Queen Elizabeth II Student Handbook

School Hours

8:40 a.m 10:40 – Instruction
10:40 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. - Break
11:20 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. - Instruction
1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. – Break
1:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Instruction
3:00 p.m. - dismissal

Supervision

Parents are reminded to send their children who walk to school only after the yard becomes supervised at 8:25 a.m. Parents are discouraged from dropping off children before 8:25 a.m. because there is no supervision on the yard. It is especially important to note that bussed children only are allowed inside before 8:25 a.m. on rainy or extremely cold days. No children are to be in areas of the school that are not supervised.

Safe Arrival Policy

Parents and guardians are responsible for their children’s safety. This process is in place in our school to account for any pupil’s unexplained failure to arrive at school.

Contact Numbers

In September, we send home a Student Information Form which has home, business and emergency contact numbers. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide the school with current information to help us make necessary follow-up contacts. It is imperative that parents and guardians fill out this sheet with the correct information and return it to the classroom teacher immediately. Should numbers change throughout the year, you must contact the office so we can make those changes on our computer system.

Attendance

1. As a parent or guardian, you are required to call the school when your child will be absent or late. You must call each day that your child is absent or late. If you are aware of the need to be absent for more than one day, please contact the office and tell us how long your child will be away. The school has an answering machine tied into our phone system. You can call any time of the day or night to leave a message (344–0801). When our secretary arrives at the school she listens to the voice mail and your message will be noted.
2. Attendance is taken at 8:40 and 1:40 daily.
3. Messages from the answering machine are noted and explained absences are marked. The phone calls then begin in an effort to contact the parent or guardian of a child with an unexplained absence.

Office Contacts

Our office is a very busy place early in the morning and at the end of day. You are requested to keep your contact to a minimum at those times, so our office staff can devote their attention to the safety of our students.

Lates and Absences

Repeated lates are a concern to us all. Being punctual is a life skill. Counselling through the office and parental contacts occur in cases of repeated problems.

Children who are frequently absent from school lose contact and get “lost in the shuffle”. Research has shown that children who drop out of school usually have poor attendance records. It is imperative that attendance is regular. Counseling, parental contact, Board personnel, and eventually, truancy charges have been used to deal with chronic problems.

Medication

Parents may arrange for medication to be given to their children by having their family physician fill out an “Authorization for Administration of Oral Medication” form which is available from the office. Students are not to bring medications to school. Parents are requested, in all circumstances, to make those arrangements through the office.

Emergencies

Queen Elizabeth School is in bus zones 2 & 3.

In the case of severe winter weather, announcements are made on the local radio stations (CHOK 1070, FOX FM 99.9, K106.3) to inform you of any school cancellations, bus delays or early dismissal plans. All parents need to have a plan in place that your children are well aware of, in the event of a last minute change in what is regularly planned. You are encouraged to listen to the radio and not to call the school for information as we will be using the phone to make outgoing calls related to the changes. In the event of an early bus dismissal, we will attempt to contact you. It is imperative that you have a backup plan and that your emergency contact numbers are updated and accurate. In the Fall and Spring, the entire school practices fire drills so we are prepared in the case of emergency evacuation. You are encouraged to also do the same in your home. Tornado drills and severe weather discussions occur to assist the children in deciding what to do if threatening weather approaches.

Monthly Newsletters

At the beginning of each month, a newsletter is sent to each family. A calendar for the month is also included. Some classroom teachers send home a monthly newsletter describing both class and divisional activities. Be sure to read these with your child and follow up on the contained suggestions.

Open House

Early in September, we have an open house so parents may meet their children’s teacher(s).

Phone Use

We are a busy school with a high number of outgoing and incoming calls. Therefore, the use of the phone by students is restricted to emergency or teacher requests only.

Fundraising

Activities are run by the school to fund programs such as plays, some trip transportation costs, and entry fees to special events.

These funds are raised through bake sales, cheese sales, etc. From time to time our School Council runs both non-profit and profit programs. These funds go to support School Council identified goals. Weekly programs are also run by the parents through the lunchtime tuck shop sales. Minor profits from these go to reach school wide goals.

Gum Chewing and Food and Beverage Consumption

Gum is not allowed at our school and students are reminded that food and drinks are only to be consumed at snack and lunch time in the classroom setting.

Hats

To promote the Canadian tradition of removing hats in a public building, students are requested to take off their hats upon entering the school.

Head Lice

When live lice are found parents or guardians will be notified and students must be picked up for immediate treatment and to limit the spread. When nits are found families will be contacted so the children may be treated. No children are re-admitted until they are certified "nit free”. Parents need to understand that children should take no longer than three days for treatment, clearing the hair and being checked for return to class.

Breakfast Program

Queen Elizabeth II School is part of the Breakfast for Learning Program. Any child is able to access a nutritious breakfast. Students are served a balanced breakfast at the a.m. recess through the office if he/she wishes one. You are encouraged to make sure your child gets a good breakfast each day. You might like to volunteer with these programs, especially if you take advantage of them.

House by the Side of the Road

Located at 454 Kathleen Avenue, “The House” is a community resource centre open to all local residents as well as the wider community. A program of the Sertoma Child and Youth Centre, “The House” provides a wide variety of programs for area youth and parents. Programs include preschool sessions, morning recess snacks, after school programs, weekly youth groups, a library, parenting programs, adult literacy, etc. For a complete list of programs or for more information contact the coordinator at 332-0216.

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

Parents are urged to use the proper street areas to pick up and to drop off students. The parking lots are dangerous and you are asked to not wait there for the children to come out of the school. Another area of danger is by the bus pick-up. Children have to run out between the buses in the middle of congested street traffic. The best and safest spots are the sides of the streets closest to the school.

School Supplies

It is being suggested that students could bring the following school supplies. Students who provide their own resources tend to be more responsible for the care of materials.

Whenever possible these personal materials should be labeled. If properly cared for, some of these materials should be available for more that one school year.

Primary Division (Grades 1 to 3)

• Pencil case…pencil crayons for Grades 2 and 3
• Blunt ended scissors
• Glue stick
• White soled running shoes for gym use only
• Eraser
• Set of wax crayons
• Box of Kleenex
• Hand held pencil sharpener
• Package of Primary Printing Pencils (thicker pencils)