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Heads Up Tutoring & Life Skills Program

Heads Up Tutoring & Life Skills Program

Every child deserves a place to belong.

Heads Up is more than an afterschool program. We are a welcoming and supportive community space where students, families, mentors, volunteers, and researchers learn together, grow together, and build meaningful connections through education, creativity, and care.

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About Heads Up

A program built around people, growth, and belonging.

Community research consistently described Heads Up as supportive, safe, welcoming, encouraging, and fun. The website mirrors those same qualities through clear navigation, real stories, warm visuals, and easy access to current information.

Who we are

More than an afterschool program

Heads Up is a relationship-driven community space supporting students academically, socially, emotionally, and personally through mentorship, collaboration, hands-on learning, and meaningful shared experiences.

We believe that learning shouldn't feel like a chore. Instead, we team up to figure things out, ask big questions, and share our ideas. Our mentors are here to guide the way, not to tell you what to do, but to help you build confidence, pick up new skills, and make amazing memories along the way. Everyone here has a voice, and we all help shape what Heads Up looks like every single day.

Mission

To enrich the educational and life development of youth through collaborative tutoring and mentoring, while building strong, supportive connections among children, families, volunteers, and researchers.

What families should feel

  • Safe and welcomed
  • Clearly informed
  • Connected to staff
  • Confident in the program

Community priorities

  • Academic success
  • Cultural understanding
  • Critical consciousness
  • Shared growth

Programs & activities

Interactive experiences designed around student growth.

Field observations showed the strongest engagement during social, hands-on experiences such as microscope exploration, outdoor discovery, teamwork, shared meals, and collaborative problem-solving.

01

Homework Club

A welcoming school-year club where children connect, read, complete homework, join informal learning activities, and build confidence with volunteers and peers.

02

Teen Mentoring Program

Year-round mentoring builds dependable relationships around mentor and student availability, with conversation, shared activities, presentations, and goal-centered support.

03

Tutoring

Weekly online session with 2 tutors help children in 3rd-12th grade work through assignments, strengthen study skills, and become confident, independent learners.

A day at the Homework Club

A simple view of the Homework Club experience

Children connect, receive skill support, learn with volunteers and peers, and take part in shared activities.

  1. 1 Connection Welcome, conversation, and check-in
  2. 2 Skill Support Guidance with Volunteers and Peers
  3. 3 Hands-on activity STEM, art, exploration, or teamwork
  4. 4 Share a meal Conversation, laughter, and belonging

Community communication hub

Weekly updates, schedules, and upcoming events—in one place.

Information status Updated recently

Child-safe communication

Public updates stay general. Detailed schedules are shared privately.

To protect students and families, exact program times, locations, attendance details, and child-specific updates are available only through the Family Portal or direct approved communication.

Open Family Portal
Important

Check this section each week for schedule changes, family reminders, activities, and program news.

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Can’t find what you need? Contact information stays one click away throughout the website.
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Public-safe Google Calendar

Only intentionally public events belong here.

Exact student schedules, protected locations, family-only events, and private meeting links remain inside the Family Portal.

Add an approved public Google Calendar embed URL in script.js to display public events.

Parents & Guardians

Clear expectations, supportive communication, and a welcoming place for every family.

Families should be able to understand the program, know what participation feels like, and reach the right person without searching through private or child-specific information.

01

Start with a conversation

Use the contact form to ask about participation, accessibility, transportation, learning support, or the Family Portal.

02

Receive approved next steps

Program staff confirm eligibility, expectations, required forms, and the safest way to share schedule information.

03

Meet mentors and the community

Mentors support students through encouragement, homework help, exploration, reflection, and relationship-centered guidance.

04

Use the private portal

Approved families sign in for exact schedules, locations, family announcements, and private community links.

What families can expect

Respect, encouragement, consistency, and privacy.

Public pages explain the mission, activities, volunteer expectations, and ways to connect. Exact locations, child-related updates, attendance information, and family-only announcements remain behind approved access.

Request or use portal access Contact Heads Up

Volunteer With Us!

Encourage students, support learning, and help strengthen our community.

Together, our volunteers help build a welcoming, dependable space where everyone feels safe. We all share the same commitment to keeping our community secure, respecting privacy, communicating openly, and showing up consistently for one another.

The volunteer role

Be a reliable, encouraging adult presence.

Jump right in with us! From homework help and STEM projects to shared meals and fun creative activities, volunteers help create a dependable space where kids can learn, grow, and pick up essential life skills. Together, we inspire a true love of learning and show students just how far being curious can take them.

Core responsibilities

  • Arrive prepared and communicate schedule changes early.
  • Follow staff direction and approved supervision procedures.
  • Use inclusive, respectful, age-appropriate language.
  • Protect student, family, research, and location information.
  • Never post names, photos, stories, or private details without approval.
  • Report safety concerns through the approved program process.

Help students work through challenges

  • Introduce yourself and ask how the student would like help.
  • Ask what they already know and how their teacher introduced the skill.
  • Break the challenge into smaller steps and guide with questions.
  • Model a different example, then let the student try the assigned problem.
  • Encourage effort, curiosity, and persistence instead of labeling ability.
  • Ask program staff or another volunteer for help whenever you need it.

Requirements

  • No subject-specific expertise is required.
  • Complete the program application and review.
  • Complete the required screening process.
  • Agree to privacy and conduct expectations.
  • Use approved communication channels.
  • Maintain dependable participation.

Onboarding process

  1. Submit an interest message.
  2. Speak with an approved program contact.
  3. Complete required forms and screening.
  4. Receive role confirmation and appropriate access.
  5. Begin volunteering with program guidance.

Private Family Portal

Secure access for approved families, volunteers, staff, and program partners.

Exact schedules, locations, family announcements, protected links, and approved private updates are loaded only after Supabase verifies the user and confirms that an administrator approved the account.

Private details are not stored in this public webpage.

Passwords are handled by Supabase Auth. Protected content remains in database tables secured with Row Level Security.

How access works

Individual accounts—not a shared website PIN.

  1. Request an account using your own email.
  2. Confirm the verification email from Supabase.
  3. Wait for an approved administrator to review the request.
  4. Sign in to view only the private information allowed for your role.

A shared rotating PIN is not used because it can be forwarded and cannot be revoked for one person.

Sign in or request approved access.

Community stories

Real experiences build trust.

Participants asked for testimonials, authentic images, mentor experiences, and personal stories of positive impact. These voices help the website feel like the community it represents.

“
The program is valuable because it acts as a supporting space that meets emotional needs and provides stability to families involved in the program.
Research participant
“
The community-oriented approach and the opportunity to watch students grow make this work meaningful.
Volunteer reflection
“
Heads up was easily accessible and offered help if I needed it.
Raven, Heads Up Alum, Jeff HS 2024

Share a story

Help future families understand what Heads Up feels like.

Submit a story

Find your path

Find the right information for you.

Clear pathways for parents, volunteers, researchers, new team members, and community partners—built directly for you.

For families

Parents & guardians

Schedules, updates, safety information, contact details, activities, and common questions.

Get involved

Volunteers & mentors

Roles, student-centered support practices, schedules, and ways to help young people learn.

Research & transparency

Researchers

Project goals, research overview, ethical considerations, community-centered methods, and documentation.

New to the team

Incoming team members

Onboarding overview, website guide, role expectations, project context, and where to find key materials.

Connect & partner

Community partners

Program impact, partnership inquiries, events, participation opportunities, and contact information.

Trust & transparency

Clear information should be easy to verify.

Use this area for approved program documents, research goals, policies, photo permissions, accessibility information, and other materials that help families understand how Heads Up operates.

Our team

The people who make the program feel personal.

Meet the program leadership, mentors, and homework helpers and tutors who support students each week.

Program leadership

Leadership & program direction

Program leaders guide daily operations, family communication, student safety, partnerships, and long-term direction.

Mentors

Relationships, guidance, and encouragement

Mentors listen, encourage curiosity, share experience, and help students feel supported as they learn and grow.

Homework Helpers & Tutors

Skill-building and academic confidence

Homework helpers and tutors work alongside students on assignments and skills while encouraging confidence and independence.

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers without sending visitors in circles.

Participants specifically mentioned frustration with repeated redirects and hard-to-find answers. This accordion keeps common information in one place.

Contact Heads Up

Questions, support, and community communication.

Contact information is intentionally clear, repeated, and easy to reach because families and participants identified communication as one of the website’s most important functions.

Program phone Contact the program
Location Exact location shared privately
Program hours Schedule shared with approved families
Urgent program concern

Use the secure contact form for time-sensitive program concerns. For immediate danger, contact local emergency services.

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How can we help?

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