Parent Handbook

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School Goals

Literacy/Academic Excellence:  

To foster assessment-driven practices around the subject of literacy, particularly in the areas of fluency (K-6) and comprehension (4-6). To use assessment to drive practice, and to identify gaps that need closing in student literacy skills. 

Indigenous Education:   

To embed a deeper understanding of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Learning (IWKL) into curriculum and into school culture.  One of the main ways we will seek to do this is by actively encouraging the inclusion of authentic voices into our teaching and school culture. 

Environmental Stewardship: 

To continue to search for, and provide opportunities for the school community (students, staff, and parents) to learn and develop environmentally sustainable practices. 

Social/Emotional Well-Being Goal:  

To continue to find ways, particularly in the wake of COVID 19, to foster the emotional well-being of individual students, and the school community as a whole. 

 To continue to find ways to explore and celebrate Royston Elementary’s Core Values: 

  • Kindness and understanding   
  • Respect and honesty   
  • Belonging   
  • Self-regulation   

Code of Conduct

Our School Community believes that EVERY child has the right to a quality education in a safe, caring environment.  A set of rights and responsibilities, together with an outline of student expectations that are simple, direct and easily understood are discussed with students at the beginning of the year.  Reminders are given periodically throughout the year. 

All schools in BC adhere to the Human Rights Code and as such, the following forms of discrimination are not tolerated at school:   race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status,  family status,  physical or mental disability,  sex,  sexual orientation,  gender identity or expression; and  age. 

EXPECTATIONS 

Everyone will: 

  • Attend school in a respectful and timely manner 
  • Turn out a quality product to the best of his/her ability
  • Work cooperatively and demonstrate courtesy and honesty
  • Wear clothing that allows them to participate in the intended activities and avoid wearing clothing that promotes drugs or alcohol, displays offensive language/images or encourages discrimination
  • Undertake tasks willingly and make an effort to complete them on time 

 OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY’S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  1. We have the right to be safe. We have the responsibility to treat others with care.
  2. We have the right to a productive and respectful learning environment. We have the responsibility to work productively.
  3. We have the right to be treated fairly.  We have the responsibility to treat others fairly.
  4. We have the right to be heard.  We have the responsibility to listen.
  5. We have the right to use the school materials and equipment.  We have the responsibility to take care of the school, its materials and equipment.
  6. We have the right to socialize.  We have the responsibility to respectfully socialize at the right time. 

Most of our students, most of the time, are very well behaved. Some children do require extra help and perhaps counseling to help them manage their behaviour and learn to make wise choices. All children are considered individually and in a caring manner. All possible methods of improving behaviour will be explored.  Parents are requested to discuss the RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES and the statement of EXPECTATIONS with their child/children.   

Unacceptable behaviour includes bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, threatening or violent behaviours while at school, at a school-related activity or in other circumstances where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment.   Additional serious offences include illegal acts such as possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances, possession or use of a weapon or theft of or damage to property.​  Smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs, including cannabis, are NOT permitted on school property – by anyone.  These types of behavior are not tolerated and will be investigated and dealt with by teachers and school administration. ​ 

ADMINISTRIVIA

  1. School Website and Calendar: For additional school information, please visit this school website.  The calendar is on the left side of the home page.  The district At A Glance Calendar is also helpful.
  2. Attendance: It is expected that provided the children are in good health, students attend school regularly and punctually.  All late students enter the school through the front doors and report to the office for a welcome slip. If you know your child is going to be absent, please call the school at 250-334-2161 and leave a message or email our senior admin assistant, Clare Laughy at royston@sd71.bc.ca  This helps our busy office in the morning a great deal!
  1. Emergency Procedures: In the case of a school wide emergency, our school district has developed an Emergency Protocols for Parents Document.  Please access it here School Emergency Program
  1. Morning Routines: Your children can place their backpacks in the class lineup outside their teacher’s line up door before school. Then, they can play outside on the Big Toy area in the morning until the warning bell at 8:24 am. We have supervisors on duty from 8:10 am onwards and parents.  Parents are welcome to wait with their child at the grassy area by the school garden or in front of the music room portable (parking lot side).  We respectfully ask that you don’t come around to the back of the school or enter the school with your child.  If you need any information or to get a message to staff, you are welcome to come through the front doors at the office provided you follow the health check and sign in procedures at the front foyer.
  1. Stop Drop and Go Zone: The front of the school has a stop, drop and go zone.  Parents can drop their students off in front of our school as long as parents do not exit the vehicle to walk their child to class.  Let’s keep that traffic flowing for everyone’s safety. This is a no idle zone so if you are waiting there in your vehicle, please turnoff your car.  If you wish to wait with your child or greet them on the property at the meeting spots, please park on the street or in the dead end past the barricades on the road.
  1. Celebration of Success Assemblies:

Each month we recognize students for their achievements in various areas.  Parents will hopefully be invited to attend these assemblies.

Month Date Theme of Recognition
September Wednesday Sept 28 TBD Quick Starts or Open Category
October Friday Oct 28 11:00 am Athleticism (Fitness/ PE/ Sportsmanship)
November Friday Nov 25 9:00 am Creative Thinking
December Friday Dec 16 10:15 am Language Arts
January Friday Jan 27 12:45 pm Numeracy
February Thursday Feb 23 10:30 am Personal Awareness and Responsibility
March Friday Mar 24 12:45 pm Critical Thinking
April Friday Apr 28 10:30 am Fine Arts
May Friday  May 26 12:45 pm Most Improved
  1. Raindrop Draw:

When students are filling other’s buckets with kind deeds, we reward them with a raindrop (with their name, division and what they did filled in).  Students can pin their raindrops onto the bulletin board where they stay on display until the end of the month. At our monthly Celebration of Success Assembly, student raindrops are drawn from a raindrop bucket to win a lunch or other prizes. This is based on the picture book: Have you Filled a Bucket Today? – which is located in our school’s library.

  1. Communicating Student Learning:

Teachers have the option to use student portfolios (electronic or paper format) or a MyEdBC formal report card to communicate student learning. These formal reports go home Friday Dec 16, Friday March 24 and Thursday June 29.  For teachers using portfolios, Summaries of Learning are handed out at least twice a year – late January and the end of June.

  1. School Field Trip Drivers:  We rely on parent/caregiver volunteers to drive on many of our school field trips to keep our costs to a minimum. Each year volunteer drivers need to submit a driver’s abstract and prove valid insurance with a minimum $1 000 000 liability and a valid driver’s license. Booster seats are required for students are under 9 years of age and over 40 pounds in weight and should be used until the child reaches 9 years of age or a height of 4’9”. The school has a class set of booster seats available for use.
  1. Nut Aware & Medical Concerns: The school is a nut aware school. Information around which classrooms have students with allergies is sent out in early September. Food will not be permitted outside or in common areas such as the gym.
  1. Buddy Bench and Recess: Our PAC has generously donated a special bench called the ‘Buddy Bench’ where students can sit at recess time if they are looking for someone to play with them.Students are reminded and encouraged to use the Buddy Bench and to look for students on the Buddy Bench to include everyone in their play.
  1. W.I.T.S.: Students are also encouraged to use their WITS when dealing with issues at school. If someone is bothering them, they are to Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it out or Seek Help (from an adult).  Which strategy to use depends on the type of the bothering being experienced.PAC EXECUTIVEOur PAC (Parent Advisory Council) meets the second Thursday of each month in the school library at 6:30 pm. All parents/caregivers are invited to attend.
    POSITION MEMBER
    Chairperson Briana Noot
    Vice Chairperson Tara Pietrzak
    Secretary Rosa Maxwell
    Treasurer Danica Prowse
    Fundraising Coordinators
    Hot Lunch Coordinator Tara Pietrzak

     

    To access up to date information and connect with other parents at our school, please join our PAC Facebook Page at:  Royston PAC Facebook Page