DISCIPLINE POLICY

Discipline is the positive method of teaching a child appropriate behavior. It includes acceptance, listening, consistency, encouragement, rewards, praise, offering alternatives, changing the environment, and “redirection”. It does not include physical punishment, verbal or emotional abuse, rough handling, or withholding food or sleep. A copy of our Discipline Policy, signed by the parent, will be kept in your child’s file.

Children enrolled at our centers are expected to exhibit behavior which does not disrupt or interfere with the school climate or the learning process and social interaction of the other children throughout the program hours. Parents will be notified in writing when a major discipline problem occurs.

Chronic disruptive behavior is defined as verbal or physical activity which may include but is not limited to such behavior that requires constant attention from the staff, inflicts physical or emotional harm to other children, abuses the staff, or disobeys the rules which guide behavior during the program hours. If a child cannot adjust to the program setting and behave appropriately, then the child may be discharged.

Every effort will be given in assisting children to adjust to the program setting. Disruptive behavior will be dealt with in the following manner:

1. Redirection is the method used when there is a behavior problem. The child will be redirected to another area and observed by the teacher to see that the child has adjusted to the different activity environment.

2. If two or more incidents occur in a single day, an incident report will be written and will require the parent’s signature.

3. After the second incident report is signed by the director in charge and the parent, the Executive Directors will be notified and all parties will conference. The incident will be discussed and the child will identify the problem and brainstorm alternative choices of behavior. The conference will be documented signed by the child, the director, and the parent and placed in the child’s records.

4. Incident reports will be written after one disruptive behavior if a child inflicts physical injury to another child or caregiver or severely disrupts the educational setting. The Executive Directors will be promptly notified of the incident and will be available as a resource to the program staff and family in resolving the misbehavior.

5. If a child receives four written behavior-related reports the child will be suspended for three days of enrollment effective the end of the day of the fourth report. During the period of suspension, parents, the Director, and Executive Director/s will meet in a conference setting to determine the condition of reinstatement. Parents will be responsible for the payment of tuition during the period of suspension or until the child is withdrawn from the program or is discharged by combined action of the Director and the Executive Director.

Note: Immediate suspension may occur if severity of the problem is great enough that could endanger the safety of the child, other children, or the staff. The Executive Director will be notified before any suspension occurs.

BASIC DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES

   1. Age appropriate, constructive disciplinary practices are used for children
       in child care.

• Discussion with the child about appropriate behavior.

• "Redirection" and sometimes a "Time Out" from ongoing activity.

• Discipline form(s) signed by parent/guardian.

• Consultation with parents to seek answers or understanding of the problem.

• Suspension.

   2. Children are not subjected to discipline which is severe, humiliating,
       or frightening.

   3. Discipline is not associated with food, rest or toileting.

   4. Spanking, or any other form of physical punishment, is absolutely and
       strictly prohibited.

At the discretion of the director and after a reasonable effort on the part of the program staff to integrate a child into the program, a child's participation may be terminated if that child is deemed chronically disruptive to the functioning of the program.

BASIC RULES

The following is the Basic Rules of the our program. We're sure you'll agree that they're fair and necessary, so please read this section carefully and discuss it with your child as it applies to both you and your child.

1. Good sportsmanship and fair play must be displayed at all times.

2. No dangerous items of any kind including firearms, knives, explosives, dangerous chemicals may be brought to the center. (If there's any question about the dangerous part, the site manager makes the determination.)

3. No defacing or abusing school property.

4. No foul or abusive language by adults or children.

5. No fighting, hitting, biting, or purposely harming others.

6. Children are responsible for their own belongings. (We'll help them learn to take responsibility by providing a specific place of their own where they may keep their jackets, books, etc.; but the bottom line is that they must become responsible.)

7. No gum.

8. Children must remain with their group leader during the designated times and are responsible for reporting to roll call and checking out with that leader when picked up.

9. Other children's belongings must not be bothered.

10. Children must abide by the Code of Conduct established by their elementary school.

11. Disrespect/poor attitude will not be tolerated.

12. Only G rated and director approved videos or CDs are permitted.