St. Clare School 12455 Coventry Hills Way NE Calgary, Alberta T3K 5Z4 Phone: 403-500-2102 Fax: 403-500-2302
https://www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stclare
2016-2017
This agenda belongs to: Name: Grade: Teacher:
PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Trisa Soroski VICE-PRINCIPAL: Mr. Mark Hickie ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Karen Smithers
WELCOME TO ST. CLARE SCHOOL!
Welcome to St. Clare School! The purpose of this handbook is to outline the philosophy, expectations and regulations that guide the day-to-day operation of our school. We believe that the best education that students can receive is accomplished through continuous cooperation between home, school and parish within a framework of mutual respect and participation. St. Clare staff members look forward to your continued interest, support and involvement in the education of your child. Thank you for taking the time to read through our Student Agenda. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or an administrator if you have any questions. We are looking forward to a wonderful year at St. Clare School! Our Mission Statement: We at St. Clare embrace the light of Christ and follow in His path. As stewards of God’s kingdom, we are guided by the Holy Spirit to use our gifts to empower individuals to seek their full potential. St. Clare teaches us to strive toward a life of peace, to deepen our faith and to seek wisdom through Christ. Our Vision Statement: St. Clare School aspires to be a place of community for students, staff, and parents: A place where an integrated curriculum operates within a hope-filled environment that challenges students to use their newly learned skills and acquired beliefs. St. Clare is a place which encourages everyone to become Disciples of Christ and responsible people within our community. Our Philosophy: With God’s love to guide parents, teachers and the church, we form a triangle with the child in the middle. All sides of the triangle share the responsibility of moving the child upward, closer to God. We do this by encouraging our children to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the most perfect of all models. Our Motto: Peace, Faith, Light
ST. CLARE Our Patron Saint July 16, 1194—August 11, 1253 August 11: St Clare’s Day September 12: Feast of the Finding of Clare’s Body September 26: Canonized – 1255 by Pope Alexander IV October 3: Celebration of the Miracles of St. Clare March 18 (Palm Sunday, 1212): Clare received a palm leaf from the Bishop and determined she was called to a life of service. St. Clare (bright, brilliant, illuminated one) was the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies (also known as the Poor Clare’s). St. Clare is known for strength of character and sweetness of soul.
Prayer to St. Clare O St. Clare
Clare’s life is a riches to rags story. Clare left behind her life of privilege as a Countess, to join St. Francis of Assisi and pursue her own desire to live for God. Clare loved music and wellcomposed sermons. She was humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. Clare would get up late at night to tuck in her sisters, who may have kicked the covers from their bed. She meditated daily on the Passion of Our Lord. St. Clare was a defender of the faith and is renowned for warding off attack through prayer, while holding the Eucharist inside an ivory ciborium (monstrance).
Flowering soul of heaven spread your fragrance and your love of God among all the students, parents and staff of this school. May we learn together the ways of kindness,
Clare died in her bedroom at the convent of natural causes. During her last days she was too ill to go to daily mass, which had been part of her life ritual; Clare had accurate visions of the events at Mass. These account for Clare’s associations with eyes and technology: she is patron saint to all who work with their eyes, including embroiderers, those with diseases of the eye, gilders, goldsmiths, good weather, laundry workers, needle workers, The Santa Clara Indian Tribe, telegraphs, telephones, television, television writers, those who work in communications and those who work with computers. St. Clare called herself “The Little Flower of St. Francis”. She teaches us to turn from earthly possessions and to turn toward God, to live in peace, to live a life of service and to recognize the goodness which surrounds us.
pray together for God’s grace to spread among us, serving others and forgetting self as you did all your life. Guide us as our Abbess, our Teacher, our Saint, and bless us in your memory, ever-loving St. Clare, Amen Original prayer composed by Canadian author, Lucinda Vardy, For the opening of St. Clare School, November, 2003.
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF CARING We are a Catholic Community of Caring. This philosophy embodies everything we do as followers of Jesus Christ. We focus upon the virtues of: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Trust, Faith and Family. These virtues are incorporated within school plans, curriculum integration, conflict resolution and resilience programming. Routines, events, activities and celebrations will be scheduled throughout the year for the purpose of strengthening a Catholic culture and climate within our school community. Many leadership opportunities are offered to students through activities and clubs to enhance independence and character development. Many of these activities will be delivered through the organization of students throughout the year into multi-class, multi-grade groupings. These groupings develop a greater sense of community and build a culture of caring. Take Care of Yourself We are all God’s children. Play safe, work hard and be the best you can be. Take Care of Each Other Respect others and make sure that your words and actions are not harmful to someone else. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Take Care of Your Environment Show respect for your school and keep it as beautiful as it can be. Student Groups & Human Sexuality Topics Over the year, our school may establish a student group, which engages in discussion and activities related to diversity and justice issues, including support for students belonging to sexual minorities. In particular, within our Religious Education and Family Life Catholic Community of Caring program, students may provide leadership and receive support to continue to build inclusive communities, aligned with our Catholic social teachings. If you wish further information, please contact the principal.
ASCENSION PARISH St. Clare School is part of the Ascension Parish family. Together with Father Avinash, we plan our celebrations and preparation for sacraments. Pastor: Fr. Avinash Colaco Associate Pastors: Fr. Pilmaiken Lezano and Fr. Terry Gubiana Address: 1100 Berkshire Blvd NW Calgary, Alberta, T3K 3M3 Ph: 403-275-2240 Fax: 403-274-3969 Email:
[email protected] Website: http://www.ascensionparish.ca/
Mass Times: Saturday: 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm Sunday: 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm & 5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 am Wednesday: Mass at 6:30 pm following the Mother of Perpetual Help Novena at 6:20 pm (Please refer to the Ascension Parish website for additional information regarding Rosary, Adoration and Reconciliation times.)
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT Background As stated in The School Act, Section 45.1, the district is committed to providing welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging. Each member shares responsibility for the well-being of every other member of the district. As such, a code of conduct must be established and reviewed yearly and shared publically with staff, parents/legal guardians, and students. The following elements will be common to the code of conduct in each district school: Statement of purpose: Calgary Catholic School District’s value statement is as follows: “All members of our community are sacred and must be treated with dignity and respect. We value excellence in Catholic education, guided by shared responsibility and the moral authority of the Church.” This statement guides all district stakeholders as they work to support student success and achievement. The school should be a positive learning environment in which students are safe, secure and successful. The code of conduct will outline expectations for student behaviour while at school, at a school-related activity, or while engaging in an activity that may have an impact on others in the school. The school’s code of conduct will be communicated to parents, students and staff annually and reviewed regularly. The Alberta Human Rights Act: Section three of the Alberta Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or class of persons. Any behaviour that supports this discrimination is prohibited. Acceptable behaviours: All district schools have established Catholic Community of Caring programs that focus on building respectful and caring school environments, rooted in Catholic values. Catholic Communities of Caring programs align with the School Act’s requirement to provide welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. Within our schools, we are building communities that are inclusive and celebrate respect for one another, community and diversity. This includes placing a strong value on:
Respecting all others, regardless of race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation. Respecting the school authority. Respecting the school and district property, as well as the property of others. Respecting yourself and the rights of others in the school. Making sure your conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment in the school that respects the diversity and fosters a sense of belonging of others in your school. Refraining from, reporting and refusing to tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour, even if it happens outside of the school or school hours or electronically. Informing an adult you trust in a timely manner of incidents of bullying, harassment, intimidation or other safety concerns in the school.
Acting in ways that honour and appropriately represent you and your school. Attending school regularly and punctually. Being ready to learn and actively engage in and diligently pursue your education. Knowing and complying with the rules of your school. Cooperating with all school staff. Being accountable for your behaviour to your teachers and other school staff. Contribute positively to your school and community.
Unacceptable behaviours: Behaviours that do not support the Community of Caring program, and therefore interfere with the establishment of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments are considered unacceptable. These include, but are not limited to: Behaviours that interfere with the learning of others and/or the school environment, or that create unsafe conditions; Acts of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, or intimidation; Retribution against any person in the school who has intervened to prevent or report bullying or any other incident or safety concern; Breaches of digital on-line safety; Inappropriate use of mobile devices; Inappropriate student dress; Physical violence or threats; Personal or sexual harassment; Hazing; Illegal activity such as: gang activity; possession or use of weapons; possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances (including drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or e-cigarette products); theft or damage to property. As outlined in Alberta’s School Act, students can be held accountable for conduct that occurs outside of the school building or school day and electronically (e.g. social media), if the conduct negatively affects a member of the school or interferes with the school environment.
PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE PLAN Students who engage in unacceptable behavior will be held accountable through the school’s progressive discipline plan. Consistent and logical consequences, rather than punitive measures, are important to support students in making appropriate choices and help shape their future actions. In any disciplinary situation, each student will be dealt with on an individual basis, and will take into account the student’s age, maturity and individual circumstances. As well, parental or district involvement may be requested to support school discipline procedures. The school’s use of the progressive discipline plan will determine the expectations, consequences and the progression of actions to be taken depending on the severity and/or frequency of the occurrences. At all times, teachers and administrators will use their professional judgment in applying consequences.
Consequences must have a positive effect on the student’s journey through reconciliation, either formally or informally, with the school community and those affected by the student’s behaviour. The following consequences are progressive in their degree of intervention and will be enacted depending on the frequency and severity of occurrences. They will be applied consistently and equally to all students, notwithstanding the individual differences of children and the uniqueness of specific circumstances and situations. Progressive discipline is a whole-school approach that utilizes a continuum of interventions, supports, and consequences, including: prevention measures and initiatives; early and ongoing intervention strategies; strategies to address unacceptable behaviour. Interventions and consequences increase when: the concerning behavior is persistent; the concerning behavior escalates; there is a very serious infraction of the code of conduct. Interventions and consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following: informal conferences; restriction of privileges; parent conferences; in-school suspensions; risk assessment; suspension / expulsion (AP 356); student redirection Behaviour Support Plan (as part of the Learner Support Plan); involvement of Instructional Services and supports; involvement of external services and supports. The principal may involve police in disciplinary matters when criminal activity has become evident. When police are involved, the principal will conduct a separate, parallel investigation at the school level and provide disciplinary action separate from any criminal charges that may be issued. Student support: Support will be provided to students impacted by inappropriate behaviour and to those students who engage in inappropriate behaviour. This is significant because while the student code of conduct must address the consequences for inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, it also ensures that support (not just consequences) is provided to those students who engage in unacceptable behaviour. Examples of how support could be provided to students who have engaged in unacceptable behaviour include mentoring, restorative processes, regular check-ins with teachers or schools counsellors, counselling, etc. Consideration of student diversity: The School Act requires that the student code of conduct address consequences for unacceptable behaviour and that these reasonable consequences take into account the student’s age, maturity, and individual circumstances. The specific circumstances of the situation and of the student need to be taken into account when determining appropriate consequences. For example, any diverse needs that the student has – whether they are physical, behavioural, communicational, mental health, trauma, etc. – must be considered. The age and maturity of students involved should be considered when determining the consequences and support required.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS School Act – Section 16.2 Our school code of conduct and the responsibilities of our parents and guardians are guided by the School Act – Section 16.2 which states: A parent of a student has the responsibility (a) to take an active role in the student’s educational success, including assisting the student in complying with section 12, (b) to ensure the parent’s conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment, (c) to co-operate and collaborate with school staff to support the delivery of specialized supports and services to the student, (d) to encourage, foster and advance collaborative, positive and respectful relationships with teachers, principals, other school staff and professionals providing supports and services in the school, and (e) to engage in the student’s school community. School Council Parents have always played an active, advisory role within schools. The advisory role of school council members is based on a collaborative approach to topics, questions and concerns within the school community. Where there is mutual respect for all opinions and space to see things from different perspectives, principals and school council members work together to gather information and listen to one another with a shared responsibility of serving the best interest of students. Within the Calgary Catholic School District, and as mandated by the School Act, it then falls to the principal to make the make the most appropriate decisions and the rationale for decisions is shared with school council. As members of school council, parents are a valuable support to the principal in helping to establish school goals for student success by contributing to the school Three-Year Plan, and working together to cultivate a positive school climate and culture. School council meetings are generally held once a month at the school. Please check the school website for the most up-to-date meeting times. Parent Volunteers Parents/Guardians are invited to share their talents and time throughout the year. Volunteer opportunities may include library/learning commons services, field trips, special lunch days and events, classroom assistance, recycling and school council activities. Please note that School Board policy requires that parents who volunteer for the school MUST have participated in a Volunteer Orientation provided by the school each year they volunteer. We will have several evening Volunteer Orientation sessions in the fall. We will also provide Volunteer Orientation sessions by appointment. All volunteers are invited to attend our special Volunteer Appreciation event in June.
HOURS OF INSTRUCTION 8:50 8:55 10:30 – 10:45 11:34 12:00 – 12:25
12:25 – 12:50
12:46 12:55 3:25
Entrance Bell Morning Classes begin Recess Break – outside play Morning Kindergarten dismissal Lunch Break: Grade 1,2,3 outside play Grade 4,5,6 eat lunch in the gym Lunch Break Grade 1,2,3 eat lunch in the gym Grade 4,5,6 outside play Afternoon Kindergarten classes begin Afternoon Grade 1 – 6 classes begin Dismissal
ACADEMIC INFORMATION Class Placements The making of class lists is a collaborative effort. A great deal of care and thought are given to the placement of students into classes. Each student is individually considered before placement, with consideration given to a student’s work habits, ability to focus attention, group relationships, interpersonal skills and overall achievement. Teachers and administrators are particularly careful when selecting students for combined grade classes. Curriculum St. Clare School follows the Alberta Education Program of studies. Specific information on curricular topics at each grade level can be found at: https://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mychildslearning/ Reporting Progress Progress Reports are sent home three times during the school year. Parent-teacher conferences are held three times during the year and we encourage all parents to attend to discuss their child’s progress. Please contact the school to arrange an appointment if you wish to meet with a teacher at any other time. Diverse Learning Teachers St. Clare School offers assistance to students through our Diverse Learning Support teachers, who provide direct instruction to students diagnosed with learning disabilities or students who are at risk. They also support classroom teachers in differentiating instruction for students and assist teachers and the School Resource Team in identifying and prioritizing students who would benefit from further assessment. The School Resource Team The School Resource Team is made up of teachers and administrators. The team works to broaden the effectiveness of our student services program as a vehicle that helps address
student difficulties. The SRT considers each student carefully and recommends appropriate strategies for academic, emotional and behavioral challenges. The School Resource Team: Provides staff members with opportunities to share ideas and strategies to support the students and parents in solving the problem. Offers assistance to teachers with students who need help in a non-threatening manner. Involves parents in the problem solving process. Uses conflict management to solve problems. Provides a liaison between the District and community services. District Services The Instructional Services Department in our district has a number of consultants available to assist schools with a variety of services, i.e. instructional support and program planning for teachers. In addition, the Instructional Support Team includes Behavior Support as well as Psychologists, FNMI Liaison Workers, Social Workers and Family Liaison Workers. Learning Commons We are very pleased that St. Clare School has transformed the library space into a Learning Commons. “The goal of the learning commons is to enable all students to be engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit. The concept of a learning commons is a shift in thinking from a library as a physical space that is a repository of books, to an inclusive, flexible, learnercentered, physical and/or virtual space for collaboration, inquiry, imagination and play to expand and deepen learning. A learning commons is an agile and responsive learning and teaching environment available to individuals and groups to use for multiple, often simultaneous, purposes. It supports literacy, numeracy, competency development and student learning outcomes through access to and instruction in the effective use of print and digital resources. The learning commons approach functions best when learning experiences in the school community are coordinated to support student learning outcomes through collaborative planning, teaching and assessing.” Alberta Education, 2014 Many resources are available for student use at school and at home. Resources are generally signed out for one week and many be renewed or reserved as required. Parents are encouraged to periodically review and discuss their children’s resource selections and remind them of the need to return items on time so others may have an opportunity to borrow them. Internet Use All students and staff are required by the Calgary Catholic School District to sign and follow an Acceptable User Policy (AUP) to use digital tools at school. All users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to: Being polite in all communication to others Using appropriate language Maintaining confidentiality of personal information Complying with school policies and behaviour standards Complying with all municipal, provincial, federal or international law.
HOMEWORK The Calgary Catholic School District recognizes meaningful, carefully-planned homework can support student success and be a complementary part of a student’s overall learning program. The District also recognizes: The potential impact of homework on family life The role homework may play in supporting students’ self-confidence as a successful learner The benefit of a district-wide, balanced, reasonable approach to homework. The amount of homework assigned to students should be differentiated according to age, developmental stage, and grade level along a continuum from lower to upper elementary and elementary to junior high. At all levels, the time a student spends on homework may vary and individual student needs and capacity should always be considered. To recognition of the importance of personal and family time, teachers use the following guidelines related to the quantity of homework. Kindergarten – Grade 3: Occasional 5-10 minutes of homework per week. Grades 4 to 6: Maximum of 30 minutes of homework per school night. Teachers, parents and students all have responsibility with homework: Students have a responsibility to do their best in completing assignments. Parents are educational partners with teachers. Homework is one of the options parents have to support their child’s learning. Teachers implement appropriate and reasonable homework practices and ensure homework is used for review, practice, enrichment or completion of work.
SCHOOL SAFETY School Access For the safety and protection of students, all school doors, with the exception of the main entrance, will remain locked throughout the day while classes are in session. The Division 1 boot room entrance will be opened at 8:40 am, at morning recess and during the lunch recess. If your child arrives late, he/she must enter through the front doors and check in at the office. All visitors and parents entering the school must do so through the front entrance. Visitors and parents must sign in at the office and receive a visitor/volunteer badge before proceeding further into the school. Persons who stop in the playground are considered visitors and are also asked to also get a badge for their visit. Fire Drills, Lockdown/Evacuation Practices A minimum of 6 fire drills are held throughout the year. Teachers will make students aware of proper procedures so evacuation of the school becomes an orderly, panic-free exercise. It is imperative that students have a pair of indoor shoes and wear them at all times; they will not have time to put on outdoor shoes during the fire drill or during a real emergency. Students must walk in an orderly fashion, be silent and remain a safe distance from the school with their respective teachers during these drills. The children are required to return to their classes in the
same manner as they exited. Lockdown Drills are also conducted regularly to ensure orderly procedures if an emergency situation other than a fire were to arise. Supervision Supervision of students begins outside at 8:40 a.m. until the entry bell. Students will allowed in the hallways during inclement weather (extreme cold (below -18 C), extreme wind, heavy rainfall). They have access to the washrooms with a supervisor’s permission. At the end of the school day, supervision of students is from 3:25 until 3:40. Parents are expected to make arrangements to pick up their children when school is dismissed. Recess/Lunch Hour Students are required to bring their own snacks and lunches daily. We encourage parents to consider healthy food choices when preparing lunches, and limiting sweets and junk food. Milk is available for purchase through our Milk Program (please see the website for ordering details). There will be several opportunities throughout the school year for students to purchase lunch through the School Council Fun Lunch Program. St. Clare School offers a supervised lunch program allowing students to remain at school for lunch. Noon-Hour Supervision Fees are charged to all students in Grades 1 through 6 to ensure adequate supervision of students during the lunch hour. Fees are calculated each year in order to meet the cost of the program. Students who participate in our lunch program must abide by the rules of the school. Any student not abiding by these rules may have his/her lunchroom privileges removed. Students who remain at school for lunch are not allowed to leave the school grounds unless they are signed out at the office by a parent/guardian. Students going home for lunch are encouraged to return to school 5 minutes prior to the bell. All children go outside for the noon break and afternoon recess unless there is inclement weather (extreme cold (below -18 C), extreme wind, heavy rainfall). If weather conditions change and children are already outside, the supervisors will bring the children into the school. Please ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the weather. Children who are well enough to be at school should be well enough to go outdoors. School Bus Rules and Regulations Students riding on the bus must remember that they are responsible for their conduct to the bus driver and through him/her to an administrator in the school. Violation of any of these rules may lead to a loss of bus privileges. The driver is in full charge of the bus and his directions must be obeyed. The driver will report any misconduct to the Principal of the school concerned, whom will take appropriate action. The driver may assign specific seats to students at any time. While the bus is in motion, students must not extend arms or heads out of the windows, try to get on or off the bus, or move about within it. Students must not throw anything on the floor or out the windows of the bus. While on the bus, students must conduct themselves in a quiet and courteous manner, showing consideration for the comfort and safety of others. Pushing, fighting, and the use of obscene language on the bus are prohibited. Students must not distract the bus driver.
Students causing willful damage to a bus will be held fully accountable. When leaving the bus, students must observe the instructions of the bus driver. They should not cross the road without a clear view in both directions. School Patrols The members of the patrol units are volunteer Grade 6 students who are given an opportunity to develop and practice leadership skills. They receive training through the Calgary Police Services. Patrols operate every day before and after school (weather permitting) for fifteen minutes. Their primary job is to see to it that children are safely escorted across the street. It is important that all students co-operate and obey the instructions of the patrollers.
PARKING Our philosophy at St. Clare is Safety before Convenience. In order to keep our children safe, the school parking lot is Out of Bounds to all non-school board vehicular traffic. Parents picking up and dropping off students should do so on the street in front of and across from the school. Please do not park in the bus zone, and remember that it is unlawful to block a crosswalk at any time for any purpose.
STUDENT PROCEDURES Attendance Regular attendance is expected of all students. Each and every absence must be reported by a parent or legal guardian either by a note or phone call to the school office. School Connects will call and follow up on all absences not called in by 9:00 a.m. In cases of habitual late arrivals, and absences deemed unexcused, an Attendance Improvement Plan will be implemented and may include a referral to the District’s attendance officer. Please make every attempt to have your child at school on time. If for any reason your child is late, please notify the school. Notes and phone calls must be specific as to the reason for absence. Any student who arrives at school late is to report to the office and receive a late slip before going to class. Permission to Leave the School Any student needing to leave the building during school hours due to illness, doctor’s appointment, etc. must have a parent/guardian sign them out. The school will not allow any student to leave during the school day without a parent or guardian. Illness at School Students will sometimes become ill while at school. We ask that parents monitor their children’s health prior to their arrival at school. If a child attends school in ill health, chances are that he or she will not focus on learning and may even pose a health risk to others. If a child needs to be sent home due to illness, a parent or other emergency contact will be notified and asked to come to the school to pick their child up.
Emergency Contact Numbers If students become ill or are seriously hurt at school, staff will make every effort to contact the parents at home or at work. Should these efforts fail, the emergency contact numbers will be used. If your contact information changes throughout the year, please notify the office of the changes as soon as possible. Administration of Medication Administration of medication to students can only be facilitated under the authority of the attending doctor and parents and with the appropriate documentation in place. Forms are available at the office and circumstances should be discussed with school administration. Students who suffer from severe allergic reaction should carry an epi pen (in a pouch) with them at all times as well as leave an extra pen at the office. It is also highly recommended that “medic alert” bracelets be worn for all severe medical conditions. School Telephone and Cell Phone Use School telephones are for school business. Students may use the phone in emergency situations only. (Arrangements for rides or going to a friend’s house are NOT emergency situations.) Students are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day at St. Clare School, unless they are being used to support their learning. Please note that students will not be interrupted during class time to take a telephone call unless there is an emergency. Messages may be left for students which they will receive as soon as possible. Student Belongings/Toys Students are asked not to bring personal items to school that are not directly related to their schoolwork. Students should leave the following items at home: cell phones, heelys, hockey or lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, hardballs or lacrosse balls, IPods and other handheld devices, laser pointers or pens, toys, trading cards and expensive jewelry. Bicycles/Inline skates/Scooters/Skateboards All students who choose to ride bicycles, or use their inline skates, scooters or skateboards to travel to and from school do so at their own risk. Helmets should be worn at all times when using this type of equipment. Bicycles must be placed in the bike racks and should have a secure lock. Inline skates, scooters and skateboards must be stored in the school during the day. For the safety of all, students are to walk with their bicycles, scooters and skateboards on school property. Air Rifles/Guns The district prohibits students from possessing weapons or engaging in violent or threatening acts on school property, and at school sponsored functions and activities. "Weapon" means any object, device, or instrument designed or through its use is capable of threatening or producing bodily harm to oneself or others. By this definition, air rifles/guns are therefore considered weapons. As it is challenging to visually identify these weapons as air rifles/guns, school staff, Calgary Police Services and the RCMP will likely respond in the same manner as they would an actual rifle/gun. For the safety of all students, staff and visitors in the school, these items are not allowed on school property or at school-related activities under any circumstance.
Lost and Found All personal items such as clothing and school supplies should be labeled. Lost and Found boxes are located at main areas of the school, in the event that these personal items get misplaced; students and parents are encouraged to look through these boxes. Unclaimed items are sent to the Inter Faith Thrift stores at Christmas, Easter and at the end of June.
DRESS AND APPEARANCE As a Catholic School District, the goal of our Dress and Appearance code is to provide a positive and safe learning environment that will reflect our virtues of decency, modesty and respect. Students’ dress and appearance shall be appropriate for educational activities and not cause a disruption to the educational process. In general, clothing and apparel that are revealing are not permitted and heads should not be covered (ball caps, hoodies) except in special circumstances. Specifically, the following are prohibited: Inappropriate emblems, printing/writing on shirts, jackets and headwear; all emblems must be in harmony with Catholic values and beliefs. Midriff shirts, halter tops, spaghetti straps, muscle shirts. Miniskirts and short shorts. Clothing, jewelry or accessories which create a safety or health concern, or cause, or threaten to cause disruption to the educational process Students not complying with the Dress and Appearance Code will be asked to change into more appropriate attire. The dress code reflects the values of our school community. Health and Safety regulations mandate wearing of proper footwear in school at all times. All students must refrain from wearing black-soled shoes in the building as the black marks left on the floor create a great deal of extra work for our caretaking staff. We ask that all students have a pair of indoor shoes available to wear in school.
My parents/guardians and I have read and discussed the 2016-2017 St. Clare School handbook. Student signature: ________________________ Parent signature: _________________________ Date: _________________________
2016 – 2017 Important Dates to Remember September01 05 15 16 October
School opens (Full day of classes) Labour Day (No Classes) Parent Teacher Conferences (Evening) Parent Teacher Conferences (No classes)
07 Professional Development Day (No classes) 10 Thanksgiving Day (No classes) 31 Professional Development Day (No classes)
November 01 Faith Day (No classes) 11 Remembrance Day (No classes) 25 Progress Reports go home December 01 Parent Teacher Conferences (Evening) 02 Parent Teacher Conferences (No classes) 22 Last full day of classes before Christmas Break January
09 School re-opens 27 Professional Development Day (No classes)
February 16 Teachers Convention (No classes) 17 Teachers Convention (No classes) 20 Family Day (No classes) March 16 16 17 24
10 Progress Reports go home Parent Teacher Conferences (No classes) Parent Teacher Conferences (Evening) Professional Day (No classes) Last full day of classes before Spring Break
April
03 School re-opens 14 Good Friday (No classes) 17 Easter Monday (No classes)
May
19 Professional Development Day (No classes) 22 Victoria Day (No classes)
June
29 Progress Reports – Last full day of classes *Please check the school website for updates and additional events.