Eighth Avenue Elementary Policies & Information
Safe Arrival
The Safe Arrival Program provides parents and guardians the assurance that their child has arrived safely at school. At 9:00 am, the classroom teacher takes the attendance and sends list of absent students to the office. If your child has not arrived, and we have not heard from you, you will receive a phone call to confirm that he or she is accounted for and safe.
You can be of assistance by:
· Calling the school before 8:40 am any day your child is going to be absent
· Asking your child to report to the office if they arrive after 9:00
· Providing your child with a note to explain lates or absences
· Volunteering at the school for the Safe Arrival Program
Parents’ Advisory Council
The Parents’ Advisory Council (PAC) is an integral part of the school and all parents are encouraged to become involved. If you’d like information on the PAC, please contact any member of the PAC or Mrs. LaRochelle in the school office. Regular meetings take place once a month. The dates and times are listed in the school calendar, and will be announced in school newsletters.
School Planning Council
As required by the provincial government, our school has an SPC. The SPC is responsible for developing school improvement plans based on information about past and current student achievement as well as school and district improvement initiatives. The SPC includes three parents, who must be elected to the SPC annually. This year’s election will take place in September. Any parent who may be interested in learning more is strongly urged to attend the first parent advisory council meeting in September.
Attendance
Regular attendance is a key factor in students’ progress and children are therefore expected to attend classes every day except when illness or family emergencies arise. If it is felt a student is missing too much school, parents may be contacted by the principal or other school personnel to discuss our concern.
Extended Absence
If a child is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the classroom teacher. In case of a medical absence the district provides help thorugh the home support teacher.
Student Illness at School
If a student is too ill to function in the classroom, parents will be asked to take him/her home. Parents are asked to provide alternate arrangements for their son/daughter in cases where they are not available. Please make the school aware of the name and phone number of the people involved in any alternate arrangements.
Behaviour
Students are expected, at all times and at all school activities, to exhibit good manners and to show respect to all staff members, fellow students, and visitors to our school. Pupils are required to obey the requests of all school board employees.
Students are expected to assume some responsibility for maintaining an attractive school. Students are expected to keep the grounds free of litter. Any student caught damaging school property, or another student’s property, will be expected to pay for repairs. Parents will be contacted in this case.
Students must not try to settle their differences by fighting. Fighting is termed as any intent to hurt another student or the use of force against another student, resulting in bodily harm. Students may be suspended if they are involved in fighting. Our school has a 'hands off' policy and therefore, physial cames where someone could be injured are not allowed.
School Lunch Program
Eighth Avenue School participates in the Provincial School Meal Program. This program provides students with a nutritious lunch on any day school is in session. Parents/guardians who wish their child/ren to be on the lunch program must sign a monthly School Meal Consent envelope and return it to the school by the due date each month.
Noon Hour Behaviour
Students who repeatedly behave in an irresponsible, unsafe, or disrespectful manner may lose the privilege of eating lunch at school.
Store
Student wishing to go to the store during the school day must bring a note from home. Otherwise, the store is out of bounds for students.
“Skipping Out”
When we are aware that a student has “skipped out”, parents will be notified immediately. We expect that parents will take appropriate action and that students will make up time and complete any work they’ve missed.
"Restricted Play Area"
If a student misbehaves or does not follow our 'hands off' rules they may temporarily be asked to play in our restricted play area which has much closer supervision
Bicycle, Roller-blades and Scooters
Pupils who ride bikes or scooters to school are expected to do so responsibly and safely. Students must walk their bikes or scooters while on the school grounds. Bikes should be locked into the bike rack and scooters should be folded up and kept safely in the classroom to prevent theft. Students who do not follow bicycle or scooter safety rules will not be permitted to bring them to school. Roller-blades and runners with wheelies should NOT be worn to school.
Emergency Disaster Procedure
Please note that in the event of an earthquake, or other disaster, no student will be dismissed from school unless a parent or designate comes for him/her. Phone calls to the school are discouraged so as to maintain open lines for emergency use; similarly, streets should be left available for emergency vehicles. The local radio station will broadcast emergency information and directions.
The following are school district policies—provided for information purposes. For further information on these, and other policies, the manual is available online at http://www.sd70.bc.ca/menBoard/menBd-PolicyMan.htm
Drugs and Alcohol
Elementary students are seldom involved with alcohol or drugs, but parents and students should be aware of School District #70 policy. If a student becomes involved with drugs or alcohol during school hours or at a school district function, that student will be suspended from school for a minimum of ten days.
Smoking
Students are not allowed to be in possession of cigarettes, matches or lighters on school premises or at any school sponsored function. If students become involved in smoking, parents will be notified. Further occurrences may result in suspension.
Students on School Roofs
The Board of school Trustees has established a policy of suspending any student from school for five days if they are detected on a school roof, at any time. This position has been taken to firstly, protect the children from obvious hazard and secondly, to protect the school district property from further damage. It is not our intention to suspend students, but if students do not heed this warning to remain off school roofs, they can expect to see this policy applied consistently.
Home Reading
Research shows that reading to your child and talking about what you have read for 15 minutes every day has a huge impact on how well and how quickly your child will learn to read. Those children who read every night before going to bed are those children who do best in all aspects of their school work.
Homework
Often students will be given assignments to be completed at home. This will apply more often in the intermediate years than in the primary years, although primary students are encouraged to read at home every night. Students are expected to complete the work to the best of their ability and on time. You can assist by determining what work has been assigned, if any, and providing a suitable atmosphere for your child to work in. Staying in touch with your child’s teacher is one of the most important things you can do at school. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher at school.
Reporting
· Parent-Teacher Conferences– October
· First Written Report—November
· 2nd Written Report—March/April
· Informal Report
· Final Written Report—June
Interim reports are used between formal reporting sessions to inform parents of any academic or social problems their child is experience at school, or to notify you that your child is making good academic progress.
The reporting schedule may be adjusted, depending on various factors. If this is the case, parents will be informed by newsletter. At any time, if you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress do not hesitate to contact the classroom teacher.