Discipline & Bullying Policy

Discipline Committee

Terms of Reference

Developing and overseeing the implementation of Cheema’s policies related to misbehaviour, bullying, equipment/facility abuse and generally uncooperative behaviour with staff.

Meet, at a minimum, at the beginning of the summer season to review policies and implementation approaches, and to evaluate implementation at the end of the summer season.

Meet as required to review discipline incidents, their form, severity and trends.

Meet as required to decide suspensions in “third-strike” discipline scenarios.

Make recommendations to the board of directors for changes to existing discipline policy and/or suggest new policies.

Current Discipline Committee Members:
Alana Patterson, Chair
Janie MacKinnon
Kim Casey
Scott Logan
 

Unacceptable Behaviours at Cheema or Representing Cheema

Facilities and equipment abuse.

Foul language at any time.

Insubordinate behaviour towards the coaches.

Horseplay that distracts from program delivery and safety

Bullying or intimidating behaviour towards other athletes.

Theft

Physical, verbal or sexual harassment by males or females.
 

Creating a positive training environment

The executive, coaches and athletes of Cheema wish to build a strong, positive team spirit within the club. To accomplish this, we must be assured that all members of the organization feel comfortable belonging to it, and we must ensure that a positive training environment exists for all.

Staff work closely with the Discipline Committee to ensure a positive and safe atmosphere exists at the boathouse, on the water and at regattas. To achieve this goal, policy has been developed as well as guidelines on how to implement it. This has been provided to staff. Where needed, the discipline committee helps staff as a third party removed from the day-to-day delivery environment and ensures that policy is interpreted and delivered consistent with the wishes of the board of directors.

The executive committee hopes that everyone will support these efforts to develop an environment that is conducive to training and to everyone enjoying the sport of sprint racing.
 

The Discipline Process

The coaches will discuss inappropriate behaviour with the athletes as it arises. Parents will be notified at the end of the day when an incident occurs. If another child was affected by the behaviour, his or her parents will be contacted as well.

Inappropriate behaviour that persists will be evaluated for its severity and considered for advancement through the progressive discipline policy process. Parents will be re-notified. Where progressive discipline is warranted, the discipline committee will be consulted before staff begin the three-strike process.

Depending on the severity of an incident, the discipline committee may recommend sanctions different from these published sanctions and separate from what staff may implement. For example, theft could advance immediately to permanent suspension if the circumstances are deemed to require that level of response.
 

Cheema Discipline Progressions

Where minor misbehaviour that disrupts program delivery occurs, coaches will intervene with requests for attention and order. This behaviour is common among teenagers and pre-teens and there will be reasonable accommodation. If it persists (I.e., more than one session, day, etc.) after contacting parents and disrupts program delivery, the discipline process may advance to the next stage.

Where individuals continue to disrespect the wishes of staff and their efforts to correct the behaviour, the process may advance to the “three-strike” stage. If this is the case, the family will be notified that the three-strike process is now in effect.

In any instance where misbehaviour meets the definition of bullying or theft, the incident can advance directly to the three-strike process. Please see specific information on bullying, below.

Where issues continue relative to the behaviours noted in this policy, now over multiple days, a first warning under the “three-strike" process is issued by email to the parents. If a meeting or other communication is requested by parents, staff will arrange it.

Once the three-strike process has been started and where a second issue arises relative to the behaviours noted in this policy, it will result in a temporary suspension (sent home on the current day and perhaps additional days). The discipline committee will be informed.

Where a third issue arises relative to the behaviours noted in this policy after the three-strike policy has been started, the incident will be referred to the discipline committee and may result in a permanent suspension without refund.
 

Cheema Takes Bullying Seriously

The coaches and the Supervisor will be very careful in determining bullying. As with any child-based program, there will be many situations where misbehaviour occurs that may be attributed to a lack of maturity and impulse control but not necessarily intentional tormenting. In these cases, the behaviour will be evaluated, and the Discipline Policy will be implemented (see above).

Our bullying policy extends to social media and other technologies if it concerns two or more members of the Cheema Aquatic Club.

This policy is in place for all programs, regattas, trips, camps and sanctioned events of the Cheema Aquatic Club.
 

What is Bullying?

Most kids have been teased by a sibling or a friend at some point. And it's not usually harmful when done in a playful, friendly and mutual way, and both kids find it funny. But when teasing becomes hurtful, unkind, and constant, it crosses the line into bullying and needs to stop.

Bullying is intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or psychological ways. It can range from hitting, shoving, name-calling, threats, and mocking to extorting money and treasured possessions. Some kids bully by shunning others and spreading rumors about them. Others use email, chat rooms, instant messages, social networking websites, and text messages to taunt others or hurt their feelings.

For more background information: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html

Cheema has a NO Bullying Policy.

As mentioned in Cheema’s discipline policy, Cheema has a lower threshold for bullying than most other forms of misbehaviour. When staff believe that bullying has occurred, the three-strike progressive discipline process may start at once. With specific clarity on bullying, the three-strike progressive discipline process is as follows:

Strike One
If a child has been identified as participating in bullying behaviour, he or she will be spoken to by a coach and will apologize for his/ her behaviour. The parents of both parties will be notified in writing by the Supervisor.

Strike Two
If the same child is found to be continuing the behaviour against the same or a different child, the parents will be contacted, and he or she will be sent home for the day and perhaps other days depending on the severity of the incident. The parents of the bullied child will be notified by phone and will be fully informed about the situation and what the consequences are for the offender. The incident will be documented and the Discipline Committee will be made aware of the incident.

Strike Three
If the same child is found to be bullying again, both sets of parents will be called and the child will be sent home. The situation will be brought before the Discipline Committee and the child may be removed from the program without refund. The child will remain at home until the Discipline Committee has had a chance to investigate properly and meet with all parties, including parents of both parties.

Approved and adopted July, 2023