2019-2020Communication Plan

75 MacMillan DriveElmsdale, NS, B2S 1A5

Phone 902-883-5350 Fax 902-883-5353

www.eld.ccrce.ca

We believe in a culture of acceptance where diversity is valued and honoured. Elmsdale District School strives to come together as a

school family every day with respect, tolerance and peacefulness in our hearts. We believe that everyone who enters our school has a part to

play in making our community peaceful, safe and supportive.

DATES TO REMEMBERPE

ACEFUL

NESS

SEPT 3 Meet the Teacher Night 5:00 to 6:15 pm

SEPT 5 Students First Day of School

SEPT 10 First Home & School Meeting

SEPT 12 Stand Up Against Bullying Day

SEPT 16 Nourish Roots Orders Begin (Ends on 26th)

SEPT 24 First School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting

SEPT 25 Picture day

SEPT 26 School-based Terry Fox Run

SEPT 27 Site-based PD (No Students)

COOP

ERATION

OCT 8 Home & School and SAC

OCT 14 Thanksgiving (No School)

OCT 16 Picture Retake Day

OCT 19 Craft Market & Fun Fair Fund-raiser

OCT 24 Tentative Orienteering for Grades 4

OCT 25 Provincial Conference (no students)

OCT 31 Orange & Black Day

CONF

IDEN

CE

NOV 8 School Based Remembrance Day Ceremony

NOV 11 Remembrance Day (No School)

NOV 12 Home & School and SAC

NOV 15 Assessment & Evaluation Day (No Students)

NOV 22 First Spirit Day & Bring a Food Bank Donation

NOV 26 Report Cards go Home

NOV 28 Parent-Teacher Evening Reporting (5:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

NOV 29 Parent-Teacher (8:00 am 10:00 am) & Site Base PD (No Students)

THAN

KFUL

NESS

DEC 6 Second Spirit Day & Bring a Food Bank Donation

DEC 11 Holiday Dinner

DEC 13 Third Spirit Day & Bring a Food Bank Donation

DEC 16 Holiday Concert (Storm Date on the 17th)

DEC 18 Holiday Bazaar

DEC 20 Last Day Before Holidays

TRUS

TWOR

THI-

NESS

JAN 6 Students Return

JAN 14 Home & School and SAC

JAN 17 Tentative Winter Carnival (If Snow)

KIND

NESS

FEB 11 Home & School and SAC

FEB 14 Red & Pink Day

FEB 17 Heritage Day-Honouring Africville(No School)

FEB 18 Site-based PD (No Students)

COUR

TESY

MAR 13 Tentative School Skating Day

MAR 16-20 March Break

MAR 27 Assessment & Evaluation Day (No Students)

HONO

UR

APR 6 Report Cards & Read a Thon Sponsor Sheets go Home

APR 8 Parent-Teacher Evening Reporting (5:00 pm - 7:30 pm)

APR 9 Parent-Teacher (8:00 am - 10:00am) & Site Base PD (no students)

APR 10 Good Friday (No Students)

APR 13 Easter Monday (No Students)

APR 14 Home & School and SAC

APR 20-27 Read-a-Thon

EXCE

LLEN

CE

MAY 1, 8, 15, 22 &

29Running Club During Lunch Hour

MAY 18 Victoria Day (No School)

MAY 19-29 Grade 3 Literacy & Math Assessments (LM3)

UNITY

JUN 5 Gr. 5 Transition Day to REC & New Primary Orientation Day at Elmsdale

JUN 12 Gr. 5 Track & Field Day at REC

JUN 19 Tentative Field Day at Elmsdale

JUN 25 Concert & Picnic & Gr. 5 Recognition Day

JUN 26 School Based Canada Day

JUN 29 Assessment Day (No Students)

JUN 30 Report Card Day

Please subscribe to our Google Calendar from our website

Communication MethodsElmsdale District values communication with our families, including, but not limited to, the following:

• PowerSchool Student-Parent Portal• Facebook • Twitter (@ElmsdaleDistri1)• Google Calendar • Student Agendas• Newsletters• Website (http://www.eld.ccrce.ca/)• Phone calls• Emails• Notices

Parental Question or ConcernA process is in place to ensure parents/guardians receive prompt response to questions or concerns that cannot be resolved at the school level. If you feel an issue has not been resolved, a CCRCE Parental Concern Referral Form is available through CCRCE’s website: www.ccrce.ca/parent-concern-form

We look forward to working with you.Principal, Ms. Langille (LangilleLD@ccrce.ca)Vice Principal, Ms. Nickerson (NickersonT@ccrce.ca)Administrative Assistant, Angela Reid (ReidAD@ccrce.ca)

School CancellationsSchool cancellations are made over local radio stations and documented on the CCRCE website. This also includes Early Dismissal (1 or 2 hours before the usual school day ends) due to forecasted afternoon weather. When school is cancelled, all school events for that day, including scheduled parent meetings, extra-curricular and evening activities taking place at the school are also cancelled. During inclement weather, when buses travel on paved roads only, this applies to a.m. & p.m. Those students affected (living on dirt roads) and transported to school by private conveyance must also be picked up.

AttendanceRegular school attendance and punctuality are important, however on occasion ELD recognizes that students are unable to attend. Please notify the school when students are absent. Parents can do this by contacting the school (902-883-5350) and leaving a message indicating the student’s name, teacher and reason for the absence. Arriving late for school is a major concern as children miss valuable instruction. Numerous late arrivals quickly add up to many missed hours of school. Chronic school absences and lates will be addressed via administration and our school’s Attendance Support Worker, Ms. Knox (KnoxKL@ccrce.ca).

Please Note: If your child has the flu or a contagious condition, the expectation of the school is that this individual remains home. Please report any contagious conditions to the school.

BusingStudents who travel by bus are expected to use safe and respectful behaviour at all times. Your child’s positive behaviour will allow the bus driver to concentrate on driving with care. Students who do not honour the school bus rules run the risk of losing this transportation privilege and this would include any bus transportation to school activities during the time of the suspension. Bus students are transported to their regular ‘after school’ spot. Any changes in their stop along the way must have written parental permission and school approval. In the case of an emergency, the school will do its best to accommodate a change of bus request. Do not assume a change in busing can occur for play dates, birthday parties etc., as many of our buses are operating at full capacity.

Morning Drop Off LoopAs traffic has to keep moving, please advance as far as you can in this loop and have arrangements organized so it can be a quick "Kiss and Go". For your child’s safety, have your child exit the vehicle at the curbside of this loop.

Parent-Student HandbookWe ask that you read our Parent-Student Handbook for additional information about our school which includes such things as our pet policy as well as our Code of Conduct, behavioural expectations and general guidelines. Please review the rules and expectations with your child. The complete document is on the school website: http://www.eld.ccrce.ca. A condensed version is in the front of the student’s agenda.

Allergy AlertElmsdale District is a peanut/nut free school and a scent sensitive facility.

Hours for Students7:45 School Opens for Students

8:00 Instruction Begins

10:00 Recess

11:15-12:00 Grades 3/4, 4, 4/5 & 5 Lunch

11:40-12:25 Grades 1/2, 2, 2/3, & 3 Lunch

12:05-12:50 Grades P, P/1, & 1 Lunch

2:00 Dismissal: 1st - Students Being Picked Up2nd - Bus Students3rd - Walkers/Bikers

PLEASE NOTE: As staff supervision of children begins at 7:45 AM please ensure your child is not dropped off before this time. Also, school begins at 8:00 AM. It is very important that your child arrives on time.

Student registration forms must be updated on a regular basis. The school requires current contact numbers at all times. It is also important to list 3 emergency contacts besides yourself. These would be people who have your permission to pick up your child if you are unable to do so or if the school is unable to reach you.

Social-Emotional WellnessElmsdale District utilizes the Zones of Regulation:(www.zonesofregulation.com) along with the Zones Room to help assist your child in self-regulation skills. In addition to this, Elmsdale holds students to their virtues (www.virtuesproject.com) and the school follows the positive effective behaviour support matrices for expected behaviours in all areas of the school. The Second Steps program is also taught in most classes. It is important to work along with the school and report to the classroom teacher/office/guidance counsellor any event that has occurred that will have an impact on your child’s social-emotional well-being. This could include the death of a loved one/loved pet, a new sibling, a separation (temporary or permanent), or anything that creates anxiety/emotional upset in your child’s life. The school’s guidance counsellor is Ms. O’Donnell (ODonnellSC@ccrce.ca).

Sign-in ProceduresTo ensure student and staff safety all parents/ guardians and visitors are asked to sign in at the administration office upon entering the school. Late students must be signed in!

Student Sign OutAll students being picked up will be signed out by parents/legal guardians. It is a parent’s responsibility to inform the school if another individual has been given permission to pick up the child. No child will be signed out into the care of another individual without this permission. When picking up children, vehicles must be parked in the parking lot. Do not leave vehicles unattended at anytime in front of the school as this is a fire lane.

CafeteriaStudents can purchase recess snacks from as little as .25 to $1.00 and they can purchase a healthy lunch for $4.25. Students who bring their lunch from home require their own utensils and napkins; please ensure they are provided.

Breakfast Program runs daily from 7:45-8 am and all students are encouraged to access this program. It is important for students to start the day with fuel in their bodies for optimal learning to take place.

Student & Staff Internet-Email User PolicyWhen students use a school computer [this includes tablets] they must adhere to the Provincial School Network Access and Use Policy which can be found here: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/docs/networkaccessandusepolicy.pdf

Student Owned Electronics and Other ToysIt is important for students to keep personal electronic devices and other toys at home. If a student has a cell phone for after school safety, it is important that it is kept in their backpack during school hours. The school will not be responsible for these items if brought to school and lost or stolen.

Students are not permitted to take pictures of other students on their personal devices without explicit permission by the child’s parent/guardian.