DATES, RATES
& TIMES
DATES OF OPERATION
The Back Pack program follows the school year calendar for Fairfax County Public Schools. We will be closed on holidays as observed by FCPS as well as follow all emergency procedures, closings, and delays put forth by FCPS. The Back Pack is open on Teacher Work Days. Families must register their child(ren) for each Teacher Work Day. Please visit the FCPS website at www.fcps.edu to download the school year calendar and for emergency announcement information. We also encourage you to register to receive emergency alerts via email or text at their website.
The Back Pack follows the decisions of FCPS system with regard to delayed openings, cancellations, and early dismissals due to inclement weather. The Back Pack is open for all enrolled students for delayed openings due to inclement weather. On unexpected and scheduled early dismissal days only students enrolled to attend in the afternoons will be picked up early from school. On FCPS Teacher Work Days (scheduled prior to the start of school) The Back Pack is open from 6:30 am to 6:15 pm to care for only students who attend in the afternoons. Families must register for each Teacher Work Day prior to the day.
FULL DAY CLOSINGS
When FCPS makes a decision to close school all day due to inclement weather, the Back Pack will be closed for the day as well.
DELAYED SCHOOL OPENINGS
On days when FCPS opens late, The Back Pack will make every effort to open at 6:30 am. The students will be transported to school at the delayed opening time. After Care students are welcome to attend Before Care when delayed school openings occur, if space permits, for a $15 drop in fee.
EARLY SCHOOL CLOSINGS
On days that FCPS closes early due to inclement weather, The Back Pack will pick up students enrolled in After Care from school at the early dismissal time. Before Care students are welcome to attend After Care when early closings occur, if space permits, for a $15 drop in fee.
The Back Pack will make every effort to be open until 6:15 pm. In the event of severe weather conditions, energy problems or other emergencies, families may be contacted to pick up students early.
On days that FCPS has scheduled two-hour-early release, The Back Pack will pick up students enrolled in After Care with no additional fee. Students enrolled in Before Care are welcome to attend, if space permits, for a $25 drop in fee. Families must register for each two-hour-early release day prior to the day.
TEACHER WORK DAYS
On Teacher Work Days (within FCPS’s official first and last day of school). The Back Pack offers all-day care (6:30 am to 6:15 pm), at no additional cost, to students enrolled in After Care. Students enrolled in Before Care are welcome to attend, if space permits, for a $50 drop in fee. Families must register for each Teacher Work Day prior to the day.
NOTE: No fee adjustments or refunds will be given for TBP closings due to snow, weather, energy problems, emergencies, unanticipated calendar changes, COVID-19 closures, early pick-ups or cancelled field trips.
PROGRAM RATES
2023/2024 Rates:
Before Care $240
After Care $410
Before & After Care $605
Multiple Child Discounts
For children of the same household, rates are reduced by 10% for your second child, 20% for your third and fourth child.
Enrollment Fee
A non-refundable processing fee of $50.00 is required for each family’s enrollment. This fee is added to your account once enrollment is approved. There are no other administrative charges throughout the school year.
Non-Refundable Registration Deposit
A $100 security deposit is required for each child upon online registration. This deposit is non-refundable and it is applied to your child’s first month’s tuition.
Payment Details
Tuition fees are billed in 10 equal monthly installments from August through May. Fees are the same every month regardless of the number of program days in each month. Each month's tuition is billed in advance via email. Accounts must be paid in full prior to services for the next month. Tuition payments are due on the 20th of the preceding month. A late fee of $25 will be assessed if payment is received after the 5th of the month. There will be a $30 charge for all returned checks. Non-payment and delinquent accounts will result in the cancellation of all services.
Payment Options
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FREE and EASIEST way to pay is via https://my.smartcare.com/ or via the Smartcare for Parents app.
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ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFT) – You must complete and sign the authorization form which will allow for monthly payments to be made from your checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card.
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PERSONAL CHECKS should be made payable to Silo Center.
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CASH should be handed directly to a program employee.
The Back Pack fee schedule is subject to change at the discretion of Silo Center Administration, or due to circumstances beyond our immediate control.
Late Fee
After Care students picked up after The Back Pack closes at 6:15 pm will be charged a late fee of $1 per minute, per child.
DATES & TIMES
Days & Times
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The Back Pack operates Monday through Friday
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Before Care is 6:30 am - school bell time
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After Care is school bell time - 6:15 pm*
*After Care students picked up after The Back Pack closes at 6:15 pm will be charged a late fee of $1 per minute, per child.
2023 - 2024 Calendar
August 21st: First Day of FCPS & The Back Pack OPENS
September 1st: Labor Day Holiday FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
September 4th: Labor Day Holiday FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
September 25th: Yom Kippur Holiday FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
October 9th: FCPS SD* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
November 3rd: FCPS ER* The Back Pack OPEN until 6:15 pm
November 6th: FCPS SP* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
November 7th: FCPS TW* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
November 22nd – 24th: Thanksgiving Break FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
December 18th – January 1st Winter Break FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
January 2nd: FCPS & The Back Pack REOPENS
January 15th: MLK Jr Day Holiday FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
January 25th: FCPS ER* The Back Pack OPEN until 6:15 pm
January 26th: FCPS TW* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
February 19th: Presidents' Day FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
March 5th: Presidential Primary FCPS OPEN & The Back Pack CLOSED (added to FCPS calendar after the first day of school)
March 25th – 29th: Spring Break FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
April 1st: FCPS TW* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
April 2nd: FCPS SD* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
April 10th: Eid al Fitr Holiday FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
May 3rd: FCPS TW* The Back Pack OPEN 6:30 am - 6:15 pm
May 27th: Memorial Day FCPS & The Back Pack CLOSED
June 12th: Last Day of FCPS ER* & Last Day of The Back Pack OPEN
Please Note: Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) last day is Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The last day of service for The Back Pack (TBP) will also be Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Should inclement weather dictate that FCPS be extended, TBP will NOT provide service beyond Wednesday, June 12, 2024. This policy is greatly due to the fact that *Camp Whatakid begins as scheduled on Monday, June 17, 2024. No refunds will be given for any days that are scheduled by FCPS outside of the original calendar which is posted at the beginning of the school year. Should FCPS determine to end school early and dismiss students before Wednesday, June 12, 2024 due to unused inclement weather days, the last day of service at TBP will coincide with FCPS’ newly determined official last day of school. In the past, FCPS has changed unused inclement weather days into additional Professional Workdays at the end of the school year. The only Professional Workdays that are serviced by TBP are those scheduled on the original FCPS calendar posted at the beginning of each school year.
*SD Staff Development and student holiday for FCPS; The Back Pack will be OPEN!
*ER Early Release for FCPS; The Back Pack will pick up children early from school and will be OPEN until 6:15 pm.
*SP School Planning Day and student holiday for FCPS; The Back Pack will be OPEN!
*TW Teacher Work Day and student holiday for FCPS; The Back Pack will be OPEN!