The following behaviors result in an unkind and unsafe environment for the BASH leaders, the BASH students, and student peers. The nature and severity of an inappropriate behavior will determine the resultant consequence, which may include warnings, breaks, redirections, calls home, discussions with guardians at pick-up, discussions with teachers, collaborations with support systems, Individualized Behavioral Care Agreements, and if necessary, re-evaluation of the program’s best fit for a student:

• Inappropriate Physical Behaviors

  • Gripping, hitting, kicking, punching, touching, nudity, damaging equipment, stealing equipment, etc.

• Inappropriate Interpersonal Behaviors

  • Teasing, threatening, intimidating, insulting, lying, name-calling, repeated aggravation, etc.

• Inappropriate Bathroom Behaviors

  • Sharing stalls, nudity, touching others, disrupting bathroom-going for others, peeking under stalls, unsanitary conditions, etc.

• Inappropriate School Behaviors

  • Talking while leaders are talking, running inside, disregarding rules, ignoring consequences, using adult language, etc.

Several behaviors put the safety of a child and other children at higher risk. In the case of the following behaviors, guardians will be called for immediate pick-up within 30 minutes. Repeated expression of the following behaviors may result in Tier 2 collaborations and/or a discussion of the program’s best fit for a student:

• Nudity

• Unsanitary bathroom usage

• Hitting, kicking, punching, biting, gripping, touching

Discrete incidents of inappropriate behaviors may result in the employment of Tier 1 and Tier 2 strategies (as expanded below).

Repeated occurrences of inappropriate behaviors may result in the employment of Tier 1 strategies, Tier 2 strategies, calls home, pick-ups, and/or an Individualized Behavioral Care Agreement with families. The qualification of a behavior as “repeated” is determined by the nature and severity of the specific behavior(s). BASH Team Members record the nature and severity of inappropriate behaviors throughout daily programming and provide up-to-date information for guardians.

Guardians will be informed when a student’s inappropriate behavior requires the support of more than one team member. Based on the nature, severity, and duration of the behavior, phone calls may necessitate a student’s early pick-up from the program within a 30-minute timeframe.

BASH KIDS CLUB students respect each other’s bodies, and do not grip, hit, kick, punch, touch, or undress! Respecting our bodies and others’ bodies means affording everyone their space and privacy — everyone gets to be the boss of their own body. No means no; we must ask before touching anyone, even our siblings! And if they do not give consent, an excited yes, we cannot make physical contact! There is no tackling, roughhousing, or wrestling at BASH KIDS CLUB, even if consent is given by other kids. BASH KIDS CLUB upholds Hamilton’s Hands Off Hamilton policy, and zero tolerance for violence policy.

BASH KIDS CLUB Hamilton students share a unisex bathroom. The students do not use the urinals and are encouraged to do their business and be on their way. A leader is always outside the bathroom and nearby to ensure students are engaging in appropriate bathroom behavior. The bathroom is a place of business, not a place to socialize. 

We understand that students are still learning how to use toilets! In the case of accidents, a BASH Leader will provide the student flushable wipes, change of underwear and pants or shorts, if necessary. The BASH Leader will provide verbal clean-up coaching outside of the bathroom. In the case of an accident in which a leader is needed for 1:1 attention for over 15 minutes, skewing the safe legal ratio, a guardian will be called for a pick-up within 30 minutes. In the case of repeated such accidents, guardians and BASH staff will collaborate on an individualized behavioral care agreement. 

We understand that students are growing at their own pace, and every student has their own lesson to learn, next! The ability to grow from our mistakes and take responsibility for the harm we cause when we make mistakes, will be crucial in transforming a student’s experience as they navigate their growth. Mistakes make us better!