Afternoon Enrichment (Afterschool) Aide

Nature of Position

The typical school day does not compute to an adult's typical workday. To fill in the gap of time, some working parents choose to send their kids to an extended school day care program headed by a team of care providers. As the job title implies, their first job is to take care of kids, which can include a number of different activities.

Responsibilities

• Playtime: Planning and supervising activities for kids, including fun play such as arts and crafts, or activities that focus on skills in sports, music or dance. Keeping a close eye on the kids, watching out for any behavioral or emotional issues they may need to discuss with parents.
• Snacks: Planning and serving snacks and meals for kids. Preparing food and drinks, cleaning dishes and putting away food. Depending on the environment, getting the kids to help serve and clean up after eating.
• Schoolwork: Coordinating with teachers to provide additional support for kids outside the classroom, helping with reading, math or other subjects. In other settings, simply ensuring that kids get their homework done.
• Safety: Responding to basic emergencies and looking out for children's welfare while in their care. Being apprised of state laws on child safety procedures and creating a safe environment for children. Knowing the protocols involved if kids need to take medications and knowing how to respond to a health emergency.
• Logistics: Setting up and breaking down the care space, especially when the after-care program takes place in a school gym, cafeteria or other space used for different purposes during the day. Writing daily, weekly or monthly reports of children's behaviors and habits, and communicating that information to parents and educators. Keeping track of payments and helping schedule the right amount of staff for the number of kids attending the program.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Duties are normally performed in a school/classroom environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• May be required to work outside.
• Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods.
• Must be able to crouch to a child's height, maintain eye contact at the child's level, sit on the floor, and stand tall enough to reach children on the highest piece of equipment.
• Must have the ability to safely lift or assist children weighing up to 40 pounds in emergencies only.
• Potential for exposure to blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
• Must be able to hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels and in an outdoor environment.
• Must be able to speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in both a normal classroom environment and in an outdoors setting.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must obtain state and federal background checks and take required trainings for clearances.
• Must be willing to respect the Catholic Church's teachings on morality.