Chaperone Policies | Geneva PTA

Geneva PTA — Chaperone Policies & Expectations

Section 1: Chaperone Requirements

Background Checks The Volunteer Chaperone must complete the Bellingham Public Schools Volunteer application and pass the related background check. The PTA may also require that the Volunteer Chaperone complete an additional background check.

PTA Membership Chaperones must be current PTA members, as defined by the PTA Bylaws. The PTA Bylaws define a PTA member as "all parents, legally appointed guardians, and persons in parental relation to students currently attending Geneva Elementary."

Section 2: Class Rosters & Family Communication

Class Rosters The PTA will provide a roster of enrolled students, which includes student names and parent/guardian contact information, in a binder stored in the front office. This is important information that you should have with you at all times, especially in an emergency. The Volunteer Chaperone, along with the Instructor, are responsible for knowing where students are and making sure that you stay together as a group.

Family Communication The Geneva PTA will provide your contact information to both the class Instructor and/or the families of enrolled students. Families with last-minute changes to student dismissal plans, or who need to reach someone at the school, are instructed to email both you and the instructor, and to call the front office.

Section 3: Duties

Please note that the PTA Chaperone is not expected to help the Vendor facilitate the class, supervise or discipline students, or execute any of the Vendor's duties. The Vendor is responsible for ensuring that they are properly staffed to run the class without any assistance from the PTA Chaperone. The Volunteer Chaperone may not accept payment from the Enrichment Provider.

Arrive Promptly and Stay with Students The Volunteer Chaperone should arrive 10 minutes prior to course start time and remain with students until all students are released to designated pick-up persons from the roster. Please be respectful of all classes in progress.

Take Attendance The Volunteer Chaperone is required to take attendance at the beginning of each class via the roster in the binder located in the front office. The binder should be returned to the front office after each class session. If a student is unaccounted for, the PTA Chaperone must report the absence immediately to the front office. In the event the absence was not excused or reported to the front office, the PTA Chaperone must immediately call, then email, the parent/guardian from the roster, then call AND email the Enrichment Coordinator and the PTA Board.

Stay on Premises The PTA Chaperone should ensure that the class remains on school grounds at all times, unless there is prior written consent from both the PTA and the parents/guardians.

Coordinate Dismissal The Volunteer Chaperone is responsible for the dismissal process and must stay with students until all students are released. The Volunteer Chaperone will release all students solely to their parent/guardian (or designated pick-up person from the roster), or per written instructions by the parent/guardian. Identification should be checked when necessary. Only release students to parents or designated persons on the roster.

Ensure Space is Clean The Volunteer Chaperone is responsible for ensuring the facilities are left in appropriate condition immediately following each class. Leave the space in the same condition you found it. Clean up after all art projects, snacks, paper remnants, etc. Return all school/PTA materials and classroom furnishings to the same condition as found at the start of class.

Section 4: Cancellation Policies

Missing a Class Session If you are unable to attend a class session for any reason, the Volunteer Chaperone must contact the PTA as soon as possible. A 24-hour notice is preferred, but contact should be made no later than 10:00 AM the day of a class cancellation.

The PTA will attempt to find a suitable, district-approved substitute to act as the Volunteer Chaperone. In the event that a substitute cannot be found, the PTA will cancel the class. No refunds will be provided to families for missed session(s).

Excessive absences may result in the PTA replacing you as the chaperone and dropping your student from the class.

Inclement Weather / School Closures If school is canceled, all after-school activities will be canceled. Please call Bellingham School District (360-676-6400) or visit www.bellinghamschools.org for updates on school closures and delays.

Section 5: Other Policies

Report Behavior Issues Please reach out to the PTA if you witness consistent behavior challenges with a student that the Vendor is not able to resolve. The PTA can work with our school counselor to help address and resolve challenging behaviors.

School Workroom, Copiers, and Supplies Use of the school workroom and copier are not allowed unless prior consent is given by the Enrichment Coordinator and Geneva office staff.

Section 6: Emergencies

In an emergency, student safety comes first. When in doubt, call 911 (if using school district phone, call 911#). Remain calm.

Fire:

If the smoke alarms go off, evacuate the building by walking quietly to the nearest exit. Take the student roster and make sure you have all students with you. Keep students together and wait calmly on the playground blacktop until you get the notice to re-enter. If it is after 4:00 PM, attempt to call parents to let them know students are safe and need to be picked up.

Earthquake:

DROP, COVER, and HOLD. Drop to the floor. Take cover under a sturdy desk or seek cover next to an interior wall. Avoid windows, hanging objects, and tall furniture. Hold until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move. Before 4:00 PM, wait for further instructions from Geneva staff. If it is after 4:00 PM, evacuate after the shaking stops, gathering students on the playground blacktop. Take the student roster and attempt to call parents to let them know students are safe and need to be picked up.

Lockdown:

Lockdowns are called when a crisis occurs outside of the school and an evacuation would be dangerous. A lockdown may also be called when there is a crisis inside and movement within the school would be dangerous. Because these guidelines apply to after-school programs, an alert may be different than what occurs when school is in session. If there are school personnel in the building, there will be an announcement over the intercom.

Lock all doors and windows in your classroom.
Cover windows (if there are no coverings, be sure to stay out of sight).
Instruct students to get on the floor and to stay calm, stay quiet, stay low, stay out of sight, and not make any movements. Become "invisible."
Silence cell phones.
If outside, take students away from school into the neighborhood, taking cover in neighbors' yards. Stay together.
Stay in lockdown until law enforcement or administrative staff gives the all-clear signal.