In an effort to have uniform standards throughout Cottage Cove, knowing that children will exploit any inconsistency, this on-line trainer will enable all staff and volunteers to learn what is standard practice throughout our programs. While a lot of this is common sense, or what we would hope would be common sense, please humor us and read it all. If you are a homework-only volunteer, please read at least all sections marked with an asterisk (*) in the index.

Read our quick summary of six principles for everyone working daily with the children at Cottage Cove... Awesome Volunteers!

Index of Rules and procedures for staff and volunteers. *6 Primary Rules for Cottage Cove children *3 Primary Consequences for children breaking rules and disobedience *Two Primary Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers *Volunteers and Staff on Arrival *Attire of Volunteers and Staff *General Rules At Fall Hamilton School (picking up children) Walking to Cottage Cove (escorted by Cove staff & volunteers) Van Transportation (by Cottage Cove) Arrival when Walking Snack Time Coming in from Snack (to start formal program) Fire Alarm Circle Time (Announcements, Prayer, Lost and Found) *Homework Classes Free Time/Lost Free Time Centers/Activities Playground Foose Ball/Air Hockey/Ping Pong General Big Room Computers Library Bible Memorization Clean-Up and Close-Up Time Two-way Radios Additional Policy Statements and Staff Materials Sexual Harassment Policy Reportable Abuse Policy Time off Policy Non Discrimination Policy Software Policy Document Retention and Destruction Policy Summary of Policies for Missionaries Maintaining a professional environment in a ministry setting Staff Self Evaluation Form Fire Alarm Procedures Summary Statement of Faith

Rules and procedures for staff and volunteers. 6 Primary Rules for Cottage Cove Children Respect - Children must look adults in the eye and answer when someone speaks to them. They must respond with "Ma'am" and Sir" (i.e. "Yes Sir" or "No Ma'am"). All adults are to be referred to as Mr. or Ms. (ie. Mr. Brent, Ms. Angie). Apologize - If anyone does something wrong, even if it was an accident, they are to say "I'm sorry. Will you please forgive me?" Walk - Children are to walk in the building and outside unless they have permission from an adult (in an organized activity for example). Sit Beside - Children are to sit beside their friends, staff or volunteers. A child is to NEVER: sit on someone's lap, ride piggy back, or ask someone to carry them. Be Gentle - Children (and staff and volunteers in the sight of children) are to NEVER wrestle, rough house, or fight (whether fake or real). Additionally they are to never encourage anyone else to fight. Use Positive Words - Children (and staff and volunteers) are NEVER to say "Shut Up!" or call people names. They are not to curse. This means using God's name only when talking to Him or about Him. Hell is only used when talking about the place. 3 Primary Consequences for breaking rules or for disobedience to the instructions of an adult. Loss of Free-time - Instead of being able to select a fun-activity, having finished their homework, the child must sit and get bored for a time. Any volunteer or staff may take away free-time. Loss of Store - The child loses their points or tokens for the week and the ability to redeem any banked ones until the next week. Volunteers wanting to take away store should consult with senior staff. Loss of a day at Cottage Cove - The children must understand that attendance at Cottage Cove, while free, is a privilege that is earned through their behavior. Serious or repeated offenses may result in the loss of a day. Hitting another child or adult, lying to an adult, or defiant rebellion automatically result in this penalty. Volunteers with a situation requiring a loss of a day should consult with senior staff. Two Primary Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers We are here for the children. Please refrain from socialization until after the program and cleanup is done. Never be alone with a child, in or out of the building, unless (rare circumstance) in a room with a video camera and positioned so that the camera can see you both. This is for your protection as well as for the children. Volunteers and Staff on Arrival Check posted list of duties on the store refrigerator. You are responsible to know when and where you are supposed to be. Please be at your designated location at the posted time. If your name doesn't appear for a given time slot (or at all), or you have any other questions, please see the primary scheduler (usually Ms. Angie) posted on the schedule. Please do this before the children arrive, if at all possible. Attire of Volunteers and Staff No sleeveless shirts No exposed midriffs No open toed or open heeled shoes (i.e. slip ons) No excessive jewelry (dangly earrings are a risk to you.) No large stones or any diamonds rings (they are a risk to children.) Cell phones are to be stored in upstairs office unless preauthorized by senior staff. Cells phones are an incredible distraction to children. No short shorts (finger tip length) Purses and valuables are to be stored in the upstairs office. If you leave them anywhere downstairs they may go missing. We are not responsible for the loss of things you bring with you, so choose wisely what you bring. Modesty is the key to all attire. No shirts with messages advertising products and organizations that are not appropriate for children (i.e. budweiser, cigarettes, etc.) While the message may be valid, no shirts with "turn or burn" or harsh anti-abortion messages. This is because you will not have an opportunity to explain the message to all of the children or the adults picking them up. General Rules Absolutely no children in the upstairs office area unless preauthorized by senior staff. Do not send a child to go find, or take something to, an adult in the office area. Please read signs and posted notes in rooms where you will be working, plus as posted on all materials provided for activities. Children can't chew gum at Cottage Cove. Staff and volunteers are asked to be an example. Do not yell at children. Do not react in anger. Raise your voice only when absolutely necessary to get the immediate attention of children. Vocally giving a bonus token (so that the others can hear), and/or taking away a free time in the same manner, usually will get the desired affect. Bonus tokens exist only on paper, so make sure they get recorded by the primary scheduler (or primary homework leader). They are the positive, or reward, side of our discipline structure. Bonus tokens benefit the children in our reward store and may be given out for exemplary behavior or doing something extra without being asked (i.e. stopping to pickup some trash and putting it in a garbage can, or helping a younger child do something). If a child asks for a bonus token, they should not get it. Children need to learn to do what is good and right because it is good and right, not just for reward. At Fall Hamilton School (picking up children) No eating in gym (this is also a school rule). Children must check-in with designated person and say if they have homework. After check-in, children must be seated at their number. The older child sits in front, the younger behind them. There are two children per number. If a child needs to go to the restroom they must ask immediately, not after sitting and socializing. Children must ask a designated person (usually the sign-in person) to go to the restroom. School rules require an adult to accompany them to the restroom. You must wait for them to finish and escort them back to the gym. You are responsible for them until they return to the gym. NO drinks of water unless an emergency (and then they must be accompanied by an adult), they can get a drink at Cottage Cove. Children cannot return to their classrooms once in the gym. Children can talk quietly until the second bell (2:55 PM) when they must be quiet. Children must raise a hand to ask a question and not just get up and come to you. If they come to you, send them back and make them raise their hand. Cottage Cove rules apply to our children in the school gym. You are responsible for enforcing our rules at the school. Penalties can include loss of free time, store, or loss of a day. On the positive side, bonus tokens may be awarded for good behavior. Walking to Cottage Cove (escorted by Cove staff & volunteers) Children must walk two by two (never four wide) with their assigned partner Children are not to pick up things while walking Children should not be throwing things Animals (especially dogs) should be left alone by children Children cannot trade walking partners You are responsible for the kids around you in line (behind and ahead). You can take away free-time as needed! If a child stops to tie a shoelace, their partner stays with them. They rejoin the line where they are at or at the end of the line. Children are to walk on the sidewalk not grassy areas. Songs sung on the way to Cottage Cove are only ones learned at Cottage Cove. The prevents problems with inappropriate songs. All Cottage Cove rules apply when walking (language, hitting, etc.) Van Transportation (by Cottage Cove) Children under the age of 9 must be in booster seats unless specifically exempted by senior staff due to height or weight. No child under the age of twelve is to be seated in the front passenger seat. Children in booster sears must be buckled properly by adult. Other children may buckle themselves but should be checked that all are buckled. The volunteer or staff helping to load and unload children must help them up and down from the van door. Even if the child says "I don't need help", be ready to spot them. You are responsible to keep them from falling. The volunteer or staff helping in the van (not the driver) is responsible to keep relative calm and quiet (and enforce Cottage Cove rules). Arrival when Walking Only those with the jobs of "snack" or "fish" and their partners may walk across the front lawn. All others must line up on the covered walk way until instructed to go in Snack Time If a child takes the snack, they are to eat it. No running during snack time. No eating on concrete (eat over the grassy areas) Children are not to be on the driveways or down hill to the roadway. Children are never to be banging on windows. Garbage must be put in garbage cans (wrappers, bottles, etc. are their ticket to get in). Cottage Cove rules apply (language, hitting, etc.) Require "Please" and "Thank You" Coming in from Snack (to start formal program) If you are looking after the door, do not allow all the children in at once, wait until the area inside the door clears some. Children must chose priority. If they need to go to restroom they should go right away, not go for a drink, etc. No pushing, bullying in line, for water or restroom. You can make the child go last, or miss out all together. If lights have been blinked out, it is now quiet in the big room AND in all lines for restrooms and water. When lights are blinked out, it is quiet AND no moving around on the circle. Children are to be sitting on the circle or center line. Only children who have finished their jobs late (i.e. "fish") or arrive late (i.e. older children) may eat their snack in the closet hallway. If prayer and announcements are going on, they must be quiet and stand in the store so they can listen. Fire Alarm If an alarm sounds, ALWAYS treat it as real. Know the posted exit for the room you are in (see posted signs in each room). In an orderly fashion, exit out the posted exit (do not allow children to run from the room). If fire or smoke blocks an exit, find an alternate exit or window. Check that all children are gone from your area and any adjacent hallways or restrooms Fire drills will only be done in good weather. Don't worry about jackets and shoes (in a real emergency there would be no way, or time, to go get them.) Move children to the walkway down the middle of the front lawn, away from building. Maintain absolute quiet so that roll-call may proceed Kids on the playground are to stay on the playground, away from the building.

Circle Time (Announcements, Prayer, Lost and Found) Children must sit on the circle or center line. Do not let them pick at, or pull on, the tape. During quiet time (after lights have blinked been out) even children talking to you (unless a real emergency) are to lose their free time. You are to take it away! During prayer, all children's bottoms are to be seated on the floor and eyes are to be closed. No lying down. Children are always to be facing the person talking to them, this shows respect and that they are paying attention. There should be nothing in the children's hands to play with during circle time. If you see they have something, ask them to put it away before circle time starts. Homework No running, or talking, allowed when their name is called or they are going to pickup their back backpacks. If they run, make them go back and walk. Children must be signed in when going into the homework room. No children are allowed to use the photocopier. Photocopying is done by staff or volunteers. The fish may be watched by kids, quietly, ONLY after their homework is done and checked. Children are not to be getting their own supplies. i.e. paper, crayons, etc. Staff and volunteers in the homework room are to get, or set out in advance, what is needed. Talking in the homework room is only to an adult, never to another child. Children must raise their hand if they need help or anything. Children do not get to sharpen their own pencils. Give them another to use or sharpen one for them. Only staff and volunteers are to use our electric sharpeners. Homework not done right is not done! Make the child fix it, or do it over as necessary. Your goal is not to empty the room as fast as possible, rather it is to see the work get done right. It does not benefit a child to do something wrong. If you don't understand how to do it (and there are some assignments that will baffle anyone!) ask the lead-person in the homework room. Homework Stars: No stars are given for work that is not finished, of if the child cheated or copied, or if the child didn't bring their books or assignment (requiring us to make a copy). One star is given for fast and/or easy assignments, done right. Two stars are given for a normal (average) assignment, done right. Three stars are given for a hard or extremely time consuming assignment, done right. Children have no right to tell you how many stars an assignment is worth. If you are not sure, ask the homework room leader. You are to mark the number of stars given on the child's work sheet, along with your initials, so that the person signing the children out can readily see them. A child caught changing the number of stars given is (at the minimum) to loose all stars for work done that day. Classes If you are not the teacher/leader of the class, please be the one enforcing rules and keeping control of the class. Use bonus tokens and/or taking away free times. You are responsible for not letting your class get out of hand. Consistency is a key to maintaining order. Children sense weakness and prey on it. If you are having problems maintaining control/discipline please let senior staff (especially Mr. Brent) know. If you get it out for your class, please put it away! If you make a mess, please clean it up. Free Time/Lost Free Time Kids need to check in with the person in charge of lost free time. Please remind them when they are being sent from homework to free time. If you see kids looking bored/sad in lost free time, this is NOT a time to go and comfort/entertain/talk to them. It is supposed to be boring! There is no talking/getting up/moving chairs or moving position to another chair while a child is in lost free time. Any child in lost free time must raise their hand if they have a question. They need to keep this only for something very important as they can only ask one question. Centers/Activities An activity is open until you are instructed by senior staff to close it, or at the posted end time on the schedule (not when you feel like it). If you are assigned to a certain activity/center you cannot chose to change to another unless instructed by senior staff. Volunteers: If you don't like what you are assigned to, please talk to senior staff before hand, or following program. We will try and give you things you like to do! Staff: If you don't like what you are assigned to do... get over it! Find out what you are supposed to be doing at your center or activity before you start. This includes rules, then enforce those rules. Playground You are not there to entertain the children, your primary function is to watch them and keep them safe. Children should not be climbing fences or hanging from rails. Children must ask permission to come inside for restroom or water (unless water is set up outside, as it is during hot weather). No more than two children inside at a time. Have them check back with you when they return. You are responsible to know where your children are. No Gatorskin balls outside (they are marked so they are easy to recognize). Children do not get to pick what equipment goes out on playground, the staff or volunteers staffing the playground get to choose. If you take it out, bring it back in or tell someone in senior staff if it is lost (or on the building roof). Foose Ball/Air Hockey/Ping Pong No spinning the players in foose ball. The goal will not count (if any) and repeat offenders will loose privileges to play. Official rules do not allow spinning, plus it increases the risk of breaking a player. No pulling down or pushing down on the rods in foose ball. The rods will bend and cannot be easily straightened. No climbing or sitting on the air hockey table. The table is not a place to store items even temporarily. Keep air hockey paddles felt-side down on the table. The plastic side scratches the table. Cover and turn off the air hockey table when done. No climbing or laying on the ping pong table. If the ping pong ball is broken, the game is over for the day. General Big Room The stage area is off limits to children unless they have been specifically instructed by a volunteer of staff member to be on the stage. All electronic and sound equipment is off limits to children, only excluding the small PA system which the assigned microphone child for prayer time will be able to turn on and off. Make sure the microphone is put away after being used. Protect equipment on the stage during any games, etc., in big room. Some equipment is fragile and will break if impacted by a heavy ball. Computers The rules are posted on the desktop of each computer. Please enforce them! As the volunteer of staff person in charge, you pick what the kids will be doing on the computers -- they don't. Absolutely no unattended surfing of the web. Children should never be using our computers for eMail. Library Return books to their appropriate color-coded sections Bible Memorization Read, and follow, and enforce, ALL directions on the memory verse book. Children are not to be using the book. Allowing a child to get credit for learning a verse that they cannot do perfectly is not helping them. In fact, it leads to frustration when they are required to relearn it. Put away everything when done -- especially the verse cue cards. Children must complete verse sheets in order (i.e. sheet 1 then sheet 2.) Clean-Up and Close-Up Time If you get it out, please put it away. If you unlock it, please lock it when done. If you borrowed keys, please return them to the person who gave them to you. Never leave keys laying around downstairs. Check all exterior doors to make sure they are locked. Windows are not normally open. If they are open, please make sure they are closed and latched. Window with blinds (excluding the kitchen) should have the blinds closed. Make sure that the wooden covers are in place in the big room windows. Better to be cleaned well the first time than needing to do it again. Sweeping means to sweep all flat, non carpeted surfaces, including bathrooms. Vacuuming means all carpet surfaces including the stage area. If you are not sure what to do, ASK! Clean around toilets, not just in the toilet. If you see a toilet that is not working properly please inform senior staff (especially Mr. Brent). The backpack vacuum must be emptied before or after vacuuming. Do not throw away the bag, we reuse them until they tear. The same goes for other vacuums, most of which have a reusable filter. Turn off all lights when done with each room. If you empty trash, don't forget the upstairs office area. Please make sure that bags are put back in each garbage can (except the wire mesh can in Mr. Brent's office). Let the primary scheduler know when you are done or needing to leave. When restocking: refill all soap dispensers and all paper towel dispensers and all toilet paper dispensers. Only one extra toilet paper roll per restroom. Please don't forget the staff bathroom. Please put away ALL cleaning and aerosol products -- this is for the safety of the children! Two-way Radios If you are using one inside, please do not leave it laying around. Return it to the primary scheduler or to the upstairs office at the end of the day. If you have a radio (or have been told you need a radio), it is very important to be listening to it. This is how we call for children as needed. Do not leave a radio outside! Rain destroys them - we know this from experience.