Guests and Visitors to the School
For student safety we require that all guests, visitors and parent volunteers report to the office to sign in and receive a VISITOR identification pass as needed.
Entrance & Exit Procedures
To maintain a safe and settled school zone we ask that students use their classroom’s designated outside doors when entering and exiting the building. In the morning students should wait outside until the warning bell at 8:25 am and then line up at their designated door. Please use these designated outside doors as waiting and meeting points whenever possible.
Supervision
Supervision is provided at Golden Ears between 8:25 am and 2:20 pm. Several staff members are also on duty during recess and lunch.
There is no supervision of students before or after school. The school is not responsible for children arriving early or staying late unless the teacher has requested it. The Learning Center operates out of the library from Tuesday to Friday and therefore we insist on students being extremely quiet near the front entrance. Those who cannot follow this expectation will be asked to wait outside.
Technology Policy
As a school we believe that technology is an important tool for enhancing learning and we expect students to use technology tools in a responsible and respectful manner. After careful consideration of how these technologies impact upon students’ levels of physical activity, interactive play, and social interactions we have established the following policy for personal technological devices:
- Personal hand held computer games are not permitted at school as we want students to play together.
- Ipads, Ipods, tablets, and other personal digital devices are permitted at school to enhance learning but students bring at their own risk as we cannot guarantee their safety. Students can only use these devices during instructional time with teacher permission.
- Cell Phones are permitted at school for safety reasons but they must be switched off and packed away during the school day. Students may not use their personal phone/camera without teacher permission.
- At no time should students post, publish, or text information on the internet about other students or staff without their consent.
Attendance and Punctuality
Regular school attendance is a major factor contributing to student success in school. We expect that Golden Ears’ students will attend school regularly unless ill and will be punctual every day. If your child will be absent, login an absence on the Parent Portal or call the school at 604 463-9513 prior to 8:25 am. Please advise your child’s teacher ahead of time if your child will be absent for an extended period of time. Extended absences can also be logged in the Parent Portal. If students are required to leave school early, permission from a parent/guardian is required. Students who are late report to the office upon arrival. Students must never leave the school grounds without first notifying the school office.
Emergency Closing of Schools
For purposes of announcing emergency closures prior to opening of schools please check the school district website (www.sd42.ca) and listen for updates on the following radio stations: CKNW (980 AM), CBC (690 AM), CFMI (101.1 FM)
Lunch Time
Students who enjoy the privilege of staying for lunch, must follow some simple guidelines. When students are eating their lunch in the classroom, we expect them to:
● remain in their own classrooms
● talk quietly
● remain seated while eating
● treat each other and the school with respect
● clean up after themselves
● exit respectfully via the designated doors
On ‘inside days’, students are expected to remain in their classrooms calmly engaged in quiet activities. On many rainy days students will still have the option to go outside if they enjoy the exercise so please always send outside clothing appropriate for the weather conditions.
Leaving the Grounds at Lunch
Unless students regularly go home for lunch, we expect all students to remain on our school grounds. If you wish your child to be allowed to go home a phone call, email or portal message must be submitted to the classroom teacher or to the office. We appreciate your help and support as it is a big safety issue!
Gym Strip
Intermediate students are encouraged to bring a change of clothes: shorts, t-shirt and running shoes for gym. These should be taken home for laundering regularly.
Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters & Rollerblades
Students are required to dismount/remove upon arrival on school property. Bicycles must be walked and locked in the designated area.
Skateboards, scooters and rollerblades must be carried to the classroom and left there for the day. Safety rules must be followed at all times. Students must wear a safety helmet.
NOTE: The school cannot assume responsibility for personal property brought to school.
The Purpose of Homework
● To help promote self-reliance and responsibility
● To have time to do research
● To review notes
● To develop research and study techniques
● To show parents the progress the student is making
● To promote communication between school and home
How Can Parents Help?
● Establish a consistent “homework time”
● Provide a quiet, regular space to work
● Provide the necessary materials (dictionary, pencils, etc.)
● Encourage efficiency through organization of time
● Participate in:
– practicing math drills
– listening to reading
– reviewing questions
– checking understanding for tests
– helping with spelling
● Praise your children for their efforts
How Much Homework?
Most educational research recommends the following average homework time:
Grades 2 & 3 15 minutes/day
Grades 4 & 5 30 to 60 minutes/day
Grades 6 & 7 45 to 60 minutes/day
Please help your child remain organized by reviewing assigned work within their planner. These student planners should come to school each day.
Library Resource Centre
The library hours vary each year depending on the number of parent volunteers and the Districts’ allowance for staffing. In our library, students are given a library number that remains the same until they leave the school. The loan period for books is two weeks. If students have overdue books, they will be limited to the number of new books they may check out. Students are encouraged to bring back overdue books as soon as possible. At the end of the year, books that have not been returned must be paid for. Parent volunteers are greatly appreciated!
Field Trips
Field Trips are an important part of education as they provide real life examples of learning. Usually, these complement the curriculum and provide a connection between the formal learning in the classroom and very practical firsthand experiences within the community. Whenever a class or group of students goes on a field trip, teachers provide the principal with a review of the objectives of the field trip, transportation needed, costs and safety procedures. Parents are contacted and must give permission before we allow the child to participate. Volunteer driver forms are required for all drivers along with the driver’s record and document check before approval is given. Forms are available from the office. These procedures are set up to ensure student safety. Field trips are a part of the curriculum and all students are expected to participate. No student will be denied the right to participate in a field trip due to financial constraints. In such cases, parents are encouraged to speak to the teacher or principal (such information is kept in confidence).
Contacting Parents
Often, during the course of a school day, it is necessary to contact parents. We may need to do this if a student is ill or injured. The importance of providing the school with a phone number where parents can be contacted during the day is crucial. If a home phone number is not possible, please arrange a system whereby you can be contacted in case of emergency.
We also ask that parents provide us with the name and phone number of an EMERGENCY CONTACT person in the event that parents cannot be contacted. This information should be provided on each student’s registration form. Please ensure that the person you name as the emergency contact knows that you have done this and that they are prepared and capable to act on your behalf if you cannot be reached.
We also have a policy whereby no student will be allowed to leave the school unsupervised during the course of the day. If it is necessary for the student to go home, they will be retained at the school until a parent or designate can come and pick them up unless we are given direct instruction to do so by a parent/guardian.
Fire/Earthquake/Emergency Drills
All classes practice both fire and earthquake drills. As per District and Fire Regulations, school FIRE DRILLS are held at least three times each semester. The goal is to exit the building quickly and in an orderly manner.
What if your child ….
is absent….
Send an email to the teacher and to ge_reception@sd42.ca or complete an absence on the parent portal or leave a voice mail with the details at 604-463-9513
is sick…….
We appreciate your phone call or portal message when your child is too sick to come to school. If you have taken your child to the doctor and they are contagious, please ask the doctor how long they should stay home until they are no longer contagious. This is just a reminder, that if your child is diagnosed with something other than a cold or the flu, for example, Scarlet Fever, Fifths Disease, Chicken Pox, etc., it is important that you advise the school as soon as you find out. This enables us to send a notice home to the other families in the class so that those who are “at risk” (such as pregnant women, those with immune deficiencies, infants, etc.), can be aware that they may have been exposed to that virus. (Information notices do not identify the student.)
is moving….
Let the office know as soon as possible and complete a withdraw form on the parent portal.
loses items….
Check the Lost & Found rack in the foyer and by the office door.
wants to use the phone….
Your child will ask for permission and obtain a phone pass from the teacher.
Please remember this use is for special circumstances only. After school plans must be arranged and confirmed prior to coming to school.
has an appointment….
Send a note to the teacher or log a parent portal absence so that your child can be dismissed at the required time.
experiences a lengthy illness….
Notify the office. Your child may qualify for the Hospital/Homebound Program.
wants to talk to the counselor….
Advise the classroom teacher or support teacher. A staff member will contact the counselor.