This is a legal agreement. Please read carefully

Chai Lifeline Canada recognizes the importance of positive and effective behavior management strategies in promoting children’s welfare, learning and enjoyment. The aims of our behavior management policy are to help children to develop a sense of caring and respect for one another, build caring and co-operative relationships with other children and adults, develop a range of social skills and help them learn what constitutes acceptable behavior. We also aim for the children to develop confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

With all children, the Shining Stars team will manage behavior according to clear, consistent and positive strategies. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to contribute to these strategies, raising any concerns or suggestions.

• Positive behavior will be reinforced with praise and encouragement.
• Negative behavior will be challenged in a calm but assertive manner. In the first instance of discretion, staff will try to re-direct children’s energies by offering them alternative and positive options.
• Staff will be open in stating and explaining non-negotiable issues. When dealing with negative behavior, staff will always communicate in a clear, calm and positive manner.
• Staff will make every effort to set a positive example to children by behaving in a friendly and tolerant manner themselves, promoting an atmosphere where children and adults respect and value one another.
• Staff will facilitate regular and open discussions with children about their behavior. This will help them to understand the negative aspects of their behavior and enable them to have their say and be helped to think through the causes and effects of their actions.
• Staff will work as a team by discussing concerns with parents/carers at the earliest possible opportunity in an attempt to help identify the causes of negative behavior and share strategies for dealing with it.
• Children who experience any bullying, racism or other unacceptable behavior will be given the confidence to speak out.
• Staff will encourage and facilitate mediation between children to try to resolve conflicts by discussion and negotiation.
• Activities will aim to be varied and well planned so that children are not easily bored or distracted which can sometime lead to behavioral indiscretions.

• We require all staff to use positive strategies for handling any negative behavior by helping children find solutions in ways which are appropriate for the children's ages and stages of development. When confronted with negative behavior, staff will be clear to distinguish between ‘disengaged’, ‘disruptive’ and ‘unacceptable’ behavior.
• ‘Disengaged’ behavior may indicate that a child is bored, unsettled or unhappy. With sensitive interventions, staff will often be able to re-engage a child in purposeful activity.
• ‘Disruptive’ behavior describes a child whose behavior prevents other children from enjoying themselves. Staff will collectively discuss incidents and agree on the best way to deal with them.
• ‘Unacceptable’ behavior refers to non-negotiable actions and may include discriminatory remarks, violence, bullying or destruction of equipment. Staff will be clear that consequences will follow from such behavior.
• When an incidence of negative behavior occurs, staff will listen to the child or children concerned and hear their reasons for their actions. Staff will then explain to the child or children what was negative about their behavior and that such actions have consequences for both themselves and for other people. Staff will make every attempt to ensure that children understand what is being said to them. Children will always be given the opportunity to make amends for their behavior and unless it is judged inappropriate, be able to rejoin the activity.
• Our policy is to never use physical punishment or the threat of it. Staff will use physical interventions only as a last resort and only then if they have reasonable grounds for believing that immediate action is necessary to prevent a child from significantly injuring themselves or others or to prevent serious damage to property. Before reaching this stage, staff will have used all possible non-physical actions, such as dialogue and diversion, to deal with the behavior. The child or children concerned will be warned verbally that physical intervention will be used if they do not stop.
• In order for your child to benefit from Shining Stars, he or she must be able to participate in group activities without causing undue disruption. We will work with you to help your child adjust to the program and we are always available to discuss your child’s progress. On whole we endeavor to avoid creating situations in which children receive adult attention only in return for negative behaviors, however in the event that unacceptable behavior persists, more serious actions may have to be taken. We would like all children participating in the Shining Stars after school program to have a rewarding experience and therefore certain aggressive or non-cooperative behavior cannot be tolerated. If your child’s behavior is inappropriate or destructive to the group, we will contact you to address it and if the behavior persists- your child may be suspended from the program. Please be aware that this is a decision that is always taken very reluctantly but one that is critical to the safety of the entire group.

Chai Lifeline Canada will implement our discipline policy when behavior expectations are not met. After first line responses, the following steps will be utilized:

• Parents/guardians will be contacted by a Chai Lifeline Canada representative within 48 hrs to discuss the infraction and discuss appropriate interventions to address the situation.
• If the situation has repeated itself or has not resolved; a mandatory 1 week suspension from shining stars will be issued. When the child returns they will be on probation for the rest of the session.
• Should another intervention be needed within the same session- the child will be asked not attend the rest of that programming block.
• Registration in subsequent sessions following a suspension is welcomed; however admittance for future sessions will be evaluated on a case by case basis.If behaviors involve specifically bus related issues, a child’s transportation privileges to and from the program may be revoked.

Participants may be subject to disciplinary action with regards to the following:

• Failure to comply with reasonable requests from the program staff.
• Using language or gestures that are profane, lewd, vulgar or abusive.
• Engaging in an act of violence such as hitting, kicking, scratching, and punching another child or staff member.
• Possession of/or threat to use a weapon or instrument of violence.
• Theft of, intentionally damaging, destroying program property, or the personal property of another child or staff member.
• Lying to program personnel.
• Intimidation and bullying, which includes engaging in actions or statements that put an individual in fear of bodily harm.
• Engaging in other willful conduct that significantly interferes with the normal operation of the program.

• Refrain from any pushing while boarding or exiting the bus
• Keep all objects and/or all parts of the body inside the bus windows
• Never throw or shoot any objects inside or outside of the bus
• Treat the driver, bus monitor and fellow passengers with respect.
• Treat the bus and any other private property with care.
• Respect others personal space and refrain from any inappropriate or unwanted touching.
• Avoid behaviors such as fighting, pushing, shoving or tripping other passengers
• Never engage in bullying, harassment or shaming of other passengers any way
• Never spit, bite, hit or use negative language such as profanity or abusive communication.
• Talk with others in a level voice and do not make excessive noise that is disruptive and distracting to the driver

You will be asked to sign on our registration form each session that you have read and understand the responsibilities outlined in the Behavioral Expectations and Discipline Policy and that you agree that your child shall be responsible for the behavior and consequences included in the policy while at the After School Program.

Please also understand that you have the right to discuss any discipline rendered pursuant to this policy with Chai Lifeline Canada and the Shining Stars staff at anytime and that it is an expectation of all parents that you will work together with us to help your children to deal with and respond to uncomfortable negative situations and social conflicts acceptably. We hope that you will help your children to report any incidents of bullying (including cyber bullying) to the organization as soon as possible. Please discourage children from retaliating and teach your child how to report incidents to supervisors. Lat and most importantly, please refrain from contacting any children involved or their family to respect the confidentiality and privacy of all of our Chai Lifeline clients and their families regarding incidents.

We look forward to seeing your children at the program and we appreciate your full cooperation in these matters!