SCHOLARSUNLIMITED FAMILYHANDBOOK
UPDATED JUNE 2021

3705E.40thAve Denver,CO80205 303-355-0290
www.scholarsunlimited.org

DearFamilies,

WeareexcitedthatyourchildwillbepartofourSummerand/or AfterSchoolprogram!Yourchildwillbeengagedinreadinginstruction, games,arts,sciences,physicalﬁtnessandotherexploratoryactivities. Heorshewillhavetheopportunitytolearnfromvariousexpertsintheir communityandbeyond. Ourprogramsbuildself-esteem,ahungerfor learning,andthenecessaryresilienceforyourchildtobesuccessfulin schoolandinhisorherowncommunities.

Ourprogramsarerunaslicensedchild-carecenters. Thislicensing shouldgiveyoupeaceofmindknowingthatyourchildissafe. The licensealsodemandsthatweholdahighlevelofaccountabilityand safety. Thispacketincludesinformationonmealsandsnacks,the inspiringpositivebehaviorpolicy,thelatepick-uppolicy,ﬁeldtrips, holidays,whattodowithbelongings,andothercriticalinformation. This manualincludescapacities,licenses, inspectionrequirements,behavior philosophies,visitorpolicy,medicationprocedures,volunteer expectations,etc. Pleasereadthefollowingpacketthoroughly.

Wehopethatyourchildthoroughlyenjoystheprogram. There shouldbesomethingnew,excitingandfunforeveryone!

Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecallusattheScholarsUnlimited ofﬁceat303-355-0290.

-ScholarsUnlimitedStaff

Mission Ourmissionistofosteracademicsocialandemotionalgrowthforchildreninlowincome communitiesaroundmetrodenver.

VISION Anunwaveringcommitmenttoempowerstudentstoachieveacademicandpersonalsuccess.

VALUES

●	Equity

●	Asset-Based ●	Community ●	Joy

ProgramDetails

ImportantDates

●	DatesofOperation:

●	SummerProgram: ApproximatelyMonday-Friday,8am-4pm. SecondweekofJune through midJuly. (6Weeks)*
●	AfterSchoolProgram: ApproximatelyMonday-Friday,3pm-5:30pm. Secondweekof SeptemberthroughmidMay.*
●	Noprogramheldonschoolholidays,schoolbreaks,teacher inservicedays,etc.*

●	*Pleasenote-programdatesandtimesvarybyschool,pleasecheckwithyourlocationfor speciﬁcdetails

CentralOfﬁceStaff

SiteDirectorsmanageday-to-dayoperations. Inadditionthefollowingcentralofﬁcestaffmaybe contactedasappropriate:

ScholarsUnlimitedPresident
	Diana
Romero-Campbell
	(303)381-3740
	
ProgramDirector
	JennieMerrigan
	(303)381-3737
	
AssociateProgramDirector
	AmySilverberg
	(303)381-3732
	
Multi-SiteManager
	JessicaMatthews
	(303)381-3730
	
Multi-SiteManager
	PatrickWilhelm
	(303381-3731
	
MultiSiteManager
	JanetRivera
	(303)381-3734
	
DataCoordinator/StudentEnrollment
	MichaelKagen
	(303)381-3744

.

GeneralProgramPolicies

StudentEligibility

ScholarsUnlimited’sfocusistoworkwithstudentsthatarereadingbelowgradeleveltohelpthem gainstrategiestobelifelongreaders. TheScholarsUnlimitedprogramisopentochildrenaged5–13 yearsold.Astudentmaybewithdrawnfromtheprogramatanytimebyhis/herparentorguardianby

givingnoticeinwritingoftheirintenttowithdrawthechildfromtheprogram.Thiswrittennotice shouldbegiventotheSiteDirector.

Food

AllchildreninourSummerProgram receivebreakfastandlunch,whilestudentsinourAfterSchool Programreceiveasnack,providedbyDenverPublicSchools,AuroraPublicSchools,SheridanPublic Schools orWestminsterPublicSchoolsFoodandNutritionServices. PleasenotifyScholars Unlimited,inwriting,ofanyfoodschildrenwhicharecontrarytotheirreligiousbeliefsorwhichare knowntocauseanallergicreactionorhealthhazard.

Clothing

Parents/Guardiansmustprovideappropriateclothingfortheweather(hats,t-shirts,swimmingsuits, propershoesforwalkingandrunning).NoFlip-ﬂops.Allstudentsmustwearsocksand sneakers/shoeswhileintheprogram,forsafetyreasons. Pleaseprepareforchangingweatherconditionsandprovidesuitableclothingforyourchild throughouttheday. IfyousendsunscreenorbugrepellenttoScholarsUnlimitedwithyourchildtheyshouldbelabeled withyourchild’sﬁrstandlastname. Childrenmustbeabletoapplythesunscreenorbugspray themselves.

PersonalBelongings

Pleaseleave toys,cellphones,andotherelectronicgamesorothervaluablesathome,astheycan beadistractionorcangetlosteasily.

Communication

WeencourageparentstocommunicateregularlywiththeScholarsUnlimitedstaff.Aweekly scheduleofactivitieswillbesenthomeeveryweekandpostedontheparentboardonsiteforyour information. PleaseremembertonotifyScholarsUnlimitedofanyandallemergencyphonenumberchanges. Sitestaffwillreachouttoparents/guardiansiftheyhavenotbeennotiﬁedofastudent’sabsence. Staffwillalsoreachoutwithanyotherimportantinformationyoumayneedregardingschedules, programchanges,updatesregarding yourchild/children,etc.

Visitors

Visitorsarerequiredtosignavisitor’slogandstatethepurposeoftheirvisit.Visitorsunknowntothe staffwillbeaskedtoshowidentiﬁcation.Nochildrenundertheageof16maybeunaccompanied visitorstoaScholarsUnlimitedsite.

WeatherPolicy

ItisthepolicyofScholarsUnlimitedtoprovideactiveandenrichingprogramforallchildren. However, rain,snow,excessivelyhotorcold weathermaynecessitateachangeinplans. Alternativeactivities inaccordancewithScholarsUnlimitedpolicieswillbeoffered. ScholarsUnlimitedreservestheright toalterscheduledactivitiesandtorestrictoutdoorplayduringinclementorexcessivelyhot/cold weather,thunderstorms,etc. Studentswillpracticelockdown,lockout,andﬁredrillsandwill be madeawareofsafeproceduresandplacesduringanyemergency. Pleasenote: everyschoolhasits ownevacuationroutesandwaitingareas. Pleasereviewthepostedproceduresatyoursitesoyou

canbeawareofthewaitingareaatwhichtoﬁndyourstudent(s)incaseofsuchanemergency evacuation.

FieldTrips

SiteDirectorswillsendhomeinformationaboutﬁeldtripsatleastoneweekpriortothetrip. Ifyoudo notwantyourchildtoparticipateinascheduledﬁeldtriporplannedactivitypleasespeakwiththe SiteDirector. Alternativeactivitiesmaynotbeofferedandyouwillneedtomakearrangementsto pickyourchildupearlyorplanonnotsendinghim/hertotheenrichmentprogramonthedayofthe ﬁeldtrip.

Ifachildisnotpickedupafterthegrouphasreturnedtothesitefromascheduledﬁeldtrip,his/her familywillbecontactedimmediately.ScholarsUnlimitedstaffwilllookafterthechilduntilthe parent/guardianhasarrived.Ifaparentorguardiandoesnotarrivetopickthechildupinatimely manner,theLatePickUpProceduredescribedinsection2willbeused.ScholarsUnlimitedwillnotify thepolicetopickupthechildandtakehim/hertothenearestPolicestation.Thepolicewillbegiven theemergencycontactinformation.

Transportation

ScholarsUnlimitedisresponsibleforanychildrenittransports. Transportationwillbeprovidedby DenverPublicSchools,AuroraPublicSchools,WestminsterPublicSchoolsoranauthorizedand appropriatelylicensedcharterbusormotorcoachcompany.
●	Parents/guardianssignthetransportationandﬁeldtripreleaseformsduringenrollment, givingwrittenpermissiontotransporttheirchild.
●	Childrenwillnotbepermittedtorideinthefrontseatofavehicle.Childrenwillremainseated whilethevehicleisinmotion. Childrenwillnotbepermittedtostandorsitontheﬂoorofa movingvehicle,andtheirarms,legs,andheadsmustremaininsidethevehicleatalltimes.
●	Childrenwillbeloadedandunloadedoutofthepathofmovingvehicles. ●	Childrenwillnotbeleftunattendedinthevehicle.
●	ScholarsUnlimiteddoesnotuseprivatevehiclestotransportchildren.

SafetyonFieldTripsandOff-Site

ScholarsUnlimitedwillmaintainon-sitesafetyproceduresonﬁeldtripsandoff-site. Inadditioneachsitewillpostthefollowinginformationatthesitebeforeleavingforaﬁeldtrip:
o	itineraryincludingdestination, o	departureandreturntimes;
o	emergencyphonenumbers;

● AlsoalistofallstudentsandstaffattendingtheﬁeldtripwillbeattheScholarsUnlimitedmain ofﬁce.
● Adult/childratiowillbe,atmost,1:15.Staffstayswithpre-assignedgroupsonﬁeldtrips. ● Atnotimewillchildrenbeallowedtobebythemselves.
● ChildrenwillwearvisiblewristbandsandScholarsUnlimitedtshirts

● Staffwillhaveadigitalcopyofeachchild’sinformation,aswellasemergencycontact information,anytimetheprogramleavesthesite.AFIRSTAIDKITandPHONEisavailableon everyﬁeldtrip.

Concerns

AnyconcernswithprogramoperationsorgeneralpracticesshouldﬁrstbetakentotheSiteDirector. Ifasuccessfulresolutioncannotbereached,contactoneoftheScholarsUnlimitedMulti-Site

Managersor theAssociateProgramDirector,listedabove.

HumanServicesComplaints

Ifyoususpectanylicensingcomplaintswithprogramoperations,childabuse/neglect,licensing violationsorgeneralpractices,youshouldreportyoursuspicionstotheDepartmentofHuman ServicesfamilyCrisisCenterbycallingtheirhotlineat720-944-3000. Ifyouhaveacomplaintconcerningsuspectedlicensingviolationsatthisoranyotherlicensedcare facility,youshouldreportyourconcernsbycallingtheColoradoDepartmentofHumanServices, ChildCareLicensingat720-865-5396.

AttendancePolicy,SignInandDismissal

Regular attendanceisvital notonlytolearning,butalsotosuccess,intheScholarsprogram. Ifa childisabsentforamaximumofthreedays(notduetosicknessorfamilyemergency)theSite Directorwillcontactyoutodiscusswhethertheprogramisagoodﬁt. Studentswhomissthree days,duringasixweekperiod,couldbedroppedfromtheprogramorexcludedfromtherecreation portionofourSummer program. IfyourchildistardyorabsentfromtheSummermorningprogram, he/shecannotattendthatafternoon’srecreationprogram.

Pleasenote:AttendanceattheSummermorningliteracyprogramismandatoryeveryday.

ScholarsUnlimited,DenverPublicSchools,AuroraPublicSchools,SheridanPublicSchools,and WestminsterPublicSchoolsareresponsibleforyourchildafteryouhavesignedthemintothe program.Thatresponsibilityendswhenyourchildhasbeensignedout.

Absences

Ifyourchildwillnotbeattendingtheprogrambecauseofanunavoidableabsence,pleasenotifythe SiteDirectorinadvance. Ifyourchildisillorifthereisafamilyemergencyitisveryimportanttocall theSiteDirectorbetween8:00a.m.–9:00a.mduringthesummer,andbetween2:00pm.-3:00p.m. duringtheschoolyear. Absenteeswithoutpriornoticemaybemistakenforamissingchild. Ifachild isabsentwithoutpriornotice,staffwillcontacttheparents/guardians. Iftheparentscannotbe reached,wewillcontactthoselistedasemergencycontactsontheEnrollment/InformationForm.

TrackingProcedures ScholarsUnlimitedstaffiscommittedtothe safetyofallstudents.
●	Studentsareneverleftalone;anadultwillbewithstudentsatalltimes.

●	Staffmaintainsamaximumstaff-to-childratioof1:15(1adultto15children). ●	Staffcarryalistofchildrenwhomtheyaresupervisingatalltimes.
●	Attendanceistakenatthebeginning,andend,ofeachrotationortransition.

PickingUpChildren:

Studentswillbereleased to authorizedadultsonly(namedontheEnrollment/InformationForm)who are18yearsorolder. Ifanemergencyrequiresthatsomeoneelsepickupyourchild,thechild’s name,andadult’snameandphonenumber,mustbeleftwiththeScholarsUnlimitedSiteDirectoror withourmainofﬁceat303-355-0290. Photoidentiﬁcationwillberequiredfromthatadultatthe timetheycomeforthechild(ren). ATNOTIMEWILLACHILDBEALLOWEDTOLEAVEWITHOUT PERMISSIONFROMANAUTHORIZEDADULT. Nounauthorizedpersonwillbeallowedtopickup achildorleavethepremiseswithachild.

●	Walkers,BicycleRiders:Achildwillbeallowedtowalk/biketoandfromhomeonlyiftheproper releasewaiverfromtheEnrollmentInformationFormhasbeensigned.

LatePick-UpProcedure

Ourprogramhoursvaryfromschooltoschool. Speciﬁcpickuptimesforyourlocationare availablefromtheSiteDirector.

Itisimportanttopickupyourchild(ren)bythe speciﬁedpickup timeatyourschool. Itmaybe necessaryforScholarsUnlimitedtochargealatefeeof$5.00fortheﬁrst10minutes,and$1.00for everyminutethereafterwhenyouarelatepickingupyourchild. Thisfeeassistsinreimbursingstaff fortheextratimetheyarerequiredtostay. Ifachildisnotpickedupontime,staffwillcallallcontactnumbersontheEmergencyListprovidedby theauthorizedadult.. Callswillbemadeat5minutesafterthespeciﬁedpickuptime, andagainat15 minutesafterthespeciﬁedpickuptime,withaﬁnalcallbeingmadeat25minutesafterthespeciﬁed pickuptime. At30minutesafterthespeciﬁedpickuptimeScholarsUnlimitedwillnotifythe policetopickupthechildandtakehim/hertothenearest districtpolicestation. Wewillmake everyefforttocontactsomeoneattheemergencynumbersyouhaveprovided,butifpolicetakeover thesituationwewillgivethemallpertinentinformationrequested.

MissingorLostChildPlanofAction

Wetakeextraeffortstoensurethesafetyofyourchildatalltimesduringtheprogram.Intherare occasionthatachildcannotbelocated,thefollowingstepswillbetakenimmediately:
●	Staffcallsrolltoidentifythemissingchild.

●	Staffsearchestheschoolbuildinginsideandout,usingtheschoolintercomsystemif accessible.
●	Ifthechild(ren)hasnotbeenfound,staffcall911andDenverPublicSchools/AuroraPublic Schools,/WestminsterPublicSchools/SheridanPublicSchoolsSafetyandSecurity.
●	TheSiteDirectorwillreporttheincidenttotheMultiSiteManagerimmediately,andcontinue tocallthemwithupdates
●	TheincidentwillbedocumentedontheAccident/Incidentreportform.

●	TheDepartmentofHumanServices,andtheChildAbuseHotline, MUSTbecontactedby theSiteDirectorwithin24hoursifachildwaslostorneededemergencycareorwhenthere wasafatality. Bothentitieswillinvestigatetheincident.

Health,SpecialNeedsAndMedicationPolicies:

IndividualHealthConcerns

PleasenotifyScholarsUnlimitedofanyallergies,healthconcerns,medications,dietaryneeds, behavioralsupportsorspecialneedsyourchildmayhave. ScholarsUnlimitedwillprovidereasonable accommodationsforeachchildwithinthescopeoftheprogramanditsstafﬁngcapabilitiesin compliancewiththeAmericanswithDisabilitiesActlaw. ScholarsUnlimiteddoesnotdiscriminateon thebasisofdisability.

InordertobestmeettheneedsofyourchildandfamilyScholarsUnlimitedmustbeinformedofall changesinyourchild’shealth,needsordailycare.EnsureyourEnrollmentandInformationFormis complete,andthatyoushareyourchild’sIEPwithScholarsUnlimited,ifapplicable.

Ameetingmaybescheduledtodiscuss,andestablish,ifwecandevelopaplanspeciﬁctoyourchild’s needs.

WrittenPermissiontoGiveMedicationRequired

Childrencannotkeepanytypeofmedicationontheirperson(unlessauthorizedbythechild’smedical provider). Ifanytypeofmedication,prescriptionorover-the-counter,istobeadministeredtoyour childbyScholarsUnlimitedstaffyoumustgiveuswrittenpermissiontodosobysubmittinga medicationformfromalicenseddoctorthatincludesthedoctor’ssignatureandthefollowing information:
·Child’sﬁrstandlastname ·Doctor’sname,telephonenumberandsignature ·Dateauthorized ·Nameofmedicationanddosage ·Timeofdaymedicationistobegiven ·Routeofmedication ·Lengthoftimethemedicationistobegiven
·Reasonformedication(unlessthisinformationneedstoremainconﬁdential) ·Sideeffectsorreactionstowatchfor
·Specialinstructions

Medicationsmustbeintheoriginallabeledbottleorcontainer. Over-the-countermedicationmust bekeptintheoriginallylabeledcontainerandbelabeledwiththechild'sﬁrstandlastname Prescriptionmedicationsmustcontaintheoriginalpharmacylabelthatlists:
·Child'sname ·Prescribingpractitioner'sname ·Pharmacynameandtelephonenumber ·Dateprescriptionwasﬁlled ·Expirationdateofthemedication ·NameofthemedicationandDosage ·Howoftentogivethemedication ·Lengthoftimethemedicationistobegiven

Illness/Injury

ScholarsUnlimitedtakeseveryprecautionnecessarytokeepchildrenhealthy,andinjuryfree. Inthe eventthatachildisillorinjuredweprovidecareandsupportuntilaparentpicksthechildup.
●	AllYouthDevelopmentInstructorsarerequiredtobecertiﬁedinCPR,,FirstAid,and UniversalPrecautions.
●	Thestudentwillberemovedfromsocialactivitiesandallowedtorestinaquiet,supervised location.
●	Parentswillbenotiﬁedofasickorinjuredchildimmediately,andaskedtotakethechild homeassoonaspossible.
●	Emergencyserviceswillbecalledif/whenneeded

●	Accidentsthatresultinseriousinjury(including,butnotlimitedto:brokenbones,sprains, headtrauma,profusebleeding,etc.)willbereportedtoColoradoChildCareLicensing.

BehavioralPolicy

InspiringPositiveBehavior

ScholarsUnlimitedrecognizesthatthecommunitieswepartnerwithareimpactedbysystemic racismthathasanadverseeffectontherelationshipsthatscholarsandtheirfamilieshavewith schoolsystems.Werecognizethatboysofcolorexperiencemorenegativedisciplineconsequences (detention,suspension,expulsion)thantheirpeers.ScholarsUnlimitedtreatseveryscholarwiththe sameloveandhighexpectationsinordertothrive.Wealsoacknowledgethatweareallhumanand askforgrace,accountability,andloveaswestrivetoinspirepositivebehaviorinourprograms.

Behaviorstrategiesthatwelearnandpullfrom(butdonotfollowexactly):TraumaInformedCare, RestorativeJustice,PositiveBehaviorInterventionStrategies(PBIS),PositiveYouthDevelopment (PYD),NoNonsenseNurturing(NNN)

Weusealayeredapproachtomeettheneedsofourscholars:

FIRSTLAYER

1.	Proactivewithbehaviorneedsatthestartoftheprogramwewill: a. Buildandmaintainpositiverelationships
b. Setclearexpectationsandcommunicationstrategiesforeachprogram

SECONDLAYER

1.	Decidewhethertoignore,orprovideaVerbalorNon-verbalcue 2. Proximity-staffwillphysicallymoveclosertothescholar
3. Samelevel-staffwillgetonthesameeyelevelasthescholar 4. Redirection&engagement
5. Namingthepositivebehavioralternative

THIRDLAYER

1.	Acknowledge&validatefeelingsofscholars 2. Groundingtechniques
3. Usedeescalationskills

4. Providinganopportunityforascholartoreﬂectonthesituationandco-createconsequences forthenegativebehavior

FORTHLAYER

1.	Notifyfamilies when:

a. Ascholarbecomesphysicallyoremotionallyunsafetothecommunityorthemselves b. Habitualbehaviorsthatneedlayer2and3interventions
serverbehaviorscanleadtoimmediateseparationfromtheprogramfortheday(orinextremecases formultipledayorpermanently)

Additionally,ifatanytimeachildleavestheimmediateprogramareaforanyreason,areasonable attemptshouldbemadetostophim/her. 911shouldbecalledandthechildshouldbereportedasa runawayifthechildcontinuestoﬂee. Familieswillbecontactedandstaffwilldocumenttheincident. Additionallystaffwilldocumenttheincident.

Ourcommitmenttothefamilies-maintainpositiverelationshipsbetweenscholarsandstaff,be presentduringtheprogramandtoallscholarsthatday,planqualityactivitiesthatwillkeepscholars engaged.

Haveconsistentcommunicationwithfamiliesabouthowyourchildisdoingintheprogram(this includes;successes,challenges,opportunitiesforgrowth,andalltheFUNstuffyourchilddoesinour program).

Whatweaskfromfamilies-holdboththeprogramandyourscholarsaccountableforapositive environment,workaspartnerswiththestaffoninspiringpositivebehavior, beopenandhonest abouttheneedsyourscholarneedstosucceedintheprogramandunderstandyourscholarispartof acommunity-weneedallcommunitymemberstocommunicateandtreateachotherwithrespect to haveasuccessfulprogram.

SchoolInformation

Pleasevisitourwebsiteat www.scholarsunlimited.orgformore informationaboutwhereyoucanﬁnd
ourprograms!

ScholarsUnlimited Parent/GuardianSignaturePage

_____I have received a copy of the Parent/Guardian Handbook for Scholars Unlimited’s program.

_____ I will notify the Site Director when my child is not attending the program.

_____I have reviewed the Behavior Policy with my child and they understand it.

_____I have reviewed the Late Pick-up Procedures and understand that I am to pick up my child at the end of the program every day.

Scholars Unlimited expects all parents and guardians to interact with our program, staff, and students, in a manner that is not obstructive, disruptive or that interferes with teaching, administrative or disciplinary functions, or any activity during our programs.

Scholars Unlimited encourages parents and guardians to visit, volunteer, and attend special events. During these times we expect all parents and guardians to treat all staff and students in a respective manner.

Failure to abide by these expectations can result in Scholars Unlimited removing a student from our program.

Scholars Unlimited is independent from Denver Public Schools/Aurora Public Schools/Westminster Public Schools/Sheridan Public Schools but refers to DPS/APS/WPS/SPS policies and procedures when operating programs in DPS/APS/WPS/SPS.

Parent/Guardian’s Signature	Date

Name(s) of child(ren)

1. __________________________________

2. __________________________________

3. __________________________________

4. __________________________________

Grade: _____________

Grade: _____________

Grade: _____________

Grade: _____________

Scholars Unlimited Drop Form

I am dropping my child/children from the Scholars Unlimited After School or Summer Program.
I understand that he/she/they will no longer be attending the program.

Authorized Adult Name (please print):__________________________________

Authorized Adult Signature:

Date:

Child/Children’s Name(s):

___________________________________

___________________________________

____________________________________