WHAT IF YOUR CHILD…..
Is sick or will be absent or late…
Call the school BEFORE 8:30 AM at (604) 462-7595 or leave a message. An answering machine is available 24 hours a day. If your child is absent and we haven’t received a call from you, we will make an effort to contact you to confirm that your child is safe. Students who arrive late must report to the office to identify themselves and collect a late slip, which in turn must be given to their teacher. If your family will be away on vacation, please notify the office AND classroom teacher.
Is moving, attending a new daycare or contact information has changed…
All parents should ensure they have notified the office whenever there is a change of phone numbers, either at home or at work. A change of Information form is available on our school website or you can email or send us a note. Parents are responsible for providing the school with several responsible individuals we can contact if we are unable to reach the parent. Please let the office know if your child’s emergency contacts or any of their contact information changes.
Is moving to another school…
Let the office know AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE so necessary transfer forms can be prepared.
Lost an item…
Check the lost and found boxes in the main hallway by the gym; smaller more valuable items are kept in the office. Please note that labelling your child’s personal possessions ahead of time helps in the recovery of lost items.
Needs to use the phone…
Ask for a permission slip from their teacher. Student use of the phone is for special circumstances only.
Has an appointment…
Send a note to the teacher so your child can be picked up at the office. Please remember to sign out your child at the office before you leave.
Wants to talk to the counsellor…
Contact the school counsellor through the office or the classroom teacher.
Needs the Public Health Nurse…
Contact the health nurse directly at the Public Health Unit at (604) 476-7000.
OFFICE INFORMATION
Attendance Concerns
Poor attendance negatively affects learning. Failure to attend due to a brief illness is understandable and unavoidable; however, a high rate of absenteeism or tardiness will impact your child’s academic progress. Our student data program is able to identify attendance concerns. If we notice attendance becoming an issue, we may send a letter home to those families expressing our concerns.
Do Not Photograph
From time to time we receive requests from newspaper or television reporters to visit our school. We will not permit any media photos of students who have indicated NO photo permission on their Student Information Sheet. We will assume that families who have indicated NO still wish to have their child’s photograph taken for school purposes. If this is not the case, send a note to the office in this regard and no photographs will be taken at school of your child.
Dress Code
The school district is committed to providing students with learning environments that are safe, responsive, and inclusive. The district recognizes that decisions about dress reflect individual expression of identity, socio-cultural norms, and that they are personal.
Students may attend school and school-related functions in dress of their choice provided that their choices:
- Conform with established health and safety requirements for the intended activity;
- Do not represent or promote alcohol or drugs;
- Use respectful language;
- Do not depict or promote violence, racism, sexism or discrimination; and
- Are not intimidating to others.
Ultimately, the school administration has the responsibility to apply the dress guidelines when necessary. If any person dresses in an inappropriate manner, the student should be advised personally and discretely and given an opportunity to meet school district guidelines. ie. Students not wearing appropriate clothing may be asked to change, cover up, or use a loaner t-shirt.
Emergency Preparedness
It is recommended that each child have their own personal Emergency Kit on site at the school. At the end of the school year, your child should bring home that emergency kit for the summer to be replenished or updated. Emergency Kit Lists and blank I.D. Cards are available on our school website.
Medical Alerts / Medication for Students
A “Medical Intervention Form” must be completed if your child has an existing medical condition that we at the school should be clearly aware of and have documented. In order for the school to dispense any medication, a parent/guardian must provide the office with the medication in its original container and fill out a “Request for Administration of Medication” form prior to the school administering the medication. The required form is available at the office and must be signed by a parent/guardian. Students with severe allergies may need to carry an epipen on them.
When Children Are Sick
In fairness to all, please do not send your child to school if there are definite signs of illness in the morning. Students who become ill during the day should go directly to their teacher. Our practice is to call parents to ask them to pick up their child(ren) in order to get them home and/or to the doctor as soon as possible.
Supervision
The front doors open at 8:20 am when students are permitted to go to their classroom and/or breakfast club. Classes begin at 8:30 am. We request that students do not arrive in the morning any earlier than 5-10 minutes before the 8:20am entrance bell. This request is made out of concern for your child’s safety and security as school staff are not assigned to supervision duties prior to the 8:20 am entrance bell. Children are supervised during recess by staff and at lunch by 2 paid Noon Hour Supervisors. There is no formal supervision of students before or after school.
Parking Lot
Our parking lot is a busy place and caution needs to be exercised at all times. It is expected that vehicles be driven in a safe manner at all times and that drivers abide by the posted traffic and parking regulations. Please do not park your vehicles in the drop-off zone or bus lane. When dropping off or picking up your chid, it is imperative that the bus access and the cross walk are not blocked so, for this reason, we ask that you do not stop your vehicle in any of the bus lanes (marked by yellow lines) or on the yellow cross-walk. If you wish to get out of your vehicle and leave your car, please park in the parking lot to the west of the school or on the gravel strip to the east. Everyone working together will help to make our parking lot a safe place.
Recess and Lunch
Students are outside at these times, unless it is raining heavily. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather each day. EACH STUDENT SHOULD HAVE A change of clothing (particularly pants) kept in their backpack. Even the older students get muddy or wet! Umbrellas and boots are always a great idea on those wet west coast days.
Leaving School Grounds: Students may NOT leave the school grounds during the day without being picked up by a parent or designated adult. In addition, the office and classroom teacher need to be informed ahead of time via a note or a telephone call. Students are NOT permitted to go to the store across the street. Dewdney Trunk is a very busy road and there is NO crosswalk supervision provided at any time.
Animals on School Premises
For the safety and comfort of all, we ask that pets be kept off school grounds during school hours. Please do not bring your pet into the building unless you have permission from the principal.
COMMUNICATION
Newsletters
In our continuing effort to become paperless, notices prepared by the principal (including our monthly school newsletter and calendar) are sent home electronically via the parent portal once per month. The newsletter and school calendar are also available online at: http://schools.sd42.ca/wc/. A few paper copies will be available at the office.
School Website (http://schools.sd42.ca/wc/) Our school website is constantly updated and is a good source of information. Our website includes: newsletters, calendars, PAC information, staff list with email addresses, supply lists, upcoming events, dates to remember and various forms and information pertaining to the school.
Messages for Students
Emergencies occur and situations may change which require a message to be delivered to your child. However, whenever possible, ensure you have communicated after school plans to your child PRIOR TO SCHOOL. The planner is an excellent communication tool for reminders to your child(ren) about after school arrangements, appointments, etc Planners are very useful when relaying messages FOR YOUR CHILD OR THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. If you need to let the teacher know any information, please write a note in your child’s planner.
The school ONLY HAS 3 PHONE LINES and when in use your message will automatically default to the answering machine. If you call AFTER 2:15 PM, the office CANNOT guarantee your message will be relayed to your child(ren) prior to the bell. Dismissal is the BUSIEST time of the day and the office may not get an opportunity to pick up messages on the answering service before the final bell. Please ensure that you call early in the day if a message MUST be relayed to your child(ren).
Emergency Procedures
Fire and earthquake drills are held to teach our students how to vacate the school quickly and in an orderly way in case of an emergency. Proper behaviour and a serious attitude are expected from all students during these drills.
School Closure
Announcements affecting the closure of schools due to extreme winter conditions or power failures will be made by the Superintendent of Schools. Please check the School District No. 42 website: www.sd42.ca, SD42 Twitter feed (@SD42news), SD42 Facebook feed (SD42Facebook), or listen to any of the radio stations listed below (by 6 a.m.), for information regarding school closure. You WILL NOT receive a call from our school.
CBC AM 690 CKNW AM 980 CKWX AM 1130 JACK FM 96.9 FM 104.9
(604) 662-6900 (604) 873-2599 (604) 873-6397 (604) 872-2557 (604) 877-6357
School Visits / Volunteers
When visiting the school or a classroom, please sign in at the office and pick up a “Visitor” tag. School board policy requires all volunteers in schools to complete a “Volunteer Safety Check Application” form. If you anticipate you may be volunteering during the school year, a form is available at the office. The intent of the policy is to better ensure the safety and security of our students.
Volunteer Driver Requirements: The staff and students of Webster’s Corners rely on parent drivers for a variety of class outings. If you anticipate that you may be assisting the school by driving students then, as mandated by the school district, you MUST have a Driver’s Abstract AND a Volunteer Driver Form on file at the school. The Volunteer Driver Form is available at the school office and on our school website. Volunteer Driver forms and Driver Abstracts are required to be updated 2 years after approval. Driver’s License Abstract requests can be made in person at any Government Agent office or by phoning their toll-free line at 1-800-950-2498 and requesting them to fax it to the school at (604)-462-8746.
Please be aware that effective July 1, 2008 it is the law that all children under 18kg (40lbs) are to be secured in a child car seat with harness; as well, children 18kg (40 lbs) or over, by law, are to be secured in a booster seat with a shoulder harness up to their 9th birthday or 145 cm (4’9”) tall.
PARENT OPPORTUNITIES
Parent Advisory Council
Webster’s Corners Elementary has an active Parent Advisory Council (PAC), which meets monthly. Those involved in the PAC find that it provides a meaningful opportunity for involvement in the education of their child and in the life of the school. Parents are actively encouraged to participate. Scheduled monthly meetings are noted in the school newsletter. Everyone is welcome.
CLASSROOM INFORMATION
If you have a concern, it is important to discuss it first with your child’s teacher. Teachers keep the Principal informed. If concerns are not resolved, the Principal will then be consulted and become involved. The priority is to ensure we best meet the student’s needs.
Classroom and Electronic Devices
We have one laptop cart and one class set of iPods available for student use. Further, if your child(ren) have a personal device, it can be brought to school as a learning tool. We expect students to follow their respective teachers’ guidelines as well as the District’s “Acceptable Use Policy” at all times while using technology. Please be aware that the school will not be responsible for tech support or the security of personal devices. However, staff will help where they can.
If students need to use their cell phone after school, the phone should not be turned on during the school day. If parents need to get hold of students during the day for an emergency, we ask that parents contact the office and we will relay the message. As well, we encourage the student-use of the school phone for emergency purposes.