Our Future Our Family Program Expectations

The following plan will be distributed to all families of program participants and enforced as a condition for registration: Dear Parents and Guardians,

As your scholar begins working in the Our Future Our Family Program, we would like for you to understand the expectations that our staff will have and the behavior plan that will be in place for your scholar. These expectations were developed to help your scholar have a positive and successful experience with the program.

EXPECTATIONS

1. COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK: Each scholar is expected to show his or her updated assignment notebook to the Mentor or adult instructor. The assignment notebook should show all of the assignments the scholar needs to work on for the afternoon.

2. BE PREPARED: Each scholar is expected to bring homework and all resources needed to work on homework, such as handouts, textbooks, paper, pens, pencils, calculators, etc.

3. BE RESPECTFUL: Each scholar is expected to be respectful and kind to all staff, adult instructors, peers and property.

4. WORK QUIETLY: During homework time, scholars should work quietly to complete their work and if they finish early, should provide other scholars the same opportunity for a quiet work time. If homework is finished before recess or dismissal, reading or other quiet work will be provided.

To encourage these positive behaviors, we would like to reward those scholars who meet or exceed our expectations. Every day at the beginning of each session the Mentor or an adult instructor will check your scholar’s assignment notebook. If it is complete, your scholar will earn a point. Also, at this time, the Mentor or an adult instructor will check that your scholar has the supplies needed to complete the homework. If your scholar is prepared, he or she will earn another point. Your scholar may also earn points for being positive, respectful, and kind to staff, peers, and volunteers and for working quietly. In addition, your scholar can earn points for weekly grade checks as follows: 4 points for an A+, 3 points for an A, 2 points for a B, 1 point for a C. There will be a reward day each week when your scholar may cash in points for a prize, or save them to add to new points for another prize day. Our hope is that this reward system will help motivate your scholar to do his or her best and to also feel proud about their hard work and effort.

In the event that your scholar is having a difficult time meeting the program expectations, the following behavior plan will be implemented to help create the best possible environment for your scholar and the other scholars in the program.

BEHAVIOR PLAN

1. WARNING: If your scholar is not following the directions of a staff member, a verbal warning will be given to your scholar indicating they have a choice to follow directions or “take five” where they will sit apart from the group for five minutes. Sometimes a little break from the activity will help scholars regroup and regain focus.

2. TAKE FIVE: If your scholar continues to choose not to follow the directions of a staff member, the staff member will let your scholar know that he or she needs to take five minutes apart from the group to regroup and try again.

3. TRY AGAIN TOMORROW: If after a verbal warning and a “take five” your scholar is still not following directions, your scholar will be asked to try again tomorrow. At this point, the scholar is not working on his or her own work and has become a distraction to others trying to work. Your scholar will be sent home if you can be reached for permission. If a parent cannot be reached to give permission, your scholar will be separated from the rest of the group until the program is over. By using the “try again tomorrow” plan, we hope to create a calm and positive working environment for all scholars in the program, while assuring your scholar that he or she can come back the next day and try again.

Our goal is to provide a supportive environment for all scholars. Please be assured that every effort will be made by staff to encourage positive choices by your scholar, and all staff members hope to work with you to create the best possible experience for your scholar at the After School Program. Thank you for your support and the opportunity to work with your scholar during the ______ school year.

Sincerely,
Program Director & Staff

______________________________________________________________________________
(please sign, detach and return)

I _________________________(print name of parent/guardian) understand and support the above expectations and behavior plan for my child___________________________(print name of scholar). I will direct my child to adhere to the above-mentioned expectations at all times. I understand that not following these expectations can result in program dismissal.

Signature __________________________________________Date ______________________