Ponds Youth Center. Handbook MISSION

Transcription

1 Ponds Youth Center Handbook MISSION To provide a safe, Christian environment for the nurture of a middle school student s mind, body and spirit. PROGRAM VALUES Honesty, Responsibility, Cooperation and Respect OBJECTIVES 1. To provide a community service that offers middle school students an alternative place to go after school. 2. To provide families with the peace of mind knowing their child is not at home alone or unsupervised in the community. 3. To provide the students an open, relaxed and accepting environment in which they can be themselves while having fun, doing homework, socializing with peers and being enriched. 4. To provide Ponds Reformed Church an avenue for serving the community while building positive relationships with the youth of Oakland. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Ponds Youth Center is a ten-month, not-for-profit program. In order for the program to function financially, it is necessary that members make a commitment to provide tuition for the entire ten month period, or as long as their child remains a student at Valley Middle School regardless of how often their child might attend the youth center program. Parents must understand that early termination is a hardship for the youth center s financial stability and therefore enter into the youth center with an understanding of the importance of completing all tuition payments. Program begins on the first day of school in September and runs until the last day of school in June Operates each day when Valley Middle School is in session. On middle school minimum days, the program will run from 12:45 pm-6 pm. Regular daily hours: 2:45 pm to 5 pm or to the extended time of 6 pm The program does not operate when Valley Middle School is closed or closes early due to inclement weather, previously unscheduled minimum days or unforeseen school emergencies. 1

2 REGISTRATION Registration for current/ponds Church members begins April 1, 2014 and continues through April 30, Registering during closed registration ensures your child s placement in the program for the upcoming school year. Open registration will begin on May 1, Ponds Youth Center is not a drop-in program. All youth MUST be registered in the program and current tuition paid. *The PYC is a 10-month program and depends completely on the continued enrollment of all member families. ALL members are registered for the full school year, September - June. Tuition may be paid monthly, quarterly or in full at the start of the school year. Registrations are to be submitted by parent/guardian to the Program Director and include a signed registration form and a check for registration ($50) and first month s tuition ($175). *Should it be necessary to discontinue the program due to valid, unforeseen circumstances (unemployment of a parent, moving from the district, serious or prolonged illness of family member, etc.,) 1 month s notice must be given in writing to the Youth Center Director. Current tuition payments still apply. OPEN HOUSE All families registered for the school year are encouraged to attend the open house held a couple of weeks prior to the beginning of school. All forms will be distributed and filled out at the Open House. Questions will be answered at this time, and your child will be given a chance to meet staff, as well as other participants, and view the facility. All family members are invited, including siblings. DAILY PROGRAM 2:45 pm 3:00 pm Arrival/sign in. Students will sign up for activities. 3:00 pm Computer Lab time limited Active Pursuits/ Recreation Video Games time limited Study/Homework Board Games, Puzzles Art/Crafts Specials (cooking, guest speakers, walking trips, etc.) Snack 5:00 pm Sign out of regular hours. Beginning of extended hour. 6:00 pm PYC closes 2

3 EXTENDED HOUR Participation in the extended hours (6 pm pick up) is optional. If you are interested in the 6 pm pick up time, the additional cost will be $50 per month. This additional cost will take effect for the month you decide the extended hours are needed by your family. Please note that once you determine you will need the later pick up time, you will be part of the extended hours program through the end of the school year. We are not able to offer month to month flexibility at this time. MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE AND TRIPS On minimum days, the Ponds Youth Center doors open at 12:30 pm. On minimum days, the Ponds Youth Center often takes trips off-premises. (Examples of past trips include: movie theater, bowling, mini-golf, Funplex, apple picking, hiking, Dave and Buster s, etc.) Students can choose to remain behind with a PYC staff member. Permission Slips MUST be returned for participation in all trips and will be MAILED to your home. PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON THE PERMISSION SLIP CAREFULLY AND RETURN BY THE DATE SPECIFIED! Failure to do so will result in your child s forfeiture of the trip. Children should arrive with a lunch on all minimum days unless otherwise stated on the permission slip. Youth will be transported to their destination on minimum days via church bus or car, driven by church insured, 21 yrs. or older, youth center staff. Youth will return to Ponds Church at 5 pm for pick up or to remain at the PYC until 6 pm. BUILDING USAGE FOR THE PROGRAM Main Lower Entrance Doors All children will be expected to enter the church building through the use of the designated doors prior to the 3:00pm start of the program and sign in at that time. Fellowship Hall table games, ping pong/pool table, air hockey, etc.; large motor activity in inclement weather, specials programs. Café homework, art, board games, snacks Stage video games, DVD movies, puzzles, games, special meeting area Video Room- video games and movies Computer Lab computers for homework (no food or drink allowed) Kitchen cooking Oak Street Parking Lot (closed off from traffic) outdoor recreation (basketball, wiffleball, etc.) Park bench near lower entrance sitting and conversation (no ball play) INSURANCE The Ponds Youth Center is fully insured under the standard Ponds Church insurance policy, including the use of the church bus and other drivers. 3

4 STAFFING Ponds Youth Center is managed by the Program Director who oversees all aspects of the after-school program and adult staff. All staff are CPR and First Aid certified and have passed a background check. TUITION The Ponds Youth Center is a 10-month program. Tuition is based on a 10-month average of yearly cost to participants and apply regardless of a child s daily or seasonal participation in the program as affected by sports, after school activities, clubs, etc. Tuition Rates Normal hours 2:45 pm to 5 pm - $175 per month Extended hour from 5 pm to 6 pm - $50 per month Additional sibling in the program - $140 per month and Extended hour - $40 per month All tuition payments should be made by check only and made payable to Ponds Youth Center. All tuition payments may be mailed, dropped off through the mail slot at the church office door, or placed in the black PYC mailbox in the hallway downstairs. Mailing address: Ponds Youth Center 341 Ramapo Valley Rd. Oakland, NJ Tuition schedule for the 10-month program is as follows: Month September October November December January February March April May June Due Date Upon registration in April/May September 15 th October 15 th November 15 th December 15 th January 15 th February 15 th March 15 th April 15 th May 15 th PLEASE NOTE: Any child whose family is in arrears for tuition will be sent a tuition reminder from the PYC Treasurer, Jeanne Donnelly. Second contact is made via phone call. Your child will be turned away on the first day of the month for which they have not paid. The PYC is not responsible for problems incurred due to late tuition payments. The child may return to attendance at the PYC once tuition has been received. Families in need of financial consideration due to unique circumstances should speak with the Ponds Youth Center Director. 4

5 POLICIES AND GUIDELINES All policies will be set forth by the Program Director in agreement with the Consistory of Ponds Reformed Church and the Ponds Administration Committee are intended for the sole purpose of the safety and nurture of every child registered in the program. Modifications to the policies and guidelines will be made, should they be necessary, on an ongoing basis throughout the program year. Registration and tuition fees will be reviewed annually. Fees can only be modified prior to the start of the school year and will remain consistent for that school year. All youth registered for the Ponds Youth Center are considered full time participants in the program regardless of the days and times they may be absent from the program. Parents will be asked to fill out a schedule for their child each month (which will be included in the monthly tuition bill mailing) explaining the days and times their child will be out or be late to the program due to other activities. If a child fails to arrive at the program by 3:00 pm on any given day (1:00 pm on minimum days) and the director has not been notified of the absence, a parent will be called and alerted to the child s absence. It is of utmost importance for all involved that staff be informed of your child s schedule and days that they will be absent from the program. Any changes to the schedule should be brought to the attention of the staff as soon as they are known. Once a child has arrived at the Ponds Youth Center and has signed in, he/she will not be permitted to sign themselves out of the program for any reason. Participants will only be permitted to leave prior to 5:00 pm with a note, a phone call from a parent or the presence of the parent. All notes must be given to the staff prior to the child s dismissal for the day. A parent or other approved adult may pick his/her child up from the program at any time. Please read and review the Behavior/Conduct Statement, below. All children and parents must read and sign a copy of PYC s Behavior/Conduct Statement prior to the start of the program in September. (You will be given a copy to sign at the Open House in August.) Behavior/Conduct Statement 1. No bullying of any kind will be tolerated. 2. Speak and listen in a respectful manner. 3. No profane or abusive language. 4. Portray a positive, cooperative and considerate attitude. 5. No rough or abusive play. 6. Tell the truth. 7. Do not take anything that does not belong to you. 8. Treat others with the love and respect that God has shown to us. 9. Stations and activities are for all participants and must be shared. 5

6 Course of Action: First Offense: Director will go over rules. Second Offense: Director will ask child to sit out of the activity. Third Offense: Director will meet with parent. Fourth Offense: Director will call parent for immediate pick-up of child. Child will not be permitted to attend program for required day(s). Fifth Offense: Child asked to leave program. Tuition fees still apply. ILLNESSES Should a child arrive at the PYC with a fever, vomiting, head lice, or other illness that makes them unable to remain at the Ponds Youth Center, a staff person will call a parent for immediate pick up. If your child becomes ill during the school day and is sent home, they should remain at home. No child who has missed school due to illness will be permitted to attend the PYC the same day as their absence or early dismissal from school. The PYC staff are not permitted to dispense medications. Should your child require medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprophen, or Benadryl, a parent will be called. 6