Welcome to STEMful! Our goal is to provide a safe and enriching space for your child to grow, explore, create, and discover through curiosity and play.
STEMful is a place where your child can be who they were meant to be. We are an independent, science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) based educational studio offering camps, classes, a community playspace and after-school programs focused on sprouting student’s curiosity in STEAM and social emotional wellness.
Our diverse team of educators utilize creative instruction to make science feel like second nature and make positive connections. Every project is designed to meet children where they are, drawing on their natural curiosity and energy for play. Through hands-on exploration, thoughtful guidance, and open-ended problem-solving, children discover not just how things work, but how they themselves can make things work.
Days & Hours of Operation
STEMful studio is open Monday through Friday from 9:30pm to 6:00pm.
Our afterschool programs take place on all SFUSD school days starting from 2:00 pm until 6:00PM. On early dismissal days, including parent teacher conference weeks, we provide picks at students’ school one hour earlier. There is no additional fee for this time.
Below is the pick up time, schedule and logistics for each school.
Alvarado – https://sf-stemful.com/alvarado-pick-up-logistics/
Dolores Huerta – https://sf-stemful.com/dolores-huerta-pick-up-logistics/
Flynn – https://sf-stemful.com/flynn-logistics/
Mission Education Community (MEC) – https://sf-stemful.com/mec-pick-up-logistics/
Thomas Edison Charter Academy (TECA) – https://sf-stemful.com/teca-pick-up-logistics/
STEMful follows the SFUSD calendar and offers camps from 9:00am-3:00pm at our studio during the school holidays. We offer Friday movie nights from 6:00pm-9:00pm biweekly. Families will have the opportunity to sign up for these by emailing us at afterschool@stemful-sf.com. There are additional fees for school holiday camps and movie nights.
Below is the academic calendar for:
San Francisco Unified School District
Contacting STEMful
- You can reach STEMful by calling or texting (415) 660-5975 or email: afterschool@stemful-sf.com.
- Please do not call/text your child on their own device, as we require devices to be off and away. To reach a student, please contact admin through the number above.
Snacks
Students are offered a variety of crackers and fruits upon arrival to the park or the studio. If your child does not like eating STEMful snack options, we encourage you to pack a snack for them.
STEMful Pick Up/Sign Out Procedures/Early Pick ups
- How do I pick up my child(ren)?
- Pick up is at our studio, 30 29th Street between Mission Street and San Jose Avenue.
- There is street parking on Mission Street, Tiffany Street, San Jose and 29th Street.
- What do I need to do if I need to pick up my child(ren) early?
- Call or text us at (415) 660-5975 or email us afterschool@stemful-sf.com and let us know your timing. There are occasions when park departure is delayed, and the team can give you guidance on timing and where to pick up your child.
- We know that schedules can be hectic, but to give your child the best experience, we strongly recommend pick up after 5:15pm. This dedicated time is crucial for them to dive deep into their STEM projects and finish their work for the day.
- How do I sign out my child(ren)?
- Electronic sign out occurs on iPads located in our front entrance. It is very important that you make contact with STEMful staff and sign out your child before removing your child from our studio. Select “Curiosity Club/Creator” from the menu and go to your student’s name to sign out. The system will prompt you to enter your phone number and signature.
We will only release your child to the designated adults (18+) listed on your account via Care, the customer registration system that powers the registrations. You will need to email us at afterschool@stemful-sf.com if you need to add a new caregiver to your pick up list with the following information: first and last Name, phone number and email address.
Late Fees
Please be on time to pick up your children. The fee for late pick up after 6:00pm is $20 for the first 10 minutes per child and $1 after each additional minute. Late pickup incidentals will be invoiced via Care.
Sign In Procedures
STEMful afterschool students are picked up by our STEMful teachers at dismissal and brought to the Upper Noe Valley Recreation Center (at Day and Sanchez St) where they meet for snack and afternoon play before heading back to STEMful for their STEAM base learning. Your child will be signed in by STEMful staff at school pick-up time. Be sure to make arrangements with our team should you drop your child off after our scheduled school pick-up.
Drop-In Attendance
Part time families are welcome to arrange additional drop-in days. Drop-ins can be registered on-line through Care . The drop-in fee is $70 per day.
Absences
Absences should be reported via text or phone call at 415-660-5975 or email: afterschool@stemful-sf.com. Contacting your school is not sufficient as we do not have access to attendance records. If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we will all or text you.
Monthly Summaries and Photo Albums
At the start of each month, you’ll receive a summary outlining the exciting topics and themes your students will explore. All photos will be uploaded to our shared albums.
Events
Each year STEMful hosts two events that showcase the students’ work in December and May. These events showcase the students progress and acknowledge STEAM topics culminating to project at the end of each semester, and bring our community together. Stay tuned for this year’s calendar of events!
Monthly Membership
- To make changes to your membership, please give us at least 10 days before the first of the month.
- To cancel your membership, please give us at least 10 business days before the start of the month. Otherwise, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 25% of the monthly program cost.
- To make changes to your attendance days, please give us at least 10 business days before the first of the month. We will make the necessary changes, provided we can accommodate your request.
- All change and cancellation should be through written communication by emailing email afterschool@stemful-sf.com.
- For June, the program fee is calculated at a daily rate of $40, as the program does not run for the full month.
Medication Policy
Prescribed and over the counter medications can be administered at STEMful under the following circumstances:
- All medications must be in the original packaging with the child’s name on the bottle/package.
- Medications must then be put in a Ziploc bag with the child’s name on the bag (it is extra helpful if you include a photograph of your child).
- A note from your child’s healthcare provider must be included for all prescription meds.
- Over the counter and prescription medications must be included on your child’s consent-to-treat-waiver filled out by the child’s caregiver indicating directions and doses. We cannot administer any over the counter medication that is not specifically approved for children. We will administer insulin and nebulizers according to state regulations.
Medical Emergencies/Illness
In the case of a medical emergency we will first call 911 and then contact you. We will refer to your child’s consent to treat waiver.
The staff is trained to address all common health and safety concerns. We will contact you should there be any injuries that require first aid. It is our policy to contact you in the case of any head injury. Our staff will monitor your child for signs of concussion. You will be asked to pick up your child if any of these symptoms are present.
You will be called and asked to pick up your child if they are too ill to participate in classes, have a fever, serious coughing or congestion, pink eye or other contagious conditions. Please do not send your child to STEMful if they are ill. If they have tested positive for COVID, they can return to STEMful if they are symptom free after 5 days.
You will be asked to pick up your child should we find lice or nits in their hair. Your child cannot return to STEMful until they have been treated and all nits have been removed.
Family or Personal Changes
We encourage you to report any significant changes or stressors that might affect your child’s behavior. This will allow us to provide your child with the best care. This includes separation, divorce, moving, unemployment, illness or death of a family member, friend or pet. STEMful is a community – we work together to help all our students move through tough times. Our Programs Manager, David Delgado, is on hand to support your family. You can schedule a time to meet with him by emailing: afterschool@stemful-sf.com.
Restorative Policies
STEMful works with a positive discipline approach utilizing restorative practices. All children deserve to be seen as unique individuals, to be treated with warmth, respect and an open heart. STEMful aims to give each child the freedom to express themself while also being safe, respectful and responsible.
We work very closely with your children to soothe social anxieties, and guide and model appropriate behavior. We use restorative practices to encourage respectful communication.
Should you ever have concerns about your child’s social emotional well being we encourage you to reach out to STEMful Programs Manager at afterschool@stemful-sf.com.
Media/Technology
STEMful occasionally shows videos on rainy days. The videos are STEAM based, stories or movies with imaginative story lines that are rated G. If you have concerns about your child watching videos, please speak with any STEMful staff, and we will make alternate arrangements.
Schedule
STEMful students will participate in STEAM based activities and projects, indoor & outdoor free play. On Mondays through Thursdays your child will have classes with their grade level cohort (TK-K, K-1 and 2-5). Fridays at STEMful is “Fun Friday” and is a culmination of projects and activities that students may have worked on through the week. It is also a time for students to decompress from the week and socialize with their peers and teachers.
We are so pleased that you will be joining us. STEMful is a wonderful community that has been thriving since 2017. We hope your family will love your time at STEMful. If you have questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us at afterschool@stemful-sf.com.