Lower School Out-of-School Time Program Overview

Program Overview

Welcome to Prospects, Prospect Hill Academy’s out-of-school time (OST) program.

The mission of the Prospects OST program is to enhance every student’s developmental, social, and academic progress and to close the achievement gap by providing enriching, engaging, and fun activities that motivate students to achieve. During the Lower School Prospects program, students have the opportunity to explore, discover and develop their skills and to increase their confidence in a loving environment. Prospects provides a warm and caring atmosphere where children are accepted unconditionally. The program further strives to continuously:

• Promote a sense of self-worth: A positive self-concept is the bedrock of all learning and growth.
• Foster independence and self-discipline: These two elements are necessary ingredients for problem solving and achievement.
• Provide opportunities for success: This encourages appropriate risk taking and expansion of parameters.
• Meet each child’s individual needs whenever possible: A concept, which builds trust and respect for others.
• Supply age-appropriate materials and curricula.
• Foster positive guidance techniques.
• Recognize and praise accomplishments.
• Offer a balance and variety in the types of activities.
• Provide opportunities for cognitive development.
• Support students during new experiences.
• Model good health and safety practices.

Parent Involvement

We feel that parents should be involved in their child’s development. The key to achieving this in out-of-school time programs is open communication between parents and staff. This coordination will allow the program to supplement and complement other experiences in the child’s life as well as provide the child with a sense of security that enhances development.

Program Structure

Prospects is funded in part by a federal 21st Century Learning Centers grant and as such is designed to address academic and social skills through fun and engaging activities. The program structure is as follows:

• Prospects is primarily staffed by regular school day teachers, in addition to some outside providers and partners.
• The Prospects program provides a wider variety of activities, each carefully designed to link closely to the regular school day program. Students will be expected to read and/or write in all classes.
• We accommodate 1, 3, and 5 day/week options; preferences will be given to families who opt for the 5-day option, and thereafter to 3-day per week applications. Single day applications will be processed on a first come first served basis.
• The typical schedule for the Prospects after school program will be as follows:
  • 2:45 to 3:00 Snack/transition time
  • 3:00 to 3:45 Homework Lab
  • 3:45 to 4:45 Class I
  • 4:45 to 5:45 Class II

This is a fee-based program. Fee collection takes place via an automated debit system only. We accept voucher payments.

For more information on the Prospects OST program and to a registration packet and fee schedule, please contact Tawanna Watts at twatts@prospecthillacademy.org or 617-284-7804.