Ridgeview Public School 2015 2016 School Phone # 905-451-6332 School Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1509 Stay informed with school newsletters and events by clicking Subscribe on the school website. Follow us on Twitter @RidgeviewPS STUDENT'S NAME: TEACHER'S NAME: *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** NOTE FROM PARENTS/GUARDIANS I have read and understood all the content of this handbook. (Please sign the permission forms on pages 8 and 9) Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian signature Date Please Print SCHOOL INFORMATION Principal: S. Damaso Trustee: Kathy McDonald Vice Principal L. Kennedy Office Manager: T. Nasser Office Assistant: J. DiPietro Superintendent of Schools: Mr. Adrian Graham (905) 451-2862 SCHOOL HOURS 8:20 a.m. Entry Bell 8:25 a.m. Beginning of School Day 10:45a.m.-11:25am Nutrition Break 1 12:45p.m.-1:25pm Nutrition Break 2 2:45 p.m. Dismissal Ridgeview s Mission Ridgeview is a learning community that encourages all students to achieve their full potential in a safe, respectful learning environment. Page 1 of 9
Welcome to Ridgeview! We are excited about the 2015-2016 school year. It is our aim to prepare our students to be successful, contributing members of the 21 st Century. We know that meaningful education today goes far beyond memorizing facts. Critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving are key, as are those all-important learning skills. We look forward to working together with you, this year, to ensure that each and every student at Ridgeview feels safe, included and free to take the risks that are needed in order to maximize their learning. As the students say, at Ridgeview I m free to be me. GENERAL INFORMATION To ensure safety for all, students at Ridgeview Public School are expected to: Keep, hands, feet and objects to themselves STUDENT SAFETY AND SECURITY In order to further ensure a safe environment for all students, the following measures have been established and we request your cooperation and assistance by adhering to them. All visitors, including parents, MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE WHEN ENTERING THE SCHOOL. Visitor or volunteer identification tags will be provided and must be worn. Students who arrive late or leave at times other than regular dismissal times must report to the office and be signed in or out by their parents. Should you need to see your child or drop off items during the school day, please come to the office. Your child will be called to the office to meet you. For student safety, and to avoid congestion in school hallways, during dismissal parents must meet their child at an appropriate waiting area in the school yard. Please BE PROMPT when picking up your child at 2:45 p.m. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated in helping keep our students safe. MORNING SUPERVISION The school yard is supervised in the morning beginning at 8:10 a.m. As a safety measure students must not arrive at school prior to this time as they will not be supervised. Supervision before 8:10 a.m. will be the responsibility of the parents/guardian. SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD A school crossing guard will be available at the following intersections: McMurchy at Charolais (at the signal lights) McMurchy at Elgin (at the signal lights) From 7:55 8:45 a.m. and 2:50 3:45 p.m. From 7:55 8:45 a.m. and 2:50 3:45 p.m. McMurchy at Kingsview Dr. From 7:55 8:40 a.m. and 2:45 3:45 p.m. PARKING/GATE Transportation is a significant issue at Ridgeview. Most families do not feel their children should walk to school and in order to drop them off by car, many will ignore parking signs and staff instructions. To ensure safety in our school parking lot, the gate to the parking lot will be closed at 8:10 each morning. It will be opened after the morning rush. It will then be closed again at about 2:15 p.m. and not opened until after 3:00 p.m. Page 2 of 9
ABSENTEEISM AND LATENESS Students are expected to arrive at school on time and be present unless illness prevents attendance. If your child has a cold or is ill, we suggest that you keep him or her at home. Youngsters exposed to a large group of children for the first time often pick up germs easily. Attendance is the responsibility of both the child and the parents. It is extremely important that you call the school number at (905)451-6332 to inform us if your child will be late or absent due to illness, doctor's appointment, religious holiday, mini vacation, etc. You may even leave a message on our answering machine between the hours of 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. Lost time can impact on a child's progress in school. EXTENDED ABSENCES/WITHDRAWALS The school will need written documentation if you are planning a vacation that would be longer than 5 school days, indicating the start and end date of the vacation. In complying with the Board s requirement written documentation will also be required if you are planning to move to another school. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. While these trips can be educational, the time away from school can impact on student learning. Learning is cumulative each unit builds on the skills learned in previous units. So, classroom lessons can not be easily made up. Large gaps in a child s learning can hinder future learning. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Fire Drills are mandatory at school and are held in order to allow students to practise evacuating the school in a safe and orderly fashion. They are held a minimum of six times per year, and the children and staff do not know when they will take place. This allows us to react as we would in a real emergency, and for this reason it is important that students always wear their shoes in school. Lockdown procedures are practised a minimum of twice a year. Further information is provided under Lockdown Procedure in this agenda. In case of an emergency where we have to evacuate our school all students and staff will proceed to Brampton Centennial Secondary School, 251 McMurchy Ave., South, Brampton. Should relocation be necessary, the Peel District School Board, (905) 890-1099, and the Peel Regional Police, (905) 453-3311, will be notified of our location. Your children may be picked up at this location by you or your delegate. This information is to assure you that plans have been made for your children's safety. ILLNESS AND ACCIDENT AT SCHOOL At times children become ill or are involved in playground accidents of varying seriousness. (a) In these cases our first action is to call you either at home or at work. In most cases we prefer that you come to the school and see your child safely home. (b) If we cannot reach a family by telephone, we attempt to contact the emergency number which we request from all families. We will then place your child in the care of this person. (c) If we are unable to be successful in either (a) or (b) then we will take the action we feel is necessary, e.g. First Aid, Para-medics (911). (d) Due to personal liability and safety reasons we ask all parents to make sure that your child/children refrain from using school playground equipment during school hours. Creative playground equipment should only be used by students when supervised by Ridgeview staff. MEDICATION AND HEALTH INFORMATION It is the policy of the Peel District School Board that school staff should not be involved with the administration of medication. Rather, it is the responsibility of the parent(s) to arrange with their physician for medication which can be administered before and after school. From time to time there may be a need for your child to take medication during school hours. The Peel District School Board has an "Administration of Prescribed Medication" form that needs to be filled out annually by the parent(s) and the physician to allow the school staff to administer the medication to your child. Please pick up the medication form from the office should your child need medication administered during school hours. This form must be completed by a physician for any medication that needs to be stored at school. NOTE: You can assist your children and the school if you ensure that all telephone numbers and home addresses we possess are up-to-date. A form requesting updated numbers is sent home in the Fall. We Page 3 of 9
appreciate your co-operation with this matter. This information is very important in the event that the school needs to contact a parent, particularly in the case of an emergency. BICYCLES Parents should discuss bike safety with their children. Bikes should be placed in the bicycle racks and be locked. The school is not responsible for theft or damage of bikes at school. Children are to walk their bikes once on school property. LUNCH Staff and attendants supervise during Nutrition Breaks. Students should bring a litterless lunch to school each day. Reusable containers are encouraged as all garbage from lunch is brought home Students are expected to stay in their seat at all times, wait until the end of the period to put lunch bags away, ask permission to go to the washroom or elsewhere, and use appropriate voice and language at all times. DRESS CODE Religious headgear is permitted however any other hats and/or headgear including earplugs should not be worn in the school building. Skirts and shorts must be of respectful lengths (should extend beyond finger tips of out stretched arms). Shoulder straps should be at least 2 adult fingers wide. Offensive graphics and or slogans on clothing are unacceptable. WORKING TOGETHER To help keep you informed about the school and classroom events we make available to you the following: this handbook; school newsletters; twitter @RidgeviewPS (also many groups and classrooom teachers have twitter accounts); School Council Facebook page - Ridgeview P.S. School Council, and twitter @RidgeviewPSCncl; teacher letters and open invitations to meet with the staff to discuss any concerns you may have. Communication is key to meeting the needs of each child at Ridgeview Public School and the staff work closely with parents and children to ensure that communication is open and profitable to all. PARENT VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are most welcome at our school. We need volunteers who can help on a daily basis or weekly basis and those who can help once in a while. Our students benefit from the support of our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, at any time during the school year, you will need to have a Criminal Record Check completed. This is done free of charge by the Peel Regional Police for all volunteers. All volunteers must have their Criminal Record Check approved by the Peel District School Board. Please contact the office to pickup the appropriate forms. PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS/REPORT CARDS As partners in developing a successful educational plan for your child, it is very important that communication be ongoing and valued. Information shared by parents enhances the teachers' understanding of the whole child and is often critical in determining the strengths and areas of need for their child. The Ministry report card provides a separate page for parents to provide constructive feedback with each formal report card. This page must always be signed and returned to the school after receipt of the report card-even if you do not elect to provide written comments. Parent/Teacher Interview information will be sent home with the report cards for students in grades one to five. Our school calendar will indicate the date when report cards will go home. FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS Field trips and excursions offer children firsthand experiences to enhance in-school instruction. Children can respond creatively and academically to learning opportunities when they have been actively involved in a real life experience. When excursions are planned, a notice will go home to you outlining the details for the trip. Please sign and return the notice promptly. We appreciate your support with the field trips designed to meet the needs of the children at Ridgeview. Page 4 of 9
Brenda Ave. Important Bussing Information Please Read Carefully The following are several important points regarding bussing for your child: Please visit businfo.stopr.ca to see if your child is eligible for bussing. Bussing eligiblity does change from year to year so please check for changes. The board sets the boundaries and there are no exceptions to expanding them. Please note the grade levels and corresponding distances. The Fill up the Bus Program is designed to fill any empty seats that might be available. A form needs to be completed in order to qualify for this program and are available at the school office. Empty seats are not filled until the end of October. Priority is given to the younger grades and distance from the school. Please note: Based on this year's data, very few, if any, seats are available forfill up the Bus. The Safety of Your Children is Important to Us Please Read the Following Message Carefully A reminder that there is NO STOPPING DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF THE SCHOOL. We work very hard to stress road safety with our students. Parents who park across the street from the school MUST NOT walk their children between the busses, or indicate for their child to do so, as this is extremely dangerous. During the winter months it is both slippery and visibility is reduced so it is very important that you follow the pick up and drop off routines outlined. Due to safety concerns, PLEASE use Brenda Ave. (in front of Ridgeview school) as a ONE-WAY, drive-through street only, going south If you need to park your vehicle to drop off/pick up a student, please use one of the streets near the school, NOT BRENDA AVE., so that there is a clear passageway for buses and cars that are driving through. Please arrange with your child a location where they can meet you after school. Your cooperation will help to minimize the traffic congestion and provide a safer environment for our children. THANK YOU! Harold Street NO STOPPING OR PARKING Ridgeview Public School NO STOPPING OR PARKING Kingsview Blvd NO STOPPING OR PARKING Page 5 of 9
Appropriate Use Guidelines for Telecommunications* * Includes: Internet, Intranet, Local Area Network, Dial-Up Educational Use of the Internet The student who is able to competently access, analyze, evaluate and communicate information will be better prepared for the future. The amount and availability of information have grown and continue to grow rapidly. Information was once an expensive commodity available only to select members of society. Today, the technical ease with which it is stored and transmitted makes it accessible to a much broader spectrum of society. Peel students have the facilities to utilize the assets of on-line libraries, databases, bulletin board services and government agencies. Our students can communicate almost effortlessly with millions of other computer users throughout the world. E-mail, mail lists, user groups and dedicated web sites allow our students to collaborate with peers and interact with experts in a fashion that is independent of time and distance. The skills learned and practiced as students explore the world of telecommunications will prove valuable Student Responsibilities Use of Peel District School Board telecommunication facilities is a privilege, not a right. It is expected that each user will: Use telecommunication facilities in a manner that is legal, courteous and that supports existing school codes of conduct. Practice a high standard of "netiquette" or network etiquette when communicating with others. Use board equipment in a way that preserves limited resources, that protects the integrity of the network and that represents a high standard of care and maintenance of the equipment. Practice personal safety when initiating or responding to individuals via telecommunications. Specific guidelines for student behaviour are listed below. Dos... Never give out names, phone numbers or addresses to on-line strangers Inform teachers or guardians when you come across questionable material Never respond to messages that are unkind or make you feel uncomfortable Never agree to meet with or send a picture to a person you have met on-line without first checking with your teacher or your parents Make every effort to safeguard the security of your account by not sharing passwords or distributing private login information Page 6 of 9
Avoid plagiarism by citing sources and attributing material to its proper owner Use downloaded software and files in the manner stated by the original owner or creator of the material Use Peel telecommunications resources for educational, schoolwork-related purposes.... and Don'ts Send offensive messages or pictures Use obscene or racist language in private or public messages Harass, stalk, insult or attack others Damage computers, computer systems, computer networks, peripherals or software - either mechanically or by using viruses Violate copyright laws Use another's password Trespass in another's files or folders Intentionally waste limited resources Employ the network for commercial purposes Use the network to access or to distribute illegal or illicit material Attempt to access information or system levels for which you are not authorized. Board and School Responsibilities As service provider, the board will: Provide appropriate supervision and monitoring of student use of telecommunications. Remove access to telecommunications equipment for those students who abuse telecommunication privileges. Other sanctions consistent with the school's or the board's discipline code may be applied. Review appropriate use procedures and provide updated guidelines for use of telecommunications facilities. The Peel District School Board provides network access to students in order that they may conduct research and to facilitate communication with others. The Board reserves the right to inspect student files and folders in order to ensure that Appropriate Use Guidelines are being followed and to ensure system efficiency and integrity. Accordingly, students should never send messages or store material that might be considered personal, private or privileged. Peel teaching staff will provide instruction and guidance in the wise use of telecommunications resources. While every attempt will be made to monitor material being accessed, the student may inadvertently access inappropriate or objectionable material. When such cases occur, the student should immediately notify the nearest supervisor so that appropriate action may be taken. When accessing the Internet from home, the student should be under supervision. As the Internet is unregulated and ever-changing, your child will need a strategy for handling unwanted material, and guidelines as to which sites are appropriate and meet the morals and values practiced by the family and the community Page 7 of 9
STUDENT USE OF THE INTERNET PARENTAL CONSENT Where the student has not reached the age of 18, this Peel District School Board site requires the signed consent of a parent or legal guardian indicating that The student may use the Peel board telecommunication facilities to access the Internet or portions thereof. Student Agreement: I have read and agree to comply with the Appropriate Use Guidelines for Telecommunications. Signature: Date: Parental Consent: As legal guardian I grant permission for my child to use Peel District School Board telecommunications related facilities to access the Internet and to communicate over it. I have read the Appropriate Use Guidelines for Telecommunications and discussed them with my child. I understand that inappropriate use of the facilities may result in the withdrawal of privileges or in other sanctions. Name of Student Date of Consent Parent/Guardian Signature WALKING PERMISSION CONSENT Visits to places of interest are an integral part of our school program and are excellent source of first-hand knowledge. They also help to motivate the children with creative ideas for the language, math, art and science curricula. Throughout the school year children will be taking walking trips in the neighbourhood. Would you please sign the bottom portion of this letter and return it to the school. My child (please print child s name) has permission to go on walking trips in the neighbourhood, with the teacher, during school hours. Parent/Guardian Signature Date: Page 8 of 9
Dear Families: Each school year, we seek parental permission for a number of school-based activities. By signing the consent form below, you are giving permission to: Post your child's schoolwork in the school's front foyer and/or hallways. Please note that only your child's first name will appear next to the piece. Include your child's full name and grade on awards/trophies that will be kept in the school's front foyer and/or hallways. Mention your child's achievements in our school newsletter, website and social media accounts. Only your child's first name will be used. The grade level may also be mentioned. Post your child's schoolwork in our school's newsletter, website and social media accounts. Your child's first name and grade level may be referred to. Grades or marks will not be posted. Include your child s full name in school programs or student awards (graduation programs, school plays and musical productions, school brochures), and school yearbook. Use photos and/or videos of your child in our school s newsletter, yearbook, website and social media accounts, as well as the board s website, social media accounts and internal publications. Photos will be taken of groups of students and will not identify any individual student (e.g. a photo of a group of students playing basketball in the gym). Have your child recorded or photographed by a staff member, volunteer or student teacher as part of the learning program. These photos and videos may be used within the school or board, and may appear on school/board websites and/or social media accounts, including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have your child recorded, photographed and/or interviewed for media stories throughout the school year. This does not include photographs taken for political purposes (e.g. for politician s newsletters). The images and/or audio may be used in local, national or international news stories about school programs, initiatives, awards and/or events. Your child's full name and image may accompany the story. In providing this consent, I acknowledge that any photos/videos posted on the school s and/or board s website or social media accounts may be widely circulated to the public, and may be viewed by anyone with access to the Internet. If I provide consent, and then later revoke my consent, I acknowledge that although the photos/videos will be removed from the board s websites and social media accounts, it may not be possible to remove all traces of personal information from the Internet. If there are items you do not consent to, please cross them off. This consent will be effective during the current school year. Consent may be revoked at any time by contacting the school office. Please complete and return the permission form to your child's teacher. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school. AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE I hereby consent to the initiatives described in the letter above. I understand this consent will be effective during the current school year. Date: I am the parent or guardian of and I consent to this authorization and release. Parent/Guardian signature Page 9 of 9