Like many parents, Kristina Thomas struggled with the guilt that can come with relying on afterschool programs. She worried about the long hours and whether her daughter would truly enjoy the experience. But once she saw how much Olivia was thriving at Right At School, making friends, building confidence, and genuinely looking forward to each day’s activities, she realized the stability and extra help was actually a really good thing for their family.
Kristina never imagined she’d need afterschool care for her daughter. She always planned to be there when her seven-year-old’s school day ended at Carter Elementary, part of the Desert Sands Unified School District in California, because that was what she had growing up. “It’s a really long day for them,” she said. “I wasn’t into that.”
But when life shifted unexpectedly, so did her plans.
After a major change in her family, Kristina’s work schedule became more demanding. She was suddenly juggling more responsibilities than ever, while doing her best to stay present for Olivia. But with the school day ending hours before Kristina was let off work, she faced a tough dilemma. “I can’t leave my job that early,” Kristina explained.
After receiving an email about Right At School, she hesitantly decided to give it a try. The hours lined up perfectly with her work schedule, and she had no better options. “Being able to pick her up at 6 was truly amazing,” she said.
From the very beginning, her fears were eased. Olivia started spending her afternoons playing with kinetic sand, crafting puppets out of popsicle sticks, and creating handmade bouquets of paper roses. “She really loved the program, loved the teachers,” Kristina said. Olivia had complained about other similar programs in the past, so Kristina knew that there was something different about RAS.
RAS quickly became more than just a place to go after school. Olivia grew close with two of the teachers, found joy in daily projects, and became friends with some older kids, which gave her a newfound confidence boost. Now when Kristina picked her up early, Olivia wanted to stay with her friends at RAS. Because of all the people Olivia met at RAS, Kristina said that she saw “a big difference in her social skills.”
For Kristina, her daughter’s positive reaction was extremely reassuring. “I could work and not feel guilt or anything about leaving my daughter at school for such a long day,” she said. Knowing Olivia was in a place where she was not only safe but genuinely happy made all the difference for her. Kristina was finally able to work a full day without worrying about Olivia’s wellbeing.
The academic support was just the cherry on top. With homework help built into the program, their evenings became more relaxed. Having the time to help complete homework—and having it done correctly—was a game changer. “I noticed a lot of improvement in her overall workability,” Kristina shared.
Right At School brought stability when they needed it most—a creative, supportive space where Olivia could continue to grow and where Kristina could breathe a little easier.
“This program has been huge for me and for Olivia,” she said. “I couldn’t have better things to say about it.”
