OUR MISSION To promote and encourage Independent, successful, leaders of tomorrow- with open hearts and open minds! VISION STATEMENT We are here to help guide our youth into becoming passionate leaders of tomorrow. We empower our youth t think independently, to have courageous conversations, and to fear not the curiosity of exploration. We believe that our youth are intelligent and it is our duty to help nurture the growth of their intelligence. Our youth can and will be successful, and independent. In JAZ our youth have a voice. PROGRAM GOALS: 1. Jefferson After-school Zone youths will explore a variety of ideas and culture through enrichment opportunities. 2. Jefferson After-school Zone youths will receive academic support, guided by their Team Leader s continuous communication with classroom teachers and families. 3. Jefferson After-school Zone youths will gain self and community through community building, leadership responsibilities, and group encouragement. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015
Collaboration Jefferson After School Zone Program (A program operating under Bay Area Community Resources) is a partnership among school staff, parents, guardians, students, and community members. By working together, we can create a program that offers all students the opportunity to be successful. If you would like to participate in the Collaborative process to oversee the Program, or if you would like to help out in the Program in any way, please let the Program Coordinator know. Program Contact Information The Jefferson After School Zone office is in the Flex Room- Located on Acton st. near Rose. The telephone number is (510) 644-8763.The staff is frequently out of the office Supervising students, so please leave a message, we check voice mail throughout the day. The program address is: Program Coordinator: Jefferson Elementary 1400 Ada Street Berkeley, CA 94702 Rochelle Arucan rarucan@bacr.org Office:(510) 644-8763 Cell: (510) 292-6210 Fax:(510) 644-6984 The Jefferson Elementary School Phone Number is (510) 644-6298 Eligibility and Enrollment All Jefferson Elementary students are eligible to participate in the Jefferson After School Zone Program. Students and siblings who are currently enrolled in a program receive priority placement for the following school year. Additional spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 2
Registration and Payments In order to register your child, you need to complete the entire J.A.Z registration packet, as well as fill out an emergency card (Please make sure that you have updated contacts and numbers for all paperwork). Attached to the handbook is a sheet with the monthly fee scale, use it to determine the Tier your family falls under, for payment. Monthly fees are the same amount each month; the yearly amount is averaged over a ten month period. Until registration materials are complete, your student is not enrolled in the Program. Your first payment will complete your child s registration into the program. Payments are due by the 5 th of every month. There will be a $25 charge added to all checks returned unpaid by your bank, and the program coordinator may ask that you pay by money order from that point on. Please make sure to show proof of income upon registering your child. We cannot process your paperwork until we verify your monthly gross income (applicable to all families in tier 2 through 6). Full & Part-Time Enrollment We offer Full and Part-Time enrollment to all students of Jefferson Elementary. Please note: The program does not operate during holidays or staff development days. All non school days are listed on the 2012-2013 Elementary/ Middle School Calendar. Unfortunately drop-in students are not allowed. Hours of Operation Jefferson After School Zone begins when students are released from school and close at 6pm. This includes all early release days, like the week of Parent/Teacher conferences. J.A.Z is not open during any school holiday. Please look to the Elementary/Middle BUSD 2012-2013 calendar for all school holidays. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 3
Student Non-Participation If your child/children will no longer be participating in the Jefferson After School Zone Program please inform the Program Coordinator within ten (10) school days. If the Program Coordinator does not hear from you within that time frame she will assume your child/children will no longer partake in the afterschool program and will potentially fill in your space. So please make the effort to notify the Program Coordinator of what decisions you make in a timely manner. PTA CLASSES/ ENRICHMENT The Jefferson Afterschool Zone Program offers a variety of Enrichment classes which can be found in the J.A.Z Schedule given at the beginning of the school year. There is no additional cost to have your child participate in enrichment. PTA Classes are offered through the Jefferson PTA. Students enrolled in PTA classes are checked in prior to going to their PTA classes. Students are escorted by the PTA teacher or a J.A.Z staff at the end of class and brought to the J.A.Z Program the first couple of weeks of enrichment. Sign In and Sign Out J.A.Z Team Leaders will sign-in your child at the beginning of each Program day. When you pick your child up at the end of the day, you must sign your child out on the Sign-In & Out Sheet, please remember to include the time of pick-up. If someone else on your approved pick up list is picking your child up- Please let them know where the sign-in/out sheets are located, and to provide us with their signature and time of pick-up. All new, or unfamiliar persons will need to bring some form of valid Identification upon pick-up. Phone calls to the parents/guardians will be made for anyone without identification. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 4
Late Pick-Up Policy Jefferson After School Zone operates Monday through Friday, from the time school is released until 6:00 PM. All students must be picked up no later than 6:00 PM. If you know that you will be unable to pick your child up on time, please call the office and notify us of the late pick up as soon as possible. After the first late pick-up you will receive a verbal warning. Each subsequent late pick-up will result in a written warning and a $10 fine per child. If your child/children remain at the school after 6:15 p.m., there is an additional charge of $1 per child, per minute. The fine is due upon pick-up. After five (5) late pick-ups have occurred, the parent/guardian will be informed that their child can no longer participate in the Jefferson After School Zone Program. Authorization for Pick-Up The enrollment information document you completed during registration includes a list of up to six (6) people you authorized to pick up your child during the school year. Your child may be released to any of the people listed on the card without your notification unless you have specified otherwise. You may add to or change that list at any time, as long as you do so in writing. You may arrange for someone who is NOT listed on the enrollment information document to pick up your child in one of two ways: 1) Send a note with your child, which includes the date and name of person authorized to pick up your child. 2) Call the Program Coordinator by 2:00pm on the day of pick up. If the staff is unfamiliar with the person picking up your child, they will ask for identification and check to make sure that the person has been authorized by the parents/guardians. This policy applies even to a parent or guardian that the staff does not recognize. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 5
Absences If your child is going to be absent from J.A.Z (whether it be just a day or for a whole week) please give the staff advanced notice by either talking to the Program Coordinator before hand, or by calling the Program Office and leaving a message. We must be notified before 12:30 PM on the day that your child will be absent. Frequent absences from the program may result in your child no longer being able to participate in the Program. STAFFING: Staffing ratio is one staff member for each group of twenty students. Staff will provide for each child s individual needs to the best of their ability within this ratio. All staff members of the Jefferson After-school Zone program are CPR/First Aide certified. Sick Children If your child appears sick, or complains of sickness while participating in the program, the staff will notify the parent/guardian immediately. We ask that at that time that you pick up your child from the program to prevent the risk of contagion. The Program is not equipped to take care of sick children. The emergency card in the registration packet is very important if your child becomes ill. In case of an emergency, the form tells the staff which hospital your child should be sent to, and which procedures are not suited to your child's condition. Please be sure to notify the staff of any changes in your child's medical needs, as well as any changes that might occur with your contact numbers, and the emergency contact numbers that you have supplied. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 6
Children with Severe Allergies Please be sure to fill out the Health and Allergy form of the registration packet. If your child has any medications needed on site, please be sure to fill that in on the form. We will hold extra medications in our office for your child s use. The school office also has a designated location for all medications, and if you have medication in schools main office- place that information on the form. Emergency Procedures: The Jefferson After School Zone Program follows the Berkeley Unified School District Emergency Procedures and the Jefferson Elementary schools safety plan. Emergency Procedures are practiced three times throughout the year- See attached 2014-2015 J.A.Z calendar for practice dates. Administering Medication: The Jefferson After school Zone staff will follow the Berkeley Unified School District guidelines on administering medication. A note from your child s Physician should be attached to the medication you would like us to have on site. Whatever the medication, the student must be able to administer it his/her self. If he/she cannot do it alone, we will aid him/her in administering the medication needed. See the attached BUSD policy on Administering Medications and Monitoring Health Conditions. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 7
Discipline In J.A.Z we firmly believe in treating students with respect at all times. Rules for the program will be explained to the students at the beginning of the year (the program rules are the same as the school rules). Posters are placed throughout the school walls stating the Do s and Don ts of the school, you may also look to the Jefferson Parent/Guardian handbook Methods of discipline used in the After-school program are consistent with the methods used in the regular school day.the practice of Conflict Resolution is the first method of discipline we use. Team Leaders give their students the ability to try and identify the problem their selves, by discussing the alternatives that they could have chosen to do in the situation, giving some time to allow the students to reflect back on the situation, and discussing what the solutions and/or consequences should be for their actions. The staff also uses "time out", reflection, and apology letters as a disciplinary technique. Team Leaders talk to their students to help determine what is bothering them, and explain why the behavior they used is not acceptable. After the student has been given ample time to cool down and evaluate his or her situation, he or she is allowed to return to the group's activities. The program staff will communicate with all children in a positive manner. The use of foul language, name-calling, any form of physical punishment, or withholding snack from children is not be permitted. We request that parents also observe these rules when on the school grounds with all children, including their own. This will enable us to keep the principals behind our discipline consistent. At the beginning of the Program year, your child will be part of a group process to create a code of behavior that the group agrees to follow by during the program hours. Additionally, there is a Student Agreement sheet in the registration packet. As a requirement for enrollment, we ask that you and your child take the time to go through the agreement together and initial where needed. This is to ensure that your child has been made aware of the Jefferson After School Zone rules and procedures before she or he enters the program. Continued enrollment of each student will depend upon his or her abiding by the conduct described in the agreement. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 8
Snacks Snacks are provided every day. Snack is based on the BUSD Wellness Plan, check the BUSD wellness plan for more details. Every snack is vegetarian-friendly. If your child has allergic reactions to certain foods, we ask that you notify the staff of those allergies by indicating them on the emergency card and completing an allergy form. If your child needs more snack than the program provides, please send additional healthy (no candy or soda) snacks with your child. Every program welcomes donations of healthy snacks. Emergency Procedures. The Jefferson After School Zone Program follows the district emergency procedures and their schools safety plan. Emergency Procedures are practiced three times throughout the school year in J.A.Z. All J.A.Z Team Leaders are CPR and or First Aid certified. Look at the 2014-2015 J.A.Z Calendar for dates of Emergency Practices. Injuries If your child is injured, the program staff will take whatever steps may be necessary to ensure that your child receives emergency medical care. This can include, but is not limited to, the administering of emergency first aid or CPR, attempting to contact you or your emergency contact people, calling an ambulance or paramedic, calling your family doctor, and/or having the child transported to an emergency hospital. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 9
Abuse Reporting Requirement If any staff member of the program suspects that your child is being abused in any way at home, section 11166 of the Penal Code requires us to report our suspicions to a child protective agency immediately or as soon as practically possible, and in writing within 36 hours. A child protective agency can be any one of the following: a police or sheriff's department, a county probation department, or a county welfare department. If the staff suspects that your child has been abused during the program hours, we will notify both the child protective agency, and the parents/guardians of all the children that participate in the program. In our written notification, we will mention the suspected incident without giving the names of the children and individuals involved. The definition of abuse is the infliction of physical, mental, or emotional suffering. This definition includes neglect. All suspected abuse will be reported. Complaint Procedures If you have a concern about the program please contact Rochelle Arucan. If you would like to make a formal complaint you have the option of writing a letter to the program, and setting up a meeting with the Site Coordinator and Director of the program. Volunteering for the Jefferson After School Zone Program The requirements for volunteering in the Jefferson After School Zone Program are as follows: If you are not volunteering through an organized volunteer program (i.e. Berkeley School Volunteers), you must be related to one of the students. If you are going to be a permanent volunteer you must have an updated T.B test, and must be prepared to pass a Live Scan (You must get fingerprinted). NOTE: The Jefferson After School Zone Program has the right to turn away any volunteers at any time, without the need to explain their reason for the decisions made. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Rochelle Arucan, either by calling or dropping by the program office. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 10
Donations If you would like to donate materials, or resources to the Jefferson After-school Zone Program, it will be greatly appreciated. If you choose to donate to the program, please be sure to leave your name, along with the items that you have donated, with the Program Coordinator. All donations are welcomed. EVENTS There are three to four events that are held throughout the school year in J.A.Z. Notifications for all events will be placed by sign-in/ sign-out sheets, as well as posted throughout the school building. E- mails or phone calls is another notification method used. We welcome all parents or guardians available to volunteer for J.A.Z events. Evaluations All parents/guardians and students are expected to participate in the evaluation process of the Program. At least twice a year (Fall and Spring) you will be asked to fill out an evaluation form and may be asked to participate in interviews, detailing your level of satisfaction with the program. This evaluation is very important to the program; it allows us to make improvements for the next year according to the needs that you, the parents/guardians, have identified. When you receive the evaluation forms, we would greatly appreciate your taking the time to answer the questions as fully as possible. Thank You Thank you for taking the time to read through this information. If you find any of the information contained in this handbook confusing or incomplete, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Program Coordinator. Together we can make your child/children s after school experience safe, happy, and enriching. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 11
Jefferson After School Zone Program Payment Worksheet 2014-2015 Full Program Fee is $415.00 per month Sliding Fee Income Table Income categories are based on GROSS monthly income (before taxes) & family size FAMILY SIZE (for subsidized fees) Category 2 People 3 People 4 People 5 People 6+ People Tier 1 Over $3,226 Over $3,726 Over $4,226 Over $4,726 Over $5,226 Tier 2 $2,725-$3,225 $3,225-$3,725 $3,725-$4,225 $4,225-$4,725 $4,725-$5,225 Tier 3 $2,225-$2,725 $2,725-$3,225 $3,225-$3,725 $3,725-$4,225 $4,225-$4,725 Tier 4 $1,724-$2,225 $2,224-$2,724 $2,724-$3,224 $3,224-$3,724 $3,724-$4,224 Tier 5 $1,223-$1,723 $1,723-$2,223 $2,223-$2,723 $2,723-$3,223 $3,223-$3,723 Tier 6 Less than $1,223 Less than $1,723 Less than $2,223 Less than $2,723 MONTHLY PROGRAM FEES FOR FULL-TIME ASLP PARTICIPATION (Monthly fees averaged over 10-month period) CATEGORY Cost of First Child Cost of Additional Child Tier 1 $420.00 $210.00 Tier 2 $365.00 $182.50 Tier 3 $257.00 $128.50 Tier 4 $155.00 $77.50 Tier 5 $80.00 $40.00 Tier 6 $55.00 $27.50 Less than $3,223 MONTHLY PROGRAM FEES FOR PART-TIME ASLP PARTICIPATION (Monthly fees averaged over 10-month period) CATEGORY 4 days wk. 1 st child 3 days wk. 1 st child 2 days wk. 1 st child 1 day a wk. 1st child Tier 1 $398.00 $298.00 $199.00 $100.00 Tier 2 $346.00 $259.00 $173.00 $86.00 Tier 3 $242.00 $182.00 $120.00 $60.40 Tier 4 $144.00 $108.00 $72.00 $36.00 Tier 5 $72.00 $54.00 $36.00 $18.00 Tier 6 $48.00 $36.00 $24.00 $12.00 All Additional children for Part Time cost half the 1 st child amount. * If you are paying less than the full cost you must show verification of income by bringing a copy of two recent check stubs or the previous year s tax form to your school program coordinator. * Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 12
Jefferson After School Zone Program Parent Fee Payment Directions 1. Monthly payment is required at the beginning of the month. 2. The Fee amount is the same every month; we do not prorate for any month unless your child(ren) s start date is after the Month of September. 3. Invoices will be distributed upon request 4. Reminders of monthly payments will be sent out via E-mail, as well as posted on the doors of the entry/exits. A reminder will also be posted on the J.A.Z Info/Updates Board-Located to the left of Rochelle s office. 4. Payment options: checks or money order. 5. When writing a check please put child s name on the memo line 6. Please make check payable to: Bay Area Community Resources (B.A.C.R) 7. On-line banking is encouraged. *You can set up a monthly online payment schedule, with your bank, and the checks can automatically be mailed to Jefferson Elementary. Re: Rochelle Arucan Jefferson Elementary 1400 Ada Street Berkeley, CA 94702 Check Payable to: B.A.C.R Fee s are due the week of the 5 th of every month. If payments are not received by the week of the 5 th of every month, a late charge of $5.00 will be applied to your child s enrollment. Please note: If you do not pay your monthly fee by the 15 th of the month your child s enrollment may be discontinued. Jefferson After School Zone Parent/Guardian Handbook 2014-2015 13