ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER CHANGES:  It is very important that our student database be kept up to date (especially in the event of an emergency!)  Any changes to a student’s address or phone number, or parent contact numbers, should be reported to the office please (604-517-6040).

ATTENDANCE:  We ask that parent/guardians call the school to advise our secretary of any absence.  These calls may be made 24 hours a day through our voice message system (604-517-6040).  If we don’t receive a call regarding a student’s absence, we will make every attempt to contact the parent/guardian so that we know the student is safe.

Students who are absent for more than one day should contact their homeroom teacher for work which was missed.  Students are responsible for making up missed work due to absences.

BICYCLES:  We have bicycle stands in front of the school.  Students are expected to lock up their bikes.  The school cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage to bicycles.  In the interest of safety, students must take care not to ride their bikes in the parking lot or on the school grounds.

DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (DPA):  Regular physical activity is beneficial to learning and general health.  Under the supervision of their teachers, QMS students participate in DPA, either in our gym or by doing “power walks” in the neighbourhood. 

DRESS:  We expect students to support a learning environment where attire is appropriate and not distracting to others.  This means that spaghetti straps, see-through clothing, short shorts, halter-tops and clothing that reveals underwear or bare bellies are not allowed.  Clothing that contains obscene, discriminatory or suggestive symbols, words or pictures will not be allowed.  As common courtesy dictates, hats will not be worn in the school.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:  Personal electronic devices are not allowed in classrooms or hallways at QMS. School is for learning and interacting with others.  Students who bring personal electronic devices (such as cell phones, ipods etc.) do so at their own risk.  If students do bring electronic devices to school, these items must be locked in their lockers during the school day.  Any devices in classrooms, or outside during nutrition break or lunch will be taken away by a staff member and returned at the end of the school day.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:  Students are responsible to follow the procedures for fire drills:

• Know where to find the emergency exits.

• Stand at the sound of the fire alarm bell and, on the direction of the teacher, follow him or her to the nearest exit (quickly and quietly!)

• If the alarm bell rings outside of class time, leave the building quietly and quickly by the nearest safe exit.

• Know where the gathering point is for their class.

• Return to the building when instructed to by staff.

The procedures for earthquake drills are as follows:

·   Know the “Duck, Cover and Hold” response and other safety considerations.

·   Follow the teacher’s instructions if an evacuation is necessary (know that the evacuation route for earthquakes may differ from that of fire).

There will be earthquake and fire drills throughout the year.

EXTENDED ABSENCE:  If you are planning to take your child out of school for an extended length of time please notify the QMS office in writing, as early as possible, informing us of the dates of the absence.  Unfortunately, if a child misses school for an extended period of time, he or she will be “behind” in classroom work.  Travel and other cultural experiences are learning experiences; however, they cannot replace the many varied classroom activities.  The staff will not be providing “homework” for students who are absent for an extended time on holiday.  Evaluation for the report card will only be based upon work for which the student was present at school.  Students who are absent for the majority of a term may not receive a letter grade on the report card at the end of that term.  Parents should also be aware that if a child is absent for more than four weeks, the school cannot “hold” a place in the same classroom and the student may not be placed in the same classroom upon their return.

FIELD TRIPS:  Parent/guardian permission forms are to be signed prior to departure for all school authorized excursions.  Remember that the school Code of Conduct applies to all school activities both on and off campus.

HOMEWORK:  Learning is more than just a class activity and independent learning is valued.  Homework, therefore, is an important complement to our educational program.  Remember, homework is more than completing assigned tasks - reviewing material and studying are also a component of homework.  Students should expect one hour of homework each night.

ILLNESS OR INJURY:  If a student feels ill, they should ask their teacher for permission to come to the office.  Office staff will assess the illness and admit the student to the health room and/or call the parent/guardian.

We have staff trained in first aid should a student be injured.  The parent/guardian will be contacted and, in serious cases, the school will get emergency medical care.

INCOMPLETE DAYS:  Near the end of each term, students who have not yet completed all of the required learning outcomes for any of their courses are provided with a one-day opportunity to catch up on any missed and/or incomplete assignments, projects and tests.  At least one week before Incomplete Day, teachers send home an Incomplete Report Form with each student who has not completed all of the expected work for that term to an acceptable standard.  These forms are to be signed by parents/guardians and returned to teachers.  On Incomplete Day, students with Incomplete Reports attend school and work with their teachers to resolve any unfinished/unsatisfactory work; students who have met all of the learning outcomes for the term are rewarded with a day off school!  All regular school rules apply during Incomplete Day, including the restrictions on leaving the school campus at lunch time.

LATENESS:  Students who are late must check in at the office upon arrival to school and then proceed to class.  We expect that students will provide a reason for their lateness.  Students who are late may have to make up lost time after school.  For security purposes, all doors except the front door will be locked during the school day.

LOCKERS:  Lockers are the property of the school and are “on loan” to students for the school year.  The school, therefore, reserves the right to inspect lockers periodically throughout the year.  Students may only use the locker assigned to them and, under no circumstances, may share a locker with another student.

Combination locks may be purchased at the school office.  It is also important that students not share their lock combination with anyone else except their homeroom teacher who will record it and keep it on file.  Students are not to keep valuables in their locker.

Students may decorate the inside of their lockers with pictures which are in good taste, using magnets (not tape) to attach items so that there is no damage to the locker.

LOST AND FOUND:  All lost and found items should be turned in at the school office.

Valuables should not be brought to school.  The school cannot be responsible for any lost items.

During P.E. classes, items such as watches and jewelry should not be left in the change room.

LUNCH:  In the interest of safety and security, students may not go off school grounds unless a parent or guardian has completed a form giving them permission to go home for lunch.  Permission will not be granted to go to a friend’s house for lunch or to go to a store.  Students will also be permitted to leave the campus if a parent picks them up and drops them off.

MEDICAL INFORMATION:  Students who have medical conditions that may require school assistance must make this known to our school office.  It is imperative that this information is kept up to date.

MEDICATION:  There are strict guidelines from our Public Health Nurse which we must follow. These apply to any medication, whether it is “over-the-counter” or prescription.  If medication is required, including emergency or non-emergency medication a Request for Administration of Medication at School Form #3 is required.  This form must be completed by the parent/ guardian and physician.  Whenever medication is to be administered on a regular basis, medication given will be recorded on a Medication Administration Record.

• Whenever possible, medication should be administered at home and not at school.

• Under no circumstances should a student have medication in his or her possession.  The possibility of another student coming into contact or taking medication to which they may have an allergy must not exist.

• All medication in the school must be kept at the office.

NUTRITION BREAK:  Students go outside (weather permitting) to socialize, get fresh air, exercise and to enjoy their nutritious snacks.  By collaborative decision of the staff and PAC there are no vending machines in the school.  We encourage students to bring healthy snacks.  We discourage pop and candy in our school.  We know that research shows that students who eat healthy food are more successful as learners.  There is supervision outside during nutrition break and lunch from QMS Support Staff.  There is no supervision outside before or after school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:  Students are required to change into PE strip (t-shirt or sweatshirt, shorts or sweatpants and running shoes).  The students will be responsible for appropriate use of sports equipment.  Students will be held responsible for the replacement of equipment damaged through careless or irresponsible use.