Elementary School Parent Handbook - The Richmond Neighborhood Center

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Richmond Neighborhood Center is a structured program; our programming is funded and designed based on consistent attendance. Students are expected to attend Neighborhood Center programs Monday through Friday from 2:40–5:15pm (1:50–5:00pm at Lafayette). Your student can miss one day a week. Program Manager approval is required if the student will be missing more than one day per week on a consistent basis.

PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION SLIP AND RELEASE FORM

The Richmond Neighborhood Center Walking Field Trip: During the course of the after school program, there will be days when we will go on walking field trips to local parks. These walking field trips will be within an eight-block radius of the school.

PR Release: The Richmond Neighborhood Center often uses photos of students and student projects in promotional materials, such as brochures, newsletters, advertisements and event programs, as well as in social media outlets, such as the Neighborhood Center website and Facebook page.

Academic Information Release: Since public monies and grants fund The Richmond Neighborhood Center program, we need to evaluate the program yearly. For us to adequately evaluate the progress of the program, we need to have access to your child’s test score information and their progress reports and/or report cards. In order for us to obtain this information we need to have your signature indicating your consent for us to obtain this information from the teacher or counselor at your child’s school site. I/We as Parent(s)/Guardian(s) give The Richmond Neighborhood Center permission to have access to my child’s school information contained in their personal file, specifically test scores, progress reports, and IEPs.

Mental Health Services: In order to maintain a safe, cooperative and healthy after school environment, The Richmond Neighborhood Center employs After School Counselors, who observe and interact with children and provide support to Neighborhood Center staff and families in managing behavioral issues. I/We as Parent(s)/Guardian(s) give consent to have my child and/or family participate in The Richmond Neighborhood Center mental health services. I understand that information about my child will be kept confidential and The Richmond Neighborhood Center will keep my child’s record in a secure location. I further understand that information must be disclosed in certain situations, for example, if there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse, or if there is a threat to the physical safety of my child or others.

BEHAVIOR POLICY

The Richmond Neighborhood Center procedures regarding behavior incidents are:

Students are expected to respect the staff, their surroundings and other students. Staff will use reasonable efforts to work with a child who is misbehaving. Reasonable efforts include conflict resolution strategies, removing privileges, reflection time or restorative practice.

Staff will document disruptive, dangerous or repetitive behavior with an incident report. A copy will be given to The Richmond Neighborhood Center administration and After School Counselor.

If a pattern of disruptive behavior continues, the After School Counselor will establish a Child Study Team. The CST will meet to discuss strategies to improve behavior. Parent conferences will be held as necessary. Parent conferences are mandatory for continued enrollment.

Consequences for not following agreements include the following:

Timeouts. (Counted 1-2-3 and receiving a timeout. If a student receives a 4 after a timeout, an Incident Report is written).
Reduction/removal of privileges such as free time.
Speaking to parents about child’s behavior at pick-up time.
Calling parent to pick up child from the program immediately (same-day suspension).
Repeated misbehaviors or extreme/dangerous behaviors will lead to mandatory parent meetings, in-house/home suspensions and/or expulsion from the program.

EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, PHYSICAL AND/OR SPECIAL NEEDS (READ CAREFULLY)

The Richmond Neighborhood Center recognizes the additional support needed for our students with emotional, behavioral, physical and/or special needs. Due to safety issues and for the overall wellbeing of the child, if a child requires 1:1 support, it is the parents’ responsibility to obtain/provide that support. Please clearly list any emotional, behavioral, physical and/or special needs on The Richmond Neighborhood Center application. If families do not list known emotional, behavioral, physical and/or special needs of the student, this can delay the enrollment status and/or process. Finding and securing necessary support system(s) for our students ensures a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment for our community.
If your student needs 1:1 support, please apply now at Golden Gate Regional Center. If authorized, Golden Gate Regional Center funds a 1:1 aide at no charge to the family. Please apply immediately; the process can take up to 6 months.

APPLY NOW

If approved through GGRC, the funding will be present for a 1:1 aide. At that point, you must find and hire a qualified 1:1 aide/paraprofessional.

There are two options:

You can find a suitable 1:1 on your own and notify GGRC once you find a candidate.

You can request The Richmond Neighborhood Center to hire one for you. Please note that the Neighborhood Center cannot guarantee that we will be able to hire someone.

Due to safety reasons and the overall wellbeing of the student, a student that requires a 1:1 aide cannot begin our program until a 1:1 aide is obtained.

PERSONAL RIGHTS

Each child receiving services from The Richmond Neighborhood Center shall have rights which include, but are not limited to, the following:

To be accorded dignity in their personal relationships with staff and other persons.
To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishing and equipment to meet their needs.
To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, bullying, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse, or other actions of a punitive nature, including but not limited to: interference with daily living functions including eating, sleeping, or toileting; or withholding of shelter, clothing, medication, or aids to physical functioning.
To be informed, and to have their authorized representative, if any, informed by the licensee of the provisions of law regarding complaints including, but not limited to, the address and telephone number of the complaint receiving unit of the licensing agency and of information regarding confidentiality.
To not be locked in any room, building, or facility premises by day or night.
To not be placed in any restraining device, except a supportive restraint approved in advance by the licensing agency.
Staff will make all possible efforts to work with any child who is not behaving in an appropriate manner.
Staff will employ conflict resolution strategies when dealing with any disruptive or confrontational behaviors.

The representative/parent/guardian has the right to be informed of the appropriate agency to contact regarding complaints, which is:

The Richmond Neighborhood Center
741 30th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
415.751.6600

MEDICATION AND EMERGENCY

Medication

For a Site Program Manager to dispense medication to a child, please provide:

Express written consent from the child’s physician and a parent/guardian.
The time to administer the medication.
The proper dosage and how it is to be administered.
Any side effects of the medication which might affect the child’s behavior (i.e. behavior problems, drowsiness).
Whether the child needs to be supervised during the procedure.

* If your child changes medication and side-effects may occur, we ask you notify the Site Program Manager.

* For the health and wellbeing of the overall program, we ask that if your child is ill that they not attend our program until they have gone 24 hours without a fever.

Emergency

In the case of an accident or emergency the Site Program Manager will:

Notify the parent/guardian or an emergency contact about the problem.
Check the child’s application form for special instructions. If injury is serious, Site Manager will call 911 for emergency help.
Notify The Richmond Neighborhood Center Administration of the problem.
Complete an Incident Report within 24 hours.