Wauhatchie Forest School firmly believes in the power of community as we help children grow into confident, kind, capable people. We are honored to be chosen to guide your child’s educational journey and take our commitment to that very seriously. Providing high quality, nature-immersive education requires an intentional, consistent, and dedicated partnership between teachers, school administration, and the parents or caregivers of each and every student.

This Family Agreement outlines the expectations for the school, parents and families, and students to encourage accountability and transparency.

Wauhatchie Forest School Family Agreement*

• I commit to supporting Wauhatchie's holistic approach to learning for my child, including the core academic programs and expectations of student behavior.

• I commit to maintaining a strong partnership with my child’s teachers that is built with clear, consistent communication. I commit to being an involved part of this team to ensure my child has a wonderful, enriching learning experience.

• I commit to ensuring that my child arrives at school on time, dressed properly for the weather, and ready for a full day of rich learning. Exceptions will only be made for illness, family emergencies, or other approved excused absences.

• I trust that Wauhatchie Forest School works to ensure a safe, supportive, dynamic learning environment for all students and that bullying will not be tolerated in any form.

• I commit to supporting Wauhatchie Forest School’s expectations of student behavior and conduct while at school and to working with teachers and administration as well as with my child at home to ensure a successful experience at WS.

• I understand that my child will spend a large part of their time at forest school exploring and playing in nature and learning at their own individual pace.

• I understand there will be appropriate responses to any violation of behavior policies as outlined in this handbook, up to and including dismissal from WS.

• I will review and sign any and all reports or messages sent by my child’s teachers or WS administration within the requested time frame. 

• I have read and understood the Parent & Student Handbook and commit to upholding all of the contained information to the best of my ability.

To review with your student:

• I understand that the core values of kindness to nature, others, and myself should guide all of my actions, words, and choices while at school.

• I commit to completing all of my learning and assignments to the best of my ability and to applying myself to grow and learn each day.

• I commit to following all Forest School rules, adhering to classroom expectations set forth by teachers, and following all Behavior Guidelines. I have either read or talked with my parents about Wauhatchie's behavior guidelines. 

• I commit to coming to school prepared and wearing proper clothing/gear for a full day of outdoor learning. I will follow teacher guidance to ensure I can stay comfortable, warm, and engaged during school days.

• I commit to communicating with my family about my school experience and progress including academic learning, character growth, and social experiences.

• I commit to putting forth my best effort each and every day!

*While strongly preferred, admission to WS is not contingent upon your signature of this Family Agreement.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR Wauhatchie School follows the Hamilton County Department of Education Calendar for our start dates, Federal holidays, and all big school breaks. Academically, we follow a seasonal calendar; PreK and Jr. Kindergarten operate on semesters and K-5 on trimesters. We reserve at least one Teacher Professional Development day each trimester and incorporate 6 Professional Learning Community (PLC) days throughout the school year. PLC days are half days for students that fall on Fridays, typically long weekends.

ONLINE PARENT PORTAL Wauhatchie School uses TADS, a cloud based service that supports small schools with Admissions, Enrollment, Tuition Management, School & Family Support.

PARENT COMMUNICATION Wauhatchie School uses a communication software and app called ClassDojo to allow parents to communicate directly with teachers and other parents while maintaining the privacy of personal information. ClassDojo allows parents to stay updated on classroom news, school closings, upcoming events, important calendar items and other pieces of necessary information.  Parents will receive information about signing up for ClassDojo the week before school begins and are required to use the app to stay updated and informed.

ENROLLMENT FEE The $150 enrollment fee for half day programs and $200 fee for full day programs is non-refundable. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FEE The environmental impact fee that help mitigate the operating cost of the land we lease and our site partnerships. This fee is billed tri-mesterly at $25/tri-mester for K-5 students and semesterly at $15/semester for our PreK and Jr. Kindergarten students. This fee is a reflection of our commitment to be good stewards of the land.

MATERIALS FEE The one time $40 materials fee covers learning materials your student may use throughout the school year and is paid in conjunction with the first tuition payment on July 1st.  These materials include, but are not limited to: project & art supplies, writing materials, science project materials, etc. We do NOT require parents to provide these materials for their student(s), so this fee covers the cost. There will be other ways to support your student's classroom throughout the year. If you’re interested, please touch base with your child’s teacher and/or get involved with Friends of the Forest!

WITHDRAWAL Parents who wish to withdraw their child from Wauhatchie School, at any time during the school year, must communicate their plan as far in advance as possible with the Head of School by email, phone or in person. 

If a student is withdrawn prior to July 1, 100% of tuition will be refunded. For withdrawals made after July 1, prorated refunds will be applied beginning the month following withdrawal, less any early payment discount.

TUITION REMINDERS & REFUND POLICIES The first tuition payment is due July 1 before the fall semester. Wauhatchie School offers three payment plans: annual, bi-annual/semester, or monthly. Our tuition calendar operates from July to April and all monthly payments are made one month in advance. Monthly tuition payments are final. 

Every quarter, we send out our newsletter with forest happenings. Here, we will also share important updates for parents, exciting and interesting student discoveries, upcoming events, and so much more. All families can subscribe to our newsletter here!

Wauhatchie School has its own version of a PTA called Friends of the Forest! We encourage all families to join and get more involved in our community. If you're willing to volunteer for events throughout the year - such as Grandparents Day, family work days, Discovery Days, Lunch Coverage, or Teacher Appreciation Days - please email office@wauhatchie.org for more information. There are many other simple ways to support our school and get involved. Below, you'll find school wish lists and other ways to support Wauhatchie Forest School!

ClassDojo for Parent / Teacher Communication

ClassDojo is the WS school parent communication platform for sharing important information, posting pictures and updates, and direct messaging between teachers and parents. If you need to contact a teacher directly or if a teacher needs to reach you during the school day, you will exchange messages via ClassDojo.

ClassDojo groups are private (click to read more). The information in the groups is only available to Wauhatchie School parents, teachers, and staff. ClassDojo is a platform for building communities that is specifically vetted for schools that respects and follows the rules and expectations set forth in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). 

To get started with ClassDojo

1. Your child's teacher/admin will send you a text or email invitation about a week before the start of school

2. Tap on the link in the text or email or enter the P-code into your account.

3. Sign up or log into your existing account. Once you have logged into your account, you will see that you are connected to your child's class. 

If you have any issues accessing ClassDojo or your child's class, touch base with teachers during Meet the Teacher Days or reach out to Ashley at abaker@wauhatchie.org.

All parents/guardians are REQUIRED to download MiNGA and turn on notifications. This app is the primary form of parent communication used by Wauhatchie Forest School.

TADS for Admissions, Enrollment and Billing

• Login to TADS here

• Get help with TADS Customer Service

• TADS FAQ

If questions or issues arise with TADS, please reach out to our Director of Admissions, Kaitlyn Agee, by calling the office or emailing her directly at admissions@wauhatchie.org. Thanks!

Wauhatchie School embraces all seasons. We are outside during all types of weather, but are always mindful of safety and monitor the weather closely. We want every family to feel prepared and confident in their gear choices for their children. We're here to help and don't want anyone to waste time or money on products that do not protect your child, so please thoroughly read and take note of the suggestions below as you begin your year of forest school!

As an outdoor school, your child’s gear is vital to their day in the forest! For the safety and well being of each learner, these guidelines will need to be followed every day, weather depending. If your child does not have the proper gear, you will be asked to go home and retrieve what gear is needed or to take them home for the day.

CARING FOR YOUR CAR & YOUR CHILD'S GEAR

For a smooth pickup time Designate a “get in” spot in your vehicle where your child can sit before possibly removing dirty or wet clothing for the drive home. Many parents have said it is helpful to keep a towel, a laundry basket, and a change of clothes in their cars to help manage dirt/wet clothes. Your child will get muddy and dirty and so it is important to be prepared!

Caring for your Gear The best way to maintain your child's waterproof clothing is by rinsing it off rather than washing it. Hose it down when you get home and just leave it outside to dry. If its just gotten too dirty, you can put it in the wash by itself and run it through a rinse cycle with NO SOAP. Don't dry them. Putting your waterproof layers through the dryer is one of the quickest ways to wear them out and potentially destroy them altogether. Rinse them and allow them to air dry overnight.

Tear Aid is a great product for patching holes in rain gear, but duct tape can temporarily work just as well (it gets gummy in the long run). Don't overwash any wool clothing. If wool is worn under other layers and aired out at night, it only needs to be washed every few weeks. 

Label Everything This is the very BEST way to ensure your kiddo is able to keep track of their gear, especially more costly things, like a quality rain jacket. We recommend putting your last name on all rain layers, on the tags of play clothes, along the bottom or side of water bottles, and on the bag containing changes of clothing.

STILL NEED MORE GEAR INFO?

Click through the FAQs below!

PRE-K AND JR. KINDERGARTEN

Research strongly supports the idea that young children, particularly ages 3-6, learn best through direct experiences with the world around them. Being outdoors provides children with not only fresh air, but endless resources for imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination and balance, physical strength, and mental clarity. 

By tapping into a child’s innate sense of wonder about nature, we can help them learn basic environmental and natural science principles, as well as respect for all living beings. Our lessons flow organically from the natural rhythms of the seasons and from the children’s daily discoveries. There are no set lesson plans: each day is shaped by the animals, insects, birds, amphibians, weather, and foraging that is encountered, providing endless spontaneous teachable moments.

Wauhatchie’s Preschool and Junior Kinder programs are play-based, experiential, child-led, and fully immersed in the great outdoors. Students will spend their days learning and growing through discovery, process art, creativity & imaginative play. Our priority as a forest school is daily exploration in nature. As such, your child will not often be making cookie cutter crafts, art projects, worksheets, or other things that may be brought home in a more traditional school setting. 

We integrate best practices in early childhood education and often incorporate threads from various teaching philosophies (including Waldorf, Reggio-Emilia, Wildschooling, and Montessori among others) to weave a vibrant tapestry of child-led learning in the rich forest environment. This interdisciplinary approach guides children to be self-motivated, cooperative, respectful, grateful, and aware of their impact on the earth.

Our preschool and Jr. Kindergarten teachers are committed to:

• Providing young children the time, space, and play to develop to their fullest potential

• Creating opportunities for all activities to be child-led

• Acting as the ‘guide-on-the-side’ as we facilitate learning and growth

• Connecting with all types of learners through storytelling, song, games, activities, experiments and more

• Building children’s ongoing relationships with themselves, others, and nature

• Providing opportunities to collaborate, create, problem solve, support one another and dream of a better world

• Encouraging healthy habits and lifestyles

• Supporting safe risk-taking

• Increasing motivation, self-esteem and concentration

• Stimulating children’s innate curiosity

• Encouraging family involvement in growth and development

Our Jr. Kindergarten program operates as an afternoon only or a full-day extension of our play-based morning preschool program. In addition to immersive forest exploration and play, Jr. Kindergarten classes may weave in occasional centers and focused activities to help encourage curiosity and excitement around learning before children move into Kindergarten. With these methods, early literacy, math, reading, handwriting, and science skills are woven into days of exploring, growing, and learning together. 

AGE: Preschool students must be 3 years old and Jr. Kindergarten students must be 4 years old by August 15 of the year they enroll at WS. ALL students must be fully toilet proficient in order to attend WS.

K-5 LEARNING FRAMEWORK OVERVIEW

Our learning framework has been lovingly constructed over time, and is living and moving (with respect to children, to our forest home, and to seasonal changes). We work to build a robust balance of structured learning time (Math, Literacy, Social Studies, STEAM and Art), as well as a good forest wander and A LOT of healthy play learning. We are standards-aware (and most of our teachers use them as guideposts), but are not married to them in a particular order, within a specific scope and sequence, or within a rigid structure. We find that one excellent and exciting project can satisfy multiple standards, and are thus never taught in isolation. 

Our emergent framework is modeled on best practices within education today, such as: project-based learning, collaborative learning, authentic assessment practices, hands on learning, playful learning, and Social-Emotional Learning. Our commitment to small teacher-to-child ratios allow our teacher the freedom to individualize lesson plans based on observations, assessments, student curiosity, and need. 

Assessment Parents will receive holistic progress reports each trimester that will address not only how the students are doing academically, but socially, emotionally and physically as well. Parent-Teacher conferences will be scheduled at least twice a year or as needed throughout the year (at the teacher or parents’ request.) Additionally, MiNGA (our parent communication platform), is another source of valuable information into the weekly activities, work and progress of our students.

Homework There is not significant or persuasive evidence to support the benefits of homework in the elementary years. That said, parent involvement does play a significant role in student achievement and positive outcomes. Our teachers may provide weekly spelling word and heart word lists to support our reading program, they will also encourage daily reading practice, and may send home practice activities during new or particularly challenging concepts. We welcome your assistance and support, but will never pile on additional work for your student to complete. If you are interested in reading more about this ongoing homework debate, we encourage you to read the work of educator Alfie Kohn.

Student Retention The decision on whether a student is academically, developmentally, and socially ready to move to the next grade level or not will be made on a case-by-case basis through collaboration between teachers and the Head of School as well as referencing the Light’s Retention Scale. Should it be determined that your child would benefit from grade-level retention, you will be informed no later than 10 days prior to the end of Trimester 2 and a meeting will be scheduled between administration, teachers, and parents.

Our goal is to provide every reasonable support to assure that readiness is achieved for the next grade. We work collaboratively with all learning stakeholders to support each student’s unique academic, emotional, and social needs. Our Learning Success Path process brings together students, teachers, administrators, and parents to develop ongoing support plans that address the unique learning and behavioral needs of any students displaying exceptional needs. 

Age Elementary students must meet the age requirements below by August 15 of the year they're enrolled in order to attend WS: 

• Kinder - 5

• 1st Grade - 6

• 2nd Grade - 7

• 3rd Grade - 8

• 4th Grade - 9

• 5th Grade - 10

Makeup Work Elementary students with excused absences are allowed to make up any missed work for full credit; however, it is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to request any missed assignments and ensure they’re returned on time. Unexcused absences may result in reduced or no credit for missed assignments at the teachers’ discretion.

Attendance Elementary students are expected to attend school daily and to arrive on time for classes and dressed in proper gear for the day. Consistent attendance is vital for the academic and holistic success of your child. 

Teachers will take attendance each day, marking students as Excused (E), Unexcused (U), or Late Arrival/Early Departure (Late/Early). 

• 5 Absences: Parent/guardian notified via email.

• 10 Absences: Schedule a parent/guardian conference to discuss attendance concerns and make a plan to improve.

• 15 Absences: The parent/guardian will receive a formal letter from WS noting excessive absences. Since WS operates as a homeschool tutorial, any missed learning during excessive absences become the responsibility of the parent/guardian. 

The more school days a student misses, the more likely they are to lose academic progress. Depending on whether absences are excused/unexcused, WS will require a parent conference to develop an attendance improvement plan in order to ensure the success of each student.

Homeschool Tutorial Information Wauhatchie School operates as a homeschool tutorial; therefore, families enrolled at Wauhatchie must take some additional steps to indicate their intent to the Department of Education in their state. In Tennessee and Georgia, all students from kindergarten through fifth grade, must declare and register their intent to homeschool. 

In the state of Tennessee, you have two Homeschool options:

Option 1: Families intending to homeschool may register through the county where they live. In order to do so, you must submit a Declaration of Intent, and maintain all attendance and academic records (provided by Wauhatchie each trimester). This option is free for all Hamilton county residents, but does require state testing in 5th grade. 

Option 2:  In Tennessee, families intending to homeschool can register through a homeschool umbrella school. At Wauhatchie we encourage families to register with The Farm School, but there are many others that can be found by searching “TN Homeschool Umbrella Schools, CRS”. 

While you will still be required to maintain attendance and academic records (provided by Wauhatchie trimesterly), an umbrella school will compile these resources into a formal record (should you choose to transfer elsewhere). This option does have additional costs, but does not require any state testing.

In the state of Georgia, you have one Homeschool option:

Families residing in Georgia must complete a Declaration of Intent within 30 days of the start of the school-year, and annually thereafter. Please maintain all academic records provided to you by Wauhatchie as they will serve as proof of days attended (180 days), and content taught - all of which is necessary record-keeping for the Department of Education and satisfies their requirements. This option is free for all Georgia residents and requires state testing in 3rd grade.  

Boundaries Children are expected to stay within the boundaries that have been established by teachers at all times. These will be clearly marked with neon flagging tape.

Climbing Trees Children may climb trees at school while under adult supervision. They may climb to the level of demonstrated confidence based on age and ability. Students must be able to safely climb down independently of a teacher's help.

Sticks Children may not play with a stick that is longer than their arm, unless it is clearly and responsibly being used as a walking stick, a tool (digging, for example), or for building under the supervision of the teachers. To keep everyone safe, running is not permitted while holding a stick. We appreciate your help in reinforcing these rules with your child. Children naturally use sticks as weapons (bow & arrows, guns, etc.). We recognize the value in this type of play, so it is not strictly prohibited. However, as a school, we encourage peace and kindness, so teachers will gently guide students towards other uses for sticks in their play.

Fire We will start fires for warmth in the winter. Fire safety begins on day one and is taught in an age-appropriate way for all WS classes. Students are not to touch the fire at any time. All students will walk through the fire circle at all times; there is no running or play near the fire. Young students (PreK - 1st Grade) will not touch the rocks around the fire pit.

Shoes Children must wear rain boots (rubber or insulated rubber) at all times while at school. On creek/water days, you can pack close-toed water shoes for students to change into. For their safety, children may not be barefoot or in sandals at school.

Ingestion Children will not eat or drink any substance or material found in nature without explicit teacher permission. For young kids, we use the terminology "We don't put nature in our mouths" and repeat it often. 

No Toys Nature provides the materials necessary for learning outdoors, so toys from home are not allowed. Art supplies or other learning materials are covered through the materials fee and generous donations.

*Rare exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis if a child is having a hard time adjusting to or feeling comfortable at school. Sometimes, a beloved stuffy can make a world of difference without causing issues for the class as a whole. This option can be discussed between parents and teachers, but teachers have the final say in whether it will be allowed or not.

No Technology We ask that you do not send your child to school with any of the following: 

• Electronic gadgets or toys of any kind

• Hand-held gaming devices

• Apple Watches

• Gizmo watches

• Cell phones

If you need to get in touch with your child, contact their teacher directly through Minga or call the school office at (423) 242-3099.

FOOD AT SCHOOL 

Wauhatchie School strives to incorporate sustainable practices in all we do and we encourage our parents to support those efforts. Please do your best to send your child's snacks and lunches in reusable containers with minimal and/or compostable packaging. 

Natural, hearty, healthy foods with little to no packaging are the preference, but we also understand the importance of balance! Some days, your child's lunch may be curated with care. Other days, it's okay to throw in an apple, granola bar, baby carrots, an Uncrustable, and some packaged crackers as you rush out the door.

While natural, healthy foods with little to no packaging are the preference, we also understand the importance of balance in life! Some days, your child's lunch may be curated with care, while other days it's fine to throw in an apple, granola bar, baby carrots, and a pre-packaged sandwich. We all know the morning rush out the door!

We encourage whole, natural foods as much as possible to help children's bodies sustain these full days of playing and learning. Please lean on teachers, other parents, and our Friends of the Forest (PTA) for lunchbox tips and tricks!

Wauhatchie School practices leave no trace principles. All food waste items (apple cores, banana peels, packages, napkins, etc.) will be either composted at school or packed out by the children. It's a good idea to develop a routine to check and clean out their backpack together after school each day!

Winter Time Food We recommend more substantial snacks and lunches that will help provide extra energy in the colder months. Cheese, yogurt, deli meats, and nuts are great filling snacks to pack during this season. Packing a warm lunch in a thermos (oatmeal, soup, mac & cheese, etc.) and extra snacks - more than you think your student will eat - has been helpful for many children. 

Note: A warm, nutrient dense breakfast is key this time of year. It helps little bodies feel fueled for cold days in the forest!

Food and Birthdays We celebrate each child and will make birthdays and other celebrations magical! However, we ask that parents DO NOT send in special foods or treats as we strive to support both nutritious eating and allergy awareness at forest school. In lieu of treats, please send a favorite book to share with the class. Your specific class may have a unique way of celebrating birthdays and will strive to make these days special for students!

Wauhatchie classes will occasionally have seasonal or holiday treats provided by the school and will sometimes cook over the fire as well (think s’mores, popcorn, roasted apples, etc.). If your child has an allergy or dietary restrictions, we will either provide a parent-approved alternative or ask you to send a substitution with them for that day.

Allergies Teachers are aware of any allergies present in their class from the information provided on the emergency form. Teachers will not offer food to a child if it contains an ingredient that the child is allergic to and will notify the parent(s) ahead of time if a food is being served that a child cannot eat so the parent can send a substitute. Some classrooms may be strictly allergen-free. If so, this will be communicated to parents at the beginning of the school year.

UNEXPECTED SEVERE WEATHER DURING SCHOOL HOURS If warnings are issued during school hours, or heavy downpours and lightning occur, all children will be moved indoors until the threat is over. It is at the discretion of the Head of School to make the decision to dismiss early, open late, or close for the day. If the Head of School decides to dismiss early, families will be notified by the methods below. 

PREDICTION OF SEVERE WEATHER BEFORE SCHOOL HOURS In the event of school delays or cancellations, a decision will be made by 6:30 a.m. and will be broadcast via multiple outlets:

• Minga Message 

• Social Media

• Parent Email

• Television news

Group Dynamics All students will remain within eyesight and earshot of a teacher at all times. The standard teacher:child ratio for outdoor classes is 1:6 for Forest Preschool and Jr. Kindergarten, 1:7 for Forest K-3, and 1:8 for 4-5th grade. For most of the day, each class stays together in designated areas, but they may sometimes split into smaller groups for hikes, focused learning, or other activities. The only people that interact with the students during the day are employees or volunteers who have been thoroughly vetted. Most of the time, there will be two (or more) adults with each class. Smaller classes may only have one teacher or may be combined into a multi-age classroom. Teachers always have administrative support and carry emergency forms and an official first aid kit at all times.

Hiring Procedures All WS staff and volunteers are thoroughly vetted to determine their ability to safely work with children in the forest context. Before being considered for employment, all teaching candidates will go through at least two rounds of interviews and are required to submit: 

• a personal CV of past jobs

• 2-3 professional references

• responses to specific questions documenting their understanding of children and child development

• a clean background check

All WS volunteers and substitutes must: meet with our Administrative Assistant, and undergo a background check. These checks and balances provide WS with the information needed to make an informed hiring decision with the safety of our students in mind.

Site Assessment The sites and structures are checked for safety each morning before the children arrive at school. Any hazards will be taken care of or the group may relocate to another site for the day.

Fire Safety Children are only in the presence of fire while under direct supervision of their teacher(s). Although a child may be invited by a teacher to help tend a fire, they are given very specific instructions based on their age and ability to discern safety around fire. They may help collect and haul firewood, but the teachers are always in charge of adding fuel to the fire. There is always direct adult supervision when children are in the vicinity of fire or hot coals.

Water Safety All visits to the creek and pond are under full supervision of teachers. Children will be allowed to wade in water that is less than knee deep while wearing water shoes or rain boots. 

First Aid at School In the case of a minor injury, the teachers may administer basic first aid—wash the injury with soap and water and cover with band-aids—as they see fit. The parents will be notified of any significant injuries at pickup (or after school via phone call if the child is picked up by another adult). In the case of a major injury, the teachers will call 911 and the parents/emergency contact and apply basic first aid until medical help arrives. All teachers have easy access to First Aid kits at all times. Children will always be sent to the nearest hospital if such extreme measures are needed. 

Illness To control the spread of illness, children with vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever must remain at home and not return to school until the child has been symptom free, without medication, for 24 hours. Should a child become ill while at school, parents will be contacted to pick up the sick child promptly. If a parent cannot be reached immediately teaching staff will call the next emergency contact to arrange pick-up. 

Dispensing Medication If your child takes any medications that must be administered during the school day, you will need to provide a signed authorization that allows teachers to administer medication, even non-prescription. Specific instructions regarding dosage, frequency, and symptoms of the condition for which the medication is administered should be listed on the authorization form signed by a parent. The medication should be labeled with the child’s name. The Wauhatchie School staff member who administers the medication will document the time, the dosage, and any noticeable side effects. 

Emergency Evacuation In the unlikely case that we need to evacuate the property, all parents would be notified via phone call of the destination and pick up protocols. 

Bathroom Safety  All students must be FULLY potty-trained in order to attend Wauhatchie School. 

This means that your child can independently use the bathroom with no or limited help from a teacher. This includes going both #1 and #2 on their own. Your child should be able to climb up and sit on the toilet, climb down, wipe themselves, clean up after using the toilet, and manage the majority of their clothing and gear on their own. For each class, the bathroom area consists of both a designated outdoor space (chosen to allow for privacy, but located within earshot of a teacher) as well as an indoor toilet facility (composting toilet, portable toilet, indoor bathroom, etc). As a standard procedure, students will go #1 outdoors and #2 indoors unless too far from facilities to do so. Teachers are located so that they can hear children and are available to help if needed. 

We understand that young students may need help adjusting to using the bathroom in the forest. Parents and teachers can work together to help new students get comfortable with this during the first 2-3 weeks of school. We recommend practicing and talking with your child about this at home before school begins. We also understand that preschool-aged students may sometimes need help with layers or buttons/snaps, especially during the winter season. 

If a young child needs assistance with gear or using the bathroom, the teacher that helps will remain in eye-sight of the class and/or another teacher at all times and will always inform their co-teacher that they're helping a student. Teachers stay close enough to other children and teachers that they are never alone with the child going to the bathroom. The bathroom door will be open while a teacher is physically assisting a child in that space, and closed for privacy with the teacher waiting outside the door while the child actually uses the bathroom. 

Students may not attend school in a diaper or pull-up. If a student arrives at school and is not fully potty trained and/or has more than two accidents in a single week, you may be required to take a Pause in Enrollment in order to work on bathroom skills at home before returning to Wauhatchie School.  As a reminder, all students must be completely toilet-proficient as a condition of their enrollment in Wauhatchie School.

Abuse Policy WS has a ZERO-Tolerance policy on any form of abuse; including, but not limited to: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. All WS staff are legally required to report suspected abuse and complete mandated reporter training each year. Any staff member (including volunteers) under investigation of suspected abuse, will be put on an immediate unpaid leave of absence. Upon completion of the investigation, disciplinary action up to and including termination or employment and criminal prosecution may ensue. Any incidents of abuse reasonably believed to have occurred will be immediately reported to all appropriate family members, and to both law enforcement agencies and regulatory agencies. Any instances of abuse reasonably believed to have occurred will result in the unpaid termination of employment, in perpetuity.

In School Safety The safety and care of our students is at the heart of all we do at WS. All staff and volunteers are thoroughly vetted to determine their ability to safely work with children in the forest context. Before being considered for employment, all teaching candidates are required to submit: a personal CV of past jobs, 2-3 professional references, responses to specific questions documenting their understanding of children and child development, at least 2 interviews, and a background check. 

Before working with students, all volunteers and substitutes must: meet with our Administrative Assistant and undergo a background check. These checks and balances provide WS with the information needed to make informed hiring decisions with the safety of our students in mind.

Out of School Safety All childcare workers in the state of Tennessee are Mandated Reporters. By law, we are legally obligated to report cases of suspected abuse or neglect to the proper authorities. Failure to report may result in legal consequences. It is our duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. WS has a ZERO-Tolerance policy on any form of abuse; including, but not limited to: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. If we suspect abuse to be taking place outside of school, we will:

1. Immediately report the suspected abuse to the Head of School

2. Report the abuse to the appropriate government agency:

Adult Protective Services Child Protective Services

During an agency investigation, Wauhatchie reserves the right to Pause an Enrollment until the investigating agency has deemed the case closed. A Pause in Enrollment would occur if the student has perpetrated abuse on another student and the safety of other children is at risk. During any other home investigations, the student may remain at school.

Once a case has closed, the school reserves the right to determine next steps for the safety of all students. This includes, but is not limited to asking a student to withdraw, requesting both behavioral or therapeutic interventions, and creating a behavioral support plan.

Wauhatchie believes and acknowledges that children are complex beings, with complex needs. We approach each child with care, curiosity and concern, but we also acknowledge that Forest school is not necessarily the best fit for all children. Wauhatchie reserves the right to pause enrollment at any point during the school year. A pause in enrollment can occur for any number of reasons, but common reasons include observable patterns of detrimental behavior, displays of complex trauma behaviors, and academic interventions beyond the scope of our learning framework.

The following protocols are by no means exclusive, and will be taken on a case by case basis with parental, teacher, and administrative involvement.

What is considered disruptive behavior?

Requiring constant attention from the staff

Inflicting physical or emotional harm on other children, adults, or self

Disrespect people and materials provided in the program

Consistently disobey the class rules

Consistently fail to follow teacher instructions

Verbally or physically threaten or harm other students and/or staff

Use inappropriate or offensive words repeatedly 

Navigating Disruptive Behaviors at Forest School

Wauhatchie School believes that our immersive forest environment is a natural guide for growth and learning. We encourage and support children's innate ability to express deep compassion and concern for themselves, others and their environment as they're learning to be good humans. We believe that the forest invites us to practice empathy, self-regulation, and consideration of others. 

Below are some strategies teachers use to help students experiencing conflict or exhibiting consistently disruptive behaviors in order to help them thrive in the outdoor learning environment:

• Establish a strong classroom culture to start the year so all children feel safe to learn, explore, and express themselves freely

• Teaching and modeling our three kindness rules each day:

  • • • I will be kind to nature

      • I will be kind to others

      • I will be kind to myself

• Give children space and support in their attempts to settle their own disputes

• Encourage children to communicate through disagreements and conflicts with another child, often peace-making in a group with teacher guidance

• Redirect behaviors if this seems potentially effective

• Counsel children individually about their behaviors and choices

• Separate a child from the group and utilizing calming strategies (sit spot, grounding, leaf breathing, anchoring, etc.) to help the student regulate

• Work with parents to ensure children are well-rested, well-fed and comfortable in their forest classroom

• Address group dynamics as a whole class, making sure each child's voice and opinion is heard and valued

• If conflict arises for younger students:

  • • • Quietly observe with open, non-judgmental attitude

      • Move closer to conflict at eye-level with the students

      • Describe what's happening out loud in simple language

      • Acknowledge feelings/experiences of all children involved

      • Lead with empathy, redirecting if needed and remaining available to observe, comfort and model gentleness until students disengage

• For older students, guide socratic seminars or similar group discussions that encourage listening, exchange, and finding common ground

Teachers will make parents aware of any disciplinary concerns through ongoing conversations (in person and via Minga) and then with Behavior and Incident Reports and calls or meetings with the teaching team as required.

Patterns of Detrimental or Disruptive Behavior

Wauhatchie has a zero tolerance policy for bullying, coercion, hitting, grabbing, pushing, verbal harassment, aggressiveness or any other demeaning or detrimental behavior.  If these behaviors occur, the teacher will separate the instigating child from the group, contact a parent, and inform administration immediately. The student may be sent home.

If a child exhibits a dangerous or disruptive behavior, the teacher will inform parents that same day and discuss strategies to help the student improve. If more than one incident report is necessary for the same behavior by the same student, teachers and administration will work together, taking the below steps to address the behavior.

Step One Incident/Behavior Report

Detrimental behaviors will be addressed in a behavior and/or incident report. This will be completed by a teacher to document inappropriate behaviors that directly and negatively impacted other children, staff members, or the group as a whole. This report will be shared with the parent and will explain the behavior and how the behavior has affected others. It will also explain how the situation was resolved. The incident report will be given to the parent at the end of the day to be signed and a brief discussion will take place between the parent and teacher to discuss how to address the behavior at school and at home.

Step Two Incident Report and Parent Call

If two behavior/incident reports are written regarding the same inappropriate behavior documenting that the child has difficulty managing his/her behavior on a recurring basis, parents will be asked to keep the child home for one school day to address the behavior at home. A member of the administration team will then call the parent to discuss how to best help the student manage the detrimental behavior and offer support and tools so that the teaching team and parents can be a united front for the student.

Step Three  Incident Report & Meet with Teachers & Admin about Enrollment Pause

If the concerning behavior does not improve and another incident report is written regarding the same behavior, parents will be asked to meet with the child’s teacher and a member of the admin team to discuss a pause in the child’s enrollment and construct a learning plan for the child’s return to school.  Pauses in enrollment are discussed as a teacher, admin and parent team to ensure the success of each student.  The steps for enrollment pauses are outlined on a case by case scenario to accommodate the unique needs of the student.

Pauses in Enrollment

The first six weeks of school are critical in assessing a student’s comprehension of curriculum, social emotional learning and awareness.  Wauhatchie School understands that some students may need additional resources and learning support in order to be successful learners. If learning differences, special needs or necessary additional resources are identified in the first six weeks of school that fall outside of the learning framework of Wauhatchie School the following steps will be taken to ensure the success of the student.

Immediate Pause in Enrollment

There are a few reasons Wauhatchie School may issue an immediate Pause in Enrollment for a student. These reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• Dangerous or risky behaviors that could seriously harm themselves, a teacher, or other students

• More than two bathroom accidents in a single week

• A situation involving CPS

• Any inappropriate touching on their body or others’ bodies

• Intentional and aggressive violent behavior, bullying, or coercion of other students

• Inability to stay within the boundaries or with the group

Academic or Behavioral Pauses in Enrollment

Step One Teacher, Admin, & Parent Meeting

Parents will be asked to meet with the student’s teacher and a member of the administration team to discuss the learning differences and special needs identified within the first six weeks of school.  A learning success plan will be established and resources available at Wauhatchie School will be outlined to help the student, teachers and parents work together for the success of the student. 

Step Two Enrollment Pause

If the learning plan established by the teachers in the teacher meeting doesn’t prove to be effective for the student’s success, an enrollment pause will be discussed with parents to allow time for the student to receive psycho-educational testing to determine  the specific and unique learning needs of the child.  Once testing by a licensed therapist has been completed, the results of the test and diagnosis will be shared with the student’s teachers and admin and a meeting will be set up to discuss a reintegration learning plan for the success of the student.

Step Three Reintegration

The student’s parents, teachers and a member of the admin team will meet to review the test results, discuss reintegration into class and establish a learning plan to ensure the student’s success at Wauhatchie School.  Wauhatchie School teachers and administration know that a forest school might be the best fit for every student and that the learning framework may not be able to meet the needs of each student.  If this is the case, the meeting to discuss reintegration may be a meeting to discuss better learning resources and environments for the students to help them on their learning journey.

Conditional Enrollment

Parents of students with identified learning differences, therapeutic assessments, previous psycho-educational testing, IEP and 504 services, or other special needs before the school year begins will be asked to provide any and all documentation of services and diagnosis received.  The admin team and the student’s teaching team will review the documentation and discuss the necessity of setting up a meeting before the school year begins to establish a learning success plan for the student.  Teachers will then observe the student in class for the first six weeks of school and regularly discuss their academic progress and social-emotional learning.  

After the first six weeks or at the teacher’s discretion, a meeting will be scheduled to reevaluate the learning success plan and discuss any additional resources necessary to meet the student’s unique and specific learning needs. Wauhatchie School teachers and administration know that a forest school environment might not be the best fit for every student and that the learning framework may not be able to meet student needs. If this is the case, the six week meeting may necessitate a discussion about more appropriate learning resources and environments and a plan to dismiss the student from Wauhatchie School in an effort to help them on their learning journey.

To uphold the integrity of our program and the safety and well-being of all students, WS reserves the right to dismiss a student from school if any relevant information or documentation is withheld or shared inaccurately during the application process. If this is the case, administration will provide a written notice of dismissal from WS.

Staff and Family Communication

Kindness and respect are core values of our school and our greater forest school community. WS is committed to maintaining open, constructive communication between administrative staff, teachers, and parents/guardians. All WS staff will treat families with professionalism, respect, patience, and courtesy and we expect the same in return. Any and all concerns or questions from families should be addressed following school procedures and communication between the WS team and families shall be kind, respectful, and constructive, even if there is a disagreement.

Disrespectful behavior of any kind towards WS staff or administration—whether verbal, written, or non-verbal—will not be tolerated. This applies to all in-person interactions, phone calls, emails, text messages, and any other form of communication.

Wauhatchie Forest School firmly believes in the power of community as we help children grow into confident, kind, capable people. We are honored to be chosen to guide your child’s educational journey and take our commitment to that very seriously. 

Providing high quality, nature-immersive education requires an intentional, consistent, and dedicated partnership between teachers, school administration, and the parents or caregivers of each and every student. In order to ensure this partnership, please take some time to review and sign the WS Family Agreement linked below if you've not already done so.

Wauhatchie School is thrilled to offer your child many experiential activities they would not get in any other educational setting. However, there are inherent risks involved in this type of education and our forest setting. Wauhatchie School, Inc. cannot be held liable for such accidents and injury.

All parents/legal guardians of Wauhatchie students must complete the below waiver before the 2025-2026 school year begins.