Parent Handbook
General Information:
Davis Bay Elementary School
5078 Davis Bay Road
Sechelt, B.C. VON 3A0
Tel: 604 - 885-9523
Ms. Sally Thicke Principal
Hours:
Primary and Intermediate:
8:35 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
(Noon time - 11:35 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Students play first, then come in to eat.)
Mission Statement:
To build a safe, caring community that values, inspires, and challenges each individual to reach their full potential.
Absences and Tardiness:
Attendance is taken every morning and afternoon by the classroom teacher. When your child is late or absent, the office calls home. If you know that your child will be late or absent, please let us know in advance (885-9523). This will help us account for all students in a timely way.
We like to impress upon our students the importance of being on time for school. Please support us by ensuring your children leave home early enough to get to school on time. If students are late, they must report to the office before they go to their classroom.
A record of “lates” and “absences” are kept and noted on report cards.
When Children Are Sick:
In fairness to all, please do not send your child to school if there are definite signs of ill health in the morning. We have neither the facilities nor the personnel to care for sick children. Students who are ill should receive proper medical attention and not attend school until their health is improved. Our policy is to send unwell students home. For this reason, it is important that parents inform us promptly if their emergency contact numbers change.
Bussing:
Some students who live at a distance make use of school bus transportation to and from school. This service is provided by the School District on the basis that students will be: responsible, cooperative, and mindful of the safety of others. Students who compromise the safety of others by poor behavior on the bus may lose the privilege of riding the bus.
School Site:
Our school is nestled at the top of Davis Bay Road. The beautiful physical environment that exists at DBE is the result of our maintenance crew’s efforts as well as those of our community.
Please help us by bringing any acts of vandalism to our attention immediately. You can also call the RCMP to report any vandalism in progress. Let’s all do our part to help DBE remain a “gem” in our community.
Library:
Our school has an excellent library. With over 13,000 books it is one of the best school libraries on the coast! Students may borrow 2 books at a time, one of which they can read themselves. The loan period is a week, but students may return and check out new books every day if they wish. Please ensure safe care and proper handling of books at home.
Computer Lab:
Students may sometimes use the computer lab at lunch as well as before and after school, depending on the availability of supervisors. Students must adhere to our computer “Rules of Use” at all times.
Gym:
The gymnasium is used for P.E. classes, school assemblies, science fairs, plays, concerts, plus a variety of extracurricular team sports such as volleyball and basketball, as well as noon hour games.
We ask that all students wear sturdy running shoes to school inorder to participate safely in gym and other activities.
Track:
An all-weather track exists around the field area of the school. This track is used by students and the community and provides a safe area to exercise through walking or jogging. Few elementary school have a track like ours.
Telephones:
Students may use the phone in the office or their classroom, after receiving permission from the office or their teacher. The phones are not for making social arrangements, like going to a friend’s house after school; rather they are for calling home for help about such matters as having left homework behind or needing a lunch.
Cell Phones:
Unless really needed over safety concerns, like having to walk some distance home alone -- students should leave these devices at home. If they are brought to school, they need to be turned off and stored out of view, say in the student’s backpack.
NOTE: We are not responsible for cell phones or other electronic devices and toys that go missing at school. Such items and toys are best left at home.
Health Services:
Several members of the staff have first aid training to deal with minor injuries and health problems.
Health services are provided by Public Health and include:
*immunizations
*vision and hearing screening
*monitoring Medical Alert list
Medication administered to students at school must be monitored through the Public Health Nurse. A form must be completed and filed at the office before any medications can be administered at school.
Daily Planners:
All of our students use a school issued, personal planner. Planners encourage students to be organized and set goals. They also help with communication between home and school. Parents are strongly encouraged to read daily entries, and in most cases, initial once assignments are complete. Your child’s teacher will guide you in the specifics of the planner.
In grades 4-5, students receive a grade for the Health and Personal Planning curriculum. Consistent use of the daily planner forms part of the criteria used to determine this grade.
Consistent use of the planner helps students to become organized and effective learners.
Homework:
Some homework activity is a necessary aspect of schooling. Your child’s planner is meant to help him or her keep track of what they need to do.
Some ways parents can help are:
- Ask your child what homework he or she has to do that day,
- Provide a place, with proper supplies, and regularly planned time when your child can study without the distractions of television, telephone, or siblings,
- Make a commitment to listen to your child talk about his or her school work and give your child some time each evening when he or she has your undivided attention,
- Listen to your child read or read to them (A very powerful activity),
- Keep in touch with the classroom teacher as to the classroom routines, expectations, assignments, and projects etc.,
- Encourage your child to ask questions about the assignment at the time it is made or before he or she leaves school,
- Check with your child frequently on the completion status of long term assignments
- Help your child develop a system so that assignments will be remembered and completed.
School Rules:
We have two overall rules or guidelines for student conduct:
1. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
2. If you can’t say something nice (or helpful), don’t say anything at all.
Our Code of Conduct, conforming to Ministry guidelines, is on the school’s website. It describes
the expectations for student conduct in more detail.
Our Key Words:
Appropriate behavior at Davis Bay Elementary centers around three key words and attitudes. They are: being respectful, being responsible and being safe.
Being Respectful: Means: to treat with deference, esteem, or honour; to avoid degrading or insulting, injuring or interfering others, and to treat them with consideration, and refrain from offending or corrupting or tempting others.
Looks Like:
- Being polite (Please, thank-you, excuse me, etc.)
- Being kind
- Being sensitive to how others are feeling
- Taking care of personal and school property (texts, supplies, desks, etc.)
- Putting litter in the garbage
- Using appropriate voices and language (inside/outside voices, no swearing)
- Staying out of other people’s personal space
- Accepting differences in everyone’s
abilities, opinions, ideas etc.
- Following classroom rules
- Wearing appropriate clothing
- Allowing others to speak and to be
heard
- Allowing others to learn
- Taking turns
- Recycling
Being Responsible: Means: to be morally accountable for your decisions; to be reputable, respectable, and evidently
trustworthy; to see oneself as the primary cause in the result.
Looks Like:
- Responding to requests
- Participating and giving your best
effort
- Cooperating with others
- Being willing to problem-solve
- Being honest
- Cleaning up after yourself
- Reporting damage
- Completing assignments and
homework
- Accepting consequences for actions
- Being on time
- Having appropriate supplies, texts,
and notebooks
- Using the daily planner
Being Safe: Means: to be free from risks and danger, to be cautious
Looks like:
- Walking inside
- Using the playground equipment as it was
designed
- Staying on school grounds and away from
driveway
- Getting permission to leave school grounds and signing-out when you leave
- Throwing only balls and other appropriate
gym equipment
- Avoiding horseplay and games that might be injurious
- Being silent during emergency situations
- Being aware of our anger and acting
appropriately
The formulation of school rules, classroom rules, and the recognition of positive choices, as well as the correction of poor choices, are central to the living out of our key words. They are also vital to a nurturing, safe and, for some students, a healing environment.
It is the function of our Code of Conduct to provide a consistent, just process and structure within which all students can learn. By providing this structure and process, we enable our students to be respectful, responsible and safe.
We understand that learning self-discipline is a lengthy process. However, some behaviors demand a more serious consequence than others. These include:
- Physical, verbal (oral or written), sexual or psychological abuse or harassment
- Bullying
- Discrimination on the basis of race, culture, religion, gender, language, disability, or other attribute.
- Fighting
- Refusal to comply with a reasonable staff request (defiance or intractability)
- Possession of a weapon
- Theft*
- Vandalism*
- Drugs/Drug Paraphernalia
- Illegal Substances
*Students and parents will be held responsible for the repair or replacement to any damage done to property in the
school environment (including desks, chairs, texts, school grounds and buses).
NOTE: Behaviors involving weapons, fire crackers, illegal substances, alcohol, drugs or drug related apparatus at DBE will be dealt with very seriously and will include suspension and involvement of the RCMP.
Student Concerns:
We teach students a variety of ways in which they can resolve problems or concerns they may have. These include: walking away, using appropriate words, and seeking the assistance of an adult. We have staff on supervision at recess and lunch that students can go to for help.
Safety:
Bicycles/Skateboards/Roller blades/Scooters:
Students who wish to ride a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or roller blades to school must wear a helmet. When students reach the school grounds, they must get off their bike (or other equipment) and walk to the bike racks or building. When leaving, bikes must be walked off of the school grounds. This rule applies to skateboards and roller blades as well. Students are not permitted on roller blades or skateboards inside the buildings.
Leaving the School Grounds at Lunch:
Students must bring a note from a parent each time if they are leaving the grounds at noon hour.
Extended Experiences:
There are occasions where learning experiences and opportunities are offered outside the regular classroom on extended
experiences or “field trips”. Extended experiences are available to all students in the classroom - students are never excluded for financial reasons, however these experiences may be withheld from students who do not demonstrate safe and responsible behavior at school.
On school field trips the Code of Conduct and usual expectations for behaviour apply at all times.
Picture Taking:
Student should ask permission before taking pictures of anyone, and never post pictures of anyone on an internet site without that person’s knowledge and express permission.
Parents As Partners:
You are partners with us in the education of your child. Good communication between home and school helps support learning.
Address concerns about your child’s learning, behaviour or relationships at school, promptly. In most cases, your child’s teacher will be the person to go to.
On occasion, other staff may be involved. Our goal is always to support students in their academic, physical, social and emotional development -- and to consult with you in the process.
We encourage you to become involved in the life of our school!
-Join the Parent Advisory Council
-Volunteer to help in the classroom and/or at special events
-Go to school and classroom events like Sports Day, field trips, concerts, etc.
-Attend the Parent/Teacher interviews
*Parents who volunteer as drivers or supervisors on field trips, must have an approved RCMP criminal record check on file with the school district and school. Forms to have this done are available at the office.
Visiting the Classroom:
Should you wish to visit your child’s classroom or teacher, please make an appointment in advance. Inform the teacher
about the purpose of your visit so that they may support you appropriately.
Stay Informed:
Check for school newsletters, which should come home in this planner!
Lunchtime Expectations:
The majority of students remain at
school for lunch, rather than going home.
Staying at school for the lunch period,
however, is a privilege. If a student is
consistently poorly behaved and is
not following our key words and school
rules, he/she will be asked to make
other arrangements at lunch time and
remain off the school grounds until the
lunch period is over (at 12:20 pm).
This measure may be taken for a short
period of time (in an effort to change the
student’s behaviour) or, in severe cases,
may be extended for a much longer period
of time, if overall behaviour does not improve.
Healthy Living:
We encourage all students to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and the Ministry of Education has directed that
students spend more time being engaged in physical fitness activities at school. To this end we have students go outside to play on most days. Having students indoors at recess or lunch means they get little exercise.
Please dress students appropriately for the weather conditions on any given day so they will be comfortable outside.
Lost and Found:
Many articles end up in our lost and found boxes outside the library. Labelling clothing, backpacks, lunch kits, etc. with your child’s name is a very good idea!
Important Tel. Numbers:
School Bus Service 885-2513
(school bus)
Teddy Bear Daycare 885-2721
RCMP 886-2245
Rainy Days/Weather Warnings/School Closures
Even though the rainy season is upon us, we still like to give students the opportunity to get fresh air and play outside as much as possible. Please send your children to school with proper footwear and outerwear so that they can continue to enjoy being outside. Thank you.
This is the time of year that we may have school closures or disruptions to the school day due to severe weather/snow and power outages. If it looks like snow or there are extreme wind warnings, and you are not going to be at home on such a day, please send a contact name, phone number and place to which we can send your child on such a day if we need to dismiss early.
Also, on these days, listen to CKAY FM (91.7FM) for information about buses. You may also expect a phone call from one of our designated school phone tree parent volunteers.
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