Guidelines & Discipline Policy

ECHO strives to bring enriched learning to our children. We can only do this by setting a standard of conduct expected for all of us.

Therefore, we ask that both you and your enrolling child read the Discipline Policy and signify your agreement at registration. If you do not agree with the policy, please consider whether you and ECHO are suitably matched. Thank you for understanding.

If your child has a free period between classes, parental supervision will be required. We want to be a support for you and only take an authoritative role over your child when absolutely necessary.

General Facility Guidelines

We are sharing this facility with Columbia Community Church during their active ministry hours. The church has requested that we pay special attention to the following needs involving their ability to minister.

• Please park in the front parking lot. No parking along the front curbs. This is a fire lane.
• Enter and exit through the front doors.
• Keep noise to a minimum. When ECHO is over, we must all try to leave quickly and quietly.
• No Heeleys or skateboards allowed.
• Keep the hallway near the church office quiet at all times. The office needs our cooperation in this.
• No pets allowed.
• No snacks or drinks, except water, are allowed in classrooms.
• Using the church phone is not allowed. Please contact the board member on duty if you have an emergency. We have a cell phone available.
• Appropriate and modest attire required.

We must all show the courtesy of complying with these requests. Let’s not risk the loss of this facility that God has blessed us with!

Ministry of Discipline

Students are expected to cooperate with basic Christian standards of behavior and conversation. Each situation requiring disciplinary action will be judged according to the circumstances surrounding it.

Please know that all ministry, including the ministry of discipline, is done with respect, love, and mercy, always seeking God's guidance and will. Parents' support of the ECHO disciplinary policy is expected. Only by working together - teachers, board members, and parents - can we effectively provide our children with a loving, enjoyable place of learning. Our discipline policy was created to facilitate that goal.

Because we are a cooperative program, we feel that it is especially important that we agree on these matters. We will all be actively involved in this capacity. Please read the Basic Rules and Discipline Policy carefully. Please explain these to your children and make sure you understand them and agree with them.

Correction for misbehavior is a Biblical concept and a part of any instruction and learning. ECHO staff do not administer any type of corporal punishment.

The teachers, teachers' aides and/or board members present in any offense have the discretionary power to determine, based on the situation, circumstances, and the student's attitude, whether the offense should be treated as a minor or major offense. Situations may arise that we have not foreseen. The ECHO board will have the option to determine proper action to be taken on a case-by-case basis. If the student commits an offense of such serious proportions that the board deems it necessary, suspension or expulsion may be imposed immediately.

Basic Rules

The following behaviors will automatically result in disciplinary action.

Minor Offenses

• Dressing inappropriately: Out of respect for all families involved please dress appropriately.

  Unsuitable dress for ECHO includes, but is not limited to:
  • immodest dress (if in doubt, do not wear it)
  • grunge, gothic, & gang related clothing and/or accessories
  • articles of clothing or accessories with skulls
  • excessive jewelry
  • undergarments showing
  • boys - no hats or hoods are to be worn in the building
  • no Heeleys are allowed
  • no piercings with the exception of ladies wearing appropriate earrings
  
  

• Bringing electronic devices: Electronic devices, such as mp3, cd players, gameboy, etc., are not allowed.

  Cell phones must be off or silenced during ECHO hours. If you must make an emergency call permission must be granted by a teacher or Board member. An ECHO cell phone is available if needed for emergency purposes.

  Such items will be confiscated and taken to the board member on duty and must be picked up by the parent of whom it was taken from.

• Excess noise in hallways: Keep the hallway by the church office quiet at all times.
• Disrupting the class: For example, repeated tardiness to class, talking out of turn, distracting others.
• Entering off-limit areas: These areas are off limits to ECHO students and should not be entered before, during or after ECHO hours, unless your class is being held there.
  • sanctuary
  • fellowship hall
  • kitchens
  • Down the embankment to the north of the church - no throwing rocks, exploring or playing in this area.
  • No playing in the parking lots.
  • Southwest single restroom - please use the girls or boys restrooms in the east and west hallways.
• Disrespecting the facility and grounds: Respect must be shown the facility and grounds at all times. Hallway travel should be quiet and orderly - no running! No climbing on rocks on the front of the church; no skateboards on the grounds. We do not use any church property (cups, equipment, etc.). Everything should be in its original place, and in its original condition or better.

Major Offenses

• Disrespect shown to any adult.
  • The adults will be the judge of whether or not disrespect has been shown.
  • There should be no talking back or arguing with any adult.
  • Prompt and cheerful obedience is expected.
  • Requests from adults to student should not have to be repeated.
• Dishonesty in any situation, including lying, cheating or stealing.
• Rebellion: Outright disobedience in response to instruction.
• Fighting: Striking in anger with the intention of harm or speaking in harmful terms in order to degrade.
• Obscene language, especially taking the name of the Lord in vain.
• Bringing or possessing dangerous items: No dangerous items (knives, lighters, etc.) are allowed on the premises.
• Leaving school premises: Students are not allowed to leave ECHO during ECHO hours without parental permission, which must be given to the board member on duty, either verbal or written, and applied to that specific date.

Discipline Policy

A Daily Discipline Chart will be maintained for the recording of any violations of basic rules during ECHO or ECHO functions. In each situation a mark will be recorded by the teacher, teacher's aide, or board member in the Daily Discipline Chart and explained to the student.

Minor Offenses

First Offense: Student warned, mark given.

Second Offense: For any second offense the student will be warned, a mark will be given, and parents will be notified.

Third Offense: For any third offense the student will be warned, a mark will be given, and there may be a meeting between the parents and representatives from the ECHO board. A parent may be required to accompany the student to class for 1-3 weeks. This is in order for parents to have control of and provide training for their children at ECHO.

Fourth Offense: Any fourth offense may result in suspension or possible expulsion. In the event a student is expelled there will be NO refunds given.

Major Offenses

First Offense: There may be a meeting between the parents and representatives from the ECHO board. A parent may be required to accompany the student to class for 1-3 weeks. This is in order for parents to have control of and provide training for their children at ECHO.

Second Offense: Any second offense may result in suspension or possible expulsion. In the event a student is expelled there will be NO refunds given.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Prov. 22:6, NKJV)