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Forest Hill Dance Anti-Bullying Policy covers all students in attendance.

Any form of bullying, whether verbal, physical, psychological, or cyber, and whether one time, occasional, or repeated, is completely unacceptable at Forest Hill Dance.

By Definition, Bullying is behavior by an individual or a group, repeated over time (or possibly one serious incident) that intentionally hurts another. Bullying can take many forms and is often motivated by prejudice, for example on grounds of ability, special need, race, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, or because a child is adopted or has caring responsibilities.

Bullying can be:

Emotional – being unfriendly, excluding someone, and tormenting (e.g., using threatening gestures, talking down to someone).
Physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
Racist – racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually explicit and/or abusive comments.
Homophobic – because of, or focusing on, the issue of sexuality.
Verbal – name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, teasing.
Disability – because of, or focusing on, a disability.
Cyber – using electronic means such as social websites, mobile phones, text messages, photographs, or e-mail to cause pain and distress to a victim.
Religious/Cultural – religious or cultural intolerance of any sort.
Bullying can seriously damage a young person’s confidence and sense of self-worth. It can lead to serious and prolonged emotional damage for an individual, and, at its most extreme, suicide. Those who conduct the bullying or witness the bullying can also experience emotional harm, and the impact on Parents, Dancers and instructors can be significant.

Forest Hill Dance accepts and acknowledges that bullying can be dancers bullying dancers, AND instructors and parents can be bullies, or the victims of bullying. All incidents of bullying are unacceptable, and all known incidents are addressed with equal importance.

All Dancers, Instructors and Parents of Forest Hill Dance Program have a responsibility to ensure that, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, bullying is prevented, and when it does occur, it is dealt with effectively and in accordance with this policy.

Goals:

To promote a consistent approach to managing behavior with the emphasis on preventing bullying throughout the Forest Hill Dance Program.
For instructors to take the lead in ensuring policies are implemented effectively in the studio.
To create an atmosphere of trust, friendship, and openness.
To promote strongly positive behavior of all types.
To ensure that concerns of all types are raised at an early stage and dealt with swiftly, fairly and with consistency.
To ensure both bullies and those being bullied are supported appropriately and systems put into place to monitor progress.


ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
All instructors, Dancers, Parents and Committee Members have a vital role in preventing bullying within Forest Hill Dance.

All instructors, pupils and parents understand what bullying is.
All instructors know what the policy is on bullying and follow it when bullying is reported.
All Dancers and Parents know what the policy is on bullying and what they should do if bullying arises.
Everyone always takes anti-bullying seriously, so that Dancers, Instructors and Parents are assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
Cyber Bullying

Forest Hill Dance considers online safety a part of both safeguarding and anti-bullying. This includes the use of cyber technology to bully, including social media, websites, mobile telephones, text messages, group chats, photographs and emails by any person associated with Forest Hill Dance (including Dancers, Instructors, Committee Members, Parents, and other family members of Dancers enrolled in the program).

Procedures

1: If bullying is reported to Instructors while Dancers are in the studio, the instructor will contact the Forest Hill Dance Chair regarding the bullying incident. If the Dancer is not comfortable approaching the instructor during studio time, the Parent or Dancer may send an email to fhrdance@gmail.com describing the episode as detailed as possible. The Forest Hill Dance Chair will then have a meeting with the Dancers who were involved and try to resolve the issues. (Parents are encouraged to attend this meeting). This verbal discussion is considered the first Official Warning in accordance with the Forest Hill Recreation Councils Bullying Policies.

2: If bullying continues, the instructors will again contact the Forest Hill Dance Chair to apprise them of the situation and the instructor will give a Verbal Warning during that time. This is considered the second Official Verbal Warning against bullying in accordance with the Forest Hill Recreation Councils Bullying Policies.

3. If the bullying continues and there is a 3rd episode, a written warning via email will go out to the Dancer and the Parent explaining the episode. Dancers in question will have an opportunity to tell their side of the incident. This is considered the Official Written Warning in accordance with the Forest Hill Recreation Councils Bullying Policies.

4. After the written warning, if bullying continues then the Dancer will be placed on a limited suspension from the Program. The length of time will depend upon the severity of the bullying. This is in accordance with the Forest Hill Recreation Councils Bullying Policy.

5. If the bullying and behavior continues to be an issue, then in accordance with the Forest Hill Recreation Councils Bullying Policy, there will be permanent expulsion from all Programs and Activities.



Parents will be involved early in the process, and their support requested and desired. All incidents of bullying will be reported to parents/guardians via email. Parents’ support will be asked for, to help to prevent further incidents of bullying or anti-social behavior. Regular communication will play a key part in resolving an incident. In low key issues that arise in studio and are resolved prior to end of class, parents may not be informed unless it becomes clear that the situation remains an issue.

Behavior in the Dance Studio by all Dancers is taken into serious consideration when being offered specialty classes and promotions. It is important that all Dancers understand that everyone advances at their own pace. We strive to keep Dancers progressing at a pace that is challenging but not too strenuous to avoid injury.



1. We do not tolerate Dancers who feel that they are better than their peers, brag about being better or tell other dancers that they are not good because they are not in the same class.

2. Dancer ARE NOT to give instructions or corrections unless directed by the instructor to do so. It is the job of the instructor to correct dancers when they are doing something incorrectly during class or with choreography.

3. Dancers ARE NOT to be disruptive during class

4. Dancers SHOULD NOT have attitude when corrections are given.

5. Dancers SHOULD BE respectful to Instructors and their fellow Dance Teammates.

We are trying to promote a Team atmosphere where everyone feels safe, respected, and accepted in our Dance Community. We should be giving fellow Dance Teammates encouragement and praise for the good things to lift them up and make them strive to give their all within their abilities and become stronger Dancers.

Forest Hill Dance is a part of the Forest Hill Recreation Council, a Harford County Parks & Recreation organization. I do hereby expressly agree to release Harford County, Maryland, a body corporate and politic of the State of Maryland, and its elected and appointed officials, agents, officers, and employees, from all liability arising from any harm or injury, and illness, including death, sustained by me/my child while participating in this program. In accordance to Maryland law, I understand that information on Youth Sports Concussion and Head Injuries is available at http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/index.html and information on Sudden Cardiac Arrest at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/healthtopics/topics/scda/.

By signing this form, you give the Forest Hill Recreation Council and Forest Hill Dance, permission to use your name and photograph in publications, news releases, communications projects or web site or social media stories.

I understand that Forest Hill Dance does not give credit and/or refunds for class(es) missed due to holiday, vacation, illness, weather, etc. I further understand that there are specific risks of physical or property damages, losses, or injury that may result from my or my child’s participation with Forest Hill Dance, and I voluntarily assume the risks associated with such participation.

If participating in our Performance Program, Costumes are ordered for dancers in classes performing in our spring recitals. I understand that once costumes are ordered, I am responsible for the cost of my child's costumes.

Hothead Rule: There is also a zero-tolerance policy in effect for dancers and parents who berate and disrespect Forest Hill Dance staff, volunteers and/or program participants. Hotheads will be asked to not enter the studios and not participate in any "parent" event. Anyone who receives this warning twice will be asked to remove themselves from the program.

In accordance with the above mentioned Maryland Law referenced above, signatures for both the participant and parent (if the participant is under 18) are required. Electronic Signature Agreement. By selecting the "I Accept" checkbox, I (the participant and parent if the participant is under 18) am signing this agreement electronically. I agree this electronic signature is the legal equivalent of my manual signature on this agreement.

I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.