Lord Nelson Elementary School. HANDOOK 1 -...

Lord Nelson Elementary School. HANDBOOK 1

2235 Kitchener Street

Vancouver BC V5L 2W9

T 604.713.4595

Email: [email protected] Web: http://go.vsb.bc.ca/nelson

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL 4 School Building Upgrade Information (Seismic) 5 School Code of Conduct 6 Parent Advisory Committee 7 School Organization and Class Placement 8 PROGRAMS Welcome to Kindergarten 10 StrongStart Centre 11 Out of School Care (Before & After School ) 11 Early Intervention Autism 12 Hot Lunch 12 Music Program 13 Library Resource Centre 14 GENERAL INFORMATION Website and General Communication 15 Safe Arrival 16 Students Leaving School Grounds 16 Rainy Day Procedures 17 Snow Closure Procedure 17 Student Phone Use 17 Media Consent 18 Student Accident Insurance 18 Health and Safety 19 Emergency Procedures 22 Student School Supplies and Fees 23 Fundraising 24 Wheels 24


Vancouver Board of Education District #39

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STUDENT ZONE Library or lunch monitors, peer announcers and more 25 Interschool sports 29 GRADE 7 ZONE Articulation to High School 30

SCHOOL BASED DISTRICT SERVICES Area Counselor 31 School Psychologist 31 Speech and Language Pathologist 31 District Resource Teachers 32 Community Health Nurse 32 School Police Liaison Officer 32 COMMUNITY INFORMATION Home and School Communication 33 Parent and Community Bulletin 33 Community Telephone Numbers 33 Use of Outside Agencies 33 MAPS Main Floor and Mezzanine 34 Basement and Lower Mezzanine 35 Second Floor and Mezzanine 36

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ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

Lord Nelson Elementary School is located in northeast Vancouver near

Nanaimo Street and First Avenue. The school opened in 1911 and is

named after the 19th century British Admiral, Horatio Nelson. Our

100th Anniversary was celebrated in 2011.

Lord Nelson is a diverse and dynamic community. Students are

representative of varied ethnic backgrounds with active parental

involvement. The school community has been evolving over the past

decade, and is becoming a strong family focused neighbourhood in

Vancouver.

The community reflects a focus on environmental stewardship, which

is reflected in our traffic calmed roadways and commitment to

environment awareness. Our “outdoor classroom” and community

garden were established and continue to be strongly supported by our

PAC.

Nelson has a long established commitment to learning and academic

achievement, while maintaining a focus on creativity, sports and social

responsibility. The Nelson staff maintain a high level of engagement

with current trends in education and are constantly working towards

meeting the individual needs of all students. We are proud of the

academic, athletic and artistic achievement levels of our students and

are continually working towards building individual potential from

pre-school aged students at StrongStart to grade seven students

preparing to transition to secondary school. Our school feeds into

three neighbouring Secondary Schools, Templeton , Britannia and Van-

couver Technical, and we are host to Garibaldi Annex.


MAPS

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MAPS


Lord Nelson has a strong and active PAC, that work hard to create

opportunities for students that enhance and encourage their

educational experience. They work collaboratively with staff to sup-

port initiatives and access resources, while facilitating fun-filled family

events that create a strong sense of community belonging.

We have developed positive relationships with our community part-

ners are working to continue to build opportunities for students and

families through Nelson Out of School Care, Templeton Community

Team, Britannia Community Centre and the Britannia Public Library.

We are proud to be part of the Vancouver Public School System.

SEISMIC UPGRADING

Lord Nelson Elementary is currently in the Seismic Renewal process and has

been approved by the Ministry of Education and the Vancouver Board of Edu-

cation Trustees. The design phase has been completed with the Architects

and Landscape Designers and we are now proceeding into the construction

phase in late August of 2016. The school will continue to function in the ex-

isting building until the new building is ready.

For more information on this project please visit: http://www.vsb.bc.ca/

district-facilities/projects/nelson-elementary

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-facilities/projects/nelson-elementary

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-facilities/projects/nelson-elementary

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OUR SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

At Lord Nelson School we strive to emphasize...

“R.O.A.R.” “Respect Others, Act Responsibly”

SHOW RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS

Always try your best

Take responsibility for your actions

Dress, speak and act appropriately

Keep your hands and feet to yourself

Use good manners (please and thank you)

Treat others as you would like to be treated

Be safe

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Be on time for school

Be prepared with homework and supplies

Actively listen and follow instructions

Respect others efforts and contributions

Keep school clean and tidy

Use garbage cans and recycling bins

Each child will receive the School Code of Conduct and Commitment Card in their opening day package. It is our expectation the family read and discuss the Code of Conduct and sign the commitment card to-gether.


PARENT AND COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

This information board is located on the wall across from the office up

the stairs from the Charles Street entrance. Information posted in-

cludes programs for students/adults, copies of newsletters, PAC infor-

mation, articles of interest, child care services and other information

that may be relevant to parents. Please check with the office before

posting any information.

Community Telephone Numbers

Nelson Out of School Care 604.839.8190 or 604.718.5863

Nelson StrongStart Centre 604.713.4595 local 2104

Nelson Early Integrated Autism Program 604.713.5889

Britannia Secondary 604.713.8266

Britannia Public Library 604.665.2222

Britannia Community Centre 604.718.5800

Templeton Secondary 604.713.8984

Templeton Park Pool 604.718.6252

Hastings Community Centre 604-718.6222

Vancouver Technical Secondary 604.713.8215

Grandview Woodland Community Health Center 604.253.3575

Ministry of Children and Families 604.660.5437

Children’s Hospital 604.875.2345

USE OF OUTSIDE AGENCIES

Community Facilities such as the Britannia Public Library, Britannia

Community Centre and Templeton Pool are used to enhance our

programs.

A few agencies, such as the Ministry of Children and Families, assist us

in situations that are beyond the scope of the school and pose a safety

concern.

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DISTRICT SERVICES

District Resource Teachers

In order to assist with the integration of Special Needs children, the

school draws on the services of District Resource Teachers who

consult with School Based Team, classroom teachers, and other

district personnel. In addition, modification of curriculum, provision

of alternate materials, small group instruction and one-to-one

instruction are services that may be recommended for support.

Community Health Nurse

A community health nurse is available through the Grandview Wood-

land Community Health Centre, 604-253-3575. The Vancouver Coastal

Health provides immunizations as well as health information and refer-

ral to school-aged children, staff and parents. Nurses also provide re-

ferrals for a variety of assessments such as dental and auditory. Please

visit their website for additional information at http://www.vch.ca.

Parents are contacted directly if there are any problems identified in

screening. Student records of immunization are not kept at the school.

Parents should call the Grandview Woodland Community Health Cen-

tre directly.

School Police Liaison Officer

The School Liaison Officer is a Vancouver Police Department Officer

who provides a range of programs for Kindergarten to Grade 7

students. These programs include: School Patrol, Pedestrian Safety

and more. Please visit the VPD’s website for more information on this

important role.


PARENTS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL

PAC stands for ‘Parent Advisory Council’. PAC’s are meant to offer

parents a way to be involved in and influence the culture of their

children's’ school. Members of the PAC executive can be advisors for

the school community to the Vancouver School Board, the City of

Vancouver and the Ministry of Education. PAC’s manage a small

budget that is to be used to enhance the educational experience for

children at the school. At Lord Nelson our PAC believes strongly in

supporting the school’s community and so we plan activities and

projects that get kids and families together having fun.

Meetings are held monthly. Visit the Lord Nelson PAC website at

www.lordnelsonpac.com for meeting dates, agenda, minutes and

information on ways for you to be involved. Meetings are open to all

Nelson parents and guardians, staff, community members and

pre-arranged guest speakers.

Elected positions include Chair/Co-Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary,

Treasurer, Fundraising, Special Events, Education, Traffic Safety,

Communications and Sports Day.

There are also opportunities for parents to be part of a wide variety of

committees such as fundraising and community garden.

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Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting (June). Any parent

or guardian may run for a position. Job descriptions of Nelson Parent

Advisory Council positions can be provided upon request.

Many fundraising events are supported through the volunteer efforts

of the PAC. Profits from fundraising and other events are all used to

fund items not covered by government funding sources. These items

may include computers, software, library books, gym equipment,

audio visual supplies, etc.

SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND CLASS PLACEMENT

At the start of each new school year, school staffs face the challenging

task of creating balanced learning environments for the children of the

school. School staff put a great deal of time and thought into their

decisions. It is not a perfect process as there are many variables to

consider in our school population; however, our staff, first and fore-

most, consider the individual needs and nature of each child. Each

year we have different numbers of students at each grade level, which

can cause ‘uneven’ numbers that create the necessity for split classes.

In some situations, schools intentionally organize split classes for spe-

cific or specialized programming.

Aside from age, the way in which the number of divisions and grade

levels are determined is directly dependent upon the number of

students registered at the school, the number of teachers assigned

to the school and the contractual rules for class configuration and

composition.

In addition, we have to consider a balance of gender as well as a

balance of students requiring additional support, whether for English

Language Learners [ELL] or for learning assistance.


DISTRICT SERVICES

District Support Services – The following five support services are

available to the school on a part-time basis: Area Counselor, School

Psychologist, Speech and Language Pathologist, Community Health

Nurse, and District Resource Teachers in a variety of specialty areas.

Area Counselor

Area Counselors support the social, emotional, and educational

development of children in the elementary schools. Area Counselors

are teachers who have specialized training in the development of

preventative programs. They also provide crisis and early intervention,

and remedial services to children and their families. Their goals are:

• To consult and collaborate with teachers

• To teach student leadership and social skills

• To coordinate various community services for families

To counsel students individually and in groups

School Psychologist

In consultation with the School-Based Team, the psychologist receives

referrals for assessment of individual students who are having

significant learning difficulties. All assessments are done with written

permission of parents. Test results are shared with the School Based

Team, parents, and any outside agency or professional designated by

the parents. Recommendations are made that involve appropriate

teaching methods and ways that parents can support both student

and school.

Speech and Language Pathologist

The speech-language pathologist is involved with prevention,

identification, diagnosis and program management activities related

to the areas of Hearing, Speech and Language. Consultation and

remedial services may be suggested.

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GRADE 7 ZONE

Grade 7 Articulation

One of the most critical times in a child’s elementary school career is

the Grade 7 Articulation period, when choices have to be made by the

students and their families about what types of programs they would

like to see their child pursue in high school.

The Grade 7 teachers and school administrators work closely with

the high school personnel to make this transition from elementary

school to high school as smooth, and thorough as possible. Besides

participating in activities that will ensure they are properly registered

and given an overview of their programming options, the Grade 7

students are given a tour of their new high school in the late spring

to help acquaint them for their move to high schools. Also, for the

parents, there are Information Nights at the high schools in January

and February to provide the parents with an overview of the high

school and the Grade 8 program.

For those students interested in applying for Mini School Programs,

there are information sessions from October to December in the form

of Open Houses. Parents of students who may be interested are

encouraged to attend. Applications and registration information

is given out at the Open Houses. All grade 7 students are made aware

of the VSB options available to them within the Vancouver School

Board Grade 8 programs, including Mini Schools. Students wanting to

apply to attend a Mini school are required to write The Test of Cogni-

tive Skills, which they register for on line and write on a specific day at

a specific high school. Information is given out each year regarding the

date and location of the test.

For more detailed information on all the programs offered please visit

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/vsbprograms/kto12/apfe/default.htm.


To help us do the best possible job of placing your students in the best

possible learning environment, make sure that your child’s current

classroom teacher has all pertinent information about your child and is

aware of any concerns you may have with regard to academic and

emotional vulnerability or other issues you think would be helpful. In

this way we can consider all factors in placing students.

• academic progress/ability,

• individual learning styles,

• classroom interactions among students,

• specific learning needs in different areas (ELL, Gender, Ministry Designation)

Difficulties often arise when the parents’ wishes for their children

are not the same as how the professionals who work in our schools see

the situation. For example, we might receive information from parents

that two or three students work well together, but the evidence in the

school demonstrates just the opposite.

All parent requests are considered when they are accompanied by an

appropriate educational rationale. This is not a guarantee of place-

ment, but informs us in our decision making.

Another difficulty is with regard to combination classes, sometimes

called ‘split’ classes. Such classes have little to do with a child’s aca-

demic ability. Placement in a combination class, where your child is in

the lower of the two grades, does not mean that your child will cover

the curriculum of the upper grade or receive an advanced program.

The same holds true for a student who is in the older grade of a split

class. It does not mean that your child is receiving somehow ‘less

grade level work’ because students from a lower grade are in the same

classroom. Split classes can be a very enriching experience for your

child. Your child is not being penalized academically by being placed

into a combination class rather than a single-grade class. Please note:

We do not place students based on wanting to be with a best friend.

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WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN

WTK is brought to us through The Learning Partnership. Established in

1992, it is a national charitable organization dedicated to championing

a strong public education system in Canada through innovative pro-

grams such as Welcome to Kindergarten. This program was developed

to provide pre-kindergarten children and their families with the early

learning resources and experiences that can build a foundation for

learning and a smooth transition to school. In the year before starting

school, parents/caregivers are invited to attend a WTK Family Orienta-

tion. Families participate in activities using books, magnetic numbers

and letters, crayons, paper and scissors. Families meet school princi-

pals, kindergarten teachers, school resource personnel, and staff from

community support agencies. These educators provide training on

why and how family planned activity using the resources in the WTK

bag will help their children be better prepared for school and learning.

At the orientation each family receives the WTK bag of early learning

resources and a parent information page.

Welcome to Kindergarten


INTERSCHOOL SPORTS

Cross Country

Season-FALL: Students in grades 4 to 7 are eligible

Volleyball

Season-FALL: Students in grades 5 to 7 are eligible

Basketball

Season—WINTER: Students in grades 6 to 7 are eligible

Badminton

Season—SPRING: Students in grades 4 to 7 are eligible

Track & Field

Season-SPRING: Students in grades 4 to 7 are eligible

sports at nelson

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announcers

Music Listening

The purpose of this program is to encourage the development of good

listening skills, broaden the scope of music styles and help students

develop a life-long relationship with music. Each day, as soon as

classes settle down after lunch, our Grade 7 students participate in

providing a few minutes of music including the introduction.

While the music is being played all participants, including teachers,

are encouraged to sit quietly and listen to the music with focused

attention.

Peer Announcers

Grade 7 students participate as peer announcers. Students are

selected on a rotating basis to facilitate announcements each morning.

School Patrol Crossing Guards

The Vancouver School Safety Patrol program is sponsored by the

Vancouver Board of Education together with the Vancouver Police

Department and is available to responsible Grades 5,6 and 7 students.

Students interested in becoming crossing guards are trained in

established standard procedures by members of the Vancouver Police

Traffic Authority to be safe and responsible patrollers. A consent form

must be signed by parents/guardians and student must sign a Code of

Conduct Contract. Volunteers patrollers are expected to arrive early

(8:40am) and stay after school (3:15pm).


NELSON STRONGSTART CENTRE

Vancouver has 19 StrongStart Early Learning Centres operating in

elementary schools. This program is offered to parents and caregivers

with children under the age of five years. There is no cost to families,

but the parent/caregiver is required to remain with their child and

participate in the program. It is not necessary to have English as a first

language to attend the drop in programs. The Nelson StrongStart Cen-

tre offers preschool aged children quality early learning experiences,

including play based early learning opportunities to demonstrate to

parents and caregivers how they can enhance their child’s develop-

ment. The emphasis of the program is on learning through play, lan-

guage, and positive social interactions. StrongStart facilitates the

Ready, Set, Learn Program through a series of reading sessions

throughout the school year. You will be registered when you drop in

for your first visit. For more information, please call 604-713-4595,

local 2104.

NELSON OUT OF SCHOOL CARE

Lord Nelson School, in partnership with the Britannia Community

Centre, offers Childcare on our premises and caters to school age

children from 5 to 12 years. The program provides a safe place for

your child to play, interact with other children, and explore creative

ideas under the supervision of trained, committed childcare staff.

The staff/child ratio is 1 staff member to 10 children. Activities include

art, outdoor activities, small and large group games, dance, sports,

board games, dramatic play, swimming, skating, and other special

fieldtrips and events. During school days children are provided with a

nutritious afternoon snack. During full days, morning and afternoon

snack are provided. The program is “nut aware”.

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PROGRAMS AT NELSON

EARLY INTERVENTION AUTISM PROGRAM

The Nelson Primary Autism Program focuses on the skills needed

for successful inclusion of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The focus of the program is to improve student’s success in the areas

of communication, socialization, behavior, independence, and

academics. Students work in a separate setting in the school, with

opportunities for inclusion that are individualized to each students’

needs. Transition support is available for each student to return to

their neighbourhood school as part of the program. Placement in this

program is done through District Learning Services, Vancouver Board

of Education.

FULL PAY HOT LUNCH PROGRAM (Optional Participation)

The Hot Lunch Program is offered 5 days a week. The Monthly Menu

and Cost is posted on our website as well as sent home each month.

All students participating in the program are given a Registration Card.

The registration form must be returned by the due date in order for

your child to participate in the program. There is NO option to have

lunch on a given day or to partially pay because your child doesn’t

eat enough or like the menu. You may opt in or out of the program

on a monthly basis. All menus are prepared following the Ministry of

Education nutritional guidelines for Healthy Eating at School.


School-wide Skating

All Nelson students participate in the skating program as part of our

physical education program. Each student will have an opportunity to

attend three skating sessions at Britannia Rink. Students walk to and

from the rink. All students must wear a helmet. Skates and helmets

are provided, but students may bring their own equipment and are

responsible for carrying it to and from the rink.

Grade 4 Swimming

Grade 4 students will participate in six one hour sessions at Templeton

Pool(30 minute lesson with Swimming Instructor and 30 minutes of

Life Guard supervised free play time). The swimming instructors

organize students based on their swimming skills and experience

ranging from beginner to advanced and place them in appropriate

lesson groups.

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Annual Walkathon Fundraiser

Our yearly Walkathon is our major fundraiser and is generally held

in the Fall (October). We ask parents to support our school and our

students in this worthwhile fundraising event! A pledge form is sent

home with each child and we encourage students to collect pledges

only from people they know (i.e. parents, friends, relatives, and

neighbours). We do not encourage students going door-to-door and

approaching strangers. Students are also discouraged from asking staff

members or other students in the school for pledges.

Funds raised go towards programs and activities for students that

could not otherwise happen. Classroom equipment, technology,

sports equipment and some specialized events and presentations.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for Primary students

As part of our music appreciation at Nelson, our primary students

have the opportunity to attend the Vancouver Symphony’s Elementary

School Concert. Each season up to 35,000 students from over 400

schools attend. An entertaining combination of orchestral music,

theatre and video technology, the VSO School concerts provide

students with a fun, educational and interactive live music experience.

School-wide Gym Sense Gymnastics

Each year Nelson school participates in the Gym Sense Gymnastics

program. Gym Sense is designed to augment and enhance our physical

education program. Gym Sense instructors work with our staff to

provide safe, certified gymnastics instruction to our students. This

program allows each child an opportunity to experience the sport of

gymnastics.


MUSIC AND CHOIR

At Lord Nelson all divisions participate in specialized music classes at least once a week. Students are exposed to a variety of music through games, singing, playing instruments and listening activities. Most of all, students are provided with a specialized time to explore their crea-tivity, develop self-confidence and find their individual voice.

Students are also invited to join the Nelson Choir. As this is an extra-

curricular activity, practices are off timetable.

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LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER

Our library is an integral part of our school. Tuesday to Friday, the

library is open for student use before school (8:40 a.m. to 8:55 a.m.)

and Tuesday to Thursday after school (3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Monitors chosen from the senior grades assist in operating the library

at these times. As an extra-curricular program, two groups of monitors

per year are trained in basic library procedures and routines. Parent

volunteers also provide assistance to the Teacher-Librarian.

During the instructional hours, the Teacher-Librarian works

cooperatively with the classroom teacher on various aspects of the

curriculum. Classes are scheduled into the library to learn library skills

in relation to topics being studied in their classrooms. Small groups

and individual students also use the library to complete research

projects. We encourage parents to browse through the library and

share in the selection of books with their children during non-

instructional times.


STUDENT ZONE

Leadership - A variety of opportunities to take on leadership roles arise

throughout the year. It is a school wide philosophy to promote student

involvement in events and activities throughout the year. Students

are notified when opportunities arise through announcements and

students can apply. Leadership opportunities include: library monitors,

lunch monitors, peer announcers, hosting assemblies, and many more.

Library Monitors

Students in Grade 1-7 can volunteer to be library monitors. Volunteers

are selected at the beginning of each year and perform a number of

library jobs.

Grades 1-3 students sign books in, do some simple shelving, and do a

general library tidy while their class is in the library.

Grades 4-7 students handle circulation for their classes, shelve books,

and help students in their classroom find books. Occasionally they

perform other duties such as assisting at the Book Fair, processing new

library books, and helping with displays.

Lunch Monitors

Intermediate students, Grades 4 to 7 are given the opportunity to

apply to be a lunch monitor. Students rotate on a schedule where

they are responsible for delivery of the school’s hot lunch program

to a large group of Nelson students. Under the supervision of the

Hot Lunch Program Supervisor, jobs include collecting and organizing

lunch registration cards, handing out trays, dispensing food and milk,

collecting and cleaning trays, loading dishwasher. Students learn how

to work in a team environment and gain an insight into the necessary

life skills involved in providing lunch to a large group.

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FUNDRAISING

All participation in fundraising is optional. Funds raised both by

school initiatives and PAC initiatives are used to directly support

resources and programs for students at Nelson School. Funds are

used to enhance and augment your child’s educational experience.

We offer a variety of ways that parents can contribute to the school

and fundraising in only one of them. The PAC raises money through

applying for gaming grants, the sale of goods and community events

(i.e. movie nights and a community dance). The school raises money

through school t-shirt sales, book fairs, concert ticket sales, optional

fees for performances, student events (raffles and sales, etc.) and

direct donations and a yearly Walkathon. Please do not feel obligated

to participate in every initiative. It is our hope to offer a variety of

ways that parents can support our school.

WHEELS

Students who ride bicycles to school

are expected to lock their bikes.

There is a designated area in the un-

der cover area off of Kitchener Street.

Students are not to ride or play near

the bikes during school hours. After

8:30am and before 3:30pm, students are asked to walk their bikes on

the school grounds at all times. Skateboards, scooters and wheeled

shoes are not to be used on the school grounds during school hours

as they pose a danger to students and adults. This is part of the Van-

couver School Board Safety Policy.

DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

All dogs must be on leash at Nelson. Large breed dogs should remain

outside, well away from school entrances. Small dogs should be car-

ried at all times. Loud and/or aggressive dogs should not be brought

onto the school grounds. Please ensure that you pick up after your

dog. Nelson has a disposal site on the west side of the grass field.


WEBSITE & EMAIL

Please visit our website at http://go.vsb.bc.ca/nelson on a regular ba-

sis for the school calendar, important notices, hot lunch registration

form, fieldtrip notices, important news and event updates.

Our monthly newsletter and reminders are emailed to parents and

guardians. Please provide your email address to the school office by

noting it clearly on the Student Verification Form.

PROFESSIONAL DAYS

The Ministry of Education grants professional development days to

the staff. In addition there is one school planning day. Classes are not

in session on professional (Pro-D) days. Teachers and support staff use

these days to attend workshops or study sessions, work on school

related business, develop and implement school-wide initiatives. The

School Year Calendar is available from the website.

SCHOOL DAILY SCHEDULE

We encourage all students to arrive on time to be respectful of the

learning environment and ensure a smooth transition to school.

The school day begins at 9:00am and ends at 3:00pm. A five minute

warning bell rings at 8:55am. The 9:00am morning bell rings to

indicate classes are in session. Recess begins at 10:30am and ends

with a bell at 10:50am. Lunch break begins at 12:10pm and ends at

12:57pm. Before school, students remain outside until the bell rings.

On rainy days before school begins, students are welcome to wait in

the lunchroom.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

Traffic is problematic around the school, especially for the 10 minutes

on either side of bell times. For the safety of all students, parents are

asked to NOT drop off or pick up students in front of the school on

Charles or Kitchener streets. The SAFE DROP OFF ZONE is located on

Garden Drive, between Charles and Kitchener streets. Please note that

Vancouver also has a NO IDLING rule. The driveway on Kitchener

Street is not to be used to drop off or pick up students. The city park-

ing guidelines are maintained regularly.

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SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM

(Email the school: [email protected] or CALL: 604-713-4595)

Lord Nelson has a Safe Arrival Program for students. As the safety of

our students is of significant importance we ask that you please

email or phone the school office to indicate when your child is absent

for part or a whole day. A message from you eliminates the need for

a call home to contact you regarding your child’s absence. All stu-

dents arriving late or returning from an absence should report to

the school office prior to going to class. Please notify the office of any

serious illness or communicable disease such as chicken pox. The

Safe Arrival Program enables the school to ensure that every child is

accounted for by 9:30 each morning. This procedure increases the

safety of your child and allows for early response in the event of an

accident or injury.

SUPERVISION

There is staff supervision of students from 8:40 to 8:55 am and again

from 3:00-3:20pm. During this time, students are supervised on the

school grounds while they await parent pick up. School dismisses at

3:00pm and every attempt should be made to have your child picked

up on time. If you are going to be late, please call the school. If it is

after staff supervision time, your child will be asked to wait in the

office. In addition, three supervision aides are employed at Nelson

during the recess and lunch breaks. Additional school and student

support workers are also available for supervision.

STUDENTS LEAVING THE GROUNDS

All students must remain on the school grounds at recess. Grade 7

students are permitted to leave the school grounds for lunch ONLY

with a note giving him/her permission each time. In case of emergen-

cies or appointments, a note is also required for students to leave

the school grounds. When a student must leave the school during

school hours and has the appropriate permission and notification

from a parent, the student is required to sign out in the office before

leaving and sign in upon return. We ask parents to come to the

school office to sign their child out for any appointments.


SCHOOL FEES

The Vancouver Board of Education charges a yearly fee of $25 per stu-

dent to cover basic school supplies and art materials used throughout

the school year. There is no family discount—the full cost applies to

each child in the family. Parents are asked to pay this fee in September

of each school year. In addition, Nelson school expects all student in

Grades 3 to 7 to use the school agendas to communicate with parents

and guardians to teach organizational skills to students. The cost of the

agenda is $10 per student. We also charge a $10 Performance Fee and

a $10 Activity Fee at the beginning of the school year to enrich your

child’s learning with performances and events throughout the year.

The Activity fee will go towards our annual GymSense program, a

school wide gymnastics program that is facilitated by experts to allow

our students the opportunity to explore gymnastics at a higher level.

We would appreciate having all the fees in by the first week of school.

On the first day of school each child will be given a student package

containing important notices, including a designated envelope for you

to use to submit your school fees. School fees are an essential part of

ensuring materials and resources are accessible to your child in a

school. In the case of a family hardship, however, parents are required

to write a letter to the Principal stating their need for financial assis-

tance. Optional participation includes Hot Lunch, Scholastic book pur-

chases, field trips and fund-raising events or products.

STUDENT SUPPLIES

In addition to the school fees, each year we provide a list of supplies

and equipment we ask your cooperation in providing for your child at

the beginning of each school year. These supplies augment what can

be accessed at school but should not pose a hardship to families.

22

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

All Schools are required to have emergency procedures in place that are

taught and practiced throughout the year. Staff are provided with profes-

sional development in these areas and students have the opportunity to

experience the procedures as drills. These procedures apply to all staff.

The following are the common emergency procedures Nelson School has

in place:

School-wide Security Alert (intruder Alert)

This procedure includes three strands. Code Red – Full Lock down, Code

Yellow, Partial Lock down and Code Green – All clear. Each level has

criteria for the staff to follow with their students in the event of an

intruder in the school or an emergency situation.

Earthquake Procedures

This procedure is established to match the needs and structure

requirements of each school site. The duck, cover, count and evacuate

procedure is recommended by the VSB Health and Safety Division.

Students across the district are taught and practice the same routine.

The goal of this drill is to ensure safe and cautious evacuation from the

building. Staff are assigned specific roles to follow in the event of an

earthquake. The roles vary from supervising student release to search

and rescue. Search and rescue teams are trained and equipped with a

specialized tool kit. Schools practice throughout the year, but participate

in a district wide simulation in May that requires the school to make radio

contact with a commend center.

Fire Drill procedures

This procedure includes teaching the students to evacuate the building in

a safe, quick, orderly manner. Exit routes are established to determine

the fastest exit plan. Students practice lining up, listening, exiting and

reporting to a designated meeting place. The importance of listening is

emphasized, as quick decisions may need to be made by the staff to en-

sure student safety. The importance of leaving quickly from where ever

you are in the building and meeting at a designated place are emphasized.


RAINY DAY PROCEDURES

Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for every rainy and snowy days. Your child should have boots, a waterproof jacket, hat and an umbrella. We try our best to have students go outside to play and move about at recess and lunch. On days when the rain is heavy we may have some students stay inside. Students are assigned by grade to various locations around the school and are supervised by designated staff. We have covered areas on the south and west side of the school where students are welcome to play as well. SNOW CLOSURE PROCEDURES When the forecast predicts a heavy snowfall and freezing tempera-tures, please listen to the news beginning at 6:00 am for information regarding school closures. Please do not call media outlets or the school to determine whether schools are closed. Please listen to the following news stations: CKNW (980 AM), CKWX (NEWS 1130 AM), CBC RADIO (690 AM, 105.7 FM), BCTV/Global (cable channel 11), FAIRCHILD Radio (CJVB AM 1470/CKHG FM 96.1) or CITY TV (cable channel 13). In addition, information on snow closures will be available on line at www.vsb.bc.ca. The decision to close schools in Vancouver is made directly by the Vancouver School Board. It is not the decision of individual schools. The VSB makes the decision by 6:00 am and notifies the above news stations. The school closure information is broadcasted throughout the morning on the listed news stations and is not just a single announcement at 6:00 am.

STUDENT PHONE AND ELECTRONIC USE

Cell phones are not prohibited from the school as they may be a part of your family’s safe arrival procedure but they are prohibited from use during the school day. Cell phones must remain turned off during the school day or they may be confiscated by the classroom teacher for the remainder of the day. The school can not take responsibility for the storage or safety of cell phones. There is no pay phone at Nelson. The office phone remains accessible to students for emergency calls only. The office phone is not to be used to make play dates or social arrangements. Students are expected to prearrange rides and activities prior to the start of the school day.

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/

18

Students are asked to keep all expensive and/or valuable items at

home as we can not ensure they are kept safe. Bring anything to

school that would make them sad if it were to be lost, broken or sto-

len. Electronic games and devices are not banned but must be appro-

priate for school use.

MEDIA CONSENT FORMS

The Vancouver School Board re-

quires media consent both within

the school and for the district.

In the opening day package parents will receive these forms. Please

read them carefully, sign and return to the school.

These must be on file in order for your child to participate in activities

that may include technology, school events and assemblies, for exam-

ple “Pink Project”, school slideshows and pictures on our website.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Each year, the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC),

recommends an additional Life Insurance Company provider. The

Board Policy JHA is supportive of the DPAC approved plan each year to

provide optional accident insurance coverage to students. Information

comes home with your child from the approved company.

This coverage is not restricted to school time, but covers accidental

injuries, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year.

This insurance is voluntary on the part of parents, as the school district

does not carry accident insurance for students.

Highlights of some of the features of the IAP Kids Plus accident


Administration of Medication

Staff and school board employees are

not allowed to administer medication

or supervise the self-administration of

medication, except in an emergency

situation, i.e. epipen. If a medical

condition requires ongoing medica-

tion, a form can be accessed at the

office and must be filled out by your

family doctor.

School Health

There is NO school nurse.

A place to rest is available in the first aid room near the main office

and staff will administer basic first aid as required. Parents and care-

givers will be contacted if necessary. Emergency contact numbers for

all children attending Nelson are kept on file and updated annually. It

is essential that parents/guardians provide emergency contacts and

update information as required. Emergency (911) services will be

called as the situation warrants.

20

“The Board of School Trustees (the "Board") is committed to providing as

safe a learning and teaching environment as is practicable for anaphy-

lactic students. It is not possible, however, to achieve a completely al-

lergen-free school as there can be hidden or accidentally introduced

sources. Instead, schools must strive to become 'allergy-aware' through

strategies to educate all students, parents, and staff about the allergy

and the importance of working together to minimize the risk of expo-

sure for the allergic child.

Even though each situation is unique and each child's allergies are dif-

ferent, there must be consistent strategies in each school. Schools must

endeavour to minimize the risk of exposure without depriving the ana-

phylactic child of ordinary peer interactions or placing unreasonable

restrictions on the activities of other children in the school.

Parental involvement in all phases of planning must be encouraged as it

can result in the greatest degree of success and community ac-

ceptance”.

We ask for your assistance with;

Where possible avoid sending the identified foods

Reminding your child to eat all lunch foods in the lunchroom

Being aware of designated nut free eating areas in the lunchroom

Reminding your child not to share food and utensils with other stu-

dents

Encouraging washing hands before and after meals

The following foods have been identified with allergies in our school:

peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and seafood.


insurance coverage, which may be beneficial to families are:

as a supplement to provincial or private health coverage, which may have deductibles or maximum limits

those who do not have coverage for dental, physiotherapy, chiroprac-tic, or other services which are no longer covered by BC Medical

those who have not been a resident in BC long enough to qualify for medical coverage.

Please contact the office if you have not received this pamphlet and are interested in accessing this coverage.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Sick or Injured at School

A place to rest is available in the first aid room near the main office

and staff will administer basic first aid as required. Parents and care-

givers will be contacted if necessary. Emergency contact numbers for

all children attending Nelson are kept on file and updated annually. It

is essential that parents/guardians provide emergency contacts and

update information as required. Emergency (911) services will be

called as the situation warrants.

Allergies and Other Medical

Conditions

Nelson School has several students identified

with severe allergies. These allergies pose a

range of risks to the students involved

from hives to life threatening symptoms (anaphylaxis) requiring medi-

cal intervention. The following statement is from the Vancouver

School Boards Policy and it is our hope to encourage parents to sup-

port our goal of providing a safe environment for all students at Nelson

School.

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