South Mountain YMCA Takes Over Operations of Beyond the Bell

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The South Mountain YMCA, a leader in providing safe, quality child care, enrichment, and camp programming for children in Maplewood and South Orange, will be coordinating the local after-school enrichment program, Beyond the Bell, starting this fall.

Beyond the Bell is designed to help all students stretch and grow by deepening and expanding after-school opportunities at the elementary level. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of subjects and activities, taught by enthusiastic and experienced instructors in a comfortable and familiar environment.  

”Beyond the Bell gives so many children unique enrichment opportunities and the South Mountain YMCA is excited to be at the helm. Our goal is to retain the structure and format of the program as much as possible, and we are working with the school district to ensure a smooth transition,” said James Goodger, District Executive Director at the South Mountain YMCA.

The South Mountain Y will operate Beyond the Bell for the 2023-24 school year. The fall session begins on Monday, Oct. 2. Jonelle Delk, longtime BTB Director with the South Orange-Maplewood School District and a former BTB staff member at Clinton Elementary, was hired by the Y and will remain in her director role. Gailmarie Green, South Mountain YMCA Arts & Enrichment Director, is the branch lead working along with Delk.

“The Y is already an integral community resource for families looking for top quality child care and academic enrichment programs for their children. I look forward to working with the Y staff team to ensure a successful transition and introduce an exciting array of activities that help kids excel beyond the school day,” said Delk.

Beyond the Bell will be offered at Clinton Elementary, Delia Bolden Elementary, Marshall Elementary, Seth Boyden Elementary, South Mountain Elementary, South Mountain Annex, and Tuscan Elementary schools. Some instructors are teachers and staff within the school building, parents or neighbors, while others come from the wider community. 

Beyond the Bell is not the same as the Y’s School Age Child Care Program, which is also operated by the Y and provides before and after school care to students in nine sites across the SOMA district. The Y will continue to offer its before/after school program in addition to BTB.

For updates and information about Beyond the Bell and registration, visit the South Mountain YMCA website. 

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ABOUT THE Y

Established in 1885, the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges invests in its diverse communities to promote wellness, safety and quality of life for children, adults and seniors. Its seven branches in East Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, New Milford, Hardyston, Stillwater and Wayne are committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility through an array of programs. Some 35,000 people belong to the Metro Y, which awards more than $2 million annually in direct and indirect financial assistance.