Outreach - Pinwheel Program Planning
Pinwheel Tutoring is a program conducted by a couple of churches in Cherokee County to come alongside families that would like tutoring and learning assistance for certain children of elementary and middle school age. It began through a cooperation between Red Oak Church and Andrews Elementary, and has expanded to include Christ Community Church (Andrews) and Andrews Middle School. The goal has been to provide weekly learning assistance and growth for the children, through relationships, tutoring, and sharing of the gospel, with a secondary goal of reaching entire families for the Lord. Providence involvement would expand the program to Murphy Elementary (or alternatively, Peachtree Elementary) for approximately twelve children. The children would be taken from the school to the church building for two hours, one afternoon per week (see schedule below), and then be picked up by their parents. Additionally, outreach events will be scheduled during the semester intended to involve and engage the families of the children.
Alignment with Providence Mission
The following is from the Pinwheel website at Red Oak Church: “Mentorships often have the largest and longest-lasting impact on a person's life. We seek to reflect Christ and lead exemplary lives for these students, showing them unconditional love, and investing time and energy to see their education improve.” Similarly, we will seek to use this as an opportunity to shine the light of the gospel into the lives of children and families here in Cherokee County, which is directly in line with our mission as a church. This will require long-term commitment by members of Providence to the relationships that will be built through this program.
Pinwheel Schedule (likely either Tuesday OR Thursday)
3:10-3:15: Pick up from Murphy Elementary School
3:25-3:30: Bible Lesson
3:45-3:50: Large group prayer requests and prayer
3:50-4:30: Tutoring on homework (given by the school)
4:30-4:40: Documenting and letter to parents re: work done, gumball treat time
4:40-4:50: Music
4:50-5:00: Playtime outside while waiting for parents (tutor and child bonding time)
5:00: Parents pick up kids
Positions Needed:
Director: paperwork, school liaison, tutor management, training, home visits with tutors, planning BBQ’s/events, kick off
Sign in/out person: makes sure all kids are accounted for at all times, makes sure kids go home with approved parent/care provider at all times
Driver: school district may provide a bus and bring the kids OR we may need to pick them up at 3:15
Music Leader / Musicians: come up with approved music which shares the gospel and is exciting and educational for the kids, leads music
Bible Lesson Teacher: weekly prepares Bible lessons with approved curriculum that connects and excites the kids to learn about God/Jesus
Tutors: 10-12 people who can commit to 1 1/2 hrs each Tue or Thurs, able to tutor (at least 16 y/o), AND who will be willing to invest in the spiritual life of their child/student; will also need to commit to attending a few outreach events with the students and their families, and to doing a few home visits to their child’s home and play with them to develop a relationship/bond
Additional Considerations
COVID-19:
Need to think about what precautions need to be in place during the pandemic. The needs are likely to change, since the COVID-19 situation is constantly changing. At a minimum, we will probably need to follow the same procedures that the schools are following. Initially, it would be helpful to have meetings outside to the extent feasible. We need to accept that there will be some amount of risk involved for those who will be tutoring.
On July 1 the schools will find out how school will be conducted beginning in the Fall. It is appropriate to wait until after this time to begin coordinating with Murphy Elementary. The Vice Principle at M.E. is very familiar with Pinwheel, and has expressed in the past a desire to have it available for some number of students.
Tutors: 12 people at Providence had expressed desire and availability to participate as tutors prior to COVID-19. We will need to re-confirm availability and get more solid numbers in the next few weeks. We will also likely have a few tutors who have previously been a part of Pinwheel
Prayer: Please keep this in your prayers as we go through the planning process.
Involvement of the congregation: There will be some in the congregation who are unable to participate as a tutor, or one of the other positions listed above. There will be ample opportunity for additional involvement, to include creative skills (e.g. creating the “environment”), financial support, and prayer support.
Plan Within Providence
This serves an outreach function, and that is the reason the Outreach Ministry Team (OMT) is doing the initial planning. The task of the OMT is to ensure that it serves the desired outreach function. As this involves working with children, it makes sense to involve the Children’s Ministry Team in the week-to-week operation of it.
Initial Budget Requirements
These are early projections of resources that may be needed. The next step will be for the director to draw up a more detailed list of needs, along with cost projections for approval. The current budget has $300 allotted to Pinwheel for 2020, although this was just a placeholder because the actual need was not known.
T-Shirts for adults and children (Providence logo)
20 binders for info and bookkeeping
Decorations- Giant canvas painted by Brad and other set out type things
Picnic tables with colored umbrellas, chairs for courtyard area - for use when weather permits
Material for games:
Corn hole (wooden and made) - Wil?
Gaga ball pit. (Just need wood planks and joists)
Colored chalk
Balls
Gumball machine & gumballs (for “snack”)