Community Connections

Dear Parents/Guardians
At Community Connections, we want all our children to feel safe and happy. We expect good
behavior and good manners. We know you feel this is important, too. The majority does follow
the CC rules and are regularly praised for it. When the rules are not followed, the children have
to accept the consequences.
We hope you find this information helpful and we thank you for your continued support.
GOOD BEHAVIOR...
 Using good manners
 Having kind/caring attitudes
 Respect for everyone
 Tolerance of each other’s beliefs/culture
 Following instructions
 Listening/trying your best at all times

WE CELEBRATE GOOD BEHAVIOR...

 PRAISE ASSEMBLY
Special Fridays the CC teacher chooses children who have achieved great things the week before
with a CC Assembly.
 STAR OF THE WEEK
One person out of each group is chosen to be the star student of the week by sharing special
achievements with the group.
 VERBAL PRAISE
The children will share their good work with the Program Director.
 MERITS
During each session children work to achieve their Bronze, Silver and Gold award.
Merits can be gained through the year for good manners, good behavior, being helpful and
overall good work.
 STICKERS
Stickers are used to celebrate achievements in all groups.
 SPECIAL PARTY
Some groups will work towards a shared goal the reward being a party or special treat.
 ATTENDANCE CUP
Each week groups with the best attendance are awarded the cup for the week.
 GOOD MANNERS
Children are praised for remembering good manners. They are mentioned in Praise assembly and
have their name in the CC good manners book.
 SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
These are given to the children who have done something special over the year. These special
achievement awards are: progress in their work, special helper, good attitudes and kind and
helpful manners at Community Connections.

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UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR...
 Lack of respect for adults/each other.
 Aggressive behavior.
 Damage to property.
 Swearing.
 Stealing.
 Refusing to follow instructions.
 Racist comments.
 Homophobic comments.
 Bullying.

BULLYING...
We have zero tolerance to bullying. We have a number of strategies in place to support children.
 Listen and focus on the child.
 Each week in the group there will be a bullying discussion and scenario being learned.
 Children know they can approach CC leader with a concern and it will be followed up.

Consequences of bullying
 Loss of playtime/enjoyable activities.
 Parents involved.

Address Bullying Behavior

Parents, school staff, and organizations all have a role to play.
 Make sure the child knows what the problem behavior is. Young people who bully must
learn their behavior is wrong and harms others.
 Show kids that bullying is taken seriously. Calmly tell the child that bullying will not be
tolerated and model respectful behavior when addressing the problem.
 Work with the child to understand some of the reasons he or she bullied.

Use consequences to teach. Consequences that involve learning or building empathy can help
prevent future bullying. These will be practiced in each CC group.
 Lead a class discussion about how to be a good friend.
 Write a story about the effects of bullying or benefits of teamwork.
 Role-play a scenario or make a presentation about the importance of respecting others,
the negative effects of gossip, or how to cooperate.
 Do a project about civil rights and bullying.
 Read a book about bullying.
 Make posters for the school about cyberbullying and being smart online.

Involve the kid who bullied in making amends or repairing the situation. The goal is to help
them see how their actions affect others. For example, the child can:

 Write a letter apologizing to the student who was bullied.

 Do a good deed for the person who was bullied or for others in your community.
 Clean up, repair, or pay for any property they damaged.

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Healthy Behaviors
Our mission is to increase children’s healthy behaviors and positive decision making. Our
programs are designed to foster academic enrichment and expand school’s role as a community.
This behavior plan ensures that every member of our CC Community is respectful of themselves
and others.

Multi-Tier Support System (MTSS) is a state-wide effort designed to help school teams form a
proactive, school wide system, approach to improving social and academic competence for all
students. CC has adapted MTSS formerly known as PBIS, along with Responsive Classroom
approach to bring a positive and effective teaching service to all children. The Program Director
works closely with the classroom teacher, guidance counselor, special education teacher, and
uses validated intervention to the extent availability when needed.

A child with a consistent behavioral problem who is not responding to the policy and procedures
at Community Connections and who exhibits extreme or dangerous behavior will be sent to the
Program Director, who will notify the child’s parents and/or guardians with a Behavior Report.
In extreme cases of behavior such as running away, fighting, extreme disruption, stealing, threats
of violence, or destruction of school property, the parent and/or guardian may be called to pick
up their child immediately and the child may be immediately suspended or dismissed from the
after school program.

If the problem persists, a parent/guardian conference will be scheduled at which the areas of
concern will be discussed and reviewed. If the situation does not improve, the child may be
suspended. Three Behavior Reports will result in dismissal from our program. If you have paid
in advance for the program, a refund will be issued.

*It is important that you inform us of any medical / behavioral issue your child is
experiencing. We want to ensure, your child’s experience at Community Connections is a
positive one. From time to time, we may want to communicate with school personal
(classroom teacher, guidance counselor, and/or special education) to collaborate on how to
help your child. All information will be kept confidential.*

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 Community Connections
Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Montpelier, Worcester
Bringing School and Community Together

After-School Program
Policies, Rules, and Procedures

BEHAVIOR CONTRACT

Dear Parent/Guardian:

While attending Community Connections After-School Program, all children are asked to
comply with the already existing rules of their school, as well as the After-School rules. In order
to maintain a safe environment, we ask that you please review them with your child.

Students-Code of Conduct
1. Community Connection Staff and other students must be entirely respected.
2. Students must respect and appreciate diversity of the CC staff members, teachers and
students, regardless of their race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation,
age and ability.
3. Children must understand and follow C.A.R.E.S.(Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility,
Empathy, Self-control)
4. Promote positive behavior through the avoidance of all types of violent acts.
5. Use respectful language at all times, using ‘inside voices’. Children can express
themselves with socially acceptable language and gestures.
6. Treat school property and the property of others with a reasonable standard of care.
7. Students must stay in assigned area with CC staff and group.
8. Students are not permitted to leave after school before scheduled time without proper
advance notification from a parent or guardian to an after school staff member.

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PARENTS

It is recognized that parental involvement and responsibility are essential and parents are
accountable for their children and their behavior. They have the essential role to strive for
their children demonstrating good and acceptable behavior at all times, recognizing that this
has a profound effect upon their attitudes at school and Community Connections. Parents are
expected to:
1. Abide by and endorse the Rules and Regulations and any other policies of
Community Connections;
2. Encourage an attitude of respect for the environment, and for one another among their
children;
3. Fully collaborate with the CC leaders in the elaboration and implementation of the
student’s behavior;
4. Share discussions with leaders and the Program Director concerning their child’s
education, welfare and behavior and any concerns, difficulties or anxieties;
5. Encourage their child to project a positive image at Community Connections at all
times.

As with any zero-tolerance policy, there will be consequences for the following types of misconduct
at Community Connections:

1. Constant failure to follow CC rules, policies and procedure.

2. General misconduct, including loud or boisterous behavior that tends to disturb other
students, and includes running in the classroom/halls, minor defacement of property, and
pushing or shoving others.
3. A student’s persistent refusal to follow the instructions of program staff and program
administrators.
4. Use of obscene, vulgar, profane, disrespectful, demeaning or threatening words and/or
actions or gestures directed to or in the presence of any student or after school employee.
5. Mutual physical confrontations between students (fighting).
6. Possession and/or use of any tobacco or drug related items or ‘look alike’ items – this
may include cigarettes, chewing tobacco and other tobacco-related products, lighters,
alcoholic substances, drug-consumption devices, and any substance suspected of being a
‘drug’.
7. A behavior that may result in physical or mental abuse to one’s self or others.
8. Committing an act of indecent exposure in the presence of any other student or CC staff.

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Corrective Actions will follow

1. Two Verbal warnings

2. A Stop and Think Time away from the group. While student is in Stop and Think Time
he/she is encouraged to talk about the incident, fill out a Think Time sheet or draw a
picture of the scenario leading up to the time away. We will also go over the behavioral
contract the students signed at the beginning of the year.
3. A call to parent/guardian will be made if behavior persists.
4. If the student receives 3 incident reports (3 write-ups) it will result in
7 day suspension from Community Connections.
5. Before returning to the program, a Parent/Staff conference needs to be scheduled to
determine continued enrollment.

A meeting between Program Director, staff and parents must occur before student is allowed to
return to the program. The Program Director has every right to terminate a child who has
displayed characteristics that are harmful to self and/ or puts others at risk.

We are here to work with you and your child. We ask parents to thoroughly inform us if your
child has any social, emotional, behavioral or health conditions that we should be aware of.
Please let us know what methods your child responds best to include any helpful tactics used by
their teacher or at home. This is to help us provide a more successful after school experience for
your child. All information will be confidential.
This has been written so students and family members know what behavior is expected and
prohibited at Community Connections. It is helpful if parents are aware of all school and after-
school rules so they can help support them from home.

In signing this contract you are agreeing that you have discussed this with your child and he/she
understands and respects the conditions and expectations stated above.

Child’s Name: ________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Name: ______________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Signature: ___________________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________________________________________

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 Community Connections
Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Montpelier, Worcester
Bringing School and Community Together

Handbook Policy

PLEASE READ AND INITIAL EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

*I understand that positive behavior is expected at Community Connections. My child must follow the rules,
policies, procedures set out in the CC Code of Conduct and that he/she will be subject to consequences under the
Code for misbehavior. Initial *

*I understand that all payments are due in advance and on time each week. There will be no refund or credits issued
for unused days, sick days, and school cancelations. If enrolled, your child’s slot is reserved and the program is
staffed accordingly-parents/guardians are still required to pay. The individual who completes this paperwork is
financially responsible for all fees and tuition. I understand that the financial responsibility exist regardless of my
student’s attendance. Initial*

*I understand that cancellations/rescheduling must be done seven days in advance and must be approved by the
Union Community Connection Director when space in the program is available. All payments must be in order
before any arrangements are made. Initial*

*By initialing, you authorize Community Connections to use your child’s name and photograph(s)/video in CC
publication which could include but are not limited to: Website listing, flyers and newsletters. Initial*

*All Children must be picked up no later than 5:30 Monday through Friday. Initial*

*I have disclosed all known health problems, behavioral issues or conditions of my child. Initial*

I AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL THE OPERATIONAL POLICIES AS WELL AS THOSE OUTLINED IN THE
PARENT HANBOOK AND WILL NOTIFY STAFF MEMBERS IN WRITING OF ANY CHANGES MADE TO
THE INFROMATION ON THIS FORM. I RECOGNIZE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN
CURRENT INFROMATION WITH THE PROGRAM AT ALL TIMES. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR READING
THE PARENT HANDBOOK.

I understand that Community Connections policies have been developed to ensure the safety and
well-being of all children attending the program. I understand that failure to return this
acknowledgment will not relieve me from knowing and following the policies of Community
Connections After-school Program.
CHILD’S NAME_____________________________________________ DATE_______________

PARENT’S NAME____________________________________________ DATE______________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE________________________________________________