Coding Club Guidelines & Policies

To ensure a fun and safe workshop experience for everyone, we have included the following community guidelines and policies.

Behaviour

If a participant struggles to adhere to our community guidelines, staff will employ a series of escalating responses designed to be consistent, preventative, fair, and restorative. These responses include:

  1. Coaching and Support: Staff will provide guidance through redirection, positive reinforcement, and reminders of community guidelines.

  2. Parent/Guardian Collaboration: Staff may consult with or seek suggestions from parents/guardians to address the participant’s behaviour effectively.

  3. Behaviour Reflection: The participant may be tasked with completing a Behaviour Reflection, prompting them to contemplate alternative responses for future situations. Staff will share this reflection with parents/guardians for insight.

  4. Behaviour Contract: A Behaviour Contract may be collaboratively devised between the participant and staff. This contract will outline practical and mutually agreed-upon consequences for rule-breaking behaviour. Staff will seek input from parents/guardians and share the contract for feedback.

  5. Escalated Intervention: If the participant is unable to rectify their behaviour and demonstrate fair, safe, and kind actions, the program coordinator/manager may recommend the participant’s removal from the workshop, including any future involvement. A meeting may be arranged between the program coordinator/manager and parents/guardian to discuss the ensuing steps.

Bullying

Bullying involves any form of unwanted physical, verbal, social, or psychological behaviour leading to humiliation or intimidation (“What is Bullying,” 2023). Cyberbullying, on the other hand, occurs electronically (“CyberBullying for Youth,” 2023). For a conduct to be considered as bullying, it must exhibit an imbalance of power and be repeated over time (“What is Bullying,” 2023). Common examples include:

  • Physical Bullying: Hitting, poking, pinching, destroying or stealing belongings, etc.

  • Verbal Bullying: Name calling, spreading rumours, making threats, etc.

  • Social Bullying: Exclusion, humiliation, scapegoating, etc.

  • Cyber Bullying: Using the internet, apps, or text messages to intimidate, insult, spread rumours, or humiliate someone, etc.

Bullying is unacceptable at FAS Outreach Programs. All participants, staff, and volunteers must treat one another with respect. When bullying is reported: 

  • The participant responsible for the unacceptable behaviour will be asked to offer a genuine apology.

  • Staff will monitor and document ongoing behaviour as well as provide feedback to the program coordinator/manager and parents/guardians.

  • Parents/guardians will be informed about bullying incidents involving their child as the target, witness, or bully. 

  • We value our partnership with parents/guardians and may seek their support or suggestions for addressing persistent unacceptable behaviour.

  • In severe cases, the program coordinator/manager may recommend removing the participant from the program, including future ones. A meeting may be organized between the program coordinator/manager and parents/guardians to determine subsequent steps.

References: 

Cyberbullying for Youth. (2023, May 19). Public Safety Canada. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/cyberbullying/cyberbullying-youth.html 

What is Bullying? (2023, August 1). Stop Bullying. Retrieved February 11, 2024, from https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/what-is-bullying 

Bringing Your Own Device

We will provide laptops (usually MacBook Air) and the necessary softwares for workshop activities or information on software requirements. If you opt to bring your own device, please make sure it can connect to the university’s WiFi and has the required softwares installed. Should you encounter difficulty with either, we may request you to use the device provided by us.

Cancellation

There are limited spots available in each coding club workshop (only 15-20 spots) because we want to ensure that every student receives the support necessary to maximize their experience. Additionally, these workshops are offered at no cost. If you sign up and are unable to make it, please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite or contact sacoord@sfu.ca at least two weeks before the workshop date so we can offer the spot to someone on the waitlist. 

Community Guidelines

To make sure everyone has a great time and stays safe during our programs, we have set up some important guidelines. These rules help us create a fun and friendly community where everyone feels included. Additionally, our instructors will go over these guidelines with everyone at the start of the workshop so that we can all agree on how to make our time together awesome!

  1. Practice Kindness: Treat everyone with respect, dignity, and care by using kind words and gestures.

  2. Follow Safety Rules: Follow safety instructions from program instructors, use equipment properly, and be aware of potential hazards.

  3. Participate Actively: Contribute positively to program activities and discussions and be open to trying new things.

  4. Communicate Effectively: Listen actively to others and express your ideas and feedback in a constructive manner.

  5. Take Responsibility: Be accountable for your actions and behaviour and their impact on others and the environment.

  6. Respect Property: Treat program facilities, equipment, and materials with care as well as clean up after yourself and respect the property of others.

  7. Be Inclusive: Foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. Bullying, discrimination, and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.

  8. Resolve Conflicts Peacefully: Address conflicts or disagreements respectfully and seek solutions collaboratively.

  9. Respect Privacy: Respect the privacy and personal space of others and refrain from sharing personal information without permission.

  10. Have Fun: Enjoy the experience and make the most of opportunities for learning and growth. Encourage positivity, laughter, and friendship among participants.

General Health & Safety

To ensure the health and safety of everyone involved, we have included the following guidelines for our workshops: 

  • Wash your hands regularly: Proper handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of germs. You can read about proper handwashing methods here.

  • Stay at home if you are sick: If you are sick, please stay home and inform us as soon as possible. The same Coding Club topic might be offered again at a later date, so you could always join the same workshop when it is offered again.

  • Face masks: Masks are a personal choice, and are no longer required in indoor public spaces. We encourage staff, volunteers, and participants to wear masks according to their individual comfort levels and risk factors.

Lost Items

We cannot assume responsibility for any lost items belonging to program participants. We kindly ask that non-program related belongings be left at home.

Nut Awareness

Our workshops are nut aware to ensure the safety of our participants. While we cannot guarantee a nut-free environment due to the possibility of nuts or traces of nuts being brought in by other participants or the public, we take several measures to ensure participants’ safety:

  • Parent and Guardian Responsibility: We ask parents/guardians to be mindful when preparing their child’s lunches and snacks, carefully checking labels to avoid sending products containing nuts or traces of nuts.

  • No Sharing Policy: We have a strict no-sharing policy, discouraging participants from sharing or trading snacks and lunches with other participants, volunteers, and staff. 

  • Staff Training: Our staff are trained in Standard First Aid and CPR-C and are equipped to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, and if necessary, administer epinephrine (using the EpiPen® auto-injector).

If you have any questions or concerns regarding food allergies or wish to discuss your child’s specific needs, please do not hesitate to contact sacoord@sfu.ca.

Registration Deadlines

The deadline to sign up for each workshop is at least a week before the workshop start date or until all spots are filled.

Scent-free Zone

Please help us maintain a healthy and fragrance-free environment for all. The chemicals found in scented products can trigger adverse reactions, particularly in individuals with fragrance sensitivities, asthma, allergies, and other medical conditions. We kindly ask that parents/guardians and participants to refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, aftershave, or other fragrances, and instead opt for unscented personal care products. Thank you for helping us ensure the well-being of everyone in our shared space!

Sign-out & ID Check

  • To ensure the safety of the participant, only authorized individuals registered by you are permitted to sign them out from the program. 

  • When picking up your child, please ensure that the authorized individual presents a valid photo ID to our staff. This step is essential to verify their identity and uphold a secure environment.

  • In the event an unauthorized individual attempts to pick up your child, we will contact the primary guardian for verification immediately. If we are unable to confirm approval, the unauthorized person will not be allowed to pick up the participant. 

Waitlist

If a workshop reaches its capacity, a waitlist will be opened. If a spot becomes available, all individuals on the waitlist will be contacted and registration will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Eva at sacoord@sfu.ca or call (778) 708-3767.