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Blessed Trinity Catholic School Handbook Table of Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
SCHOOL HOURS
SCHOOL SAFETY
Over the past little while, a serious safety concern caused by unwanted visitors in our schools has arisen. To deal with this problem, the school will do the following:
To further ensure student safety, students will not be permitted to leave school property to purchase a lunch unless they are picked up and accompanied by a responsible adult known to the child. If a child eats lunch at school, please ensure that (s)he brings a lunch to school every day. We ask that lunches are not brought to school for the students. COMMUNICATION
Regular and effective communication allows the school to keep the parent community informed about children’s progress and school events. Parents can expect any form of communication to go home with the eldest child in the family. Communication tools can take the form of newsletters, monthly calendars, student agendas, letters and telephone calls. CHANGES OF INFORMATION
Report to our office any changes of home address, telephone number, business telephone, name and telephone number of emergency contact person. Accurate information at school could be critical in the event of an emergency. APPOINTMENTS WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND TEACHERS
Parents/Guardians are welcome to visit the school. Should you need to meet with the teacher or principal, please arrange an appointment in advance. STUDENT ILLNESS OR ABSENTEEISM
If your child is to be absent from school for any reason, please telephone the school to inform the secretary before 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. on the day of absence. This will reassure the school that your child is safe. If a child is absent, then we will call home if we have not been notified. If your child has to leave during the day for an appointment, please send a signed note requesting his/her dismissal and the time. If children are not feeling well, please give them an opportunity to recuperate at home. It is assumed that if children are well enough to be at school, they are also well enough to take part in recess. Children need time to get some fresh air and stretch their muscles. If they are dressed properly, they will be able to do this in comfort, even on our cold Canadian winter days. DRESS CODE
All students shall dress according to the following criteria:
Final decision on inappropriate clothing rests with the principal and staff. INCLEMENT WEATHER
During the winter season we want to remind the children to make sure that they are dressed appropriately with hats, gloves, boots, etc. so that they are comfortable when they are outside. Generally, students will go outside for recess unless there is a wind chill warning from Environment Canada. A wind chill warning is issued when the combination of cold temperatures and high winds makes it unsafe to be outdoors for a long period of time. The school regularly monitors weather forecasts and conditions so that we have up-to-date information. If there is a warning, the children will be kept indoors. On days when there is a very heavy snowfall, we ask that parents listen to radio broadcasts to get information on bus cancellations and school closures. Please do not call the school for this information because we are often not informed until after school starts in the morning. TELEPHONES
Students are given permission to use the school telephones only in emergency situations. Students will not be called out of class to come to the phone. The practice of calling students out of class is very disruptive to everyone involved. Please leave a message and we will make sure that it is communicated to your child. You may call at any time to report an absence to the automated answering machine or to leave messages for a particular teacher. Refer to teacher voice mail. VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
Board policy states that all persons are required to report to the main school office upon arrival at school. PRIVACY & CONFIDENTIALITY
The school is not permitted to give out addresses and telephone numbers of students or staff. Student records are also confidential, but may be inspected by the child’s parents/guardians upon written request and by appointment with the principal. YARD SUPERVISION
Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. Please do not send children to school, if they walk or are driven, before this time unless they are involved in a teacher-directed activity. Students are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. and bus duty continues to 3:15p.m. Please pick up students promptly at 3:00 p.m. LUNCH SUPERVISION
Children should
eat lunch at school only if they are transported to school by school
bus or if there is no one at home during the lunch hour. All other
children should go home for lunch. Children who stay for lunch will
eat in the classroom to which they are assigned. They have 20 minutes
to eat lunch, supervised by staff members. The rest of the noon
hour is spent in the yard under staff supervision. ANAPHYLAXIS ALERT – Allergen –Safe Environment
Please take special note that we have children in our school who have a very serious, life-threatening allergy to nuts, peanuts and all peanut products, called Anaphylaxis. We are notifying all parents that students should not bring peanuts, peanut butter or any food containing nuts or peanut products such as peanut oil, etc. We ask that you pay careful attention to the listing of ingredients on the packaging and any personal baking or other treats that you may bring to the school to share with the class. These measures are necessary in order to ensure the safety and welfare of these children. More information and tips to help us and you deal with this matter will be sent out under separate cover. PARKING LOT
Parents are asked to use designated parking spots in the south parking lot only. Please do not park in the north lot or in the north driveway. Please avoid stopping in the drop-off circle and never leave a car unattended in the drop-off circle at any time. I would like to remind parents of the no idling bylaw. Idling causes pollution that poses a health problem for our students. Please do not use the teachers’ north parking lot or driveway to pick up or drop off students. It is too small and congestion can jeopardize student safety. We ask that you pick up and drop off in the south parking lot only. We would like to remind parents that parking in the handicapped parking spaces is illegal unless you have a special permit. Please respect this special reserved space. SCHOOL PROPERTY
Throughout the school year, the students are assigned textbooks, library books, physical education equipment and other materials for their use. When the children no longer need these resources, they are to be returned to the school in reasonable condition. If any resources are lost or damaged, the parents will be asked to make restitution to the school. Please encourage your children to take good care of the materials assigned to them. VALUABLES
Students should not bring expensive items to school such as toys, cell phones, pagers, lasers pointers, CD players, game boys, card collections, books, watches, jewelry, etc. or any object of sentimental value to the family. These items invariably are lost, stolen or broken, which causes unnecessary upset to the student, the family and the school, and puts temptation in the path of other students. Bicycles must be chained and locked to the north fence. Students are reminded not to tell others the combination to their locks. Please be advised that Board insurance does not protect such items, and neither the school nor the Board is obliged to replace them. Such items are brought to school at the owner’s risk. Skateboards and rollerblades/inline skates are not allowed on school property. Please be reminded that Ontario law requires all students to wear bicycle helmets. CATHOLIC SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (CSAC)
We have an active and vibrant Parent Council at Blessed Trinity. All parents are cordially invited to attend our meetings. If you wish to add any item to the agenda, please forward it in writing to the school or to any member of the CSAC Executive. Minutes of the meetings are always available for viewing at the school. Since the majority of members on Council are parents, we are always looking for new members. Please consider joining up. No experience is necessary, just an interest in your child’s school. Talking to a current member is a great way to find out about being a member. A new School Council is formed each year. The Council supports a broad range of committees and activities including goal setting, community building, fundraising, parent information evenings, special lunches, extra curricular activities and classroom assistance. Each September, volunteer forms are distributed to all parents detailing all the volunteer opportunities at the school. It is important that you complete these forms so that we can continue to provide these valuable services and activities to our children. To learn more about the Catholic School Advisory Council, please contact the school office or any member of the CSAC Executive. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION / FAMILY LIFE
Blessed Trinity is a Catholic School committed to excellence in education within a Catholic environment. While the school and the parish work co-operatively in this educational process, the role that parents play as the primary educators of their children, especially in faith development, cannot be over-emphasized. We assume that our children attend Mass regularly as a foundation for all we do in this school. Our Catholic faith underlies and permeates all we do in this school. Prayers and sacramental preparation are part of the daily routine. Children and staff endeavour to live out the Gospel values. All students participate in formal religion and family life lessons, using programs designed and approved by the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops. SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Many students in the school will have some parts of their program modified to suit their learning needs, for greater or shorter periods of time. This is organized through our School-based Support Team, and modifications may take place informally in the regular class, or more formally through the intervention of our Special Education teachers. If more formal intervention is necessary, parents will be involved at all levels of the process. HOMEWORK
The assignment of homework will vary according to grade level, student achievement and teacher expectation. For all grade levels, students are required to complete any work that they did not finish in class. We would strongly encourage that parents motivate children to read on a nightly basis. Activities, such as reading, playing, outings, hobbies, games and family discussions provide children with the foundation and background necessary to facilitate learning in the classroom. We would recommend that all students review the day’s work to promote learning. Following are suggested daily homework timelines:
Homework is the responsibility of the students, and parents are asked to provide a supportive environment in which to work. Organizational and time management skills are learned in the elementary grades. Agendas are strongly recommended to help students improve their organizational skills. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students have
access to a wide variety of activities at Blessed Trinity. Older
students play on school teams such as softball, soccer, basketball,
volleyball, cross country and track and field. Other activities
include skating, skiing, floor hockey, chess, W5H, environment club,
music festival, junior achievement, swim team, school choir, Student
Council and instrumental concert. Educational excursions that enhance
the regular school curriculum are also planned. To be involved for
the honour of the school involves discipline, sacrifice and school
spirit. Students are encouraged to live up to their commitments
and participate fully and enthusiastically.
BEHAVIOUR
CODE The Blessed Trinity Catholic School Behaviour Code helps all community members to understand the ways in which a positive, safe and motivational school climate is developed. All members of our school community have an obligation and responsibility to create and maintain such an environment. Blessed Trinity Catholic School has the mandate to create and promote a distinct way of life based upon the Good News of the Gospel and by sharing in the life of Christ in this special setting. Every student has the right to learn and every teacher has the right to teach and no person has the right to disrupt the learning of others. The Blessed Trinity Catholic School Behaviour Code is consistent with the basic principles of a democratic society and reflects a positive learning environment based on God’s truth and the example set by His Son, Jesus Christ. All members of the school community are to be treated with courtesy, respect, compassion and dignity. Discipline will be handled in a firm, fair way with the best interests of all students as the guiding principle. The Blessed Trinity Catholic School Behaviour Code is intended to be preventative not punitive, and to provide suitable guidance for all members of the school community so that the consequences of inappropriate behaviour are known, understood, fair and accepted. Examples of Minor and Major Infractions as Identified in the “Communities for Learning” Safe Schools Document:
For students 11 years of age and under, the Principal has the discretion to assign consequences appropriate to the infraction, its severity and frequency. For students 12 years of age and over who commit a major infraction, the Principal has the discretionary power to suspend and/or call the Police and fill out a Violent Incident Form.
Possible Consequences for Minor Infractions:
Possible Consequences for Major Infractions:
ONTARIO SAFE SCHOOLS ACT 2000 The Ontario Ministry of Education has set out clear standards of behaviour in its province-wide Code of Conduct and regulations. The Code is designed to increase respect, responsibility, civility and academic excellence in all students in a safe learning and teaching environment. It specifies mandatory consequences for student actions. It also states that students and community members are to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or oneself.
With the cooperation of family, church and school, the Toronto Catholic District School Board endeavors to fulfill its mandate to serve all the students entrusted to its care. Its mission is to educate students to their full potential by providing:
CONFLICT MEDIATION STRATEGY Conflict is an inevitable part of life in a community filled with individuals with different ideas and ways. Conflict Resolution is a process in which difficulties between community members can be addressed in a respectful manner, and a plan of action determined which will satisfy all members involved. Parents and students are encouraged to take any concerns to the classroom teacher first. Staff will contact parents and students directly should any difficulties arise. Should a suitable solution or plan of action not be reached among these individuals, community members are asked to contact the Principal. Blessed Trinity Catholic School offers various social skills groups such as classes given by a guidance counselor or behavioural class teacher. PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES TO GOOD BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
The principal may, at any time, notwithstanding the above procedures, suspend a child for a single incident if it is deemed by the Principal to violate the sections in School Board Policy and the Education Act that deal with suspensions. As well, the procedures described in this Behaviour Code may be modified at the Principal’s discretion, where it is felt to be in the best interest of the student. BUS BEHAVIOUR
As you know, many of our students are bused to and from school each day. In order to ensure the maximum safety for all students and driver, children are expected to observe the following rules:
I am certain that you, as parents, would ask no less of your children than we do at school. The driver must concentrate on traffic and control of the bus. Distractions of any kind can put in jeopardy the safety of everyone on the bus. The use of the school bus is a privilege and as such it can be taken away. Any student, who does not cooperate in following the rules, will have a warning letter sent home after the first infraction. If a second infraction occurs, the student’s bus privileges will be taken away for a period of one week. For a third infraction, bus privileges will be taken away for two weeks. Any further refusal to follow the rules may lead to removal of privileges for the entire term or longer. If bus privileges are taken away from any child, it then becomes the parents’ responsibility to arrange for transportation to and from school. Please talk to your children about the importance of following the rules. Please note that students who are not regularly scheduled to take the bus may not board the bus at any time.
STUDENTS’ RIGHTS (include the right to):
STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES (include the duty to):
STAFF RIGHTS (include the right to):
STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES (include the duty to):
PARENTS’ RIGHTS (include the right to):
PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES (include the duty to):
PARISH’S RESPONSIBILITIES
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