About Us: Selection Process and Ongoing Participation

Each May, a list of potential DreamsWork candidates is obtained from the third grade teachers and other administrative officials at Hawthorne Elementary school. During the summer, candidates receive a home visit from a DreamsWork representative who explains the program in detail . An admission application is given to the child's parent(s)/ guardian(s) to complete and return. Upon receipt of the completed application, the student and family are interviewed using criteria such as grades, aptitude, attitude and anticipated level of parental/guardian involvement. As a result of these interviews, up to twenty students are selected for admission into the program. This process will continue into the future provided there is adequate funding.

DreamsWork students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in their courses (or attend mandatory tutoring until the minimum GPA is reached) and must exhibit good citizenship, both inside and outside of the school. Should a student fail to maintain any of these established standards, their eligibility to remain in the DreamsWork program will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Compassion and flexibility will be the guiding principles.

DreamsWork also obtains a waiver signed by parent(s)/guardian(s) and the child in order that program coordinators might gain periodic access to student grades, attendance records, information on disciplinary action and other relevant data. Permission is also secured for the right to use photos of the child/family for promotional purposes.

Students must be attending Hawthorne in the year in which they are accepted into the program. They must remain enrolled at Hawthorne throughout elementary school and reside in the Elkhart Community School District the remainder of middle and high school.