Plan to Protect Policy Declaration

Arise School of Dance is committed to creating a place for our students to receive excellent dance instruction in a safe environment. In order to do so, we have put in place a Plan to Protect policy to protect our students. All the policies outlined must be read and adhered to. 

Teachers and Admin Staff shall maintain a professional relationship with students, while in the role of director, teacher or administrator.

Physical Contact Guidelines:

Physical Touch for Corrections

Hands-on corrections are a central part of dance training. Teachers may use physical contact to correct muscle placement and demonstrate correct alignment, as well as for spotting and safety purposes. Touch is a powerful tool that can aid in body awareness; however, it can also be harmful to the well-being of the students, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Asking for consent prior to touching a new student, is a good way to show respect, and be clear that each student has determination over their own body in the studio. *In the case of an immediate safety issue, consent may not be asked prior to the teacher touching the student.*

Defining Consent

Consent must be genuine and freely given, without pressure, shame or coercion, otherwise, it is not consent.
All students have a right to decline to be touched without having to justify a reason, without fear of reprimand or repercussions, and without being shamed. Students may withdraw previous consent at any time.

What is Problematic Touch?

All touch must be rooted in the awareness that students’ bodies belong to them. There is never a reason to use violent, aggressive or humiliating touch on a student in order for them to understand a correction. It should only be used to highlight a particular area of the body in order to awaken the student’s awareness of the muscles in that area. 

 Here are some points to consider:

  • How am I touching students: light and short, or forceful and extended?

  • Am I upset with the student when I am touching them?

  • Where am I touching students? Am I on or close to breasts, groin area or buttocks?

  • Can I achieve this correction without touching?

  • Did I ask for consent prior to touching?

Displays of Affection

Some physical displays of affection are acceptable in situations where they are appropriate, such as after recital, after a Ballet exam, or if a child needs prayer, but these same displays of affection would not be appropriate during a regular class. All touch must be done in view of others. We encourage the following guidelines for displays of affection:

Preschool: 

• Hold a preschool child who is crying (unless they resist.) 

• Hold a preschool child’s hands when walking to the bathroom (unless they resist.)

• A child of this age is permitted to sit on your lap.

Ages 4 and up:

• Put your arm around the shoulder of a child when comforting or quieting is needed. 

• Pat the child on the hand, shoulder, or back to affirm them. 

• Give students a high-five or fist bump to affirm them. 

If a child asks for a hug, it should be brief, and in view of others. Side hugs are always safer options, as are fist bumps and high fives.

Inappropriate Affection/Touching:

• Do not kiss a child/student or coax a child/student to kiss you (this includes preschoolers). 

• Do not engage in extended hugging and tickling. 

• Do not hold a child’s/student’s face when talking to or disciplining them. 

• Do not carry older children/students and do not allow them to sit on your lap. 

• Do not give back rubs

• Avoid prolonged physical contact with any child/student.

Discipline Strategies

If a child is being disruptive, they will be asked to sit out for a reasonable period of the class. The parent will be notified after class of the situation. If the child refuses to sit down or continues to be disruptive, they will be removed from the class and the parent will be called to pick them up.

Other

All Teachers and assistants over the age of 18 shall have an up-to-date Vulnerable Persons Check.

In case of suspected abuse, a report of Suspected Child Abuse shall be completed, and Child, Youth and Family Services shall be contacted. 

Since Arise does not always have two teachers per classroom, we maintain an “Open Door” policy which is adhered to by having large glass windows in each door as the doors are kept closed for sound reasons.

Bathroom guidelines: 

  1. Parents/guardians are encouraged to take their young child(ren) to the bathroom prior to class. 

  2. Preschool children are not to go to the washroom alone.

  3. Preschool children shall be escorted to the bathroom with an assistant and the assistant will stand outside the bathroom door.

  4. If the child needs help, the bathroom door must be propped open while the assistant helps the child and desk staff will stand where they can see the assistant. 

  5. Assistants shall take into consideration the privacy of the child (do not leave the door wide open for others to easily look in.)

All directors, teachers and staff shall read and adhere to the following documents:

  1. Child Abuse Policy

  2. Vulnerable Sector Check

  3. Missing Child Protocol

  4. Incident Report Writing

  5. Illnesses and Incidents

  6. Fire and Emergency Plan

  7. Emergency Situation Lockdown Procedures

All directors, teachers and staff shall familiarize themselves with following documents:

  1. Suspected Child Abuse Report

  2. Missing Child Report

  3. Medical Consent Report

  4. Arise Floor Plan with emergency exits

Teachers shall take regular student attendance for every class, and admin staff will send follow-up emails to absent students, unless Arise was previously informed of the absence.

All directors, teachers and staff shall return the signed & dated Agreement to Adhere to Plan to Protect.

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