Table of Contents
ParticipationParent Advisory CouncilAll parents are welcome to attend the monthly PAC meeting held in the school staff room on a weeknight (to be announced) at 7:00 p.m. If you want to be involved in the life of the school, but you are unable to help out during the day please attend. This is a great opportunity to get to know other parents, find out more about what's going on at school and be involved with a terrific group of parents who support our school in a variety of ways. It has been through the work of this group that our playground equipment, computer hardware, gymnastics equipment and much more was purchased. In addition, our PAC has played a key role in supporting and sponsoring special activities through the year such as the Terry Fox Day, the Heritage Choir, Fun Day and Skating Parties. We look forward to seeing you at meetings this year! School Based TeamsPurpose: The Core Team usually consists of the following members:
Others members (if required) are as follows:
Responsibilities:
The School-Based Team meets weekly, usually on Wednesday afternoons. Parents of students receiving assistance are notified, and encouraged to attend these meetings. Parent VolunteersAt Henderson we work to provide the best education for all students in the school and, at the same time, we welcome parents with a similar aim to support teachers in the classrooms. Each child is a unique individual, so you can expect to see differences in the way children are taught. Some students receive learning assistance, some are in gifted programs, some have individual programs, and some receive counselling and so on. Fairness and consistency are very important to us, but individual strategies are necessary to help each child reach his/her potential. You can expect to see different teaching styles and strengths. We expect and value these differences for children through the years as well. During their years in school, children experience a variety of strengths and expertise as they move from teacher to teacher. Teachers' styles dictate the way that you are able to fit in as a helper. The kind of work that supports one teacher best may not always be that which you prefer the most. This may range from working directly with children in or out of the room to helping with displays to providing rides for events. Your help is valued, but it is the teacher who must decide what will be most beneficial to him/her. Confidentiality is a most important issue for all personnel - paid or volunteer - working in a school. The needs, history and even strengths of each student are the business of the school and the child's parents only. As you work in classrooms, drive to the Complex or enjoy coffee in the staff room, it is likely that you will become more aware of the characteristics of some students than you would otherwise. Innocent as it may seem, this information should not be passed along to friends, neighbors or anyone outside the school. (No parent would like to hear how his/her child is doing at school from the cashier at the local store, especially if the report is negative.) Finally, the teachers and principal are ultimately responsible for the educational program of each student. As a parent, you have every right to discuss the progress and program of your child with the teacher, but please, don't volunteer in the classroom in order to be a critic. If you have concerns about your child's program, raise them with the teacher and principal privately. Art From the HeartAs you walk around the school, you'll be struck by quantity and quality of art around the building. For many years, our staff has been working with children to develop their artistic talents and give them many opportunities to feel proud of themselves and their school through their art. The front entrance is an informal gallery of current, framed works of art done by children of all ages. You'll also find framed pieces of Henderson children's art in the public library and quite often at Rocky Mountain Pizza as well. Thanks to Ms. Halliday, our former grade 4 teacher, for presenting our children in their best artistic light this way. As you enter the Henderson parking lot, you'll notice the first two annual grade 5 gifts to the school in the form of painted murals on the side of the school. The theme of these painting is Travel to reflect the "moving on" of our senior students each year. At the end of the main hallway is a three-part clay mural completed by three successive grade 5 groups. With artistic and geographic license, the complete mural represents the school and its surroundings including the mill, Willingdon Beach and local lakes. Perhaps our greatest source of artistic pride is the Alphabet Road mural welcoming our kindergarten students as they enter school each day. During the 97/98 school year Mrs. Griffith, our grade 3 teacher, coordinated the creation of this unique work of children's art. Words can't describe its visual impact or the positive effect its creation had on all of our Henderson community. You have to see the mural and the 45-minute video made during its creation to understand what it has meant to us. Our philosophy in each of these creations is that all children have something to contribute and are a valued part of our school community. General ProceduresPromotion PolicyThe concepts of continuous progress for each child will be followed. Generally, students will progress with their peers along a continuum of learning in such a way that they are allowed time to master what has been taught, and yet will be faced with the challenge of new material or the learning of new concepts. In very special circumstances, the classroom teacher, in consultation with the School-Based Team (this includes parental input), may recommend that a student be retained. Student ProgressEach year, parents of elementary students will receive three written reports and at least two informal reports (conferences) describing their child's progress. Parent-teacher interviews are usually held in October and February, and at any other time when requested by parents or teachers. (Teachers may involve students in an informal progress report to parents during the informal reporting periods.) AssembliesSchool assemblies are held every Monday from 10:00-10:30 a.m. Students are recognized for their work in class (e.g., achievement, citizenship, and sportsmanship). On some occasions, students may demonstrate a particular skill or talent (e.g., skipping, dancing, etc.). Parents are encouraged to attend assemblies. AbsencesParents are requested to advise the school by phone of their child's absence. It is equally important to notify the school by phone if a child is not returning to school after lunch. (A callback system--usually between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.-- will be implemented early in the school year to ensure that your child/children has arrived safely in the morning.) NewslettersTo keep parents apprised of school happenings or events, a newsletter will be sent home regularly through out the school year. Rules & RegulationsSchool ProceduresUnless students have permission to leave, they are required to remain on the school grounds from the time of their arrival until dismissal. Before School:Students are expected to remain outdoors until the 8:57 bell unless they are involved in a teacher-supervised activity. Recess:All students are expected to go outside for the recess break (10:30 -10:45). Two covered areas are available in the event of inclement weather. Lunch:Students who go home for lunch will be dismissed at noon. Other students will remain in the classroom to eat their lunch, and may leave when the 12:10 bell sounds (duty begins). The lunch break is from 12:10 -12:42. Students who stay for lunch must remain on the school grounds. (On a few, particularly wet days during the year, the school gym is used as an activity area for students.) Play AreasStudents are to play on the paved areas below the school, the play equipment area, or on the upper field. Students are not permitted to go into the bush area beside the field, nor to the area behind the gym and the portables. Bicycle Safety and SecurityParents who permit children to ride bikes to school are requested to review traffic rules with their children. Helmets are mandatory and bicycle locks are strongly recommended. Bicycles are not to be loaned to, or borrowed by, other students. Roller Blades/SkateboardsThe use of these items is not encouraged as a means of transportation to and from school. If parent feel strongly that their child may travel to and from school on rollerblades or skateboards, we require that a helmet be worn during the trip. For safety reasons, rollerblades or skateboards are not to be used on the school grounds between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. SoccerMany students enjoy playing soccer, and as a result, two areas are designated (the paved area below the school and on the upper field). On occasion, K-2 and 3-5 students may be assigned to separate areas. TelephonesA student may use the office phone for special circumstances, (e.g., advising parent about a detention, missed bus, or a sports activity). The telephone is not to be used for personal reasons (e.g., checking with a parent to determine whether a friend might visit after school, etc.). Expensive Possessions at SchoolPlease do not allow your child(ren) to take expensive toys or other possessions such as Walkmans to school. (The school cannot be responsible for the safe keeping of these items.) Laser Light PensLaser light pens are intended to be used as pointers for people putting on presentations. They are not intended as toys because if directed into someone eye, they can cause temporary blindness and even permanent damage. For this reason students are not allowed to have these pens at school or while travelling to or from school. Staff Expectations of Students on the PlaygroundThe school staff works hard to foster a caring attitude among the students (older students are encouraged to look after younger ones, etc.). From time to time, students must be reminded not to harm anyone, either physically or verbally. Fighting of any sort, even 'play-fighting,' is forbidden, as are any activities where students could be hurt (e.g., throwing snowballs). Students who are noted by teachers, playground supervisors, or student peace patrollers for being helpful to others are given 'Good Deed' slips. Students receiving 'Good Deed' slips are eligible for weekly draws. Problem-Solving ProceduresAt Henderson School, the staff members view discipline as an opportunity for students to learn appropriate ways of interacting in a social setting. (They honor students' rights to access a broad education in all areas of the curriculum, but with these rights come certain responsibilities that students learn to understand and accept as part of their overall development.) At Henderson Elementary School, responsible students:
Minor problems are dealt with on the spot through discussion and reminders of expectations, or the possibility of logical consequences (e.g., misusing materials or equipment could lead to a loss of privileges for a specified period of time). Students who continue to make poor choices in spite of minor consequences, or whose actions are serious enough to compromise the safety of others (or jeopardize the learning environment) will be given escalating time-outs from the playground. They may begin with a 20-minute-time-out period from 12:10 to 12:30 p.m. during the lunch hour. (In addition, in cases of extreme misconduct, the school reserves the right to issue out-of-school suspensions.) The purpose of the plan is to give students many opportunities to choose socially acceptable ways to behave at school. At the same time, we want students and their parents to know exactly what the consequences of continued misbehavior will be. "Our goal is to provide a safe learning environment where all students can do their best at all times." Consequences at the Classroom LevelA classroom teacher may require a student to complete assignments at lunch hour in class or in the Problem-Solving Centre, or after school for a period of up to thirty minutes. When a young child is involved, the teacher will give a day's notice (if the parent cannot be reached prior to 2:45 p.m.). Consequences can be given as a result of student failure to complete assigned work (including homework), or unacceptable behaviour in the classroom. Students who demonstrate poor behaviour on the bus may lose this privilege for a specified length of time. If this occurs, parents are held responsible for making alternate travel arrangements for the following day (or days). Please discuss with your child what he/she is to do if this occurs, and advise the school of your decision for that day (or those days). Computer Lab TimesDuring the first month of school, students will be trained to assist in the computer lab. Beginning in mid-October (depending on the availability of assistants)
Computer lab times will be as follows: Library TimesMrs. Lawn, our teacher-librarian will be in the school Monday and Wednesday afternoons to help students with book exchange. MedicalSchool Health ServicesThe School Health Program is conducted by the Coast Garibaldi Health Unit. Some specific services are: Accident Procedures
Student HealthPlease keep children at home during times of illness (schools are not equipped to handle sick children). It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to inform the school each year of health matters, which may affect a child's schooling (this also applies to an existing condition that may have changed). Where necessary, medical-alert cards are maintained in the school to ensure that students with special health problems (e.g., allergies to bee stings, etc.) will be monitored on a continuing basis. If your child must take medication during school hours, please consult with the school secretary for the appropriate forms to be completed by you and your child's physician. Medicine should NOT be stored in your child's backpack or lunch kit without permission from the office. Head LiceNever a pleasant topic, but they are around from time to time. Head lice are a nuisance, but not a serious health hazard. They are very easily passed from child to child during play. At school, we deal with them in the following manner: When a case is confirmed, the child is sent home as soon as possible with information telling parents/guardians how to deal with the problem; Children who have come into contact with the lice are checked by a team of trained parent volunteers (the results of the checks are confidential). Children with head lice/nits have to receive treatment before we can re-admit them to classes (i.e., a special shampoo must be applied, and all nits must be removed from the hair with a special comb). Please be advised that prior to returning to their classrooms, children must be checked by trained personnel at the school level. Please remember that anyone--teacher, parent, or student--can get head lice. The presence of lice does not suggest uncleanliness. A smart head louse prefers a clean head to a dirty one! It would be of enormous help if parents/guardians who find lice in their children's hair were to inform the school secretary immediately so that the school may take the appropriate action. Fire DrillsStudents practice fire drills at the beginning and throughout the school year. If a serious building fire were to occur, students would be taken to the School District Maintenance Shops (above Brooks High School) and parents would be contacted. Should parents be unable to pick up their children when contacted, the school would dismiss the students at the regular time (2:45 p.m.)-- Provided the general area is deemed safe. Emergency Response PlanStudents, in addition to fire drills, practice earthquake drills. In the event of a serious earthquake (or other emergency) occurring during regular school hours, the following procedures would occur:
If the Henderson school building were declared safe:
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