ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL

2512-5 Street, N.W.

Calgary, Alberta, T2M 3C7

Phone: 403-500-2009 Fax: 403-500-2209

Website: www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stjoseph Twitter: @stjoseph_CCSD

Principal: Mrs. Paula Robinson

Vice-Principal: Mr. Brian Briggs

This handbook belongs to:

Name

Homeroom Teacher’s Name:

ST. JOSEPH We all know that Jesus is the Father’s Son Born to spread God’s love and

bring us joy, but he also had a foster father on earth who could teach him to live as a little boy.

Someone to teach him to work with his hands with sweet-smelling wood scraps of cedar and pine, to carve tiny toy boats to sail down the stream that looked just like

the great fishing fleets of his time.

Someone to show him the right path to town, the way through the woods in the shadowy light, someone to teach him to build a warm fire

and camp under stars on a cold winter night.

Someone to take him for walks in the fall, when berries are ripe and wheat fields

turn gold, someone to fish with and hunt with and talk with when being a child

seems so lonely and cold.

Yes, God knew about fathers and children on earth.

After all, it is really just part of his plan,

And he chose St. Joseph to be the one,

the “father on earth” for his very own son.

WELCOME TO ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL

“A Catholic Community of Caring”

Where we model the values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Trust and Family.

It is with great pleasure that we take this opportunity to welcome you to St. Joseph School. This student handbook has been compiled to outline the philosophy and major practices that guide the day- to-day operations of St. Joseph School. It is hoped that many of the questions that parents ask about the school will be answered in this handbook. Both parents and students should read this student handbook carefully, discuss its contents, and sign the last page.

We believe that the best education students can receive is accomplished through continuous cooperation

between home, school and parish within a framework of mutual respect and participation.

The rules and regulations outlined in this handbook will serve to assist us in providing a safe and secure

environment for all students.

We look forward to this school year with great excitement and we hope all of our students have a

rewarding and successful year.

SECTION 1: SCHOOL INFORMATION ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

Guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ and our Catholic faith, the core purpose of St. Joseph School is to educate the whole child – spiritually, morally, intellectually, physically and aesthetically – within a secure and supportive learning environment that encourages all individuals to recognize and to achieve their unique potential. OFFICE HOURS

The school office is open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. The school answering machine

will record any messages after hours. The number to the main office is 403-500-2009

PATRON SAINT

St. Joseph is recognized as the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. Along with Mary he is one of the most honoured saints. He is the Patron Saint of Canada (1624), The Patron Saint of Workers (1955), The Protector of Women, The Guardian of Children, and The Model for Husbands and Fathers. Feast Days for St. Joseph are March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph) and May 1 (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker)

RELIGIOUS PARTICIPATION

As a Catholic school, religious education is a vital part of our school day. All students are expected to participate in our Religious Education program, daily prayer and the many prayer services and liturgies during the year. Parents are always welcome to attend our liturgical celebrations throughout the year. These will be listed, with dates and times, in the weekly newsletter.

ST. JOSEPH PARISH (640 - 19 Avenue N. W. Calgary, AB T2M 0Y8) St. Joseph’s Church serves the pastoral needs of St. Joseph School Community. Sacramental preparation is offered through the parish. The school works closely with our local parish to ensure all eligible students receive the sacraments.

Please contact the parish office regarding mass times, sacramental preparation and parish activities

at (403) 289-2591or at their website www.stjosephcalgary.com .

IMPORTANT DATES 2017/18

Aug 3 - 30 Year Round Track classes Sep 4 Labor Day – no classes

Sep 5 Year Round & Traditional classes combined- Integrated Dual Track classes begin Sep 21 Meet the Teacher Conferences (PM Times to be determined) Sep 22 Meet the Teacher Conferences (Full day - Times to be determined) - no classes

Oct 6 Professional Development – no classes Oct 9 Thanksgiving Day – No Classes

Oct 9-20 Year Round Track fall break – Traditional Track classes held

Nov 1 Faith Day – no classes Nov 11 Remembrance Day – no classes

Nov 17 Professional Development – no classes

Nov 24 Progress Reports Distributed Nov 30 Meet the Teacher Conferences (PM Times to be determined) Dec 1 Meet the Teacher Conferences (Full day - Times to be determined) - no classes

Dec 21 Last full day of class. Break begins on the 23rd.

Jan 8 Regular Track classes resume. Jan 15 Year Round students return - Integrated Dual Track classes resume Jan 26 Professional Development – no classes Jan 31 Semester 2 begins for Option Classes

Feb 14 Ash Wednesday

Feb 15-16 Teachers’ Convention – no classes

Feb 19 Family Day Mar 21 Meet the Teacher Conferences (PM Times to be determined) Mar 22 Meet the Teacher Conferences (Full day - Times to be determined) - no classes

Mar 23 Professional Development – no classes

Mar 29 Easter Break Begins

April 9 Regular Track Students Return

Apr 16 YRE Students Return

Apr 20 Professional Development – no classes

May 18 Professional Development – no classes

May 21 Victoria Day – no classes

Jun 28 Last day of classes

JUNIOR HIGH INTEGRATED DUAL TRACK

St. Joseph School offers an integrated dual track schedule at the Junior High level. Dual track means that in addition to the traditional 10 month calendar (Sept–June) an alternative 11-month year- round calendar (August to June) is also in place where students have holidays spread throughout the year. The Dual-Track schedule runs concurrently serving students with the identical Program of Studies as mandated by Alberta Learning.

The benefits of Year-Round Education include the following

∙ Matches continuous learning ∙ Reduces summer learning loss ∙ Improves performance ∙ Improves behavior, attendance and attitudes ∙ Improves school climate

STUDENT AGENDAS

Grade 1-6 students purchase and use student agendas. Calgary Catholic School District agendas illustrate a Catholic focus. These daily reminder booklets are an excellent form of communication between the home and school. Students are to list their homework in the book, which should be checked by parents each evening. Some classes require parents to sign the agenda each night. These may also be used as hall passes for students.

SAFETY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES At St. Joseph School, the safety and security of our students is of the utmost importance. We need to be able to monitor the people that enter our building. Volunteers, district employees, and visitors to the school are required to check in at the office before proceeding through the hallways. All parents and visitors are required to sign in and wear an “Identification Tag”. Such procedures minimize disruptions and ensure a degree of safety for our children. Parents picking up their children from school during the school day are asked to report to the office and their child will meet them or be called to the office at that time. Persons who are unlawfully on the premises may be charged with trespassing under the Alberta School Act. The main door is reserved for parents, teachers, staff and visitors. All students are to enter and exit through assigned entrances. With the exception of the main entrance, all outside doors leading into the building will be locked for during the school day to ensure maximum security for your children. The boot room entrances will be opened for students in the morning, at recess and during the noon hour so that students have access to the building. The telephone at the office may be used by students in emergency situations. This measure supports your child in developing responsibility and independence. Please encourage your child to contact you through the office and not on their cell phone while at school. If there are extenuating circumstances please feel free to contact the school administration at 403-500-2009. Thank you for your cooperation in supporting the safety and security at our school. BRIGHTSPACE – by D2L BRIGHTSPACE by D2L is a secure and flexible web based platform to provide parents, students, and

teachers access to a suite of tools such as course content, news, digital resources, calendar, grades and

other communication and assessment supports. It is the one mode of online communication between

teacher and home. Access to these tools and resources is available anywhere there is internet access.

A BrightSpace Guide for Parents and Students is available at the following link: http://goo.gl/jeIeGP

PARKING

Our parking lot is designated for staff. All visitors and parents are asked to park on the street. In order

to ensure the safety of our children and to alleviate congestion it is essential that parents please not

drive into the parking lot to drop off or pick up your child.

RECESS/NOON HOUR All students are expected to go outside for recess and noon hour except during inclement weather (extreme cold, heavy wind and/or rain). Catholic schools located within City of Calgary boundaries are always open regardless of weather conditions. Any information regarding school closures will be communicated through the media and our district website. When temperatures drop below -18 Celsius, children are kept indoors during lunch hour and scheduled breaks.

CLOSED CAMPUS - A student who stays for lunch is not allowed to leave the school grounds between

arrival to school and dismissal at the end of the day unless their own parent accompanies them.

OUTSIDE SUPERVISION Students are supervised before school from 8:15 a.m. to the entry bell, during recess and lunch hour. Students are not supervised outside after school. It is an expectation that students have a daily routine to follow when school is dismissed. Students are encouraged to go straight home following dismissal. RESPECTING OUR NEIGHBORS

Students are ambassadors of St. Joseph School each time they leave the school. All students are expected to show their respect and maturity to all of our neighbors, both residential and commercial, and to conduct themselves in a manner that maintains a positive relationship with our community.

DIVERSITY CLUBS

Over the year, our school may establish a student group, which engages in discussion and activities related to diversity and justice issues, including support for students belonging to sexual minorities. In particular, within our Religious Education and Family Life Catholic Community of Caring program, students may provide leadership and receive support to continue to build inclusive communities, aligned with our Catholic social teachings. If you wish further information, please contact the principal. REPORTING OF ACHIEVEMENT

Our focus is teaching and learning. Part of this process involves evaluation. An extremely important part of that focus is the evaluation of learning and the student’s achievement. Teachers communicate in a variety of ways with parents about their child’s progress, including:

∙ Formal Progress Report Cards ∙ Parent Teacher Conferences ∙ Student or teacher written notes in an agenda (Elementary) ∙ BrightSpace (Junior High) ∙ Telephone calls ∙ Conferences in person at times outside of our regularly scheduled conferences ∙ Parental feedback

Parents help us to build a comprehensive learning profile for our students by keeping us informed and by working with us to maintain effective communication between home and school.

HOMEWORK

Homework is any task assigned by a teacher that students complete during non-school hours. The Calgary Catholic School District recognizes well-planned homework in Grades 3-12 can be a meaningful part of a student’s learning. Time spent on homework may vary from one student to the next. Parents who have concerns about homework expectations should contact their child’s teacher or the school administration to discuss the situation and the options available. The Calgary Catholic School District updated their Administrative Procedures regarding homework. AP364 can be found on this page https://goo.gl/wo3JTE. SCHOOL COUNCIL

St. Joseph School Council meets once a month throughout the school year (except December and the month of Easter). Parents are welcome to attend meetings and become involved in the numerous projects that the council undertakes. Please watch for meeting dates and School Council updates on the website. All parents with children at St. Joseph belong to the School Council. We encourage everyone to come to our meetings to learn more about some of the student activities. NEWSLETTERS

The newsletter is available for viewing on-line at https://goo.gl/SS3es5. Paper copies of the newsletter will be available at the office. The newsletter will also include a detailed calendar listing special events, holidays, early dismissal dates, and celebrations.

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORT PHILOSOPHY (JUNIOR HIGH) Involvement in the interscholastic athletic program requires extra time and effort on the part of the staff and students. This involvement, while encouraged, is voluntary and beyond the scope of the regular school day. Those students participating on the school teams represent St. Joseph School. As the total school program is also reflected in the interscholastic athletic program, each student is selected for a team not only for athletic ability but also because of a positive attitude and good conduct in all areas of school life. Students must also be making satisfactory progress in their studies. Students whose attitude or behavior is deemed to reflect poorly on the school may be removed from the team.

SECTION 2: CODE OF CONDUCT:

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

Background

As stated in The School Act, Section 45.1, the district is committed to providing welcoming, caring,

respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging. Each

member shares responsibility for the well-being of every other member of the district. As such, a code of

conduct must be established and reviewed yearly and shared publically with staff, parents/legal guardians,

and students. A link to the full Student Code of Conduct within a Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe

Environment and the appendix to it can be found at AP350 here: https://goo.gl/wo3JTE

The following elements will be common to the code of conduct in each district school:

1. Statement of purpose:

Calgary Catholic School District’s value statement is as follows:

“All members of our community are sacred and must be treated with dignity and respect. We value

excellence in Catholic education, guided by shared responsibility and the moral authority of the

Church.”

This statement guides all district stakeholders as they work to support student success and achievement. The school should be a positive learning environment in which students are safe, secure and successful. The code of conduct will outline expectations for student behaviour while at school, at a school-related activity, or while engaging in an activity that may have an impact on others in the school. The school’s code of conduct will be communicated to parents, students and staff annually and reviewed regularly.

2. The Alberta Human Rights Act:

Section three of the Alberta Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s race,

religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability,

age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that

person or class of persons. Any behaviour that supports this discrimination is prohibited.

3. Acceptable behaviours:

All district schools have established Catholic Community of Caring programs that focus on building

respectful and caring school environments, rooted in Catholic values. Catholic Communities of Caring

programs align with the School Act’s requirement to provide welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning

environments. Within our schools, we are building communities that are inclusive and celebrate respect for

one another, community and diversity. The acceptable and unacceptable behaviours outlined in the

following two sections are derived from the responsibilities of students as outlined in section 12 and 24 of

the School Act of Alberta and can be found here https://goo.gl/ONbFKA. This includes placing a strong

value on:

∙ Respecting all others, regardless of race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation.

∙ Respecting the school authority. ∙ Respecting the school and district property, as well as the property of others. ∙ Respecting yourself and the rights of others in the school. ∙ Making sure your conduct contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning

environment in the school that respects the diversity and fosters a sense of belonging of others in your school.

∙ Refraining from, reporting and refusing to tolerate bullying or bullying behaviour, even if it happens outside of the school or school hours or electronically.

∙ Informing an adult you trust in a timely manner of incidents of bullying, harassment, intimidation or other safety concerns in the school.

∙ Acting in ways that honour and appropriately represent you and your school. ∙ Attending school regularly and punctually. ∙ Being ready to learn and actively engage in and diligently pursue your education. ∙ Knowing and complying with the rules of your school. ∙ Cooperating with all school staff. ∙ Being accountable for your behaviour to your teachers and other school staff. ∙ Contribute positively to your school and community.

4. Unacceptable behaviours: Behaviours that do not support the Community of Caring program, and therefore interfere with the establishment of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments are considered unacceptable. These include, but are not limited to:

∙ Behaviours that interfere with the learning of others and/or the school environment, or that create unsafe conditions;

∙ Acts of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, or intimidation; ∙ Retribution against any person in the school who has intervened to prevent or report bullying or any

other incident or safety concern; ∙ Breaches of digital on-line safety; ∙ Inappropriate use of mobile devices; ∙ Inappropriate student dress;

○ Standards of grooming and dress are determined from the perspectives of health and safety in all activities, cleanliness and neatness, and decency and respect.

Students may be asked to change into more appropriate apparel if they have: ○ clothing that is indecent or disrespectful to others, (for example, visible undergarments,

inappropriate pictures or words), ○ torn or ripped clothing, ○ very short skirts or shorts, ○ hats/caps or sunglasses inside buildings. ○ Students must wear appropriate footwear and clothing for indoor activities and physical education.

∙ Physical violence or threats; ∙ Personal or sexual harassment; ∙ Hazing; ∙ Illegal activity such as:

o gang activity; o possession or use of weapons; o possession, use or distribution of illegal or restricted substances (including drugs, alcohol,

tobacco, or e-cigarette products);

o theft or damage to property.

As outlined in Alberta’s School Act, students can be held accountable for conduct that occurs outside of the school building or school day and electronically (e.g. social media), if the conduct negatively affects a member of the school or interferes with the school environment.

5. Progressive discipline plan: Students who engage in unacceptable behavior will be held accountable through the school’s progressive discipline plan. Consistent and logical consequences, rather than punitive measures, are important to support students in making appropriate choices and help shape their future actions.

In any disciplinary situation, each student will be dealt with on an individual basis, and will take into account

the student’s age, maturity and individual circumstances. As well, parental or district involvement may be

requested to support school discipline procedures.

The school’s use of the progressive discipline plan will determine the expectations, consequences and the

progression of actions to be taken depending on the severity and/or frequency of the occurrences. At all

times, teachers and administrators will use their professional judgment in applying consequences.

Consequences must have a positive effect on the student’s journey through reconciliation, either formally or informally, with the school community and those affected by the student’s behaviour. The following consequences are progressive in their degree of intervention and will be enacted depending on the frequency and severity of occurrences. They will be applied consistently and equally to all students, notwithstanding the individual differences of children and the uniqueness of specific circumstances and situations. Progressive discipline is a whole-school approach that utilizes a continuum of interventions, supports, and consequences, including:

∙ prevention measures and initiatives; ∙ early and ongoing intervention strategies; ∙ strategies to address unacceptable behaviour.

Interventions and consequences increase when: ∙ the concerning behavior is persistent; ∙ the concerning behavior escalates; ∙ there is a very serious infraction of the code of conduct.

Interventions and consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following:

∙ informal conferences; ∙ restriction of privileges; ∙ parent conferences; ∙ in-school suspensions; ∙ risk assessment; ∙ suspension / expulsion (AP 356); ∙ student redirection ∙ Behaviour Support Plan (as part of the Learner Support Plan); ∙ involvement of Instructional Services and supports; ∙ involvement of external services and supports.

The principal may involve police in disciplinary matters when criminal activity has become evident. When

police are involved, the principal will conduct a separate, parallel investigation at the school level and

provide disciplinary action separate from any criminal charges that may be issued.

6. Student support:

Support will be provided to students impacted by inappropriate behaviour and to those students who

engage in inappropriate behaviour. This is significant because while the student code of conduct must

address the consequences for inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, it also ensures that support (not

just consequences) is provided to those students who engage in unacceptable behaviour. Examples of how

support could be provided to students who have engaged in unacceptable behaviour include mentoring,

restorative processes, regular check-ins with teachers or schools counsellors, counselling, etc.

7. Consideration of student diversity:

The School Act requires that the student code of conduct address consequences for unacceptable

behaviour and that these reasonable consequences take into account the student’s age, maturity, and

individual circumstances. The specific circumstances of the situation and of the student need to be taken

into account when determining appropriate consequences. For example, any diverse needs that the student

has – whether they are physical, behavioural, communicational, mental health, trauma, etc. – must be

considered. The age and maturity of students involved should be considered when determining the

consequences and support required.

8. Other areas to consider

Air Rifles/Guns

The district prohibits students from possessing weapons or engaging in violent or threatening acts on school

property, and at school sponsored functions and activities. "Weapon" means any object, device, or

instrument designed or through its use is capable of threatening or producing bodily harm to oneself or

others. By this definition, air rifles/guns are therefore considered weapons. As it is challenging to visually

identify these weapons as air rifles/guns, school staff, Calgary Police Services and the RCMP will likely

respond in the same manner as they would an actual rifle/gun. For the safety of all students, staff and

visitors in the school, these items are not allowed on school property or at school-related activities under

any circumstance.

Personal Items/Toys Students are not to bring to school personal items (i.e. toys, trading cards, expensive jewelry, iPods, iPads, skateboards, scooters, laser pens, etc.) that are not directly related to their schoolwork. The school takes no responsibility for the safekeeping of the above items. Parents are advised to ensure that their own home insurance policy covers any items of value they send to school. Students should not bring money of any substantial amount to school.

All personal items should be clearly labelled. Should clothing or other items be misplaced, there is a Lost and Found box by the elementary portables. Students and parents are encouraged to look through these boxes. Unclaimed items will be sent to a charity after each set of parent teacher conferences.

All students who ride bicycles to school should have a secure lock and use the bike racks.

Students must walk their bikes on school property due to the possibility of injury to other students. The

law states that students choosing to ride bicycles must wear bike helmets. For safety reasons, students

are not allowed to ride their skateboards, scooters or rollerblades on school property.

Junior high students are not to use book bags during the day. Cell phones should be turned off and secured in their lockers unless teachers have asked for them to be used for educational purposes. Items may be confiscated and returned at a later time, or parents may be contacted to pick up the items if the request to turn over an item are ignored. Wallets and valuable items should remain in student lockers Physical Education classes. There are no lockers in the student change rooms. St. Joseph is not responsible for items left unsecured in the change rooms.

Junior High Lockers

∙ The Calgary Catholic School District, through St. Joseph School provides lockers for student use and convenience. All lockers are and will remain the property of the school district.

∙ Students are encouraged to keep their assigned lockers closed and locked against unlawful entry. ∙ No student may use a locker as a depository for any illegal substance or object or for any

substances or materials which constitutes a threat to the health, safety, welfare or morals of the occupants of the school building or which could damage the school itself.

∙ The principal of the school has the right to search all or any student lockers. Due care must be taken to protect the legal rights of the individual(s) throughout the search process.

∙ The school provides locks to students. The combination for these locks must be given to the homeroom teachers. It is essential that the combination for these locks not be shared with other students. The school is not responsible for items/money that is lost, misplaced or stolen.

SECTION 3: SCHOOL PROCEDURES: PARENTAL ROLE The education of children is a shared responsibility, one that requires a supportive and cooperative relationship between the home and school. This is the primary factor for a successful schooling experience. The instructional team at St. Joseph School welcomes active parental involvement that seeks to further the success of a child while maintaining a positive relationship with the school. The School Act outlines the responsibilities of parents with regard to their child’s education. These responsibilities can be found here. https://goo.gl/ONbFKA

PARENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Active and visible parental involvement in the school lives of their children is an important part of the educational process. Parental involvement impacts positively on the attitude and conduct of children and helps to build successful programs. A Volunteer Orientation workshop and a Volunteer Handbook will be provided for all adults wishing to volunteer at the school. A Volunteer Orientation, and the Volunteer Application Forms are required for all parents wishing to volunteer each school year. Confidentiality is paramount in all volunteering situations. The information that volunteers are exposed to must remain confidential in the community. The staff of St. Joseph School is grateful for and honored by the parents who generously share their time and talents with the school community. Volunteer forms can be found on the District website here. https://goo.gl/rAo1wD VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL All parents and visitors are required to report to the school office, which is located by the Main Entrance. All parents and visitors need to wear a Visitor/Volunteer nametags provided by the office. This procedure enables us to minimize disruptions to our programs and ensures a degree of safety for our students. If you need to speak with a staff member, please call the office to pre-book a time with the staff member to ensure they are available. Drop-in appointments are not always able to be accommodated.

PROGRESS REPORTS

An important Meet the Teacher conference will be held in early September to facilitate the sharing of information between parents and teachers. Progress Reports will be sent home three times yearly. Parent/teacher conferences will be held in conjunction with the release of progress reports in order to facilitate better communication and build strong links between home and school. Please do not hesitate to phone or email a teacher to set up an appointment outside of these times if you need to meet with your child’s teacher.

COMMUNICATION

The staff of St. Joseph School feels that regular communication between home and school is important to student progress and supportive relationships. We encourage communication whenever concerns, questions or gratitude should be shared. Conferences with the teachers and administrators can be scheduled and are welcomed. We also ask that you contact the office to book a time to meet with the with a teacher or administrator. We ask that you contact the teacher involved prior to visiting the school so that they can prepare a complete report. Please keep the school informed of anything that may affect your child’s education. Every effort will be made to keep students and parents informed about school events. Methods of communication include mass emails and school website postings (weekly newsletters and additional notices/updates). The school website is www.cssd.ab.ca/schools/stjoseph that contains a link to our Bright Space (D2L) site. Parents are asked to pay close attention to the information contained in all of the communications. STUDENT SERVICES - COUNSELLOR

St. Joseph School has a counsellor who acts as a resource person for students, parents and teachers.

The primary goal is to provide students with the assistance they need in securing maximum educational

and social development. Students are encouraged to access the school counsellor for personal guidance

and for academic counselling on grades, study help, and high school information.

Students may also be directed to the counsellor when they are having social issues, when their work is

unsatisfactory, or when there are attendance problems. Students who are experiencing problems that are

interfering with educational progress are encouraged to make an appointment to see the counsellor.

ATTENDANCE Prolonged absence or sporadic attendance will result in a lack of continuity in learning and may have serious consequences on student progress. Unsatisfactory attendance, including tardiness will be dealt with according to school board procedures. This can include referral to the District Attendance Officer or to develop an Attendance Improvement Plan. When a student will be absent from school, parents are requested to notify the school by telephone, prior to the absence. This should be done before classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Office personnel will be contacting the homes of all absent children, through the Schools Connect phone-out system, if no contact with the school has been made. When a student is late, they must report to the school office and obtain a late slip. A record of all lates is kept throughout the year. A student leaving the building during school hours due to illness, doctor appointment, etc. must be signed out at the school office by their parent. It is the responsibility of parents to see that students are in school. A student is expected to attend school unless he/she is ill, or his/her absence is required for a valid cause as outlined in the Alberta School Act.

FIELD TRIPS

Throughout the year teachers may organize curriculum focused field trip experiences for students.

Extended school fees paid at the beginning of each school year are used to cover or subsidize the cost

of transportation and/or entrance fees. Parents must sign the permission forms in order for a student to

attend a field trip.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If a student becomes seriously ill or hurt, staff will make every effort to contact parents. Should these efforts fail, we will attempt to contact the emergency contact numbers you provide us. If no contact can be made and the situation is serious enough, we will call 911 and have your child transported to the hospital. In case of emergency, it is imperative that we have current phone numbers, addresses and pertinent information. Ambulance trips are now covered by the School Board Insurance. An emergency preparedness drill is conducted monthly to ensure that students are prepared in the event

of an evacuation or a lockdown due to an emergency. Students are expected to treat these drills seriously

and exercise appropriate haste and self-control. Not all of these drills are announced, and there will not

always be communication home regarding a completed drill.

SCHOOL PATROLS

School Safety Patrol members are students from Division Two who are selected on the basis of knowledge and training, leadership, dependability, courtesy, cooperation and attitude. Safety patrols are on duty before school and after school to assist students from Kindergarten to Grade 9 crossing streets on their way to and from St. Joseph School. Students and parents are asked to use the school patrols when crossing the street and are expected to give patrols their full cooperation at all times.

HEALTH SERVICES A public health nurse is assigned to St. Joseph School. This nurse visits the school approximately once a week for a half day. The nurse’s duties are mainly to aid students in maintaining good health. Students who become ill or injured during school hours are asked to report to the main office so that parents can be notified. Students may be allowed to utilize the nurse’s room on a temporary basis when given permission to do so at the office. Under school board policy the school cannot assume responsibility for administering any medication,

unless the parents obtain prior approval. All requests for the administration of medication to students

shall be made through the principal.

STUDENT INSURANCE Student Accident Insurance, through a District appointed insurance company (Industrial Alliance is the currently appointed company), is made available by the Board on an optional basis. Board Policy dictates that this accident insurance coverage is optional and it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure coverage is in place. The Calgary Catholic School District requires any student who participates in an interscholastic

activity to sign a liability waiver form and carry accident insurance in case of injury or

accident. All precautions are taken to ensure the protection of the students and no unnecessary risks

are taken; however, accidents may occur. NOTE: Alberta Health Care covers basic medical expenses

but does not necessarily provide for such things as dental work, eyeglass repair/replacement, or costs

associated with long term disability.

TEXTBOOKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES Students are required to purchase the necessary supplies for school at their preferred store, or through School Start at http://www.schoolstart.ca/. Textbooks are supplied. All students are expected to take proper care of their textbooks. Students who deface or lose textbooks, or return damaged textbooks will be expected to pay replacement costs before a new book is issued.

SCHOOL TELEPHONE

Students may use the office phones in emergency situations only (arrangements for rides or going to a friend’s home are not emergency situations). Please try to make arrangements concerning arrival times, appointments etc. with your children in advance. If you wish to leave a message for your child

during the day, please call the school and we will make every effort to forward it at dismissal. Except for emergencies, we prefer not to call students out of class. CANTEEN The school store is located in the gym area. The canteen offers a number of cold items for sale during the lunch hour. The list of items sold is limited and is intended to supplement a student’s lunch. We also offer items throughout the week available through Healthy Hunger. www.healthyhunger.ca . TRANSPORTATION Junior High students requiring transportation are required to purchase a transit pass from transit outlets. Those students who live more than 2.4 km from the school qualify for a rebate. This rebate form is available from the school office and needs to be completed annually for the rebate to be processed. Once a rebate form has been submitted to the school, a bus pass can be scanned during the noon lunch break. Rebates are issued by direct deposit several times per school year. The City of Calgary website offers a “plan your trip” to schedule a timely arrival http://www.calgarytransit.com/ . TRANSPORTATION CHARTERED BUS SERVICE (Elementary) A charter school bus serves elementary students who live in the areas surrounding St. Joseph and who are designated to our school. To qualify, elementary students must live over 1.2 km. from school. There is a fee for this service. Changes to this service will be communicated to students and parents. SCHOOL BUS RULES AND REGULATIONS Students riding on the bus must remember that they are responsible for their conduct to the bus driver and through him/her to the Principal of the school. Violation of any of these rules may lead to a bus suspension.

∙ The driver is in full charge of the bus and his/her directions must be obeyed. ∙ The driver will report any misconduct to the Principal of the school concerned, who will take

appropriate action. The driver may assign specific seats to students at any time.

∙ While the bus is in motion, pupils must not extend arms or heads out of windows, try to get on or off the bus, and must remain seated.

∙ Students must not throw paper or other waste materials on the floor or out of the windows of the bus.

∙ While on the bus, students must conduct themselves in a quiet and courteous manner, showing consideration for the comfort and safety of others.

∙ Pushing, fighting, smoking and the use of obscene language on the bus are prohibited. ∙ Students must not distract the bus driver. ∙ Students causing wilful damage to a bus will be held fully accountable. ∙ When leaving the bus, students must observe the instructions of the bus driver. They should not

cross the road without having a clear view in both directions. ∙ Students will not be allowed off the bus unless a designated person is there to meet them.

LEARNING COMMONS

The Learning Commons lends books and magazines for student use. Students may have access to the Learning Commons during the lunch period provided that they have eaten their lunches and are lined up at the designated time.

THE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP A major goal of St. Joseph School is to maintain a healthy school environment. Our school is a member of the Calgary Rockyview Comprehensive School Health Partnership Initiative along with the Calgary Health Region, Calgary Board of Education and the Rockyview School District. By identifying our school’s unique needs, by mapping already existing programs and services and utilizing additional community resources, we deal with issues such as personal health choices, nutrition, active living, emotional/mental health, and injury prevention. We use a collaborative approach to promote the health and wellness of students, their families and the entire school staff.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION ATTIRE Physical education attire is compulsory for Grades 7-9 in order to achieve a proper instructional and learning environment, safety and comfort, hygienic conditions and neatness in appearance. Grade 7-9 students have the option of purchasing school gym strip or wearing their own shorts and shirts. For health and safety reasons, this clothing will be worn only in gym classes.

HANDBOOK SIGNATURE

Parents and Students: Once you have read this School Handbook carefully, please sign this form

We have read and are familiar with the policies, procedures & programs outlined in the St. Joseph School Handbook.

Parent’s Signature:

Student’s Signature:

Teacher’s Signature:

Homeroom: __________________________________

Teacher: __________________________________

Date: __________________________________