Chaperones

At Queen of Peace Catholic Academy, we believe field trips provide a valuable educational experience for our students. Prior to the field trip, the teacher will provide you with information regarding the activities planned for the trip, expectations for supervising students, and emergency procedures. In order to ensure that school-sponsored field trips result in safe and rewarding experiences for all participants, we have prepared the following guidelines. If you have questions, please contact the Academy office.

• All Chaperones must have valid Safe Environment clearance. Please contact the Academy office prior to completing the chaperone form to ensure you are cleared to be a chaperone.

• In order to be a driver and a chaperone on a field trip, additional paperwork will be need to be completed and approved by the diocese.  The teacher will provide this documentation and specific deadlines for paperwork submission.

• Chaperones should not leave the field trip for any reason (i.e: to pick up lunch, get coffee, meet a spouse, etc.)

• Students must return to school at the conclusion of the field trip. Parents are not permitted to take their children home from a field trip. Students must check out from the Academy office.

• Drivers must drive directly to the destination and return directly to the school. Side trips to other destinations (i.e: coffee, fuel, ice cream, etc.) are not permitted.

• All school rules apply on school sponsored field trips. Chaperones are expected to comply with school policies, follow the directions given by the coordinating teacher, work cooperatively with other chaperones and school staff members and model and enforce appropriate student behavior.

• Chaperones must be legal guardians and 25 years of age or older.

• Chaperones assume responsibility for their group from the time they leave the school until the time they return. Chaperones must remain with their group at all times.

• Due to the responsibility of supervising several children for the entire duration of the trip, no siblings or children who are not students in the class are allowed.

• Students may not visit gift shops without permission from the teacher for the whole group to do so. Chaperones should not purchase food or souvenir items, or provide opportunities not offered to all students in the class or pre-approved by the teacher. Keep in mind many students have food allergies.

• Chaperones should not use cell phones on the trip unless it is an emergency situation or to communicate with the teacher regarding a specific trip issue. Outside work calls, social media posts, etc., are not permissible while you are on the trip and supervising students.

• Chaperones understand that that the teacher’s personal cell phone number is for use regarding this field trip only. Per the Communication section of the Parent-Student Handbook, texting teachers and assistants for other purposes is not permitted.

• Chaperones should be aware that some students have photo restrictions; this means that parents have formally requested they not be photographed at school or school activities. Do not post photos of students on your personal social media.

• Timelines are critical. Be sure you know when and where to meet at the end of the visit. Please be prompt.

• In compliance with school policy, before and during the field trip, chaperones:

  ○ may not use or possess alcohol or other drugs, or carry weapons;
  ○ may not use tobacco in the presence of, or within sight of, students;
  ○ may not administer any medications (prescription or nonprescription) to any student.

• All Diocese of St. Augustine policies and guidelines apply.

• All Queen of Peace Catholic Academy Parent-Student Handbook policies and guidelines apply.

  Thank you to our parents/guardians for chaperoning our students on their classroom field trips! Additional adult support allows the teacher to better monitor activities and to ensure that all possible measures are taken to provide maximum safety for all students.