Parents Before & After School Care Little Dutch Club

We are excited you are interested in before and/or after school care at Little Dutch Club! We are dedicated to providing high quality childcare for kindergarteners through 4th graders in a fun environment for the children to look forward to coming to each day. Academics and creative thinking will be embedded in activities to make this time meaningful and engaging!

Little Dutch Club enrollment is currently full with a waitlist. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please contact the Director, Sarah Kuennen at [email protected]

Newsletters

August Newsletter and Meet the Staff

FAQs

Who owns Little Dutch Club?
Pella Community Schools operates Little Dutch Club and is run by the Little Dutch Academy Early Childhood Director.

Where is Little Dutch Club located?
Little Dutch Club will be located at Madison Elementary. Please enter the east doors for pick-up and drop off.

How and when do I register my child for Little Dutch Club?
In the spring, families can register their child for Little Dutch Club. Families currently enrolled in Little Dutch Club or Little Dutch Academy will get first priority. Families on the waiting list will then be contacted. If there is still room, we will advertise for other families to be able to apply.

Who is eligible to enroll in Little Dutch Club?
Little Dutch Club is available to students enrolled in kindergarten through fourth grade.

When does Little Dutch Club start for the 2026-2027 school year?

LDC will open for the first day of the 2026-2027 school year on Wednesday, August 26. Please note, Little Dutch Club will be closed from August 19-August 25 to provide PD to caregivers and to prepare for the new school year. This means that LDC will not be available for childcare on August 24 and 25 during PreK-3rd grade back-to-school conferences.

If my student attends Lincoln Elementary or Jefferson Intermediate, will there be transportation to Little Dutch Club after school?
Yes, children enrolled in Little Dutch Club can ride the bus from Lincoln Elementary or Jefferson Intermediate to Madison Elementary. A childcare worker will greet them at the door after the bus drops them off.

Can preschool students attend Little Dutch Club?
Students who are in preschool are not eligible for enrollment at Little Dutch Club. However, Little Dutch Academy (next door) provides childcare, and we encourage families with preschoolers to seek opportunities there! To learn more, visit pellaschools.org/schools/little-dutch-academy

Are there part time options for childcare?
At this point there are no part time options for childcare. Families will pay for the whole week, but can choose to send their child less if they wish. Additionally, families can opt into childcare on no school days if they are registered with one of the three options listed above. As with every other aspect of this center, we will continually evaluate and adjust according to need.

What days will Little Dutch Club will be closed?

Little Dutch Club will be closed the following days: 4th of July, Aug 19-25, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Dec 23-25, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Good Friday, and Memorial Day. Little Dutch Club will close early (1pm) during Tulip Time. Additionally, LDC will be closed the day after the last day of school before summer care starts. If there are additional days that LDC will need to be closed, it will be communicated with families in advance.

Why will Little Dutch Club be closed for one week in the summer?
Providing professional development to help all caregivers be as effective as possible is extremely important. This week will be used for our staff to learn and grow together. Additionally, this week will be used for general building and property maintenance.

Will childcare be available on snow days?
We will do our very best to still be open and provide childcare on snow days. Our number one priority is to keep staff and students safe. All Little Dutch Club childcare families will be notified if the center is closed due to weather. If we are open, a survey will be shared on Playground for families to sign up.

Will families be granted ‘vacation days’ or a discount for days they do not attend?
During summer care, Little Dutch Club families will be granted one ‘vacation week’ to be used for no charge. This vacation week needs to be communicated to the Director beforehand. Please talk with the Director about other circumstances and if they can accommodate this. During the school year, families will be charged for services regardless of whether they attend or not. For days that the district does not have school, childcare will be optional and families will only pay if they choose to attend.

Is there a sibling discount?
Little Dutch Club does not provide sibling discounts at this time.