Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to Idabel Expanded Learning!
This handbook is designed to give students, parents and guardians a helpful insight into the ABC After School Program offered by Idabel Central Elementary and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant. It includes detailed information about program activities, procedures, and policies. Please read this handbook carefully and keep it in a safe place for easy reference during the school year..
ABC strives to provide an atmosphere where students can enjoy, grow,and learn. The staff always welcomes suggestions and ideas that will help us make your child's time at the program beneficial and rewarding. We encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas with us at any time, using our online Questions/Suggestions Portal.
Many thanks to our ABC staff for their energy and the outstanding job they do with the students each day and to the parents and guardians of the students in ABC for your support and encouragement. The students benefit greatly from the many special qualities contributed to ABC by so many committed and caring people!
If you have any questions about the content of this handbook, please feel free to call us at 580-286-5346 during program time: 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through-Thursday. I look forward to the time that we will be spending together.
Best regards,
Carrie Fletcher, M.Ed., Program Director
Jessica Jackson, M. Ed., Site Coordinator
Shannon Pond, M.Ed., Family Service Coordinator
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
At all sites the ABC Program uses a designated area where students have access to enriching activities and homework tutoring.
The staff at each site includes a Site Coordinator and teachers, all of whom are certified teachers and/or holders of Bachelor's Degrees, at a minimum. During the year, the program may also utilize the volunteer tutoring and instructional services of college students who are current Education majors. Background checks are performed on all staff members and vendors employed by the program. The Site Coordinator, Jessica Jackson, is your main point of contact and oversees the program and onsite staff.
ABC's operating policy for the program maintains a maximum staff/student ratio of one to fifteen.
APPLICATION & ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
ABC does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, or disability status. Enrollment application forms for the program are available at each Idabel school, and completed application forms will be collected at the school offices.
Parents of applicants who are accepted into the program will be notified by the ABC Program and must complete an enrollment form for each student enrolled in the program. These forms include the student's personal information, emergency contacts, full legal names of persons authorized to pick up the student, and health and other information. All forms must be completed prior to student attendance. A copy of each student's enrollment form will be kept on file at the student's program site. It is the responsibility of the enrolling parent/guardian to update information in the permission form should any changes occur in emergency, telephone, or other information.
Each site has a limited number of enrollment spaces available. When all spaces are filled,each subsequent applicant's name will be placed on a waiting list, and the applicant's parent/guardian will be contacted as space is available.. To be placed on the waiting list, an enrollment form must be submitted to the office.
Enrollment Applications must be completed each year.
SCHEDULE OF OPERATION
ABC operates on Monday-Thursday, 2:50 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. A calendar will be given to parents, as well as reminders sent home with students about upcoming events or changes in regular schedules. Students will also need to make contact with teachers on virtual days.
Early Dismissal: ABC will be closed whenever schools are dismissed early due to inclement weather or whenever there is an unexpected event that impacts the safe use of the program site.
Field Trips: Field Trips will be scheduled from time to time.. The Site Coordinator will determine whether students who displayed poor behavior during regular program days or on prior trips will be allowed to attend future field trips. Information about each field trip will be sent home with students at least one week in advance of the field trip.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
Students are expected to attend the program on a regular basis. Any student who is absent from the program on three (3) separate days will be dismissed from the program unless his or her absence is excused due to illness; medical, dental or other appointment that cannot be scheduled at another time; recognized religious observance; family emergency or event such as a funeral or birth; or a prearranged absence, early dismissal or tardy that has been approved in advance.
Daily Sign-In
Students must report directly to the Program as soon as they are dismissed from their regular school day.
The safety of each student is paramount to ABC staff. If a student will not be attending the program as scheduled, it is essential that the student's parent/guardian call or email the Site Coordinator to report the student's absence from the program. To avoid miscommunication at school sites, please be sure to contact the Site Coordinator even when an absence has been communicated to the school about the regular school day or to a program staff person orally.
Please help us avoid unnecessary concern about a student's safety by calling/emailing the Site Coordinator whenever a student will be absent from the Program.
Daily Sign-Out
The program intake packet includes a form for parents/guardians to indicate how students will leave the program each day. If any changes are to be made in how a student will go home a parent or guardian must contact the office prior to 4:30 p.m.
If a student will be picked up from the program each day the student will not be released to anyone other than a parent, guardian, or person listed in the student's intake packet, unless the student's parent/guardian notifies the program in writing prior to pickup time.. If a staff member is unfamiliar with any person picking up a student, the staff member will ask to see picture identification before the student is released.
Bus stops for the after-school program are different from regular bus stops. Please refer to the current ABC bus stop information and be waiting at your student's designated bus stop.
Early Sign-Out
All students must be signed out by a parent/guardian if leaving the program early. You will need to come to the door and sign the early pick-up form. Students will not be released to anyone other than a parent, guardian, or person listed in the student's intake packet, unless the student's parent notifies the program in writing prior to pickup time. If a staff member is
unfamiliar with any person picking up a student, the staff member will ask to see picture identification before the student is released.
Late Pickup
ABC closes at each site at the indicated end time. We ask parents/guardians or others authorized to pick up students to (a) arrive by five minutes before the end time to allow students enough time to tidy up and gather their belongings; and (b) if running late, to take a moment to call the Site Coordinator at the number provided so a staff member can speak to the student about the delay.
If a student is picked up more than ten (10) minutes after the site end time, the late pickup will be noted. After the third occurrence of a late pickup,any additional late pickup may result in a student's suspension or removal from the program.
The staff is unable to remain on site after the program's end time for activity updates or consultations about students. We will be happy to discuss special requests or exchanges of detailed information over the telephone, by email, or at a meeting scheduled during Program hours.
PROGRAMMING
ABC provides a carefully designed schedule of activities that are grounded in evidence-based programs and strategies and focused on: 1) academic support; 2) life/social skills development; and STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) programming, and other enriching activities throughout the year.
Daily Snacks
At all sites, students will receive a nutritious snack when they arrive at ABC in the afternoon. If your child has any food allergies, dietary restrictions,or prefers different or additional food,please feel free to send a snack with your child. Students will not be allowed to use vending machines on the premises.
Academic Support/Literacy Instruction
ABC stresses the importance of homework in promoting academic excellence and self-discipline and sets time aside every day for students to work on their assignments or academic skill development. Staff members will supervise the homework area and assist the students with their work, but will not be able to check each student's homework for accuracy. Parents are strongly encouraged to review homework on a daily basis.
Students having difficulty meeting benchmarks in core subjects will work though lessons in the program's differentiated online curriculum or will be assigned to work with trained tutors.
Students who do not have homework and are not working with tutors may use homework time to practice academic skills or read a book.
Life/Social Skills Development
ABC stresses the importance of strong social awareness, relationships, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making skills and sets time aside for students to review and practice these skills to ensure their successful transition to secondary education and adulthood. During this time, students will work on community building; developing pro-social, listening and communication skills; understanding others' perspectives; managing anger and aggression; resolving conflicts; developing character; making decisions; avoiding peer pressure; understanding culture; respecting differences; and avoiding stereotypes.
Nutrition, Education and Physical Fitness
Elementary students in ABC will participate daily in physical fitness activity and weekly receive guidance on making healthy and nutritious snack and meal choices.
Orientation & Showcases
Parent/guardian participation is expected during the following activities:
Parent/Student Orientation. This one (1)-hour fall event is designed to provide parents with information about ABC, its policies and schedules. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to meet staff, learn about the program offerings and activities throughout the upcoming year, and ask questions. They also will receive information about volunteer opportunities and suggestions for helping to support their children's academic success through home rewards, monitoring and other strategies.
Fall and Spring Student Showcases. During each event, students will have the opportunity to publicly display to their parents/guardians and others in the community the projects they have worked on in enrichment classes during the past two quarters. Parents/guardians and students may also participate in workshops on topics related to students' postsecondary pursuits, community services, or other opportunities that may benefit our Program's families.
At least one parent/guardian of each registered student should attend these events. Dates and locations will be provided in notifications sent home with students and/or emailed to email addresses provided on program forms.
Student Attire
School dress code will be followed while participating in ABC at the school site or on program field trips.
Personal Items
Since we cannot guarantee the safe return of personal belongings, ABC asks that any personal possessions be left in backpacks during a student's time in the program. As storage space will be at a minimum, we also ask that students take all belongings with them when they leave the program site each day.
Telephone Use by Students
The staff will be happy to convey messages to students when necessary, but it is not possible for students to make or receive telephone calls while at ABC. Parents are welcome to call the Program to speak to the Site Coordinator about questions or concerns regarding their children.
HEALTH POLICY
Student's Illness / Accident / Emergencies
If a student is absent from school due to illness, s/he may not come to the Program that day. In general, a student must have attended school during the school day to attend the Program.
If a student becomes ill or is injured during the Program or exhibits any of the following conditions, his/her parent/guardian or emergency contact person will be contacted and asked to pick up the student within one hour of notification:
contagious disease
fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit vomiting or diarrhea
accident requiring medical attention
head lice
If a student is in need of urgent hospital attention, staff will call 911, the student will be transported to the hospital by ambulance, and the student's parent/guardian will be held responsible for all costs incurred.
Please report any changes of emergency contact information, employment, telephone numbers, or addresses to the Program Director as soon as they become available. Although this information will be kept confidential, it will be shared with appropriate staff members to facilitate communication with parents or guardians in emergency situations.
Abuse and Neglect Policy
The Program staff members are mandated reporters and as such, are required by law to report all suspected instances of abuse or neglect to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS).
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICY
The parents, students and staff of ABC are asked to treat each other with respect, tolerance, kindness, and consideration. Students must exhibit professional, respectful classroom conduct at all times and will be asked to leave a class or activity for inappropriate behavior, including yelling, using profanity or fighting.
The following procedures will be followed consistently in the event participants behave unacceptably:
a) First offense: the Site Coordinator will discuss the problem with a student's parent/guardian.
b) Second offense: the Site Coordinator will notify the participant's parent/guardian that the student has been dismissed from the Program.
NOTE: Serious or disruptive/destructive behavior that interferes with normal Program operation will not be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal with no previous notice to a parent/guardian.
Any inappropriate behavior by a parent, including verbal abuse of a student or staff member or confrontations with staff members in the presence of a student, is grounds for termination of the family's participation in the program without notice. A suspension or termination decision may be appealed by contacting the Program Director.
COMMUNICATION
ABC maintains an open door policy. Please feel free to direct questions or concerns related to any facet of the program to the Program Director at any time. Any questions regarding policies, staffing, activities, or a student's participation in the program may be directed to the Program Director at 580-286-5346.
If a concern involving a staff member arises, please speak directly to the staff member involved. If the matter cannot be resolved directly with the staff member, the Program Director and Site Coordinator will meet with the staff member and arrange a meeting with the staff member and parent to discuss and resolve the concern.
The first priority of the staff is to focus as much attention as possible on the students. In order to meet the needs of the students and the staff during Program hours, we ask that parents limit their conversation with program staff members to subjects involving their children. The Site Coordinator or Program Director is available to answer all other questions that arise. Please feel free to call us at any time.
Current Program Hours
Monday-Thursday
2:50 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.
Car riders will be dismissed at 5:00, and bus riders will be dismissed after.
Contact Information
Central Elementary Office 580-286-5346
Jessica Jackson, Site Coordinator, can be emailed at jjackson@idabelps.org
Please visit our website for information, updates, and current program activities!