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Family Handbook
2015-2016
ContentsContents...........................................................................................................................2Introduction......................................................................................................................4Our Mission......................................................................................................................4GO Project Overview.......................................................................................................4
GO Project Teachers................................................................................................4Class Size and Student Support...............................................................................5A.S.P.I.R.E................................................................................................................5
Parent Expectations.........................................................................................................6Program Commitment...............................................................................................6Attendance & Punctuality..........................................................................................6Drop-Off/Pick-Up.......................................................................................................6Authorized Pick-Up and Emergency Contacts..........................................................6Parent Participation...................................................................................................6Participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences..............................................................7Join our GO Celebrations.........................................................................................7Student Dress Code..................................................................................................7
Program Overview...........................................................................................................8GO Summer.....................................................................................................................8
Program Structure.....................................................................................................8Specialist Services....................................................................................................8Breakfast...................................................................................................................9Lunch/Snack.............................................................................................................9Hot Days (GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL SITE ONLY)...............................................9Field Trips.................................................................................................................9Allergies, Medication and First Aid............................................................................9Progress Reports....................................................................................................10
GO School......................................................................................................................10Program Structure...................................................................................................10Allergies, Medication and First Aid..........................................................................10Progress Reports....................................................................................................11GO Fundamentals (3rd- 5th grade only)....................................................................11Bridges to GO Middle Project (GO Bridges) – 5th grade only..................................11
The GO Middle School Project.......................................................................................11Why GO Middle?.....................................................................................................11Objectives of GO Middle.........................................................................................11Developmental Needs of Middle School Students..................................................11GO Middle Program Highlights...............................................................................12Project-Based Learning..........................................................................................12Enrichment Classes................................................................................................12Clubs.......................................................................................................................12Teen Talk................................................................................................................12Positive Behavior Support System..........................................................................12
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Portfolios.................................................................................................................12Specialist Services..................................................................................................12High School Choice Curriculum..............................................................................13Service Learning (8th Grade Only)...........................................................................13Leadership Council.................................................................................................13Leadership Camp....................................................................................................13
GO Families – Family/Student Support Services...........................................................13Program Overview..................................................................................................13Parent/Guardian Information Table.........................................................................13Parent/Guardian Workshops...................................................................................14Counseling and Family Support..............................................................................14School-Based Counseling Support.........................................................................14Student Support Program (Middle School Student Only)........................................15PAL (Parent Advocacy Leaders).............................................................................15
Staff Contact Information...............................................................................................16Leadership Team....................................................................................................16Onsite Staff.............................................................................................................16
GO Families Interns………………………………………………………………………16Additional Resources & Support....................................................................................16
Community Organizations.......................................................................................16
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IntroductionWelcome to the GO Project! We have made it our mission provide a supportive learning environment for student participants, as well as their parents or guardians. In order to better serve GO Project families, we have created this handbook with important policies about GO Summer and GO School, helpful resources, and information about special programs offered by the GO Project to parents and students.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to any of the GO Staff! We hope this guide provides you with additional resources as you support your child’s academic and social/emotional development.
Our MissionThe GO Project shapes the futures of low-income New York City public school children by providing critical academic, social and emotional support starting in the early elementary years. GO provides year-round educational and family support services to children who are performing below grade level and equips them with the confidence and skills needed to succeed at school, at home and in life.
GO Project OverviewThe GO Project model is centered on three mutually reinforcing strands of service – GO Summer, GO School and GO Families. GO Summer is a rigorous, five-week, full day academic and enrichment program. All students continue on with GO School, a focused, seven-month Saturday program. GO Families is a year-round integrated social service program designed to empower parents to create positive learning environments at home and school. Our educators, social workers and volunteers work with students from kindergarten through the eighth grade where they are assured successful placement into a quality middle school and high school. In 2011, we launched the GO Middle School Project. GO Middle is designed to support GO students through the eighth grade. Our model incorporates holistic programming, early/ continuous intervention, responsive/ individualized instruction and community-building/partnerships.
GO Project TeachersGO Project Lead Teachers are state-certified in their area of instruction and have at least 2 year of teaching experience. Many also have certification in Special Education, Bilingual Education, and/or English as a Second Language. Enrichment Teachers have specific expertise and/or certifications in their area of instruction.
During GO Summer, each Lead Teacher is supported by Student Teachers from local university, a Teaching Assistant, and a high school intern. During GO School, each Lead Teacher is supported by 3-4 volunteers.
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Class Size and Student SupportOur goal is to maintain a small adult-to-student ratio in the classroom. Along with the Lead teacher, our classrooms are staffed by teaching assistants, interns and volunteers. GO Project is committed to build students’ confidence and support their academic needs so that they may develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Our class size is deliberately kept small with a maximum of 14 students, so that our students benefit from small classroom size and individualized attention to meet all academic areas.
It is important to note that GO Project does NOT offer Paraprofessional Services, even if your child has one assigned to them at their public school, and has one listed as a requirement on their IEP.
Instead, our staff will work with you to make sure your child has the academic and social-emotional support required to be successful at GO Project as much as our capacity allows.
A.S.P.I.R.EThe GO culture includes a value system that appears in every classroom and is consistent throughout the whole program. The value system is based on the acronym: A.S.P.I.R.E.
A S P I R EAchievement! Support! Participation! Integrity! Responsibility! Effort!
Be a Problem Solver
Believe in Yourself
Take Action
Help Others
Cheer On Your Peers
Celebrate Differences
Ask Questions When You Need
Help
Listen to Adults and Each Other
Be Curious
Stand Up for Justice
Take Turns and Share
Tell the Truth
Be Safe
Respect the Materials We Use
Ask for Help When Needed
Always Do Your Best
Give 100%
Come Prepared To Learn
Each letter represents a descriptive action that is desirable in order for students to be successful at GO and beyond. A is for achievement, and the desirable actions are to be a problem solver, believe in one’s self, and take action. S is for Support and the desirable actions are helping others, cheering on peer members, and celebrating differences. P is for participation and the desirable actions are asking questions when you need help, listening to adults and each other, and being curious. I is for integrity and the desirable actions are standing up for justice, taking turns, sharing and telling the truth. R is for Responsibility and the desirable actions are be safe, respect materials, and ask for help. E is for effort and the desirable actions are
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always doing your best, giving 100%, and coming prepared to learn. The goal of the incentive system is to reinforce positive behavior and create a consistent culture that is unique to the GO Project.
Parent ExpectationsProgram Commitment
A year round commitment is required for participation in the GO Project. This includes participation in the five-week GO Summer program as well as GO School, our Saturday program.
Attendance & PunctualityGO Project has a strict three-absence policy. Students cannot miss more than three days of GO Summer and three days of GO School. Please make sure to plan vacations around the GO Summer and GO School schedules in order to ensure that your child gets the maximum benefit from our programming. Families are expected to communicate absences with as much advanced notice as possible.
Drop-Off/Pick-UpWe ask that all parents and guardians pick their children up between the allotted times for both programs.
GO Project Program Drop-Off Pick-UpGO Summer 8am-8:45am 5pmGO School (Elementary) 9:30am 12:30pmGO School (Middle) 9:30am 12:50pm
More information on the drop-off and pick-up policies can be found under the “Program Overview” section for both GO Summer and GO School.
Authorized Pick-Up and Emergency ContactsYou must designate at least three adults to pick up your children by the dismissal time and as emergency contacts. In order for someone else to pick up your child, you must have informed us in advance that you give permission to said person to pick up your child. This permission must be given to us in writing prior to the pick-up time.
For your child’s safety, these contacts must display a photo ID upon arrival. Otherwise, your child will not be released into their care.
If there are certain people who should not have access to your child, please be sure to inform GO Project staff as soon as possible, and keep this information current throughout the summer and school year.
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Family ParticipationGO Project offers parents and caregivers a variety of options to be involved in our program. It is our hope that parents and caregivers will participate to the fullest extent possible, including attending parent workshops, attending family events, participating in parent-teacher conferences, and utilizing the various support services. Parents are also invited to volunteer in the classroom during GO Summer and GO School. If you have other ideas or suggestions on how you would like to engage with GO, please let us know!
Participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences In the 4th week of GO Summer, the GO Project holds parent-teacher conferences so that parents and GO teachers can meet to highlight student’s academic, social and emotional growths and to discuss goals for the upcoming academic year.
Join our GO CelebrationsDuring the GO school year, much is done for the students in regards to their educational and emotional needs… but that doesn’t mean it’s all work and no play! Parents, students, and GO Project staff should make time to have fun, too!
The annual GO School Family Potluck & Open Houses Celebration, Summer Family Celebrations, and End of GO Summer Student Presentations allow parents the chance to be a part of some of the most anticipated times of the GO year. We encourage all parents or guardians to participate, and anyone wishing to volunteer for any of these activities should speak to any of the GO Project staff for more information.
Parent Classroom Volunteer OpportunitiesThe GO Project model is heavily reliant on volunteers from all over the community. Volunteers support the Head Teacher by providing small group and one-on-one support to students in the classroom. Parents are welcome and encouraged to volunteer in a GO classroom. Parent classroom volunteers are placed in the same grade as their child but a different class. Having the opportunity to work alongside a GO teacher gives parents an insight into the GO classroom experience and also provides them with tools that they can use at home to support their child academically and socially.
Student Dress CodePlease dress students in comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the weather, and that won’t serve as a distraction to other students. For example, a t-shirt, pants or shorts, and sneakers would be considered appropriate attire.
The following clothing and footwear are NOT permitted: • Flip flops or sandals• Short skirts• Tube tops
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• Undershirts as outerwear• Other revealing attire, and/or any attire that may disrupt the learning process
Please exercise discretion in choosing your child’s attire, since doing so will make GO an enjoyable experience for all. Additionally, a GO Project t-shirt will be provided for all students, which should be worn for school trips and other outings.
Program OverviewGO Summer
Program StructureThis year, the summer program runs from Monday, July 6 th through Friday, August 7th. Students who do not attend the first three days of the summer program will be permanently withdrawn from the GO Project. Please note that Friday, August 7 th will be a half day and dismissal is at 12:30 pm.
Our programming operates from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday through Friday. You may drop off your child as early as 8:00AM; the latest you may pick up your child is 6:00PM. For every half-hour that your child stays late past the 6:00PM cut-off time, you will be charged a late fee of $10, which will be due in cash at the time of pick up.
• Harambee: Harambee is a Swahili word meaning “come together”. Every morning, it is our community ritual to come together and start our program with positive energy. It begins with singing & dancing followed by critical community announcements for both students and families. We always encourage our parents to participate in Harambee.
• Morning Activities: The intensive academic curriculum focuses on reading, writing, and math through interactive, hands-on activities.
• Afternoon Activities: Following a well-balanced lunch and daily recess, there are afternoon enrichment classes which vary by grade, including:
- Sports: Yoga, martial arts, bowling, soccer, dance, dance, handball, tennis- Journalism- Science Lab- Expressive Arts: Mural-making, theater, drama, art
Specialist ServicesDuring GO Summer, our program provides specialist services for students who have IEPs or demonstrate a need for more intense academic intervention in a smaller group. The services are provided during the academic instruction hours twice or three times weekly, and students work towards goals based on either: (1) the student’s IEP goals, or (2) current learning needs. The available services are as follows:
• Speech
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• Math• Reading/Writing• ELL (English Language Learners)
BreakfastBreakfast will be available for all students who arrive between 8:00am and 8:25am during GO Summer. We encourage parents to be present during this time if possible.
Lunch/SnackLunch will be served from July 6th through August 6th (There will be no lunch served on August 7th due to early dismissal at 12:00pm). The lunch menu will be provided at the parent table on July 6th and be available throughout GO Summer. No special dietary accommodations or requests are able to be made. Students are allowed to bring their own lunch if they prefer (except for GO Avenues location). Snack will be served twice daily – once in mid morning and once in mid afternoon.
Hot Days (GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL SITE ONLY)Please be aware that our host site, Grace Church School may be required by the City to reduce all non-essential electrical equipment, which includes air conditioning, computers, most lights, etc. on days when the temperature exceeds 90 F. When this occurs, a power-down protocol takes place from 2pm-6pm. However, GO Project has created hot day schedules that ensure student activities are located in the coolest places in the building. Additionally, we keep students hydrated throughout the program day. We will not close program down on hot days; however, please feel free to pick up your child(ren) anytime between 2:15pm-3:00pm as needed on these days.
Field TripsStudents will participate in field trips in the range of 1-3 times during the GO Summer. During the field trip, students are supervised by our staff and we ensure a 1:5 adult-to-student ratio. For all trips, we send the Head Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and Student Teachers. If trips extend into the afternoon, Enrichment Teachers will meet them on the trip.
Students are required to wear their GO Project T-Shirt or Hat and bring a water bottle on the day of their field trip(s). Students will not be permitted to participate in the field trip unless a permission slip is submitted prior to the trip.
Allergies, Medication and First AidThere will be a nurse on-site during summer programming, to give medication doses as directed and attend to any other medical or first aid needs of GO students. If your child requires medication during the school day, s/he will need to have a current medication form on file signed by their pediatrician.
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If your child has any allergies, be sure to inform GO Project staff as soon as possible, so accommodations may be made.
Please note that all of the GO Project sites have “NO NUTS” policies. There are no nuts allowed in any foods brought to school or on field trips, for any reason. Any food with nuts in it will be discarded immediately.
Progress ReportsAt the end of the summer, the GO Project mails out progress reports to GO Project families and public schools detailing the gains students made over the summer. It is our hope that with a summer of learning and fun, our students will become enthusiastic learners when they begin the school year in September!
GO SchoolProgram Structure
The GO Project continues into the school year with programming on Saturdays from October to April. All students who attended the summer program are REQUIRED to participate. The Saturday programming ensures that our students maintain the gains made throughout the summer and that they are successful throughout the academic year.
The Saturday program runs from 9:30AM to 12:30PM. Parents are welcome to arrive with their child as early as 9:00AM, though the child must be accompanied until the day begins.
• Harambee: Harambee is a Swahili word meaning “come together”. Every morning, it is our community ritual to come together and start our program with positive energy. It begins with singing & dancing followed by critical community announcements for both students and families. We always encourage our parents to participate in Harambee.
• Recess: Physical activity is an important part of learning, so all children have recess every Saturday
Allergies, Medication and First AidDuring the school year, no school nurse services are provided. If your child is taking any medication(s), it needs to be administered by the parent or caregiver before or after program hours.
It is still important that you inform GO Project staff of any allergies or other special health needs.
Please note that all of the GO Project sites have “NO NUTS” policies. There are no nuts allowed in any foods brought to school or on field trips, for any reason. Any food with nuts in it will be discarded immediately.
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Progress ReportsIn the beginning of January and at the end of April, the GO Project will provide progress reports to GO Project families and public schools detailing the gains children made over the GO School. It is our hope that our students will continue to be enthusiastic learners during the school year!
GO Fundamentals (3rd- 8th grade only)GO Fundamentals is an individualized Saturday site-based tutoring program with a staff of trained volunteers, and program staff. GO Fundamentals takes place once a week for each group of students for two hours following GO School programming. Students are matched one-on-one or in small groups with a volunteer tutor to work on an individualized curriculum developed according to each student’s areas of academic challenge.
GO Bridges to Middle – 5th grade onlyThe GO Bridges program prepares our rising 6th grade students for a successful transition into middle school. GO Bridges focuses on both students and families to ensure a collaborative, holistic process. Students will participate in skill-based activities that focus on building self-confidence and readiness for this next phase in their academic career! Parents will learn how to effectively support their child’s transition academically, socially and emotionally through groups, peer networking, and psycho-educational workshops.
The GO Middle School ProjectWhy GO Middle?
The GO Middle program was developed because the transition between elementary school and high school is important and requires a level of support that was not previously offered by the GO Project. Middle school is a time when students make decisions about who they are as people and what their future will be. GO Middle seeks to empower students to make informed and supported decisions.
Objectives of GO MiddleThe GO Middle curriculum seeks to provide students with opportunities to make decisions and think critically about their futures. They are supported to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, participate in collaborative projects, take on leadership opportunities, and benefit from recognized achievement. The program components allow for social interaction, problem-solving, and reflection.
Developmental Needs of Middle School StudentsDuring middle school key developmental changes occur. Understanding these challenges and opportunities helps to explain behaviors that we see in middle school children. Middle school students are experimenting with different social groups, living in the present, exploring their interests, and looking to their peers for validation. The
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following pages contain information detailing how the different components of the GO Middle program address our participants’ specific developmental needs.
GO Middle Program HighlightsProject-Based Learning
Academic classes are built around the idea of project-based learning. Students will select a theme and will learn valuable skills while working on projects related to their selected theme. As with all GO programs, classes are kept small, and teachers focus on individualizing lessons to each student’s academic needs.
Enrichment ClassesIn GO Middle, students have the opportunity to learn valuable life skills not traditionally taught in school. Classes include computer skills, organizational skills, and study skills.
ClubsClubs are project-based elective activities that students join at the beginning of the summer. They are designed and implemented by the social work interns.
Teen TalkTeen talk is a weekly social-emotional group that is facilitated primarily by social work interns with support from the Director of GO Families and the GO Middle Program Staff. These groups are designed to build peer support and social skills.
Positive Behavior Support SystemThroughout the year, we focus on building a strong GO culture to support student and family engagement as well as strengthen program quality. The culture is built around the concept of encouragement and reinforcement of positive and productive behavior. A “best practice” that GO believes can encourage positive student engagement is the ritual of recognizing students for their effort and reinforcing indicators of progress. Recognition and reinforcement serve the dual purpose of strengthening each student’s self-confidence as a learner and establishing the classroom as a community of supportive learners. This atmosphere of civility and efficiency promotes good citizenship and self-management, while maximizing productivity.
PortfoliosIn GO Middle students create and collect their work and accomplishments in an individualized student portfolio. This portfolio serves as a tool for students and staff to reflect, analyze, evaluate, and take action towards personal and GO Middle programmatic goals. These portfolios are mainly used to store work done in Clubs but when the GO Middle Program Staff implements special programs, the student work will also be added to the portfolio.
Specialist Services
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During GO Summer, our program provides specialist services for students who have IEPs or demonstrate a need for more intense academic intervention in a smaller group. The services are provided during the academic instruction hours twice or three times weekly, and students work towards goals based on either: (1) the student’s IEP goals and/or (2) current learning needs. The available services are as follows:
• Math• Reading/Writing
GO Bridges to High SchoolWe want to best prepare our students for the many options high school has to offer. The lesson plans included in GO’s High School Choice Curriculum will guide students through the entire high school selection process.
Service Learning (8th Grade Only)In GO Middle, students will learn the importance of community and giving back to others. Students will have the opportunity to mentor younger GO students. As 8 th
graders, students will have the opportunity to participate in service learning opportunities and reflection sessions.
Leadership CampThe Leadership Camp is an opportunity for our rising 7 th graders to be independent and attend an overnight camp for two nights. While at Camp, they will work together on team-building activities and continue to develop their social skills.
GO Families – Family/Student Support ServicesProgram Overview
GO Families is a year-round social service component integrated into all GO Project programs. This component is designed to help guide students, teachers, parents, and partner public schools in the provision of holistic and individualized intervention for students with various learning, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges. GO Families ensures that students acquire the confidence and skills necessary to make use of their academic gains and empowers parents to become constructive advocates for their child. The goal is to create positive learning environments at home and school through proactively addressing various student learning and behavioral challenges.
Family Information TableAt the Kindergarten Institute, GO Avenues, GO GCS, GO LREI and GO Middle, there are parent information tables staffed by a social work intern from GO Families. This table will have important GO Project communications as well as information about community activities and resources for you and your child. Please be sure to stop by regularly to stay informed!
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Parent/Guardian WorkshopsGO Families offers workshops and support to our parents. This component of the GO Project is designed to empower parents, to create a positive learning environment at home, and to address a variety of topics that support the whole child. This past year, workshops included:
• Understanding the Special Education System• Yoga• Relationship building with your child• Healthy eating and other nutrition workshops
Workshops are offered once per week during GO Summer and every Saturday during GO School. They are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese).
To make sure that workshop topics are most relevant and helpful for GO Project parents, workshop topics will be brainstormed in a parent focus group at the beginning of GO School.
Counseling and Family SupportGO Project’s social workers work directly with parents to provide services in three areas: year-round counseling, family support and child advocacy. This may include support during the IEP process, individual and/or family counseling, and crisis intervention. GO Families may also provide referrals to additional services if a family or student needs a service that we do not currently provide.
School-Based Counseling Support The GO Project is actively expanding our network of social work graduate students to push into our partner public schools. The goal is to provide social and emotional support to GO Project students who would benefit the most from additional attention, and to maintain the support through more regular contact throughout the week.
The GO Project currently has interns who each work closely with the school’s administrators to target the students’ areas of concern. Public schools are selected to receive social work intern placement based on the number of their students that attend the GO Project and the number of GO students within that school who would most benefit. The interns work with students either individually or in small groups.
Having social work interns placed inside our partner public schools helps the GO Project staff understand and address issues that may come up during the week that may affect performance in class during GO Summer and GO School.
Student Support Program (Middle School Student Only)GO Families staff will work closely with our middle school students, providing critical social/emotional support. Our staff will work closely with each student, his/her family, school administration, and/or school based support team to ensure that his/her
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learning and social/emotional needs are addressed. Additionally, students will receive one-on-one or small group check-ins and/or short-term/long-term individual counseling (as needed). Periodic family check-ins will ensure students are on track for success.
PAL (Parent Advocacy Leaders)As of 2012, the GO Project has partnered with Stroock, Stroock, and Lavan LLP and Advocates for Children to launch a new parent-led initiative. PAL (Parent Advocacy Leaders) is a program in which GO Parents are specifically trained on issues of special education and general parent engagement within the public school system. GO Parents who are trained as a PAL are available to provide guidance, support, and information to other GO parents so that all students have their needs met. If you are interested in becoming a PAL please contact Christine Tangel, Director of GO Families or if would like to be referred to a PAL, please contact the Director of Community Engagement, Olivia Nunez.
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Staff Contact InformationGO Project Staff
Name Title Phone GO EmailErica Ahdoot, LCSW
Executive Director O:347-377-2314 [email protected]
Gayle Villani Associate Executive Director
O: 347-377-2328 gvillani@ goprojectnyc.org
Christine Tangel, LCSW
Director of GO Families
O:347-377-2316 [email protected]
Olivia Nunez Director of Community Engagement
O:347-377-2317 [email protected]
Rajwantie Sahai Director of Academics and
Enrichment
O:347-377-2330 [email protected]
Dorene Ng, LMSW
Social Worker, GO Families
O:347-377-2319 [email protected]
Emily Ong Community Engagement Coordinator
O:347-377-2328 [email protected]
Directors of Curriculum and InstructionName Site/Title
Mariel Slater GO AVENUES Director of Curriculum InstructionBrooke
GoldfederGO GCS Director of Curriculum Instruction
Felicia Collins GO LREI Director of Curriculum Instruction
Amanda DaPonte
Kindergarten Institute Director of Curriculum Instruction
Mattie Guishard GO Middle Director of Curriculum & Instruction
GO Families Student Support Specialist & InternsName Title Site Days Contact InfoChristine Tangel, LCSW
Director of GO Families
Rotating M-F [email protected]
Dorene Ng,LMSW
Social Worker
GO Middle M-F [email protected]
Allison Balogh
Student Support Specialist
GO AVENUES M-F [email protected]
Emma Brack
TA with GO
GO Middle M-F
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FamiliesEdward Cedeno
TA with GO Families
GO Middle M-F
Gabriela DeMarco
TA with GO Families
GO Middle M-F
Rachel Hegele
Student Support Specialist
GO GCS M-F [email protected]
Mary Ellen Pearce
Student Support Specialist
GO LREI M-F [email protected]
Elianna Platt
Student Support Specialist
Kindergarten Institute
M- F [email protected]
Jiayi Yuan
Intern GO LREI T, Th, F [email protected]
Additional Resources & SupportCommunity Organizations
• The Jewish Child Care Association Two-Together Tutoring: http://www.jccany.org/site/PageServer?pagename=twotogeth_splash
• National Summer Learning Association: http://www.summerlearning.org/• The Lower East Side Community Partnership Resource Guide:
http://www.buildingcpi.org/index.php/Resources/details/lower_east_side/• Asian American Federation Human Services Directory:
http://www.aafny.org/directory.asp• Resources for Children with Special Needs:
http://www.resourcesnyc.org/
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