AM ROCKS & After School Program
We are very excited that your child will be joining us for another great year at
The ROCK Youth and Family Center. Please take the time to read the following material as it is important that you are familiar with this information.
We operate on West Allegheny School District’s Schedule. Attached is a copy of that schedule. AM ROCKS and the After School Program are both closed when W.A. is closed. Please note, the After School Program is also closed on half day dismissals.
Transportation:
All of West Allegheny’s schools, as well as South Fayette, provide transportation to The ROCK. Parents must contact the transportation coordinator to arrange pickup and drop off at The ROCK. If your child is only attending The ROCK on specific days, please let us and the transportation coordinator know your child’s schedule. Below is the contact information that you will need. Your child’s pickup/drop off location will be either Noblestown Road (High/Middle School/McKee & South Fayette) or West State Street (Wilson & Donaldson).
Our Operations Coordinator or another adult employee/volunteer will get all of the children onto and off of the busses.
West Allegheny Transportation Coordinator:
Lynn Robertson: lrobertson@westasd.org
724-695-5213
South Fayette Director of Transportation:
Brandon Soubie
bdsoubie@southfayette.org
412-221-4542, ext. 8452# or 412-780-6567
If your child attends a different school: Please make sure you talk with the director or operations coordinator to arrange how and when your child will be arriving at The ROCK. We need information on their arrival even if you plan to drop them off every day.
Parent Drop Off & Pickup:
- A Security Lock is installed on our front door to keep our children safe. Each parent will be given a code that will grant you entrance into the building. Only share your code with those on your approved pickup list.
- If there is someone who specifically does not have permission to be in our center, please provide us with documentation and a picture.
- Check-in/Check-out Process: Children will check-in & out on the iPad, located at the front desk. Parents will be sent an email/text invitation to sign up for the Brightwheel App. This app will allow parents to receive notifications when their children check in and out, as well as receive any important messages that we may need to send. Parents may also use the app to send the Director and/or Operations Coordinator messages as needed.
Behavior and Expectations:
- Our three rules at The ROCK are Be Kind, Be Safe and Be Respectful.
If any child does not follow these rules, we use a 3 strike system.
- 1- verbal warning
- 2- verbal warning and loss of privilege
- 3- time out in the office
- At this point, we will talk with the child, and help them work towards returning to the program.
- If any child displays behavior that is Dangerous, Defiant, or Destructive, they bypass all 3 strikes and go directly to the office, where you will receive a phone call to discuss your child’s behavior.
- It is up to the discretion of the director, if behaviors warrant a suspension. Suspensions can last 1 day, 3 days, or 1 week, depending on the severity and duration of behaviors.
- We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect that the children give us their best. We come along side every child in a loving and firm way to help them be kind, safe and respectful.
Electronics/Cell phone usage:
- If your child has a cell phone or other
electronic device, it must remain in their backpack, unless it is needed to
complete a school assignment. In this
case, your child must first obtain permission from an adult.
- If a child has their phone/electronic device out without obtaining permission, it will be taken and returned to the parent upon pickup.
- If you need to get in touch with your child, please call 724-693-2777
- If you want to make special arrangements for your child to call/text from cell phone upon arrival, please arrange with Leigh or Kara.
AM ROCKS
- Our doors will open at 6:30am, and we expect busses by 8:30 am. Our schedule will be the same as West Allegheny School District’s that includes closures for holiday breaks, inclement weather, and summer break. Our before school program WILL be open on partial days.
- Your child will need to bring all the items they will need for school (backpacks, glasses, swim wear, lunches, outerwear, school supplies, etc.) and a box of cereal (or any breakfast item) if they are having breakfast here before school. We will supply the milk.
Payment Schedule:
- Monthly Payments are due the FIRST of the month for the previous month.
- The charge is $7.00 per hour, per child. If school is delayed, we continue to charge $7.00 per hour per child for each accrued hour.
- If school is cancelled after the program has begun for the day, parents will be contacted to make arrangements to have their child(ren) picked up. The parent has a grace period of 1 hour at our set per hour rate of $7.00 to pick up their child, after which a $14.00 per hour per child penalty fee will be applied for not picking up your child(ren) in a timely manner. This is to help cover the cost of 2 attendants.
- We can accept debit/credit (w/ a 3% convenience fee), cash, or check.
After School Program
- Fee for our After School Program is $100 per child or $150 per family for the school year. This onetime payment is due upon sign-up.
- Members of our after school program receive a discounted price during our 8 week summer day camp.
Daily Schedule:
- As the children arrive, they will check in on the iPad at the front desk.
Middle/High School: Elementary School:
3:00 – 4:00 Snack & Homework 3:30 – 4:30 Snack & Homework
4:00 – 4:30 Gym Time 4:30 – 5:00 Gym Time
4:30 – 5:30 Café Open 4:45 – 5:30 Café Open
5:00 – 6:00 Daily Activity/ 5:00 – 6:00 Daily Activity/ Free Time Free Time
Snack & Homework Hour:
- Upon arrival, children will take their belongings to their designated areas based on grade.
- We have adult volunteers, and high school or middle school students, who come in and work with the children to complete their homework.
- If you would like to come in and volunteer, please see Leigh or Kara.
- Our top priority during this time is to help your child complete their homework correctly and neatly, to the best of our ability. Please make sure you are checking for completeness.
- We will provide a snack during homework, such as pretzels, animal crackers or goldfish. If you would like to sign up to donate snack items, please see Leigh or Kara.
- If your child has special dietary needs, please communicate that with us so we can make sure your child has what they need.
Gym Time:
- Gym time will be broken down into Middle/High School and then Elementary. Typically we try to play at least one organized group game together, followed by free choice play.
Cafe:
- Children can purchase hot food items, snacks or beverages from our café when it is opened.
- Each child will have a café account, which parents can deposit money. Snacks range in price from $0.25-$1.00
Daily Activities/Free Time:
- Each week children will hear a Bible story, and have the option of participating in activities that go along with the story. This is a fun time for the children to learn more about God and who He has created them to be. Activities may include science experiments, arts & crafts, music & drama.
- Children have the option of enjoying free time, where they can choose to play ping pong, air hockey, pool, legos, etc. or play games in the gym. Once or twice a week, we allow the children to choose appropriate games to play on the Wii or Xbox.
Special Events:
- In November, we host the veteran’s dinner, where the children have dinner with the veterans. The elementary children will do a song or presentation, while the middle/high school children will help serve the dinner.
- In December, the children are invited to take part in the Christmas play, which is presented by The Church at the ROCK.
Please don’t ever hesitate to call us!
We are so excited for a new year with you and your family!