Behavior Policy

Rivers Bend Academy realizes that each student has their own unique needs. We promote a positive climate that supports each student behaviorally as well as academically. We utilize ABA principles to increase appropriate behaviors and to decrease undesired behaviors. All behaviors that interfere with the child’s learning will be analyzed by a board certified behavior analyst through an FBA. Once the function is determined, a BIP will be developed and reviewed with the parent. All formal behavior plans will require informed consent from the parent/guardian. For publicly placed students, the LEA will be involved in the development and monitoring of the behavior plan. All staff will be trained in CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention). Each staff member with children who have behavior plans will be trained in the techniques and strategies set forth in the plan. These plans will be monitored and reviewed weekly by the teacher, BCBA and Director or Assistant Director. All procedures used in behavior plans are based on the behavioral principles and are empirically based. Reinforcement and extinction procedures will be used to increase appropriate behaviors and decrease problem behaviors. Negative consequences including response cost, time out and overcorrection will be used only after data indicates continued evidence of problem behavior. Physical restraint will only be used when aggressive or self injurious behaviors may result in injury to the child or others. Physical restraint will not be used as punishment or as part of an ongoing behavior plan. It may be used as an emergency procedure to ensure immediate safety. If physical restraint is determined to be necessary, CPI techniques will be employed. There will be a minimum of 3 staff involved: 2 to perform the approved restraint and 1 to observe. A debriefing meeting will occur at the end of the day to determine a plan for the following days and to initiate an FBA. If physical restraint is deemed necessary for safety, the assumption will be that the behavior is severe enough to warrant a behavior plan. The debriefing meeting will consist of the involved staff, the Director and/or Assistant Director. Parents/guardians will be contacted by phone regarding the behavioral incident as well as to ensure involvement in the behavior planning. The LEA will be contacted to be included in the behavior plan meeting for publicly placed students. The incident will be documented on a critical incident report.

Termination Policy

The Academy may terminate enrollment with two weeks’ notice on the following grounds:

Failure to provide the necessary documentation, falsification of paperwork, incomplete paperwork or filuure to provide documentation of immunizations
Failure to pay fees in a timely manner
Repeated child pick-up later than the scheduled time
Extended absences (more than 10 days) without notification
Difference in expectations. If Rivers Bend Academy’s philosophy is different from a parent’s and the compromise is impossible, Rivers Bend will suggest a program more in line with the parent’s philosophy and needs.
Disrespect for the School’s staff, including, but not limited to, harassment
Disregard for recommendations of staff to keep ill children at home for recuperation on a consistent basis
Continual inability to be reached in an emergency
Failure to comply with any policy described in this manual
If the Director deems it necessary for the safety and well being of the student, peers, and/or staff, a student’s enrollment may be terminated immediately.

Minimum Cancellation and Settlement Policy

Rivers Bend Academy makes important decisions relating to staffing, physical plant, materials and service in reliance on contracts to enroll and the eventual enrollment of students and prospective students. In the event a student withdraws from enrollment, the parents agree to continue to remit the full year’s tuition of $38,400 if the notice to withdraw is received.

Emergency Policies

In the event of an injury or medical emergency, Rivers Bend Academy will attempt to contact either the parent or an authorized individual. Upon enrollment in Rivers Bend Academy, parents/guardians must complete an Emergency Card, providing the school with location information, contact phone numbers, and an authorization for the school to seek emergency medical treatment in the absence of the parent. These cards are kept in the office and are accessible to the staff only.

Arrival & Dismissal Procedures - Drop Off and Pick Up Policy

It is our goal to ensure the safety of your child at all times. Students will be dropped off to a Rivers Bend Academy staff member at the front of the building. At the end of the day staff will walk your child out to you. When children are entering and leaving the building, they must be under the direct care of the adult responsible for their care. Walking children must be held by the hand at all times.

If parents are divorced and one has custody, or when anyone other than a parent/guardian will be picking up or dropping off a child, the main office needs to be notified in writing. Children are released only to their parent/guardian or to individuals approved in writing by their parents. Adults must present a picture identification card when picking up a child. Rivers Bend Academy has specific instructions for the director and staff in the event an unauthorized person attempts to pick up a child. The child will not be released until a parent/guardian or authorized person is contacted.

Rivers Bend Academy agrees to notify the parent/guardian whenever a child becomes ill and the parent/guardian will arrange to have the child picked up as soon as possible if so requested by the school.

The School opens at 8:30 am and closes at 2:45 pm. There is a $1/minute late fee for all pick-ups after 2:45 pm. Any children not picked up by their parent/guardian will be released to their emergency contact. If the school cannot reach the emergency contact within a reasonable amount of time, the police and/or the Department of Social Services will be contacted.

We welcome visitors to our facility and ask that an appointment be made so a staff member is available to answer any questions you may have regarding your child’s program. When visiting, we will direct you to the class after the teacher has been notified of your arrival.

Supervising Late Arrivals and Absences

If students arrive late, parents can ring the bell at the front of the building to notify staff of their arrival. A staff member will come out and escort the child to their classroom. Parents will need to sign their child into school using the Tardy Log Notebook.

If a student is to be absent, parents are urged to inform the school in advance. The teacher will keep track of student absences in the roll book. Also, teachers will turn in their absences each day and parents will be called to confirm their child’ absence.

Attendence/Absentee/ Tardiness/Early Dismissal Policy

Students must attend school regularly. Consistent and prompt attendance is necessary to maintain satisfactory progress. Excessive absences and tardiness from school are detrimental to the educational process. With our specialized instruction, regular attendance is crucial. Parents should plan vacations and trips which do not conflict with the school’s instructional calendar. When students arrive late or must leave early they miss valuable information and are at a disadvantage. Students are considered tardy after 8:30 am.

Late arrivals and early dismissals can be very disruptive to other students and the teacher. When possible, please try to schedule appointments so they not conflict with school hours. Sickness, severe illness, death in the family, exposure to a contagious disease, religious holidays, or extremely inclement weather are considered legitimate excuses for absences or tardiness. Students should miss no more than 24 days of school during the school year.

Make-up Work Policy

All student work can be made up upon return to school. In the event a student is ill, teachers can prepare work to be sent home with 3 hours notice. Parents are expected to pick up work by 2:45.

Policy on Volunteers

At the present time, Rivers Bend Academy does not have volunteers, interns or student helpers due to the level of specialization of the instruction as well as the need to maintain confidentiality of our program and its students. We welcome observations by appointment.

Physical Examinattion by Physicial/Immunization Record

Rivers Bend Academy requires documentation of adequate immunization and a physical examination is required every three years. Immunizations are required to be kept up to date in accordance with the Virginia Department of Health. If your student is not properly immunized due to religious exemption, medical condition, etc., a written statement is required to be on file as to the reason. Such records will be maintained in each student’s confidential folder.

Food Policies

Parents are to provide snacks and lunches for their child. Rivers Bend Academy will not provide food to children without written permission from the parent, and the food available will be limited to snack items.

Medication, Sunscreen, Diaper Ointment, Insect Repellent

Rivers Bend Academy must have a note from the parent/guardian in order to apply sunscreen, diaper ointment/cream, or insect repellent. Medicine prescribed by a doctor needs to be in the original container with an unaltered label on it stating the child’s name, medication name, date and dosage. A form signed by the doctor who prescribed the medication is required for each prescribed medication taken during the school day. Medication must be transported by parent or designee with written consent. If student no longer is required to take prescribed medication, it must be picked up within 48 hours or it will be disposed of. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are administered only with a physician’s prescription clearly defining current date, child’s name and dosage as per licensing requirements. Medication is only administered by staff trained in the administration of medications. Medications to be administered at Rivers Bend Academy are stored in locked boxes.

Records Management Policy

Student records will be kept in a locked file in the Director’s office and/or records room and will be the responsibility of the Administrative Assistant and/or Activities Coordinator. Only the Director, Assistant Director, Operations Coordinator, Administrative Assistant and the Activities Coordinator will have access to these files. Staff requesting to look at a student file will fill out a request form and submit it. Staff will then sign the student record out and sign back in when finished. All others must have a release of information form signed by a parent or guardian. Exceptions to this are social service representatives or those mandated by state or federal law. Anyone requesting copies of student files must have a signed release of information form with permission from parent or guardian. These records will be released only by the Director, Assistant Director, Operations Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, or Activities Coordinator.

Electronic records are kept by the Administrative Assistant and can only be accessed with a password and all documents will be created as “read only”. Director can also access with the password. Electronic records are backed up routinely. Transportation of records between sites is in a portable file cabinet with a lock. Building is maintained with a security system and activated every day.

For publicly placed students, all records will be maintained by the LEA. Any updates, evaluations, report cards, etc. will be provided by the LEA.

Should services cease to operate, all records will be given to parents, or in the case of transfer to another school, Rivers Bend Academy shall have written agreement with the receiving school.

Three years after exiting the program, student paper files will be shredded. During these three years, paper files will be stored in locked filing cabinets in Administrative Assistant and/or Director’s office or record room. These will only be accessed by Director, Assistant Director, Operations Coordinator, Administrative Assistant and Activities Coordinator. Electronic files will be kept indefinitely under a file named “withdrawn students”.