Arkadaş Çocuk Kulübü – Code of Conduct

Effective Date: June 1, 2026

Our Mission is to create a respectful, safe, and supportive learning environment where our children can discover the academic, cognitive, and cultural strengths of being bilingual and bicultural—fostering pride in their roots while developing a strong sense of belonging to the community they live in. Maintaining this environment is the shared responsibility of students, parents, and teachers. Every member of this community (teachers, staff, volunteers, students, and parents) is strictly required to comply with the following standards.

1. Child Safety and Abuse Prevention Standards for Teachers and Staff

Arkadaş Çocuk Kulübü places the physical and emotional safety of children above all else. This section outlines strict, zero-tolerance policies designed to mitigate and prevent any risks related to Sexual Molestation and Child Abuse:

The Two-Adult Rule: No teacher, staff member, or volunteer may be left alone with a child in an enclosed space (classroom, restroom, office). There must always be at least two adults present, or the space must be completely visible from the outside (e.g., classrooms with open doors or windows).

Physical Contact Boundaries: Physical contact is permitted only when it is vital for the child’s safety, comfort, or within age-appropriate cultural/pedagogical boundaries (e.g., a high-five, a gentle pat on the shoulder) and must always occur in plain sight of others. Any inappropriate, secretive, or hidden physical contact is strictly prohibited.

One-on-One Communication & Digital Boundaries: Teachers and staff may not communicate directly or privately with students via social media, personal phone numbers, or personal emails. All communication must go through the parents via official organization channels. Photos or videos of children must never be taken or shared using personal devices without explicit parental consent.

Positive Discipline: Yelling at, humiliating, physically punishing, or emotionally isolating children is strictly forbidden. Classroom management and discipline must be maintained through positive reinforcement, creative drama, and age-appropriate pedagogical methods.

Restroom and Locker Room Policy: Adults must respect children's privacy during restroom breaks. If assistance is required, the door must be kept unlatched/open, and whenever possible, multiple adults should be aware of the assistance being provided. Adults and children are strictly prohibited from occupying the same restroom stall simultaneously.

Reporting Suspicious Behavior: Any circumstance or behavior that raises even the slightest suspicion of child abuse or neglect must be reported immediately and without delay to the Club Management. Management is legally obligated to report such matters to the official authorities in compliance with local regulations.

2. Rules of Conduct for Teachers, Staff, and Volunteers

Pedagogical Approach: Under no circumstances will shouting, degradation, physical punishment, emotional manipulation, or exclusion be tolerated. Discipline is established through patience, guidance, and positive redirection.

Equity and Inclusivity: Every child will be treated with equal care, affection, and fairness, without regard to their ethnic background, language proficiency, religion, gender, or learning pace.

Professional Boundaries: Relations with parents must remain strictly professional. Detailed updates regarding a child's personal and academic development must be shared exclusively with their own parents/guardians, adhering to strict confidentiality guidelines.

3. Student Code of Conduct

Mutual Respect: Everyone treats each other with kindness at Arkadaş Çocuk Kulübü. No matter the Turkish language proficiency level (whether a student is a zero-beginner or speaks fluently), no one is allowed to mock or tease a peer's language skills or mistakes. Bullying and exclusionary behaviors are strictly forbidden.

Active Participation and Listening: We listen attentively when the teacher is speaking or when a classmate takes the floor. We maintain a constructive, cooperative, and enthusiastic attitude during classroom activities, creative drama, pantomime, and games.

Care for Property and Facilities: The building and classrooms where our program takes place are entrusted to us. We will not damage classroom materials, toys, books, or common areas; we promise to keep them clean and organized.

4. Parent Code of Conduct and Responsibilities

Respect for the Educational Process: Pedagogical authority and classroom flow belong entirely to the teachers. Parents must not interfere during lessons unless an emergency arises. Feedback should be communicated to management after classes conclude.

Community Culture: Parents are expected to use respectful, supportive, and kind language toward other children, parents, and staff. Any potential disagreements must be handled privately with the organization's management, away from the children.

Communication Standards: A polite, constructive, and civil tone must be maintained at all times when interacting with administration, instructors, other parents, and children. Confrontations or arguments in front of the children are strictly unacceptable.

Non-Intervention in Pedagogical Decisions: Parents may not directly intervene in the educational curriculum or the teacher's pedagogical choices within the classroom setting. Suggestions and feedback should be addressed privately by scheduling a meeting with the teacher or management.

Conflict Resolution: In the event of disagreements between children, parents are strictly prohibited from directly intervening, correcting, or disciplining another person’s child. The situation must be reported immediately to the teachers or administration.

Volunteerism and Cooperation: Because Arkadaş is a non-profit community organization, parental involvement in events and active support of Turkish language use at home are critical pillars of the program’s success.

5. Attendance, Punctuality, and Health Policy

Punctuality: To prevent disrupting the lesson flow and to facilitate children’s transition into activities, families should arrive at the facility 5–10 minutes prior to the start of class.

Attendance Limits: Regular participation is essential for curriculum continuity and effective language acquisition. Missing more than 3 sessions within a single term without a valid, excused reason will prompt a review of the student's enrollment status by management.

Health and Illness: Children exhibiting symptoms of contagious illnesses (fever, persistent cough, unexplained rashes, etc.) must stay home to rest. This is vital for their own recovery and for protecting the health of other children and staff.

6. Use of Building, Facilities, and Common Areas

Respect for Property: Drawing on walls, damaging furniture, running inside the hallways, or entering unauthorized zones of the building is strictly prohibited.

Financial Liability: Parents will be held directly financially responsible for any property damage caused willfully or through gross negligence by their child.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Security: Children must be escorted into the building by their parents and picked up promptly at the end of class by their parents (or an authorized individual designated via prior written consent). Children are not allowed to wander unsupervised through the facility at any time.

7. Social Media and Privacy Rights

Photo and Video Sharing: Photos or videos of students will not be published on the organization’s social media accounts or website without explicit, written parental consent (Media Release Form).

Personal Devices: Parents and visitors are strictly prohibited from capturing images or videos of other children inside the facility using personal phones, and they may not share such images on their personal social media accounts.

8. Grievance Reporting and Disciplinary Process

Reporting Concerns: Students, parents, or teachers who observe a violation of these rules or have any concerns regarding child safety must report the matter immediately and confidentially to the Arkadaş Executive Board. All reports will be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and with strict confidentiality.

Disciplinary Measures: In the event of non-compliance with these guidelines, management will issue a multi-step process depending on the nature and severity of the infraction:

1. First Instance: Verbal warning followed by an informational meeting with the parent.

2. Second Instance: Written warning and the implementation of a formal behavior management plan.

3. Repeated Violations / Gross Misconduct: Repeated infractions, intentional

damage to property, or actions threatening child safety (whether by a teacher, parent, or student) will result in immediate suspension or permanent dismissal from the program.

Crucial Note: For any adult violating child safety, abuse, or molestation prevention policies, intermediate warnings are bypassed. Immediate removal from the premises and legal action/notification to law enforcement will be initiated.

Membership and Code of Conduct Agreement

By participating in, working with, volunteering for, or enrolling a child in Arkadaş Çocuk Kulübü programs, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by this Code of Conduct without exception.

Approved by the Board of Directors on May 15, 2026.

Effective Date: June 1, 2026