This handbook is designed to give students, parents and guardians a helpful insight into Pirate Quest offered by Poteau Public Schools and The Afterschool Summer Learning Grant.  It includes detailed information about Program activities, procedures, and policies. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

At all sites, the Pirate Quest Program uses a designated area where students have access to enriching activities and homework help.

The staff at each site includes a Lead Teacher and Site Teachers, all of whom are certified teachers, Para Professionals and high school students.  During the year, Pirate Quest may also utilize the volunteer tutoring and instructional services of college students.  Background checks are performed on all staff members and vendors employed by Pirate Quest.  The Program Director is your main point of contact and oversees the program and staff.  

Pirate Quest’s operating policy for the Program maintains a maximum staff/student ratio of one to thirteen.

Application and Enrollment Procedures

Pirate Quest does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, or disability status.  Application forms for Pirate Quest are online or by clicking this link. Completed applications will be reviewed and parents will be notified by text message or email regarding status of application.

Parents of applicants who are accepted into the Program will be notified by the Pirate Quest Director 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 application form must be submitted to the office.

Applications must be completed each year.

SCHEDULE OF OPERATION

Pirate Quest operates on Monday-Friday, 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 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. 

Early Dismissal:  Pirate Quest 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 Lead Teacher 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 staying until at least 4:30 p.m. Any student who is absent from the Program for an extended time may 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 Pirate Quest 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 Program Director, Amber Brand at 918-658-4475 to report the student’s absence from the Program. To avoid miscommunication at school sites, please be sure to contact the Program Director even when an absence has been communicated to the school about the regular school day or to a Program staff person orally.

Daily 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 pick-up form. Students will not be released to anyone other than a parent, guardian, or person listed in the student’s pick up list, 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

Pirate Quest 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 Director, Amber Brand at the 918-658-4475, 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 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

Pirate Quest 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 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programming, literacy and other enriching activities throughout the year.

Daily Snacks

At all sites, students will receive a nutritious snack when they arrive at Pirate Quest 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.

Academic Support/Literacy Instruction

Pirate Quest 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 have the opportunity to get tutoring on the academic skills.

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

Pirate Quest 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.

Physical Fitness

Elementary students in Pirate Quest will participate daily in physical fitness activities and Action Based Learning in our ABL Lab.

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 Pirate Quest 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. Parent/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 Pirate Quest at the school site or on Program field trips. 

Personal Items

Since we cannot guarantee the safe return of personal belongings, Pirate Quest 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 Pirate Quest. Parents are welcome to call the Program to speak to the Program Director 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 Pirate Quest 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 Lead Teacher will discuss the problem with the student and the student’s parent/guardian.

b) Second offense: The Program Director will  discuss the problem with the student and the student’s parent/guardian.

c) Third offense: The Program Director will discuss the problem with the student and the student's parent/guardian and the student will be dismissed for 5 days.

d) Fourth offense: The Program Director will discuss the problem with the student and the student's parent/guardian and the student will be dismissed for the rest of the semester.

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

Pirate Quest 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, Amber Brand, at 918-658-4475

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 Lead Teacher 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.