What do you get when you have 18 students, four collaborative teachers and a supportive principal with a shared vision, three volunteers, a 7:15 a.m. start time and tons of effort, dedication and dance music? The ABC Program!

The Allis Breakfast Club began this September and meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays mornings before school from 7:10-8:15 a.m. In this motivating, rigorous program, students warm up for five minutes with a dance, then set goals and evaluate their goals on a daily basis.

Program leaders (Shirley Files, Vivian Franklin, Carlettra Stanford and Jane Wyngaard-Innes) also check in with teachers and parents to track student progress. In addition, Lois Bell (5th grade teacher), Diane Braun (Clerk Receptionist), and Andrew Aleckson (VISTA Volunteer Coordinator) all volunteer each week in the ABC Program. The program is funded through a $10,000 Aristos Grant written by Jane Wyngaard-Innes, Allis Title I teacher. The goal was for the "ABC Team" of teachers to build relationships and provide academic support in reading, writing and math to 15-20 students of concern. This would positively impact both academic stamina as well as relationships between the school and families.

A concerted effort is being made to bridge and strengthen the connection between school and families of struggling students. Parents are surveyed monthly to provide feedback and comments and are invited to attend "club meetings". Pictured is one group, led by Shirley Files, with parents joining their children in the day's math lesson.

Parent and teacher feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments ranging from: "My child now wants to get up and go to school!" to..."She is happy and proud to be in school on time and ready to go!"

Multiple goals of the program include: improved attendance, homework support, and direct instruction in social skills, math and reading to increase academic proficiency and engagement in learning in order to better make the transition to the intermediate grades. Four teachers meet with small groups to provide this support, strengthening the relationship between the child and school and the school and family which is integral to a child's success.

The shared belief of the ABC Team and Principal Hodge is that through this intervention, targeted students will be more engaged, have more success and will be more emotionally available to learn.

We recognize the tremendous commitment of the participating families, club leaders and volunteers and hope to access other funding to keep this program going!

ABC Team: Lois Bell, Carlettra Stanford, Vivian Franklin, Shirley Files, and Jane Wyngaard-Innes.