Getting Started with AIM High
Task |
Description |
Sign Contract |
Companies That Care and the school should sign the contract. The contract reflects the terms specified in the Memorandum of Understanding. |
Select School Liaison |
Each school has a Liaison. This person is responsible for interacting with AIM High staff and, within the school’s organizational structure, should have the authority to make decisions about AIM High on behalf of the school. The Liaison also attends the weekly Leadership Institute and chaperones the students to monthly Touchpoint events. |
Schedule Liaison Orientation |
Companies That Care provides an orientation to the AIM High program for liaisons. The orientation can be face to face (ideally) or via webinar. This orientation should be held as soon as possible after the liaisons are selected to answer their questions. |
Select Student Participants |
Your school has been allotted a specific number of 9th graders to join AIM High. The selection process is up to each school; however, each student must complete an application. You can ask:
Once the applications are completed, select the students who would benefit most from having mentors. There are no academic requirements to participate in AIM High. Students with IEPs are also welcome. AIM High staff and potentially AIM High students would be happy to hold a meeting about AIM High with your students. |
Select Student Alternates |
Think about a process for adding new students to the program if someone drops out. You might want to choose alternates from the beginning. |
Determine Time and Place for Weekly AIM High Leadership Institute |
The weekly AIM High Leadership Institute is a crucial element of the AIM High program. Students meet weekly with AIM High staff and the school Liaison for 60-90 minutes. Companies That Care provides the curriculum for the Leadership Institute. Ideally, the Leadership Institute will take place during the school day in a room with computers. If that is not possible, second choice is during lunch and third choice is immediately after school on a day that is a short school day. |
Hold a Parents Meeting |
Once students have been selected, their parents/guardians should attend a parents meeting so they understand the program. AIM High staff will do the presentation for this meeting. The meeting can be held at your school or in the Loop at 30 E. Adams; whichever location is likely to work best for your parents/guardians. Students are also invited to this meeting. Alternatively, you can schedule a parents meeting prior to distributing applications to students. |
Distribute Parent Permission Forms |
Each student who participates in AIM High must have the permission of their parent/guardian. Please distribute the Parent Permission Form to parents/guardians, either:
Parent Permission forms should be returned to AIM High staff and Center for Companies That Care. |
Add AIM High Touchpoint Events to School Calendar |
Touchpoint events occur monthly. Some may require leaving school early, depending on dismissal time; the Job Shadowing Day in March requires missing an entire day of school. Schools provide transportation to the Touchpoint events from and back to the school. Placing the Touchpoint events on the school calendar ensures ordering busses in a timely manner. |
Notify Teachers about Student Participation |
All teachers should be notified about the AIM High program and the students who are participating. This will ensure students have the opportunity to make up any missed work if they are absent due to AIM High. In addition, students will periodically request a teacher’s signature on the Homework Tracker to validate whether all homework has been turned in during a particular week. This is then converted into incentive points. |
Notify Selected Students |
Once students are selected, notify them and give them the date, time and location for the first Leadership Institute meeting. Orientation to AIM High will occur at the first meeting as well as preparing students for the first Touchpoint Event. |