Registered for Co-op Classes? PLEASE READ...

We have decided to post this on the NEWS page (which is also sent to each member’s inbox) in lieu of a member meeting.  If you are not signed up for co-op classes and would like to, registration is still open.  If you are not planning on singing up for classes this year, you may disregard this message entirely.

As you may know, this Friday, September 13^th marks the beginning of the 2013-14 Mindful Learning Center Co-op Classes!!  Can we get a woot-woot?!  Okay, on a serious note, there are a few things we’d like to go over with our members before classes begin.  

DAILY CO-OP CLASS SCHEDULE

9:30-9:45	Opening Announcements
9:45-10:35	1st Hour Classes
10:35-10:45	Clean-up and Change Classes
10:45-11:35	2nd Hour Classes
11:35-11:45	Clean-up and Head to Closing
11:45-12:00	Closing and Pick-up Children

  

Location: Co-op Classes will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 239 Frank Street in Council Bluffs.  Once you arrive, enter through the side doors off Perrin Avenue.  Feel free to use the parking lot to the Northwest of the church. 

Participation: You must submit a Membership Application in order to participate in any Mindful Activities/Classes/Events.  You can do this anytime from our website.  Online Class Registration is also available and should be done prior to participating in classes.  For those who have not registered, Class registration is still open for 2013-14 terms 1-4.

Fees:  An annual $30 membership fee per family is required and due by September 27, 2013.  Any fees submitted after September 27, 2013 will incur an additional $10 charge. This $30 fee is due prior to your participation in ANY Mindful Learning Center activities/classes/events. 

In order to participate in our Co-op Classes this Friday, your annual membership must be paid in full prior to OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS at which will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.  Since it will be a busy morning, there will basically be a drop box for checks written to ‘Mindful Learning Center’ and envelopes (which you will write your name on) for those paying with cash.  We will then write out receipts during class times and distribute them during our CLOSING.  Please try to have exact change if paying by cash.  This will help us to move the line along quicker.  If you have to pay your annual fee, please allow extra time for this by arriving early.

Arrival: For this first week, we ask that you please arrive at least 15-20 minutes early.  We plan to begin our announcements promptly at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  This means we would like all members situated, seated and ready before 9:30 a.m.  The announcements might pertain to the day’s events, classes, changes, future events…all things you won’t want to miss!

Assigning Helpers: After the announcements, students will be dismissed to their classes with their teachers.  This should leave a room full of smiling J Mindful Adult Members.  At this time, we will announce how many helpers are needed for each classroom and the nursery for each hour.  We would like our members to show up ready to volunteer for these positions and willing to help out where needed.  We want you to feel comfortable helping in the area of your choice.  So, please feel free to speak up and tell us where you would like to volunteer.

Helper Responsibilities: Once you are in the classroom, you are not expected to co-teach the class.  We feel it is imperative that the students recognize one person as the leader of the class in order to develop and maintain a sense of order. 

Your duties, however, are just as important as those of the teacher.  It is your job to handle ANY interruptions that might occur in the classroom, so the teacher can continue to conduct his or her class.  This includes, but is not limited to, disciplinary action.  Each helper will be supplied with a handout to use in the event that they have to enforce MLC’s discipline policy.  We have a very simple, yet highly structured discipline policy at MLC. 

If a teacher asks a student to leave the classroom for being disruptive for the first time, the classroom helper should take the student into the hallway and use the following script (in bold):

HELPER:  Why do you think you were you removed from the classroom?

STUDENT:  (Their answer ***If they are incorrect, kindly tell them what they did wrong in two sentences or less.)

HELPER:  That behavior is not acceptable in this classroom.  If you choose to return to this class, you will have to choose to act more appropriately.  If you choose to be disruptive, you will be removed again, but this time you will be taken to your parent.  If you are taken to your parent, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in any other classes today.  What would you like to do?

STUDENT: (Most likely answer.) I would like to go back to the class.

HELPER: Do you understand what will happen if you choose to be disruptive again?

STUDENT: (Most likely answer.) Yes.

HELPER: Then you may return to the class.

Second offense: The classroom helper should escort the student to their parent/legal guardian.  If the parent requests an explanation, you can either explain the circumstances of their child’s dismissal (if you feel comfortable doing so) or ask the parent to contact the teacher after class is dismissed.

Please review our official discipline policy below. 

DISCIPLINE POLICY: If a student member is highly disruptive while attending a Mindful Learning Center class/event, they will be immediately removed from the activity by another adult member.  At this point it will be explained to the student that they must choose to change their disruptive behavior in order to return to the classroom/activity.  If the student's disruptive behavior continues after rejoining the class/activity, they will be escorted by an adult member to their parent/guardian.  This child will not be able to rejoin the group for the remainder of the day. If a child needs to be removed from a class/activity more than three times, Mindful Learning Center reserves the right to expel that student from further activity for the remainder of the school year.  Fees will not be refunded in the event that a student is expelled.  

It is suggested that you explain this discipline policy to your children. Teachers will be asked to review this policy with the students on the first day of class.

Students: Our students are expected to keep a positive attitude.  Students should be respectful of others bodies, personal space, and property.  It is important that students know that the facility is being offered to us to use, but is also used for other purposes.  We shall not be disruptive, loud, or run in the hallways.  Our students are expected to be respectful of others who are working in or using the building for other purposes.  We want to demonstrate how appreciative we are for use of the facility by our actions.  

Students do not need to bring school supplies.  They will be provided.

It is not required, but highly recommended, that students wear athletic shoes (or shoes that cover their feet) if participating in Physical Education. 

In closing, we would like to thank those of you who are choosing to participate in MLC’s Co-op Classes.  We are looking forward to an exciting and fun-filled year!  If you have any questions at all, feel free to email us at MindfulLearningCenter@gmail.com