Lord Tweedsmuir School Policies

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Lord Tweedsmuir Parent / Guardian Handbook

First Day of School

Code of Conduct

Code Highlights

Children Learn What They Live

District Code of Conduct

Supervision and Safety

Traffic Safety

Our Office Staff

Emergency Drills

First Aid / Illness

Rainy Days

Visitors to the School

Student Class Placement Policy

Reporting Sessions

Uniforms & Textbooks

Dress Code

Students off Grounds

Unacceptable Behaviour

First Day of School

    On the first day of school, students attend class until 9:45am. Students should return to their classroom from the previous school year to assist with attendance procedures. Students will remain in the previous year's classroom until new classes are finalized by Friday afternoon.

Lord Tweedsmuir’s Code of Conduct

 The Lord Tweedsmuir code of conduct provides guidelines to create and maintain a safe, positive and respectful learning environment. These guidelines will both motivate and challenge the members of the community to achieve their greatest potential through supportive relationships.

 Acceptable conduct includes behaviours that demonstrate the virtue of respect for self, others and the environment.

Unacceptable conduct includes behaviours that negatively impact the physical or learning environment, and the social, emotional or physical well being of self and others.

Our rising expectations are aimed at developing independent, self-motivated individuals that positively contribute to the community and acquire an expanding awareness of the impact of one’s actions on self, others and the global community.

If the above stated is not adhered to, disciplinary action, wherever possible, is preventative and restorative, rather than merely punitive.

For frequent or repeated behaviour the discipline will be progressive in nature beginning with a discussion with the teacher, timeouts, communication with parents, referral to administration. If necessary, students will be sent home when they are unable to be safe at school.

Lord Tweedsmuir’s Code Highlights

 Safe, positive and respectful learning environment

       Virtue of respect for self, others and the environment

 Developing, independent, self-motivated individuals

Expanding awareness of the impact of one’s actions on self, others and the global community

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

 If a child lives with criticism,

He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,

He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,

He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,

He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,

He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,

He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,

He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,

He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,

He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,

He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

He learns to find love in the world.

The New Westminster School District Code of Conduct is intended to encourage students to:

• Conduct themselves in a polite, responsible and considerate manner in class, on school property, traveling to and from school and when attending school related activities away from the campus.
• Respect the property of others.
• Attend classes regularly and punctually.
• Dress in an acceptable manner.
• Be considerate of others, their thoughts, feelings and background.
• Use appropriate language.
• Be sensitive to and contribute to the maintenance of a positive school environment.
• The Board will not tolerate students engaging in violent acts or behavior in school or at school related activities.

Supervision and Safety

 Before School

Students should time their arrival at school between 8:45 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. each day unless special team practice times have been scheduled or a special request has been made by the teacher for early morning assistance or tutoring. Supervision begins on the playground at 8:45.

 Lunch Time

Students are to stay seated at all times.

Quiet talking, reading or other activities are permitted.

The general school rules apply.

Older student monitors are arranged to assist the classrooms during the lunch period and a buddy system is devised with older classes.  The monitors work closely with our lunch-time supervisors. Please treat your buddies with respect.

 Lunch-time Supervisors patrol each section of the school during eating time.  They reinforce safe behaviour and promote spending the time eating lunch rather than socializing or playing.

 If students do not finish their lunch they can go to the learning centre to finish or they can take their remaining food outside.

 After School

All classes are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. each day unless otherwise notified.  All students must be picked up or go straight home at 2:45 unless they are staying for a teacher supervised activity. Students remaining on the playground after school must be supervised by an adult.

Traffic Safety

Crossing guards are provided at the intersections of Sixth Avenue and 14th Street, and Eighth Avenue and 17th Street. Students are expected to obey their direction.

Our Office Staff

Office staff are always happy to assist with information and assistance for all students, staff and parents. Copies of recent newsletters, notices and community brochures are available at the office. First Aid is administered in the Medical Room, adjacent to the office.

Emergency Drills

Emergency drills (ie: fire and earthquake) will be held several times throughout the year. It is extremely important that students complete these exercises in a serious and diligent manner.

First Aid/Illness

First aid is available at the school office. All injuries, no matter how minor, should be reported. It is imperative that parents supply the school with current emergency contact names and how they can be reached. Parents should alert the school nurse about their child's allergies or other medical conditions. No medication may be administered by teachers or any other staff member unless prior authorization and medical instructions are obtained. If a student feels ill, the teacher will refer them to the office. If necessary, the parent will be contacted to come and pick up the child.

Rainy Days

Occasionally we have a few days where the weather is poor enough to call for an inside/outside decision. In discussion with staff and the PAC, the following reflects the current and long standing policy of the school:

Inclement Days: New Westminster is in the west coast rainforest. Learning and health require students to be outside and move. Imagine 25 students sitting in a class all day, breathing the same air. Imagine how difficult it is to learn after a lunchtime of sitting inside.

We need your help - please stay aware of the weather and dress your children for any possibility.

Occasionally, in the winter, there may be the odd day where the weather is so bad that no one can go outside. On these few days students will be kept in. Typically, however, most days when it is raining and wet, students will be outside.

Visitors to the School

    For the security of our students, all persons are required to sign in at the office prior to proceeding through the school. As well, any unusual persons, conditions or events noticed in the school or on the grounds should be brought to the attention of school staff. Keeping our children safe while at school is a priority.

Student Class Placement Policy

    The following list outlines the factors we use in determining student placements. This process begins in June and is not complete until mid September. This list is not in priority order.

Reporting Sessions

    Report cards are provided three times a year. The first reporting session is in late November. The second reporting period is in March and the final report is provided at the end of the school year in June. Interviews are scheduled twice a year in October and February

Uniforms & Textbooks

    Students will be held responsible for all uniforms, textbooks, and any other pieces of school property issued to them. Invoices will be issued for items not returned.

 Lord Tweedsmuir School Dress Code

 We hope and expect that students will use common sense in choosing their clothing. We have a diverse community and encourage everyone to respect that diversity.

 ·        Please do not wear hats, visors or toques in the school buildings – scarves are acceptable

·        All clothing should be practical for educational purposes

·        Clothing should have positive messages

·        Please do not display underwear or midriff

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Students off Grounds

    At no time during school hours is a student allowed off school grounds without written permission from the parent or authorization from the school after contacting the parent. This includes even quick trips home to pick up forgotten items, going home because of illness, etc.

Parents should notify their child's teacher whether the student will routinely be going home for lunch or staying at school.

For safety reasons, please notify your child's teacher if there is a change in the routine. Students are not permitted to go to the store even with a note. Please help us in keeping our school safe for all.

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Unacceptable Behaviour

    These are the key rules that all students are expected to follow. If you break any of these rules then consequences can range from reminders to loss of free time (recess and lunch).  In extreme cases students will be sent home for unsafe or disrespectful behaviour.

Unacceptable behavior is any incident that endangers yourself or your fellow classmates. Examples of this type of behavior are:

-  Challenging teachers’ authority

-Fighting

-  Insolence or rudeness

-  Intimidation

-  Stealing

-  Swearing or using obscene gestures

-         Teasing or bullying

    If you do break these safety rules there will be a series of steps that you will encounter. For a first time infraction your teacher may speak to you and you will likely have a time out in the Learning Centre. For repeated incidents you will get increasingly longer time outs, you will be referred to the principal and your parents will be called. If necessary you will be sent home if you can not be safe at school.

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