Each family is required to contribute 16 work hours each semester. We have dates available for each parent to choose, and we try to be flexible in allowing this freedom to choose dates and jobs. Shifts are 4 hours for 4 days or 1 hour per week to fulfill the 16-hour requirement. When you sign up for a shift, we expect that you will fulfill your obligation. Please mark your work shifts on your calendar. Thursday Connection will send a reminder email with a list of workers for the week. Please check your emails.

Work Shift Check-in

Please be 10 minutes early for your shift to allow time to check-in and settle your children in their respective classes. At the shift check-in table, you must initial that you are present and pick-up a job description from the job description box. Please read and follow that description unless you are asked by the family work coordinator to serve somewhere else. At the end of your shift, please replace the job description. Thursday Connection reserves the right to place you in any job as our needs dictate.

Changes/Absences

• If you cannot make it to your work shift,  you are required to find a sub.  The work shift sub list is on the homepage of the website. It is your responsibility to find a replacement. When you have made a switch or found a replacement, please notify Shannon as soon as possible [email protected] .  It is your responsibility to find a replacement for yourself. When you have made a switch or found a replacement, please notify Shannon as soon as possible.
• If you choose, you may buy out your family work time at the rate of $75 per 4-hour shift for a total of $300 per semester. This option is for returning families only (must have been in-person for two consecutive semesters.) 
• If you have a medical emergency or last-minute change during the week you are scheduled to work, it is your responsibility to find a replacement or hire a substitute. Then you should make Shannon aware of the change via email. The substitute list will be available online. If you have a medical emergency the morning you are scheduled to work, you must call Shannon, and each emergency will be handled on a case by case basis.

‘No shows’

If you choose to be negligent in serving your family work time as scheduled, you will be fined $75 (this includes a $25 substitute fee and a $50 fine) per 4 hour shift. If you are a “no show” for 2 shifts, action may be taken by the board regarding the lack of commitment by the family in question. Please be diligent in service and worthy of trust by full cooperation and participation in our program.

Cancellation due to weather

We follow Knox county for snow days/cancellations due to weather. If we cancel a Thursday, we will move to virtual instruction and not add days to the end of the year.  

If you are scheduled to work a shift on a virtual day, you will need to reschedule those work hours. This includes those originally scheduled to work a 4-hour shift AND all 1-hour shift workers. Please remember all families are required to work 16 hours per semester and rescheduling is needed to fulfill your obligation to our cooperative. We understand that scheduling new hours can be complicated. We are offering 2 options:

1. You may pay for the hour/hours at the rate of $12.50 per hour. This fee can be added to your account. Please email Shannon if you choose this option – [email protected]
2. You can schedule make up hours with Shannon for future weeks. Please stop by the work shift check in table to schedule.

Tardiness

Being on time is essential to keeping everything running smoothly. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early for your scheduled shift. This allows you to settle your children into their classes and sign in at the volunteer station without rushing.

To ensure accountability:

• A $5 penalty will be assessed for every 15 minutes you are late.
• If you are 1 hour late, it will be considered a no-show, and a $75 fine will apply.

We understand that unexpected situations can arise, and Thursday Connection will consider extenuating circumstances. However, planning to be early helps prevent most delays.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment!

Family Work Shift Coordinator’s Contact Information

Shannon Osucha: 865-919-0072 cell; Email: [email protected]