let them know that I would be a little late and why. I was beyond grateful that one of the staff volunteered to take care of Caleb until I could get him. She’s like family, and that’s how safe we feel with Right At School. If I wouldn’t have had her, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I will forever be grateful to her.
I would encourage parents, especially single parents, to look at Right At School because this is the perfect program for you and your kids. It can be hard trying to figure out what to do with your child when you’re at work. When Caleb was going to daycare, I’d have to go pick him up after school and drop him off somewhere else, and that took a lot of time away from work. With Right At School, your child stays at school, so you don’t have to worry about that. You can stay at work and do your job.
Not having to worry about anything? I don’t know how you can put a price on that. For us, it’s been wonderful.
Lidia Martinez is a human resources manager and the parent of Caleb, a fourth grader at Dorothy Hall Elementary School in Yuma Elementary School District One in Arizona. Caleb has attended Right At School since the second grade and enjoys participating in the before and after school program and summer camp.
