We cannot believe we are in month one of our After School Program on Tuesday, September 2nd (reminder that all participants must have a new online registration form completed each school year – must be Milford resident or student attending Milford Public Schools). This is just a friendly reminder that we will be closed on Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day. In addition, on Friday, September 5th, we will not be open for the after-school program, as we prepare for our 15th Annual Fundraiser and Fall Appreciation event at CraftRoots Brewery! On Wednesday, September 17th, the Center will be open for registered after-school members for open gym only from 10:30am to 3:00pm and finally, there is no after school program on Tuesday, September 23rd in observance of Rosh Hashanah.
The Center will be getting work done on the building, so you will see scaffolding and construction. You will not be able to exit from the right side of the MYC driveway that leads to our back parking lot. We advise you to park across the street and/or the road on the allowed side. There will be an area fenced off in the parking lot across the street as well for construction materials, but one half will be left for MYC/Town parking! Thank you!
For a look at the September calendar, click here.
For more information about programs see below:
Open Gym, Game Room, and Free Dinner & Snack: Open gym and the game room (will have limited availability this month due to Holiday preparation) are non-structured program spaces, where youth are allowed free play and choose activities. Members are also able to get a free dinner and/or snack in the /lounge area. At 4:00 pm, when we have the capacity, we use the back court for other sports such as soccer, volleyball and football and only allow basketball on the front court to ensure a variety of sports are played during the after-school program. We will allow full-court basketball games, based on availability and attendance. - Fishing: The fishing program is run by a longtime volunteer, Dr. Bob Gilmore. This program will run on the following Mondays and Wednesdays, on September 8, 10, 15, 22, 29 at 4:00. Members will have the opportunity to walk down to Fino field with MYC staff, to learn bait and fishing techniques with no prior experience needed! It will be a catch and release class and will take place, weather permitting.
- Arts & Crafts: Arts & Crafts, led by Program Coordinator, Joanna Abrantes, encourages youth to draw, paint, and craft projects to develop their artistic talents. Arts & Crafts gives the kids a creative outlet that allows their imaginations to flourish and will be run on Tuesday, September 16th at 3:30.
MYC Trivia: Our MYC Trivia program is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th at 3:30. Staff will read off age-appropriate questions and the team with the most correct answers wins!- MYC Cinema: The MYC Cinema will be showing a holiday/seasonal themed movie this month on Friday, September 19 at 3:30.
- Soccer: We will have an organized soccer game on Tuesday, September 24th from 3:30-4:30. Kids can sign up when they arrive after school.
- Bingo: Our very popular BINGO program will be on Friday, September 26th at 3:30. We will be giving after-school members the opportunity to win some fun prizes.
For more information on the programs, click here
All participants of the Youth Center must annually fill out our registration form to be a member. Once this form is completed, members will receive a key tag and ID number if they are new to the program. This is our way of tracking attendance, so please make sure all members bring their key tag to enter. If key tags are lost, the Youth Center will charge $1.00 for a replacement. Members will also be able to use our washer and dryer, free of charge, during our hours of operation. Members must communicate with MYC staff to assist with this process.
For online registration forms click below:
For the food programs that we offer please see below:
- The Youth Center offers a free snack and dinner program, due to the collaboration of CACFP, Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Milford School Food & Nutrition Services department. Please click here for our weekly menu!
- Please click here for more information about the monthly Hockomock Area YMCA Pop Up Food Pantry. Please note the time change!
- Please click here to learn more about our weekly collaboration with Spoonful’s, formerly Lovin’ Spoonfuls. Spoonful’s is dedicated to their food rescue mission, which helps bridge the gap by facilitating the rescue and distribution of healthy, fresh food that would otherwise be discarded. If you are a member of our programming and would like to sign up to receive weekly rescued groceries, click here (limited space).
Basic information about the After School Program:
- The Milford Youth Center is not licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care or any other state agency;
- Registered youth may arrive at or depart from the program at any time during their time at the program.
- As of Monday, February 28, 2022, we will be mask optional. It is important to note that we will support all members and staff who choose to wear a mask after the mandate is lifted. It is possible if conditions shift that masks may be required again sometime in the future as well. This does not change our policy in terms of attending being sick and/or having COVID symptoms. If you don’t go to school due to any type of illness you are not allowed to attend the Center.
- Please make sure your child brings a water bottle with them daily, to refill.
- There is no hanging out in front of the MYC property unless students are waiting to enter and/or to be picked up.
- All students must be picked up by the time of closing, unless they walk home. Pick-up is outside of the youth center at 24 Pearl St (use intercom to communicate with the front desk).
- The Youth Center is not responsible for the care or supervision of children beyond program closing time.
- All lost and found items without names on them are donated and/or recycled (water bottles) at the end of each month as it accumulates quickly! Please remind your child/participant to check daily as they exit.
- Please visit our polices here: behavioral, weather, health and traffic.
- For video of rules, produced by Milford TV click here (video was made prior to mask optional, just FYI).
- For more information on the programs, click here.
Respiratory Virus Guidelines:
On March 25, 2024, we were informed that Massachusetts Department of Public Health recently updated their guidance:
Staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses | Mass.gov
This guidance aligns with recent CDC updated recommendations for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 which were released on March 1, 2024
This guidance is for respiratory viruses like Influenza, RSV, and Covid-19 as they share similar transmission methods, symptoms, and prevention strategies. This unified approach aims to simplify recommendations and address common risks more effectively.
The new CDC guidance for respiratory virus:
When you have ANY respiratory virus–stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.- Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
- When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing and/or testing, when you will be around other people indoors.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
HOW HAS ISOLATION GUIDANCE CHANGED?
The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Note that depending on the length of symptoms, this period could be shorter, the same, or longer than the previous guidance for COVID-19.
It is important to note that the guidance doesn’t end with staying home and away from others when sick. The guidance encourages added precaution over the next five days after time at home, away from others, is over. Since some people remain contagious beyond the “stay-at-home” period, a period of added precaution using prevention strategies, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.
We considered multiple options for adjusting isolation guidance at different lengths of time. In addition to fewer people getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and having better tools to fight serious illness, CDC considered other factors such as the personal and societal costs of extended isolation as well as the timing of when people are most likely to spread the virus (a few days before and after symptoms appear). The updated guidance is easy-to-understand, practical, and evidence-based, as well as more aligned with long-standing recommendations for other respiratory illnesses.
In addition to CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance, there are several special considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness, including older adults, young children, people with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, and pregnant people.
To read the complete report, click here. Also, CDC has created an information FAQ page for the new respiratory guidance, available here.