FAQ
Q: How much does the MLK Children and Youth Program cost for student participants?
A: This is a FREE event for any student in grades K-12.
Q: Where is the MLK Children & Youth Program held?
A: In the University of Michigan's Modern Language Building at 812 East Washington, Ann Arbor.
Q: What is the free lunch menu/snacks provided during the program?
A: Lunch will be pizza with a snack (oranges and animal crackers). If your child is unable to eat dairy and/or gluten, please have them bring their own lunch.
Q: My child has food allergies. Can he or she bring his or her own lunch? Is there a refrigerator to store lunch?
A: Yes, he or she may bring a special lunch, however we do not have access to a refrigerator. Lunch will be pizza with a snack (oranges and animal crackers). If your child is unable to eat dairy and/or gluten, please have them bring their own lunch.
Q: Will my child need a backpack? What about cell phone?
A: One is not necessary, and we would discourage children from bringing backpacks and electronic/digtial items.There is no place to available to provide the security should they are misplaced.
Q: Will I need to bring my child inside during the registration period even if I have sent in a pre-registration form?
A: Yes. We strongly encourage pre-registration to help us plan for this event and to best accommodate each child; however, we still need to have all parents accompany their child(ren) into the Modern Languages Building. There will be a separate table for those who have "pre-registered" which will greatly speed up this process. You will receive an email the week before the event with the classroom assignment for each child. The children will then be assigned to a group with their Teacher-Leader for the day.
Q: Where should I park when I bring my child into the Modern Languages Building?
A: There are street parking meters in front of the doors to the building on either Thayer Street or Washington Street. (Be on the look-out for construction crews.)
Q: My child has a doctor's appointment or other obligation before the MLK program is over. Will he or she be able to attend just part of the program?
A: Children will be assigned to a Volunteer Teacher-Leader during registration. It will not be possible for that Teacher-Leader to leave the group to meet you for an individual dismissal. However, if you indicate an early pick up time on your registration form, we will do our best to have the child waiting for you at the registration tables. Remember to bring your Fact Sheet with you, as it is our safety measure for pick-up that day.
Q: My child will not be able to arrive during the registration time because of another obligation or appointment? Will he or she still be able to attend if arriving late?
A: Children will be assigned to a Volunteer Teacher-Leader during registration. The assigned Teacher-Leader will escort your child to many different events at various locations within the Modern Languages Building during the day. Late arrival will be very difficult to accommodate and is discouraged, but we will do our best to accommodate students who arrive within an hour of the start time.
Q: My child will not be going home with me. What is the dismissal procedure?
A: Every child will only be released to the authorized adult indicated on the registration form. In addition, each authorized pick-up adult MUST have the initialed Fact Sheet given at the time of arrival at the registration table. If there is one adult dropping off and a separate adult picking-up, it is the responsibility of those two adults to make arrangements to have the necessary paperwork for the child(ren)'s release (a photo or faxed copy of the Fact Sheet is accepted). This is our system of child safety for the day, as we know you appreciate and understand.
Q: My child has special needs. How can I communicate these needs?
A: This is one reason we strongly encourage pre-registration which will greatly help with this communication. There will be a place on the pre-registration form to indicate any special needs your child may have. Our advance knowledge of this information will greatly help our planning and group assignments. In addition, you will have a chance to speak briefly with your child's Teacher-Leader for the day during registration time.
Q: Who are the Teacher-Leaders and General Volunteers that staff the program's event?
A: The entire program staff is comprised of University of Michigan students. The Teacher-Leaders are largely from the School of Education, and the General Volunteers come from several organizations and service groups located on campus including the School of Social Work and the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning.
Q: Are parents permitted to attend the classroom activities with their children?
A: We ask that parents of children age 4 or under and those of students with special needs please accompany their children throughout the day's events.
To ensure our primary audience's full appreciation and participation in the MLK Children & Youth Program events, we respectfully ask that parents of children older than 4 leave their children in our care to enjoy the program. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend other U-M MLK Symposium events on campus. A list of these activities is available on the U-M MLK Symposium website (http://oami.umich.edu/um-mlk-symposium/).
The MLK Children & Youth Program is designed specifically for children and facilitated by capable adults, many of whom are professional educators, youth workers, or students at the School of Education who have experience working with children or who are preparing to become teachers.
Q: Who is the University Administrator/Coordinator in charge of the Children and Youth Program?
A: Assistant Dean, Dr. Henry Meares, E-mail: hmeares@umich.edu; Phone: 734-323-4237