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Extended Learning Opportunity » Parent Frequently Asked Questions

Parent Frequently Asked Questions

 

PROGRAM VISION, MISSION, GOALS

In collaboration with our parents and community, we envision happy, competent, self-sufficient young adults enriched with sound minds and bodies who will become productive and contributing members of an increasingly global community. 

 

Mission and Vision: What We Are About

Vision: In collaboration with our parents and community, we envision happy, competent, self-sufficient young adults enriched with sound minds and bodies who will become productive and contributing members of an increasingly global community.

Mission: Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, enriched after school program that encompasses literacy, art, technology, and recreation for MUSD students so that they may achieve academic and personal success.

 

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

How will E.L.O. benefit the children of our community? How will the community benefit from this program? What are some family and community needs that have been assessed prior to the application of the grant?

 

Introduction

Montebello Unified School District (MUSD) has been awarded the 21 st Century Community Learning Centers competitive grant by the federal government to provide after school academic enrichment program. This after school grant primarily targets students attending schools that serve a high percentage of low-income families. Many of our families live in poverty and have no access to a supervised after school environment. Research has shown that children without adult supervision are at significantly greater risk of truancy from school, stress, receiving poor grades, risk-taking behavior, and substance use. This timely grant during current tough financial times for schools is truly a benefit not only for MUSD, but for the community at large because it will provide a free, safe, and supervised after school environment that will engage students in literacy, technology, art, and physical education.

How This Program Helps Students

A growing number of youth spend the hours, between when school closes and parents return from work, unproductively - watching television, surfing the net, hanging out with friends, and sometimes getting into trouble. Consider the following statistics:

  • Juvenile crime triples from 3-8pm and peaks from 3-4pm during the hours after school
  • 28% of U.S. children live with a single working parent or two working parents
  • Between 5 and 7 million, possibly as many as 15 million, "latchkey children" are home alone after school
  • The most common activity for children after school is watching TV - on average 23 hours a week

Community and Family Needs:

The following are some of the community and family needs that this program addresses:

  • Need for an affordable, safe, and supervised After School Environment.
  • Need for activities that encourage interest in school.
  • Need for additional learning opportunities in reading, writing, and math.
  • Need for additional English Language development opportunities.
  • Need for additional family literacy and learning experiences.

 

Extended Learning Opportunity (E.L.O.) COMPONENTS

The E.L.O. program provides supervised activities, including homework assistance, arts and crafts, and recreation each weekday. The program is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade in selected schools. We are proud to share our comprehensive after school program components.

 

Program Components

E.L.O. is a carefully designed learning program that supports all three of the authorized purposes of the 21st CCLC program and directly addresses identified needs of the target population. It offers students and families a free daily after school program; daily academic support; engaging literacy, technology, and arts enrichment experiences; other high interest enrichment opportunities; family literacy services; and tutoring. E.L.O. directly addresses research-proven factors for improving academic achievement, including increasing learning time; using highly-qualified staff; offering small class sizes and low student-to-staff ratios; aligning learning experiences with intended outcomes; providing engaging curriculum and learning experiences; ensuring students regularly encounter “achievable challenges;" and offering continuous student feedback and regular assessments of student progress.

E.L.O.'s three main components are: Literacy, Art (Recreation included) and Technology.

Coming soon - more detailed information on these topics!

  • Literacy: The LitART Literacy Partnership is a proven, research-based after school literacy curriculum designed to help students in grades K-8 meet state and local standards in core academic subjects. Students will also learn media literacy by using strategies for analyzing and interpreting messages found in television, magazines, the internet, newspapers, billboards, and other popular media using the LitART Media Literacy Project Curriculum.
  • Art - Meet the Masters: Students will be exposed to Great Art Masters of our time. Students will have opportunities to learn, practice, and explore a variety of arts and cultural activities.  
  • Technology: Each school will offer age-appropriate computer and technology learning experiences by using the existing computer labs and computer pods at the school sites.
  • Field Trips: Each center will take participants on field trips, which, when possible, will serve as celebration for that month's curricular theme.
  • Service Learning: E.L.O.'S service-learning component seeks to involve 4th through 8th grade students in community service.
  • Physical Fitness: Students will engage physical fitness activities that promote health, character development, and developmental assets.
  • Recreation programs : Students will engage recreation programs that promote health, character development, and developmental assets.

 

SCHEDULE

E.L.O. plans to offer a positive, safe, and supervised place for students to go after school Monday through Friday from school release time until 6 pm. The program will operate directly on each school campus for an average of 3.5 hours per day. 

 

E.L.O. Hours and Schedule

E.L.O. plans to offer a positive, safe, and supervised place for students to go after school, Monday through Friday, from school release time. The program will operate directly on each school campus for 3 hours per day.

E.L.O. does not operate during intercessions, breaks, and summer time. We will explore supplemental grants to allow us to do this in the future.

 

Daily Schedule

3:00 - 3:45 Snacks, Homework, Attendance (45 min)
3:45 - 4:00 Break (15 min)
4:00 - 4:45 LitART (45 min)
4:45 - 5:00 Break (15 min)
5:00 - 5:50 Art & Technology (50 min)
5:50 - 6:00 Clean up (10 min)

The schedule includes about three one-hour blocks (subdivided into smaller learning segments).

 

  • Homework Support/Tutoring
  • Literacy
    • Picture Book
    • Drama Response
  • Enrichment and Recreation
  • Art
    • Meet the Masters and art projects based on literature
  • Technology
    • Computer lab extension projects and independent skill work
  • Outdoor
    • Cooperative games, social development, skill development
  • Special Projects/Events
    • Music
    • Dance
    • Science
    • Field Trips
    • Performances

 

 

 

STAFFING

The success of our program depend on our competent and caring staff.
 

ELIGIBILITY

The E.L.O. project will serve about 3,000 students in grades K-12. This number represents over 10% of each school's student population.

 

PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS AND SUPPORT

For E.L.O. to be a success, we need parental cooperation in making sure students attend the program regularly and behave during our program.

 

 

Parental Expectations:

Participation in E.L.O. is a privilege. A child must follow the rules of the program. We will involve you in the process. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior toward other students or staff is reason for dismissal. We encourage you to discuss concerns about your child’s behavior with the Site Coordinator.

Though our E.L.O. staff is committed and qualified, your help is needed to make the program the very best it can be.  You are an important partner in our program’s success, and we look forward to your help with field trips, events and activities, tutoring, and other projects. 

 

Discipline Procedure:

E.L.O. follows a positive, progressive discipline methodology. We value the dignity and worth of all children. We try to use positive reinforcement whenever we can. Communication with parents is also a vital component of our discipline process.

 

PARENTAL SUPPORT/VOLUNTEERING

Have a special talent or skill that you would like to share? View our directory and learn how you can start volunteering.