Heron Hangout

• Familiar & Trusted Faces: Our before- and after-school program is managed solely by dedicated VES staff. Your child will be in the safe, caring hands of team members who already know and love our school community.
• Investing in Our Students: Heron Hangout isn't just convenient—it gives back! 100% of the funds generated by this program are reinvested directly into the Vineland school community to support our students, classrooms, and programs.
• A Fun, Supportive Environment: Whether starting the morning on a positive note or unwinding after the bell rings, we provide a structured, safe, and exciting space for your child to learn, play, and grow.

To help ensure a smooth, safe, and exciting school year for everyone, please take a moment to review the important details below! You'll find everything you need to know about:

• Daily Schedules & Routines – Keeping your child engaged and on track.
• Arrival & Dismissal Procedures – Ensuring quick, safe drop-offs and pick-ups.
• Positive Behavior Guidelines – Supporting a caring, respectful environment for all.
• Tuition & Payment Details – Simple options to help you plan ahead.
• Scholarships & Financial Assistance – Information on eligibility and easy application steps for qualifying families

We are so thrilled to partner with your family and can’t wait for a fantastic year together!

Yearly Registration fee:  $25./student per year

Morning Only: $35./student per week

Afternoon Only:  $75./student per week

Morning and Afternoon:  $85./student per week

Late fees: $10 charge for late pick ups, and $1. For each minute after 5:45 pm
 

Tuition is based on the school calendar. Auto-deductions will be processed at the end of each week school is in session.  It is necessary and important that you retain your username and password for the RevTrak Parent Portal.  The Hangout will not have access to your parent account information. You will need this information to update account information throughout the year.

To help make our program accessible to all, we offer financial assistance in the form of reduced payments for qualifying families.

Key Information:

Eligibility: Available to families requiring before- and/or after-school child care who demonstrate financial need.

Notification: Scholarship applicants will be notified of their status via email once their application has been reviewed.

Availability: Scholarship funds are limited and awarded until funding runs out. Early application is strongly recommended!

How to Apply: If your family is in need of before- or after-school care and requires financial assistance, please complete the form by clinking on this link

Note: Assistance is awarded based on financial need and available funding. Submitting an application does not automatically guarantee a scholarship.

Students will only be released from Hangout to the people that are listed on the student's Emergency Card/Emergency Contact form in their FOCUS account.  In the beginning of each year, parents/guardians must update this Emergency Card/Emergency Contact List online in FOCUS to confirm the people that they approve to pick up their child from VES. The information in FOCUS will be used by the Heron Hangout staff to confirm who is approved to pick up your student.
 

Any person entering Vineland Elementary School must have a valid ID present in order to pick up their child. This is required for all pick ups. For the safety of our students, no exceptions will be permitted. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure everyone on the Emergency Contact list is aware of this policy.

Vehicles must pass through the security gate to enter our campus during drop off or pick up. A valid ID must be presented to be admitted through the security gate and the office doors.

The Hangout program operates through the VES main office. All drop off and pick up occurs in this location. During drop off and pick up all vehicles must be parked in a parking space. There are spaces reserved for Heron Hangout parking. Please use the crosswalk to walk your student into school. For safety purposes, parking is not permitted along the sidewalk.

Important Safety Information: Any person picking up a student from the Heron Hangout must be listed in the student's Focus account on their Emergency Card/Emergency Contact List. This list must be updated in your student's Focus account before the student begins attending the Hangout.

Morning Hangout:

The Hangout opens at 7:00 am. Students should be walked into the office. Please do not enter the building prior to 7:00 AM. Breakfast will be served at 7:55 am. Morning care drop off is between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM. After 8 AM, students must be dropped off through the parent drop-off line. Your cooperation is appreciated.
 

Afternoon Hangout:

The Vineland parent pick-up line occurs between 3:10-3:40 PM. Please refrain from picking up your student from Heron Hangout during this time as it interferes with the efficiency of parent pick-up. If you need to pick up your child during this time, please send a 'change in dismissal' note to your child's teacher and have your child wait in the regular parent pick-up line that day.

The Hangout closes at 5:45 pm. All students must be signed out by 5:45 pm.  A late fee of $10.00 will automatically be applied to your account at 5:46 pm, with an additional fee of $1.00 for each minute after 5:46 pm. After two late pickups of 5:46 pm or later, your child may be removed from the program. 
 

Students who are enrolled in the afternoon Heron Hangout will be escorted to the Hangout by a VES staff member.  Students will have a snack and participate in outdoor physical activity. Students may not bring their own snack. If your child has allergies, please make sure this is noted in your child's FOCUS account and send an email to the school nurse as well as the Heron Hangout director. 

Students will have time allotted to complete homework during HHO. Although homework support is offered, it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure homework is completed thoroughly and accurately. Parent signatures for completion of homework and grade level reading logs should be completed at home. If your child does not have a specific assignment for homework, they will be asked to engage in a quiet reading period. Heron Hangout will also offer enrichment activities for students to encourage socialization, learning, team building and creativity. 

The Heron Hangout policy is based on positive reinforcement. The goal is to help students SOAR: Show Respect, Own Actions, Accept Differences & Realize Potential

Heron Hangout students are expected to adhere and follow the CCPS Code of Conduct & Vineland’s schoolwide CHAMPS rules. If your child struggles with the rules and expectations required at Hangout, the following steps will occur:

1. Staff will reteach the expectation or rule.

2. The student may participate in an alternate or independent activity.

3. The parent will be contacted or notified.

The intention of the Heron Hangout program is to provide students with a safe and supportive before & after school environment. Students who compromise a safe and supportive environment or have multiple attempts of redirection could be removed from the program temporarily or for the entire year. Depending on the severity, a student could face immediate removal from the Heron Hangout.

Heron Hangout is only open when school is in session. We do not provide child care on student days off, to include teacher work days. The CCPS regular school calendar includes 4 early release days for the 26-27 school year. The Heron Hangout will offer childcare on early release days for registered Heron Hangout students.

The Heron Hangout will close at 5:00 pm on the following dates for breaks and school events:

Friday, September 4, 2026

Friday, October 16, 2026 - Heron Harvest & Heron Hype Night (student conferences)

Friday, November 20th - Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday, December 2, 2026 - Reading Night

Friday, December 18, 2026 - Winter Break

Friday, January 15, 2027 - MLK weekend

Friday, February 12, 2027 - President’s Day Weekend

Friday, February 26, 2027 - Heron Hoopla

Thursday, March 25, 2027 - Easter Weekend

Tuesday, April 20, 2027 - STEAM Night

Friday, May 28, 2027 - Last Day of School

Heron Hangout Director: tara.prummell@yourcharlotteschools.net, activities  & scheduling Confidential Secretary/Bookkeeper: patricia.murray@yourcharlotteschools.net, payments & registrations  

Our dedicated school administration is always here to partner with parents, stepping in whenever behavioral plans or tuition timelines require additional care and guidance.         

Thank you again for choosing the Heron Hangout. We look forward to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year together!

Tara Prummell, Heron Hangout Director,      

Patricia Murray, Confidential Secretary/Bookkeeper

Jacqueline Bachnik, Principal          

Kalee Joiner, Assistant Principal                          

Stacy Worrell, Dean of Students