A Note on Safety and Behavior Guidelines for Biocitizen LA Students

Dear Parents and Friends,
Your child’s ability to engage with our biotic environment in a fun, mindful and safe way is our utmost concern. Because our classroom is the outdoors, we are often in unpredictable environments (whether it’s the wilderness or a city street) where our students’ ability to listen and follow directions is critical.

Behavioral Expectations

In order to ensure the safe exploration for every student, please read and explain to your child the the behavioral expectations we have for students:

• Students must eat during our 10:30 snack and our 12:30 lunch (even if they don’t feel hungry at those times) – those are our only scheduled times to eat and it’s important to keep our students fueled up!
• Students must be willing to keep a hat on, re-apply sunscreen, and take lots of water breaks with the group. Especially in the heat of a Los Angeles summer, hydration and protection from sun exposure are necessities.
• Students must respond to directions quickly and readily. While we expect fatigue and emotions to come up, when it comes to moving from place to place, crossing streets, using public transportation, avoiding dangerous hiking spots or wildlife, and staying with the group, it is essential students promptly follow directions and respect boundaries set by the teachers.

Three Strike Policy

In order to ensure the safety of all our students, Biocitizen LA has a Three Strike Policy regarding behavioral issues. The First Strike is handled between a teacher and the student, and the parent will be informed upon pick up. The consequence for a Second Strike is a conversation between Jesse, Biocitizen Director, and the parent of the child. A Third Strike is grounds for a phone call home and immediate dismissal from that current program. We don’t anticipate sending anyone home and would do all we could to prevent it, but we also need to make sure that we are maintaining a safe and comfortable learning environment for students, staff, and the public we interact with.

Thank you so much for your understanding as we work to provide a fun, mindful and safe experience for your child (and all our students). If you have any questions about the above or concerns about your child’s ability to adhere to these guidelines, do not hesitate to contact Jesse at (310) 279-2934 or jesse@biocitizen.org.
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Sincerely,
Jesse Carmichael
Director, Biocitizen LA