All Star 1

Attachment E1

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM Report, 2010
Debbie Walton, Coordinator

Leaders/Attendance:
NESTLINGS/SKIMMERS:

Tom Walton, Liz Hendrick, Elissa Best New Kiddie Barn

10 children, ages 8 months-3 years

STARLINGS:

Lois Kitz, Angel Russek Old Kiddie Barn, Front Room

8 kids, ages 4-4.8

PUFFINS:

Kemp Harris, Chris Bernd Old Kiddie Barn, Back Room

11 kids, ages 5.6-7.5

TERNS:

Adrian Sicam, Sue Bernd Lawrence Hall

15 kids, ages 7.10-9.8

GULLS:

Dug Miller, Shannon Miller Sandpiper Room

9 kids, ages 10-11.7

JUNIOR TEENS:

George Kitz, Karol Ruiz-Marrero Marshman

14 kids, ages 11.2-13.3

SENIOR TEENS:

Carol Belcastro, Dave Cook Brookfield

21 kids, ages 14.1-17.7

ART BARN:

David Epstein, Suzanne Cook

TOTALS:

88 kids

18 Staff

(15 paid staff, 2 volunteers, 1 subsidized by the Miller Grant)

Discussion:

The staff was, once again, exceptional.  Some internal transfers of positions were made, per the request of the teachers, and everyone seemed happy in their roles on staff.

Dug Miller and family continue their extraordinary generosity.  He and Shannon volunteered their time as Gull leaders, and Dug contributed $1,000.00 to enable us to hire 1 additional staff person.  Dug has always volunteered his time, and this is the second year that he has provided the program with funds for 1 additional staff member.

Several new ideas were implemented this summer.  They were:

• Pink Parlor Babysitting from 7:00-8:00 am
• Morning Meeting on the front porch stairs
• Extended morning class time (an additional 30 minutes was added, per the request of young parents)
• Augmented second floor Hall Monitoring

Ideas from 2009, which were continued:

• Child Friendly Meals
• Laundry Service

Once again, I polled all parents of children in the Hotel, via an August e-mail, and the feedback regarding Morning Meeting and the extended morning class time was extremely, and unanimously, enthusiastic.  For those who used the Pink Parlor babysitting (8-9 children) it was very well received.

An adequate Hotel Hall Monitoring system is still being discussed.  The Island provides 2 Pel hall monitors, both of whom sit at the corner of the second floor.  For insurance reasons, they are not allowed to sit separately, nor are they permitted to pick up crying children.  Because there were 31 children who were age 8 or under, it was my assessment that 2 monitors was not sufficient.   AS1 hired 2 additional monitors and all four were instructed to roam the halls. (Joe Watts directed them to roam at 7 minute intervals)  Many parents (at least 6 families) were still not confident that this was adequate enough coverage, and privately hired Pels, paid for out of their own pockets (in addition to the $46.00 charged per family).  Although we do not yet have a solution to this important issue, we will put our heads together during the winter, and devise a better plan.

There were many, many behavioral issues which required much time and careful handling this summer.  It was a week which found me on overload with kid meetings, class discussions, and parent meetings. Inappropriate behavior included (but was not limited to) a Gull who drank beer, which was leftover in glasses from Happy Hour, vandalism, much verbal arguing among boys, one physical fight, explosive anger on several occasions from one JT boy, a verbal threat toward a Gull girl, and one JT boy exposing himself on more than one occasion to other JT and Gull boys.  Foul language was rampant.  Litter was evident and graffiti was found on the new Playscape.  Misuse of and fights over cell phones occurred.  One parent felt the personal safety of her young daughter was compromised by an overly attentive/solicitous male adult, causing great angst.  Another child arrived on Island with mental health issues and was unable to participate in class even once.

NEW PROPOSALS:

• Children’s safety issues and other related behavioral concerns have grown to such an extent, I feel it is necessary to have 2 paid Children’s Coordinators.  There were many instances when I would have greatly benefitted from having Tom Walton available to help me deal with the enormous number of crises.  I think this is a sign of the times, and while 2010 may have been unique in some ways, I anticipate that issues will continue to arise.
• I further propose creating a behavioral covenant which all parents and children would sign.  An explanation of the covenant would be sent in the Spring to all families with children.  Tom and I would hold an orientation, as soon as everyone arrives on Island, to further outline our expectations for community living, based on the All Star 1 Mission Statement and our Policies and Procedures around Harassment and Abuse.
• I also propose the addition of a paid Children’s Music Director.  This individual would be given a schedule (just as I provide for the Art Barn and Marine Lab) enabling him/her to visit each class throughout the course of the week.  The Music Director would also help each group create a class song/jingle (“We are the Puffins, the Mighty, Mighty Puffins, for example) which would be shared during Morning Meeting.  The MD would help teachers with their songs and skits for the Kids’ Stunt Show, and be responsi

Attachment E1

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM Report, 2010

Debbie Walton, Coordinator

Leaders/Attendance:

NESTLINGS/SKIMMERS:

Tom Walton, Liz Hendrick, Elissa Best New Kiddie Barn

10 children, ages 8 months-3 years

STARLINGS:

Lois Kitz, Angel Russek Old Kiddie Barn, Front Room

8 kids, ages 4-4.8

PUFFINS:

Kemp Harris, Chris Bernd Old Kiddie Barn, Back Room

11 kids, ages 5.6-7.5

TERNS:

Adrian Sicam, Sue Bernd Lawrence Hall

15 kids, ages 7.10-9.8

GULLS:

Dug Miller, Shannon Miller Sandpiper Room

9 kids, ages 10-11.7

JUNIOR TEENS:

George Kitz, Karol Ruiz-Marrero Marshman

14 kids, ages 11.2-13.3

SENIOR TEENS:

Carol Belcastro, Dave Cook Brookfield

21 kids, ages 14.1-17.7

ART BARN:

David Epstein, Suzanne Cook

TOTALS:

88 kids

18 Staff

(15 paid staff, 2 volunteers, 1 subsidized by the Miller Grant)

Discussion:

The staff was, once again, exceptional. Some internal transfers of positions were made, per the request of the teachers, and everyone seemed happy in their roles on staff.

Dug Miller and family continue their extraordinary generosity. He and Shannon volunteered their time as Gull leaders, and Dug contributed $1,000.00 to enable us to hire 1 additional staff person. Dug has always volunteered his time, and this is the second year that he has provided the program with funds for 1 additional staff member.

Several new ideas were implemented this summer. They were:

• Pink Parlor Babysitting from 7:00-8:00 am

• Morning Meeting on the front porch stairs

• Extended morning class time (an additional 30 minutes was added, per the request of young parents)

• Augmented second floor Hall Monitoring

Ideas from 2009, which were continued:

• Child Friendly Meals

• Laundry Service

Once again, I polled all parents of children in the Hotel, via an August e-mail, and the feedback regarding Morning Meeting and the extended morning class time was extremely, and unanimously, enthusiastic. For those who used the Pink Parlor babysitting (8-9 children) it was very well received.

An adequate Hotel Hall Monitoring system is still being discussed. The Island provides 2 Pel hall monitors, both of whom sit at the corner of the second floor. For insurance reasons, they are not allowed to sit separately, nor are they permitted to pick up crying children. Because there were 31 children who were age 8 or under, it was my assessment that 2 monitors was not sufficient. AS1 hired 2 additional monitors and all four were instructed to roam the halls. (Joe Watts directed them to roam at 7 minute intervals) Many parents (at least 6 families) were still not confident that this was adequate enough coverage, and privately hired Pels, paid for out of their own pockets (in addition to the $46.00 charged per family). Although we do not yet have a solution to this important issue, we will put our heads together during the winter, and devise a better plan.

There were many, many behavioral issues which required much time and careful handling this summer. It was a week which found me on overload with kid meetings, class discussions, and parent meetings. Inappropriate behavior included (but was not limited to) a Gull who drank beer, which was leftover in glasses from Happy Hour, vandalism, much verbal arguing among boys, one physical fight, explosive anger on several occasions from one JT boy, a verbal threat toward a Gull girl, and one JT boy exposing himself on more than one occasion to other JT and Gull boys. Foul language was rampant. Litter was evident and graffiti was found on the new Playscape. Misuse of and fights over cell phones occurred. One parent felt the personal safety of her young daughter was compromised by an overly attentive/solicitous male adult, causing great angst. Another child arrived on Island with mental health issues and was unable to participate in class even once.

NEW PROPOSALS:

• Children’s safety issues and other related behavioral concerns have grown to such an extent, I feel it is necessary to have 2 paid Children’s Coordinators. There were many instances when I would have greatly benefitted from having Tom Walton available to help me deal with the enormous number of crises. I think this is a sign of the times, and while 2010 may have been unique in some ways, I anticipate that issues will continue to arise.

• I further propose creating a behavioral covenant which all parents and children would sign. An explanation of the covenant would be sent in the Spring to all families with children. Tom and I would hold an orientation, as soon as everyone arrives on Island, to further outline our expectations for community living, based on the All Star 1 Mission Statement and our Policies and Procedures around Harassment and Abuse.

• I also propose the addition of a paid Children’s Music Director. This individual would be given a schedule (just as I provide for the Art Barn and Marine Lab) enabling him/her to visit each class throughout the course of the week. The Music Director would also help each group create a class song/jingle (“We are the Puffins, the Mighty, Mighty Puffins, for example) which would be shared during Morning Meeting. The MD would help teachers with their songs and skits for the Kids’ Stunt Show, and be responsible for directing and producing the show.

Shannon Miller would like to volunteer her time in a different capacity for 2011. She’d like to provide games for the classes. With the addition of Music and Games to the schedules, I feel justified in keeping the extended morning class time. Many teachers were not crazy about the additional 30 minutes, but I am committed to trying it again. I think we can work together to make this positive for everyone, and Music and Games will be helpful. We know that the parents were overwhelmingly in favor of a two hour class in the morning.

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Walton

• ble for directing and producing the show.

Shannon Miller would like to volunteer her time in a different capacity for 2011.  She’d like to provide games for the classes.  With the addition of Music and Games to the schedules, I feel justified in keeping the extended morning class time.  Many teachers were not crazy about the additional 30 minutes, but I am committed to trying it again.  I think we can work together to make this positive for everyone, and Music and Games will be helpful.   We know that the parents were overwhelmingly in favor of a two hour class in the morning.

Respectfully submitted,

Deb Walton