St. Paul’s Lutheran School After School Program

Parent Handbook

After School Program St. Paul’s Lutheran School 835 E Fairmont Blvd Rapid City, SD 57701 605-341-5385

March 2016

FOREWORD Dear Parents and Guardians:

Welcome to the After School Program!

This handbook is designed to give parents and guardians a helpful insight into the After School Program offered by St. Paul’s Lutheran School. It includes detailed information about After School Program procedures, activities, and policies. Please read this handbook carefully and keep it in a safe place for easy reference during the school year.

The After School Program strives to provide an atmosphere where children can enjoy, grow, and learn with their fellow Christian classmates in a safe environment. If you have any questions about the content of this book, please feel free to call us at 605-341-5385. We look forward to the time that we will be spending together. In Christ,

Stephen Gurgel Principal, St. Paul’s Lutheran School

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWARD ...................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ 2 PROCEDURES.................................................................................................................... 3 HOURS OF OPERATION ....................................................................................................... 3 Normal School Days ...................................................................................................... 3 Half School Days............................................................................................................ 3 Early Release due to Weather ...................................................................................... 3 COSTS .................................................................................................................................. 3 Hourly Rate ................................................................................................................... 3 Billing ............................................................................................................................. 3 ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES ............................................................................................... 3 Check-in Procedures ..................................................................................................... 3 Pick-up Procedures ....................................................................................................... 4 Unscheduled Attendance ............................................................................................. 4 School Event Participation ............................................................................................ 4 ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................ 5 DAILY ROUTINE: WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY ............................................................................ 5 DAILY ROUTINE: MONDAY, TUESDAY, & THURSDAY .......................................................... 5 SPECIAL DAYS ..................................................................................................................... .6 Sports Games ................................................................................................................ 6 Voting ............................................................................................................................ 6 Bad Weather ................................................................................................................. 6 POLICIES .................................................................................................................................... 7 ACCIDENTS OR ACUTE ILLNESS ........................................................................................... 7 MEDICATION POLICY........................................................................................................... 7 LATE PAYMENT POLICY ....................................................................................................... 7 BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICY ..................................................................................... 7 TEMPORARY OR LONG-TERM REMOVAL ............................................................................ 8 COMMUNICATION .............................................................................................................. 9

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PROCEDURES HOURS OF OPERATION Normal School Days 3:30PM – 5:30PM

Half School Days The After School Program is unavailable on Half School Days

Early Release due to Weather The After School Program is unavailable when school is released due to weather.

COSTS Hourly Rate Students of St. Paul’s may attend the After School Program for $3 per hour of use. Students are charged for the exact number of minutes they use. 30 minutes of use, therefore, will incur a charge of $1.50. After closing (5:30), the rate changes to $1 per minute per student. Billing Families are billed weekly. A bill with the costs from the previous week will be sent home with the student on Tuesday. Families are asked to make payment by Friday.

Families may also create an After School Program account and deposit money ahead of time. When it comes time for billing, the amount from the previous week is taken from the account. When the account runs low, the family is notified via note to make another deposit.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES Check-in Procedures After school dismisses at 3:15PM, students in the program are required to go to the school commons. Backpacks are to be dropped off in the commons. At 3:30PM, students will be checked in by the program director. 3

Pick-up Procedures When a student is being picked up, the parent and student should verbally check out with the staff first. After doing that, they may pick up their backpacks in the commons and check out of the computer system using the keypad by the preschool rooms. Unscheduled Attendance For staffing purposes, we desire that all students in the After School Program be scheduled ahead of time. These weekly schedules are determined at registration, with changes made by parents two weeks in advance. Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances may require your student to attend the program on an unscheduled basis. They will be admitted to the after school program on that day upon request and only if numbers allow it.

School Event Participation Many students in the After School Program also are involved in school-sponsored events after school. If a student is waiting to participate in the event, they will not attend the program that day, but instead will go to study hall until it is time for their participation to begin.

When a student is involved in a home sports event, their participation begins 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. At that point, they may leave study hall and follow further instructions from the coach.

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ACTIVITIES DAILY ROUTINE: WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY Snack/Devotion: 3:15-3:30PM When students arrive to their spot in the commons, they may get out their snack and eat it. At 3:25, the director will read a devotion, during which time the students should quietly listen. Food must be put away or finished by 3:30PM. All food wrappers must be thrown away or cleaned up.

Outdoor Play: 3:30-4:15PM During this time, students will have time to play with their peers on the playground, the field, or the parking lot. Students must remain in these areas and within sight of the supervisors at all times. See the behavioral management policy for other policies during free play. Quiet Study Hall: 4:15-4:45PM Students will gather their backpacks and go to the Art & Science room. During this time, students may work on homework, read a book, or work in the puzzle corner.

Play Activities: 4:45-5:30PM Students will gather their backpacks and go back outside to the playground. During this time, students will have time to play with their peers on the playground, the field, or the parking lot. Students must remain in these areas and within sight of the supervisors at all times. If the weather is too dark outside, the play will move to the gym or the Art & Science room.

DAILY ROUTINE: MONDAY, TUESDAY & THURSDAY Snack/Devotion: 3:15-3:30PM When students arrive to their spot in the commons, they may get out their snack and eat it. At 3:25, the director will read a devotion, during which time the students should quietly listen. Food must be put away or finished by 3:30PM. All food wrappers must be thrown away or cleaned up.

Outdoor Play: 3:30-3:50PM During this time, students will have time to play with their peers on the playground, the field, or the parking lot. Students must remain in these areas and within sight of the supervisors at all times. See the behavioral management policy for other policies during free play. Split Groups 1: 3:50-4:20PM The older students (usually grades 4-8) will stay outside during this time. The younger students (usually grades 1-3) will be in quiet study hall in the 1 st-2nd grade classroom.

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Split Groups 2: 4:20-5:00PM The older students (usually grades 4-8) will be in quiet study hall in the 1 st-2nd grade classroom. The younger students (usually grades 1-3) will do outdoor play. Play Activities: 5:00-5:30PM Students will gather their backpacks and go back outside to the playground. During this time, students will have time to play with their peers on the playground, the field, or the parking lot. Students must remain in these areas and within sight of the supervisors at all times. If the weather is too dark outside, the play will move to the gym or the Art & Science room.

SPECIAL DAYS Sports Games When St. Paul’s has home sports games, the students in aftercare will attend the game and support the team. The students need to sit together and in close proximity to the supervisors.

Voting The school commons is a public polling place, and will be infrequently used for that purpose. During these days, both the commons and the playground will be off limits due to the high amounts of traffic. Outdoor play will instead be indoor play in the Art & Science room with games and other activities designated by the supervisor.

Bad Weather The supervisor is responsible for determining if the weather outside is unsuitable for play. If that is the case, the students will spend their play time in the gymnasium. If the gym is unavailable due to practice, then games will be played in the Art & Science room instead.

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POLICIES ACCIDENTS OR ACUTE ILLNESS In the event of an accident or acute illness, every effort will be made to notify the child’s parents and physician prior to treatment. If a situation requires immediate attention, 911 will be called and the child will be transported to the hospital by ambulance.

MEDICATION POLICY The After School Program will dispense prescription and non-prescription medication only when the written permission of the child’s doctor and parent or guardian is on file at the school. All medication administered by the staff of the After School Program must be current and in a pharmacy labeled container. Expired medications will be returned to the families.

LATE PAYMENT POLICY Bills from the previous week are sent home on Tuesday. A $15 late fee will be applied if payment is not received by the end of the end of the day on Friday. If a family has missed two consecutive payments, their children will not be allowed to attend the After School Program until payments are made current.

COMMUNITY CHILDREN

Unless a child is enrolled in school or the After School Program, they are not allowed to interact with the children in the After School Program or be in the same proximity as those students.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT POLICY The children and staff of the After School Program are asked to treat each other with respect as fellow children of God. The rules and behavior expectations utilized by the After School Program will be explained to the children clearly and reinforced in a consistent manner. 7

Children will be given reminders and redirection in order to encourage positive behavior. A child who is unkind verbally will be asked to apologize. A child who uses supplies or equipment inappropriately will be restricted from using the supplies or equipment for a period of time. Any activities where participants purposely exclude another child will not be allowed. For safety reasons, the teacher may determine that some activities have age restrictions or limits. When a child is disruptive or needs time to regain self-control, he or she will be removed from the group. Time out periods will last approximately three to five minutes and will not exceed fifteen minutes. After a time out, the teacher and child will discuss behavior options before the child returns to the group. If a child has specific behavior issues, every effort will be made to implement a behavior management program consistent with efforts being made at school.

TEMPORARY OR LONG TERM REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM Circumstances may arise where a student will need to be removed from the After School Program temporarily or for a longer period of time. Student safety issues, inappropriate language, extreme disrespect are some of the behaviors that warrant such action. Others will be decided at the discretion of the staff and the principal.

When a student deliberately intends to physically harm another student, that child will be separated from the group for the rest of the day and at least the next day. A second offense requires that the student miss a minimum of three days. A third offense will require a minimum of a two week’s absence, and discussion by the school board whether to retain that student in the After School Program for the remainder of the school year. When a student uses inappropriate language, that child will be separated from the group for a minimum of the rest of the day. A second use of inappropriate language requires that the student miss a minimum of three days. A third offense will require a minimum of two week’s absence, followed by a discussion by the School Board about student retention in the After School Program for the remainder of the school year.

Extreme disrespect will be determined by the principal. When a student displays extreme disrespect with the After School Program staff, that child will be separated from the group for a minimum of the rest of the day. A second display of extreme disrespect requires that the student miss a minimum of three days. A third offense will require a minimum of two week’s absence, followed by a discussion by the School Board about student retention in the After School Program for the remainder of the school year. 8

COMMUNICATION Following the principles of Matthew 18:15-20, if a parent has a concern, that parent is asked to first share that concern privately with the staff member involved. The principal should not be the first person to be addressed unless the child is in physical or emotional danger. If the situation is not resolved after the private meeting, the matter can be brought to the attention of the principal. If an extreme situation warrants other action, a meeting may be arranged with the Education Committee, the pastor, the principal, and any other parties involved. Matters concerning overall school policy or procedure should be brought directly to the principal with prayer and Christian love, allowing God’s Word to lead us to peaceful and proper solutions.

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