The Playworks Program will be coming to Starr King School on Monday, August 23rd.
Friday, August 27th, from 1:30PM to 6:00PM, the playground will be closed so that the lines can be repainted through a corporate-school partnership made possible through Playworks.
What follows is a set of frequently asked questions that may help you know more about the PlayWorks program and why it’s a great deal for our students. THANKS to the PTA and the School Site Council for making the resources possible for this program!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The mission of Playworks is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Playworks currently operates its on-site program in 170 low-income schools in 10 cities across the United States. The organization will expand to serve schools in 16 cities by the 2010-11 school year, and to serve 27 cities by 2013. This FAQ is designed primarily for principals, teachers, parents and others who are affiliated with schools and would like to know more about how Playworks works within the school environment.
How many staff are assigned to a school?
One full-time, caring and consistent Playworks program coordinator implements the entire program. They work Monday through Friday, usually 9:00–5:00, depending on the school bell schedule. (For Starr King, our schedule will be 8:00AM to 4PM to allow for the expansion of our before-school offerings). Through a selective hiring process, intensive and thoughtful training, and an ongoing support process, our staff is provided with a comprehensive set of tools and resources to help them run successful programs.
Who are your staff members? What are their qualifications?
Energetic, fun, and consistent are three words that capture a Playworks program coordinator, or “coach” as they are known to students. A common thread among our staff is a commitment and passion to support the health and well-being of children. All program coordinators come to Playworks with prior experience working with children and generally have worked within afterschool programs, youth leagues and summer camps, or within other youth service agencies in the non-profit sector.
Do we still need to provide supervision at recess periods?
Yes. The role of the program coordinator on the playground is to create structured, safe opportunities for play. They will not be a substitute for a “yard supervisor.”
Does your staff teach PE classes?
No. Our program coordinators are not PE teachers and are not required to have a teaching credential. Playworks does offer 30-45 minute structured physical activity classes. During these “class game times” students and teachers are able to learn and practice the games and physical activities that will be provided during recess periods. The degree to which this physical activity times meet or support California Fitness Standards is determined by the teacher.
How would you work with our existing before and after-school program?
The Playworks after school program model works with the same 20-25 students for the entire school year with the goal of developing a strong, on-going relationship with students and their families. We have found that our format often complements larger after school collaborative programs by working with those students who would benefit from being a part of a smaller community were they will receive greater attention during the after school hours.
Do you work with Kindergarten?
Yes. We work with all grade levels through our recess and class game time components.
Do you work with middle schools or K-8 schools?
We work solely with elementary and k-8 schools in our expansion cities.
Do you provide part-time staff?
No. One of the essential aspects to our program’s success is that our staff becomes a part of the larger school community. By having a consistent presence during the in-school and after school hours, our program coordinators build strong relationships with students, families, and staff, throughout the school year.
Who is responsible for supervising the Playworks staff person?
Playworks provides each school site with an area director, whose role is to supervise and support a group of 8-12 program coordinators. Area directors are responsible for overseeing and maintaining program quality at each school site and serve as the primary contact person for school administrators.
How much does it cost?
The total cost for your school to have the program is $25,000. This covers a full-time program coordinator for the entire school year. We also ask schools to provide a basic set of playground equipment (balls, cones, jump ropes, etc) that usually cost no more than $500 and can be supplemented by existing equipment at the school site.
http://www.playworks.org/make-recess-count/play/playworks-san-francisco
