2009-2010
Principal: Ann Whalley
Vice-Principal: Rick Welton
 

Teaching Staff

Students' Council 2007-08

The role of the Students’ Council is to act as a liaison for the students in discussions with the administration and to make decisions concerning the financing and organization of student activities. The Students’ Council provides the opportunity to experience personal growth, develop leadership skills, and explore problem solving and decision making abilities. As members of this council students act as ambassadors of the school and are expected to act in a manner which reflects the philosophy of Whycocomagh Education Centre and the Strait Regional School Board. The Students’ Council is elected in September for the current year.

School Advisory Council

Achieving excellence in teaching and learning can best be done through team work in which partners have meaningful involvement in decision making. The Whycocomagh Education Centre Advisory Council brings partners together to make decisions and solve problems in the best interest of student learning.

Belief Statements:

• Student Learning
  Students learn on the basis of different learning styles and within the context of their values, beliefs and customs.
  
  Opportunities for interaction, modelling and hands-on activities contribute to student learning.
   

• Student Discipline
  Clearly defined, well-communicated and equitably applied standards promote the development of a positive school climate. This school year, WEC will begin to implement the Positive Effective Behaviour Supports model (PEBS) which encourages the maintenance of a respectful school environment. PEBS is based on the collaborative efforts of teacher, students, parents and support staff.
   

• Effective Teaching
  High quality instruction flows from recognition of the distinct individual needs of students and involves effective communication, supportive attitudes and collaborative sharing by teachers.

• Assessment and Evaluation
  Effective assessment is broad-based, authentic, on-going, well communicated and reflective of students’ strengths and learning needs.
   

• School Climate
  Conditions necessary for the development and maintenance of a positive school climate include the presence of mutual respect, valuing of differences, democratic decision-making and collaboration by teachers, students, parents and the community.
   

• Communication Within The School Community
  Meaningful connections within the school community must be reciprocal, frequent, responsive and involve proactive approaches to communication.
   

• Leadership In The School
  Effective shared leadership capitalizes on the expertise within the school community and is respectful, visible, caring, energetic and positive.
   

• Staff Collaboration
  Authentic staff collaboration involves respecting and utilizing individual capabilities in a climate that features professionalism and commitment to mutual problem-solving.
   

• Inclusion
  All students should have the opportunity to learn with the provision of appropriate resources, materials and support services.
   

• Technology
  Technology is a valuable learning tool and its use must be integrated within the curriculum and school operations.
   

• Parents Role
  Parents are key partners in students’ learning and should support their children’s development through advocacy, awareness, volunteerism, communication and positive engagement
   

• Extra-Curricular Programs
  Effective extra-curricular programs contribute significantly to a well-rounded school experience for students. Provision of a diverse, accessible extra-curricular program involves the combined efforts of teachers, students, parents and community members.
   

• Other
  A proactive, transformational focus is required if the school aspires to educate students for living in an ever-changing, increasingly complex, interdependent global society.

1) To facilitate learning in the classroom.
2) To encourage students to attend classes on a daily basis.
3) To prepare students for a future work environment where daily attendance is important.
4) To develop a sense of social and personal responsibility

SCHOOL POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF AN ATTENDANCE POLICY

1. Daily attendance is necessary for students to receive maximum benefit from their schooling.

2. Parents have the right to be informed when students are absent.

3. An attendance system must be clearly stated to parents, students, teachers and administrators.

4. An attendance system must be manageable by both teachers and administration.

PRACTICES OF THE ATTENDANCE POLICY

Daily attendance on the part of students is vital to the process of learning. Normally the planning of a lesson involves a variety of processes, including interaction among the students in the class. A unit of study involves the development of a sequence of related understandings. When the process and content of learning are disrupted by irregular attendance, both the individual student and his/her classmates suffer a loss of learning which is difficult if not impossible to entirely regain. Students who miss numerous classes will suffer in the evaluation process to a point where meaningful assessment may become impossible.

LATENESS

Students are expected to be in school by 8:25 a.m. Between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. teachers look after attendance and any other business and O'Canada is played. To be later than 8:25 is to disrupt the first class. Students are to be on time for subsequent classes.

An excused lateness is one that is not avoidable. Examples might be a power outage or a doctor's appointment. Such lateness, accompanied by a note, would be excused. Other lateness are unexcused ( eg. haircut, shopping, slept in, etc.).

Grades P -8:
After the third unexcused lateness in the term, the home will be contacted by the homeroom teacher and the office will be notified. If unexcused lateness continues the principal will request a meeting with the parents.

ABSENTEEISM POLICY STATEMENT

The education program provided by the Strait Regional School Board is organized on the assumption that all students will regularly attend school and scheduled classes. When absences do occur, they will be treated as either excused or unexcused, with the Principal having the authority to make the determination.

GUIDELINES

1. Excused absences: Absences will be excused for necessary and
   important reasons that will include, but may not be limited to:
      » personal illness
      » bereavement
      » severe inclement weather
      » quarantine
      » family emergencies
      » observation of religious holidays
      » appointments for medical and other health care services
      » court appearances including jury duty
    

2. Parents/guardians shall:
      » encourage students to meet all school commitments;
      » avoid, where possible, making non-school commitments for their
         children during school time;
      » notify the school when the child will be absent;
      » provide reasons for absences, in writing, to the school within two
        school days of the student's return to school.

Failure to notify the school of the reason for an absence within three school days will result in the absence being recorded as unexcused.

Grades P - 8:
After three unexcused absences the home will be contacted by the homeroom teacher and office will be notified. If unexcused absences continue a letter will be sent home by registered mail and the principal will meet with the parents/guardians. If these interventions fail to resolve the problem the school will follow board policy.

SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR POLICY

Beliefs

» Education is a partnership.
» The family is a primary influence in the development of the individual.
» Children need a nurturing environment.
» Learning is a life-long endeavour.
» Each individual has the ability to learn.
» The pursuit of excellence is always worth the effort.
» Our society is strengthened by the uniqueness and diversity of its people.
» All individuals have an inherent right to dignity and respect.
» People are responsible for their own actions.
» Living in harmony with our environment is essential to survival.
» Building our future requires a willingness to take risks.

Student Behavioural Expectations

Appropriate student behaviour is essential for the orderly and effective operation of the school and its activities and you, the student, are the key person in setting the theme. The overall aim of the school is to encourage the development of self-discipline. The expectations are that all persons in the school will behave in a courteous and responsible manner.

The words “acceptable behaviour” are used in this policy to refer to that part of education that helps individuals to develop self-control and the ability to co-operate with others. The aim of such a policy is to teach students that a degree of obedience and conformity is reasonable and necessary when interacting with others. It is intended to encourage students to be aware of and accept the consequences of their actions.

It is essential that an acceptable behaviour policy for our school should be based on practices of good “common sense”. It should reflect respect for the student’s worth, dignity and sense of justice. The implementation of such a policy is intended to assist parents, students and school staff in maintaining a positive school tone.

Rules and procedures are designed to ensure the safety and security of all students; to ensure all students equal access to educational programs; to provide a training ground in which to learn social behaviours that apply within the rest of society; and to provide the kind of training necessary to develop effective work and study skills.

It is intended that such a policy will bring about an awareness of self-worth and personal responsibility in society.

The following are areas of behavioural expectations for our students:

» regular attendance - punctuality
» respect for authority
» good work habits
» punctuality
» being quiet in the hallways, library
» respect for others and property
» dress in accordance of school dress standards
» abstaining from the use of drugs and/or alcohol» acceptable methods of resolving conflict
» completion of homework and assignments
» adherence to deadlines
» exhibit behaviour that avoids all forms of intimidation, harassment, racism, and discrimination
» respect and appreciate diversity of all school members regardless of their race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability
» express themselves with socially acceptable language and gestures

1. No student has the right to interfere with a fellow student’s learning, nor interfere with a teacher’s teaching.

2. All teachers will establish specific policies that are appropriate for their teaching environment and activities. Therefore, students will be responsible for understanding these policies and are to work co-operatively within these guidelines. Quality education is the intended goal.

3. Students will be required to accept responsibility for their behaviour -- to accept logical consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

4. It is expected that students will treat staff and fellow students with respect. That respect should be demonstrated in speech and behaviour. All students have a responsibility to assist in the creation of a positive and supportive learning environment. Following the rules of the school and the classroom is key to maintaining an atmosphere in which productive learning can occur.

Specific School Regulations

Sign–In/Sign-Out - Students arriving or leaving the school at times other than the usual times are to have a parent come in to the office to sign them in or out.

Coats/Hats - Hats are to be removed when a student enters the building and not put back on until they exit. Violation could lead to a hat being confiscated. Repeated violation could lead to loss of good standing.

Clothing - Clothing with offensive visuals--school reserves the right to decide what is offensive. Clothing promoting use of drugs, alcohol or degradation of any sex, or visible minority--student will remove such offensive item immediately when notified of its inappropriateness. Also students are expected to be outside at recess and during the lunch recess so dressing appropriately for the weather is essential. Keep in mind that the playground is usually quite cold.

Allergies:

**Shell Fish - Not allowed in the staff, classroom areas of cafeteria so students are asked not to bring in their lunches; this includes lobster, shrimp, crab, etc.

**Scent Free - Out of respect to those people in our building who have sensitivities and allergies, we ask individuals to refrain from wearing scented products. “No scents makes good sense!”

Fire Extinguishers/Alarms/Exits - Any student who tampers with such safety equipment will be automatically suspended.

Fire Drill - In order to ensure effective and safe use of exit facilities there will be regular fire drills throughout the school year. Order and good conduct are the two most important factors when leaving the building.

Gymnasium - Students are only allowed to wear non-marking shoes on the gymnasium floors. Students are only allowed in the gymnasium when a teacher supervisor is present. No food or drink is allowed in the gymnasium.

Vandalism - It is our shared responsibility to retain the quality of our facility. A student who vandalizes school property must pay the cost of the repair--both material and labour.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco - Any students attending classes or school functions under the influence and/or in the possession of alcohol or drugs will automatically be suspended indefinitely from school and referred to the School Board for further action. Smoking is not permitted on School Board property or during school functions.

Leaving School Grounds - Students are not permitted to leave school property during the school day except for exceptional situations. These situations require written confirmation from the parents. Students who walk home after school are to bring a note at the beginning of the school year and are asked not to leave the grounds until the buses have left the school yard.

Staying After Classes - Parent/guardian written permission must be given to a student when he/she plans to stay after school hours.

**On occasion students in grades 7 and 8 stay after school for unsupervised activities. This is not encouraged but if parents agree to allow their son/daughter to stay for unsupervised activities and use the late bus a permission must be obtained from the office, signed by a parent/guardian and returned to the office in advance. Should students be here unsupervised and without permission we will place them in a supervised area (classroom) until the bus arrives and a phone call home will be made.

Bus Passes - Students wishing to travel on a bus other than their own, or who wishes to get off at a stop other than their own, must have a bus pass. Bus passes are issued at the main office with permission from parents/guardians. Phone calls from parents are acceptable for bus passes, but must come as early in the day as possible. If there is no contact from parent/guardian, the student will be sent home on his/her regular bus. If a bus is filled to capacity, and unable to take a student safely, they will travel home on their regular bus.

Transportation to Extra-curricular Activities - Only parents or their adult designate are permitted to transport students to extra-curricular activities when school buses are not being used.
(See Board Transportation of Students Policy.)

Chaperones for School Activities - Must be responsible adults, preferably parents of students attending school.

Fees -
A) Lockers will be issued this year for Grades 5-8.
Student fee for locks is $3.00.

B) There will be a small charge for Student Agendas, although much of that cost is subsidized by CPAT.

C) Students will be expected to pay $2.00 each time they go skating as part of the school skating program.

D) Students may be asked for $1.00 or $2.00 to help with the cost of special performances from time to time.

Phone -The use of school phones will be limited to illness and emergencies.
There is a payphone for student use. Students are discouraged from bringing
cell phones to school. However, if parents feel their son/daughter must bring a
phone to school the phone must be turned off during the school day. If the phone is seen or heard, it will be confiscated and kept at the office, until parents are contacted.  If a second incident should occur the parents/guardians will be contacted and the students will no longer be allowed to take a phone to school.

Digital Cameras and Video Cameras: - Students are not permitted to bring
these to school except on special occasions such as field trips, concerts,
celebrations, etc. Should this policy not be adhered to the camera will be kept
at the office for the day and if a second incident should occur the
parents/guardians will be contacted and the students will no longer be allowed
to take a camera to school for any reason.

Dance Policy

Dances are a privilege - a privilege that students in grades six to eight at Whycocomagh Education Centre get to enjoy as long as they keep their “Good Standing”. Students who are in Good Standing are welcome to attend dances and may enjoy the social climate of the dance within the limits of school rules that apply to all after school activities.

• All dances require two teacher chaperones and four parent chaperones. At least two have to be male.

• All chaperones and teachers must be in place and confirmed two days prior to a dance or the dance will be canceled at that time. This is the responsibility of the Student Council.

• The Student Council will also collect money at the door, and sell canteen items under adult supervision. They are also required for clean up immediately following the dance when necessary.

• All students must sign in when they come in. This is part the new fire regulations.

• Former WEC students attending Dalbrae and in Grade 9 may attend without being signed in.

• Students may not leave and re-enter the school. Once they come in they are in the school for the duration of the dance.

• All jackets and bags are to be placed in the seminar room by a chaperone. We are not responsible for lost items (money or other valuables left in jackets).

• Students are not to bunch up in tightly packed groups or bounce or push into each other.

• No glow sticks are permitted.

• Students and guests are not permitted to go behind the gym curtain during the dance.

• Time of dances: 8:00 – 10:30. Doors will not open until 7:45. Doors close at 9:00, there will be no admittance after that time.

• Lates must be approved by 12 noon the day of the dance.

• All food and drinks must stay outside of the gym

• Students must respect the school dress code
  * Unless it is a theme dance and other arrangements have been made

Students who violate dance or other school rules while at a dance may be restricted from other school dances. Parents may be called to pick up disruptive students at any time during the dance. The consequences for all school rules apply at dances.

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited. Any student suspected of being under the influence of, or in possession of any of the above mentioned will be sent home immediately and will lose dance privileges for one year and/or other disciplinary measures as per school and Board policies.

Grade five students may be invited to the Winter Carnival dance.

The RCMP will be notified of all dances.

Grades Seven & Eight Responsible Behavior

This policy came about in 2007 as a result of disrespectful behavior on the part of many students in grades 7 & 8.

Changes:

• Morning recess – students can choose whether they want to go out or not

• Lunch recess – every classroom 5 to 8 will be assigned a day when they can stay inside

• The gym is available on two days only during the 5 to 8 lunch, so on Day 1 grades 5 & 6 will alternate being in the gym and on Day 6 grades 7 & 8 will alternate

• We will also look at setting up teams of four students to take turns playing Table Tennis at lunch

Expectations:

• Teachers will use a three strikes approach; if they have to speak to a student three times for disrupting the class or inappropriate behavior they will sent to the office.

• Substitute teachers are not expected to use the three strikes approach, they can send students to the office whenever they are disruptive or disrespectful

Consequences:

• If a student is sent to the office he/she will serve an after-school detention and a call home will be made

• If a student is sent to the office twice in one week he/she may serve a combination of after school detentions and loss of lunch and recess privileges. A phone call home will be made.

• Students who continue to have difficulty with the expected behaviours will receive supports under the PEBS program to improve the situation. These may include periods of explicit teaching and restrictions during unstructured times in the school days. These will take place in consultation with student services personnel and the parent/guardians of the students.

STRAIT DISTRICT SCHOOL BOAR (POLICY IV-C-4)
"GOOD STANDING"

POLICY STATEMENT

Students who live up to their responsibilities maintain good standing. This standing allows students to participate in all programs, provided they meet participation criteria.

Guidelines

1. Good standing can be maintained by;
      » abiding by school rules;
      » following behaviour and attendance codes;
      » maintaining an appropriate level of effort in class work and assignments;
      » avoiding serious or repetitive discipline problems;
      » respecting school and class schedules.
    

2. Restoration of good standing:

The length of time during which a student is denied “good standing“ status should be related to the seriousness of the behaviour, and to the student's overall discipline record. Denial of good standing for the entire school year should be for extreme situations only (refer to the Provincial School Code of Conduct document).

Good standing shall be restored after a student demonstrates willingness to meet school expectations for a period of time as determined by the school administration in consultation with appropriate school staff and parents/guardians.

Good standing may be restored early as per the Re-instatement of Good Standing application found in this policy's corresponding procedures, PRO IV-C-4.

     3. A student who is not in good standing shall be excluded from extra-
         curricular activities.

Please see the Strait Regional School Board - Excellence in Lifelong Learning Curriculum and Instruction Document for additional information about board policies and practices.

Head Lice Policy

Head lice is a regularly occurring problem in public school that is not a health problem, but rather a nuisance to students and teachers alike. Although discouraging and often embarrassing, it is important to remember that anyone can be affected by lice, regardless of age, gender or community. Head lice is not a matter of "cleanliness" but rather an unfortunate instance of probably just being in the wrong place a the the wrong time.

It is necessary for our school to do its part to prevent the spread of head lice when it is detected and during times when head lice seems to be more common. To that end the following procedures have been established at Whycocomagh Education Centre for the 2008-2009 school year.

• A group of volunteers will form a head check tam. They will be trained by the Department of Public Health in the proper procedures for checking children for head lice and nits.

• The parent group will conduct 3 routine checks of all children from grades primary to eight during the times of ear when lice is most common: late all, after Christmas vacation, and after the March Break. These checks will be done discretely and with sensitivity toward the embarrassment that this causes students, particularly those in higher grades.

• Parents are asked to contact the school if they detect lice in their children at any time during the year. When an instance of lice is reported, the head check group will check heads in that class.

• Students who are found to have lice an/or nits will have parents contacted immediately so that their children ca be picked up and treated right away. A note till be sent home to parents in the affected classes.

• Students found to have lice an/or nits will be rechecked upon their return to school. Students must be free of both lice and nits before they can return to classes. We have contacted the Public Health Nurse for our area who has clearly instructed us that it is impossible to tell if a nit is alive or dead, even following treatment. It is also impossible to tell how far along the nit is in its life cycle, so that they could hatch in a matter of days, hours or minutes. It is essential therefore, that all student be nit-free before coming back to school.

• We understand that some children find head checks embarrassing and that some parents' instinct is to request that students not be checked for head lice or nits at school. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate this request. If parents want to be involved in the head checks, they are welcome to come to the school to sit with their child(ren ) as they are checked, but ultimately the school is responsible for making every effort to stem the spread of head lice.

School closure

A- upon receiving the recommendation of the Supervisor of Transportation to close the school, the Superintendent of Schools or his designate will telephone 98.9 FM-CJFX, 101.5 FM- The Hawk and 94.3 FM-CBC radio stations to air the school cancellation announcement.

B- Should it be necessary to call off school during the day because of sudden changes in weather conditions, the Supervisor of Transportation will advise the Superintendent of Schools and Central Office administrators will immediately notify the above mentioned radio stations to have the appropriate announcement made on the radio.

C- THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL ON DAYS OF INCLEMENT WEATHER RESTS WITH THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

D- In case of an unexpected evacuation, all students will walk to the Cameron Hall and the Administration will notify the SRSB and Radio station.

E- Icy Road Conditions: If a bus does not travel on a a road in the morning ti will not travel that road at the end of the school day. Should the parent drive his/her child to school, it the parents' responsibility to pick the child up when school is dismissed.

F- If the SRSB cancels all classes during the day, there may be a delay in dismissing WEC students as we wait for the Dalbrae students to arrive. The students will then travel home on the same bus they came on in the morning. This is to prevent the buses from traveling the same route twice in bad weather.

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