Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
Right at School Board Presentation
1. Right At School
Survey Summary
Survey conducted the week of March 5, 2012
Dunlap Community Unit School District #323
2. What school does your child attend?
Total Number of Responses per Building
82
110 Banner Elementary School
Dunlap Grade School
Hickory Grove Elementary School
107 Ridgeview Elementary School
62
Wilder-Waite Elementary School
81
Total Number of Responses: 442
3. How often might you need after-school enrichment
programming or extended day activities?
180
160
157
140
120
100 93
80 72 74
60
43
40
20
0
Every day 3 or 4 times a 1 or 2 times a On occasion Never
week week
Total Number of Responses: 439
4. How often might you need before-school programming?
250
221
200
150
131
100
50 37
14 19
0
Every day 3 or 4 times a 1 or 2 times a On occasion Never
week week
Total Number of Responses: 422
5. What elements are most important to you?
337
350
300 230 245
217
250
200
112 114
150
100
50
0
Total Number of Responses: 1,255
6. For planning purposes only, please select those that
might appeal to you for fall, 2012
Creative Capers (Mystery Writing, Drama and Arts) 161
Chicago Style Improvisation 48
Ecology Explorers 138
International Art 89
Movie Making 114
Mural Mania (Stories & Art) 168
Olympic Fit (Fitness & Nutrition) 263
Podcasting 49
Public Speaking 122
Social Entrepreneurs 95
Stitch, Sew and Give 99
USTA Youth Tennis 174
YogArts (Yoga & Art) 158
Zine‐Time (Magazine Making) 68
Total Number of Responses: 1,746
7. Parent Comments
• This is wonderful!While our district offers the best in terms of appropriate learning times based on a child’s biological
age, having enrichment options as opposed to the usual day care would be a nice alternative. It may even be utilized by
parents who don’t use a daycare provider now.
• As a full-time working single mom, after school enrichment activities would be extremely helpful. My child currently is
enrolled in a daycare after school, but these activities would offer challenges and foster creativity, rather than just an
hour or two of babysitting in the afternoon! Great idea!
• This is an excellent idea to bring this program into the school where kids get extra time to spend in the areas they are
interested in and at the same time stay in the school with friends. I am very excited about this and wish that it will come
true. I express my sincere thanks to the school and district board for trying to bring this. All the best.
• I think this would be a great offering. There are so many children that have both parents working. I would love knowing
that my child is in one place all day and safe.
• This would help SO many Dunlap families, especially will all the changes in the district next fall.
I think this is an important
step in trying to make school family and community friendly rather than “shipping” all our students off to daycares every
day.
• I am really interested in after school extra-curricular activities that provide a range of exposure to kids.
Mental activities
like Chess, Puzzle-Solving, and Math Olympiad/Math Counts for 5th grade increases focus in students and provides
opportunities for competing in the real world. I am in favor of an after-school program that can provide such options to
kids and do not mind paying tuition for it.
Right At School
8. Right At School & Dunlap
Community School District
Partners In Student Enrichment
9. Why After School Enrichment?
• Children in after school programs improve
significantly in performance and behavior
(AfterSchool Alliance)
• Parents whose children are not in afterschool
programs miss over a week of work per year due
to childcare needs (U.S. Dept. of Education)
• Programs combine education, socialization,
fitness, free play and child care at half the cost of
a babysitter
10. Still, Most Programs Fall Short
• Can cost district significant resources: time,
money, and personnel
• Can require students to take a bus to another
destination
• Often run by well meaning but under-trained
volunteers or employees whose primary focus is
child care, not academic & fitness enrichment
• Often run on some days or some hours, but not
every single day school is in session—making
working parents scramble for support
11. How Is Right At School Different?
• In each school every day school is in session
• Turn key solution—we manage online
registration, billing, hiring, training, etc.
• Works collaboratively with existing afterschool
providers—children can use Right At School after
their other activities are over
• Proven curriculum under continuous process
evaluation and improvement
• Share 7.5% of all afterschool enrichment fees
with the district
13. After Snack, It’s Time For Enrichment
Drama & Improv Homework Zone
Creative Capers Podcasting
Ecology Explorers Public Speaking
International SmartArt Social Entrepreneurs
Movie Making Stich, Sew & Give
Mural Mania (Stories & Art) USTA Youth Tennis
Olympic Fit (Fitness & Zine-Time (Magazine Making)
Nutrition)
15. Extended Day Activities Center Around
Our 4C Enrichment Curriculum
• Character development activities include food drives, social
entrepreneurism activities, mentoring projects and
international pen pals
• Confidence development activities include drama and
improv, leadership games, introduction to basic financial
literacy and other real world skills
• Creativity building activities include music appreciation and
creation, acting, sculpture, painting, creative writing and
storytelling workshops.
• Conditioning programming teaches health and nutrition,
yoga and relaxation exercises, and instructional youth
tennis with our national partnership with the USTA.
16. At the end of the day we have student
choices
• Gym Games
• Podcasting
• Arts and Crafts
• Board Games
• Reading
• Playground
17. Parent Testimonials
"I love how convenient this program is! The staff is wonderful and I
know my son loves attending each day. I think this is a perfect balance
of an extension of his school day and playtime with his peers. I would
recommend this to other families in a heartbeat!"
—J. Eboreime, parent
"Right at School rocks!! I was thrilled to learn our school was offering
the program, especially for the first day of school. Online registration
was quick and easy in the convenience of my home. As a parent of a
nine year old boy I am very impressed to see young men involved in
both the before and afterschool day, great role modeling guys!"
—K. Potter, parent
18. Principal Testimonials
"Right At School understands our children, our parents and our school
requirements. You have shown great flexibility in offering us the kind of
academic enrichment our school needs."
—Krish Mohip, Principal, Walsh Elementary School
"Right At School is great! It eases our administrative workload and our
parents love it. Your staff is excellent and I have never had a single problem
with the programs."
—Youlanda Royster, Assistant Principal, Murray Language Academy
"We love Right At School. You guys are so flexible and do everything--it's a
piece of cake for the administration. The kids get their homework done, they
learn and have fun, and parents are thrilled that their children are safe in our
school. This is so much better than programs we've had in the past, and I
love it that the kids are here, safe in our school."
—Melissa Raich, Assistant Principal, Sauganash Elementary School
19. Right At School Program: Q & A
1. How does Right at School support the District’s strategic plan?
Goal 4 states “To ensure a satisfying and productive partnership with families and the
community.” We believe that the Right at School program provides a valuable partnership
that also aligns with our mission and goals. In addition, a core value reads “Continual
stakeholder feedback guides improvement.” Based on survey data from parents, there is a
need and desire for the kind of services that Right at School can offer our families.
2. How will the Right at School program impact the area businesses that currently provide
before/after school care? Is there a plan to communicate to them?
We will communicate with area child care centers after the Board has reviewed the
information and provides consent to move forward. Although it does not require board
action, we’ll want to make sure that the Board is “on board”. Then, we will provide a
communication plan for all parents and child care providers to inform them of our plans
to implement “Right at School” in the 2012‐13 school year.
3. Will the program take away from our community providers?
Parents who are satisfied with the quality of their current providers are less likely to
change providers, but those parents who want the type of enrichment that Right At
School offers may switch.
4. How does the Right at School program address the days when school is not in session, such as
institute days or holidays? Today, some of the local before/after school care providers offer a
full day option to their customers for the days school is not in session. Will the Right at School
program offer a full day program for these days?
We have the option to run the program on days that the schools are not in session. If
there is enough parent interest, it can be accommodated.
5. Is the Right At School program offered on half days?
If there is parent interest, this can be accommodated.
6. How will the Right At School program affect the utilization of the K‐5 buildings with respect to
the other programs that currently use the buildings (Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Dunlap Rec, etc)?
Will these other programs need to find alternate locations?
No, ALL existing building‐users will have priority. The Right at School program will not
disrupt or relocate other organizations or groups that have been accustomed to using
our school facilities.
7. Will the program interfere with middle school or high school athletics?
Right at School will work around the school schedule and only use approved areas at
those times that are convenient for the school.
20. 8. Will the program require additional custodial needs for more cleaning? Will this increase the
cost?
Right at School leaves rooms the way they are found. They do not leave food behind,
and if furniture is moved for a program, they return it to the original position. The only
issue would be if custodians wanted access to a room while Right at School was using it,
which would require coordination. While there is no "greater cost," Right at School
does provide a 7.5% revenue share in part to offset any potential inconvenience.
9. Who will be in charge of discipline during the Right At School Program?
Right At School educators and Site Directors are trained educators, and they manage the
process on their own. Right at School does not need to use school resources in any
manner. All staff members attend orientations and training prior to working at our
schools which includes all safety & discipline protocols.
10. What about those who can't afford to send their children to Right At School?
Right at School keeps costs as affordable as possible. Working families who use Right At
School five days per week will see hourly costs at less than $6/hour ($5.58/hour, to be
precise). Fees are a bit higher for those who seek enrichment only one or two days per
week, but even then it is less than $10/hour.
11. How is building security handled?
Right at School uniformed personnel come to the main office at the beginning of the
afternoon and check in with the school office. Right at School has their own doorbell
system set up so when parents come to pick up their children they press their portable
doorbell and site directors let them in.
12. Does Right At School have the ability to accommodate special needs students?
While they have an outstanding industry leading educator to student ratio (10 ‐1), there
are some special needs students that they can and cannot accommodate. This is
discussed on a case by case basis. While they do not provide one‐on‐one aides, they are
committed to working with families to meet their after school needs.
13. Who does Right at School employ and how are they trained?
Right at School has good relationships with local colleges and universities. They recruit
educators to serve on their staff. In addition, all staff goes through extensive training
and are supervised and evaluated regularly. Their program must comply with the
Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) regulations.
14. How does Right at School evaluate its success?
Students, parents and school personnel are surveyed on a regular basis. Input is used to
make revisions and improvements to the program. Ultimately, the success of the
program (and its longevity) is measured by the number of students that enroll in the
program.
21. 15. Will the Right At School program be offered at all buildings?
Yes. As long as there is a minimum of at least 20 students, a school program can be
offered.
16. How do parents register and pay for services?
Right at School offers online payment and registration.
17. How can I learn more about the Right at School program?
Visit their web site at http://rightatschool.com/