School Information

Safe Arrival Policy

If your child is going to be absent or late for school, please call the office and leave a message on the answering machine at any time. If a child is absent and the school has not been informed, the office administrator will be calling your home/work to check with you. Please ensure that the school office has accurate parent contact information.

 

Visitors/Volunteers Policy

At the present time, visitors/volunteers/parents are not to enter the school.  We ask parents picking up their child(ren) to come to the main door and ring the buzzer.  We will be happy to assist you.   

Dress Code

Students are expected to dress in a manner appropriate for school.  The following items are not acceptable:  hats, boxer or short shorts, crop tops, muscle shirts and ripped/torn jeans, and monogrammed clothing/jewelry promoting sex and/or the use of drugs or alcohol.  No short tops.  If you can’t tuck it in, you can’t wear it.  All tops, shirts and dresses must have a minimum of 5 cm wide band over the shoulder and must fit appropriately under the arms.  Clothing should always reflect modesty and good taste. All students need indoor running shoes for participation on a daily basis in Physical Education.

 

Peanut Allergies

St. Mary is a Peanut Safe school in an attempt to reduce the risk of children with life threatening allergies. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that can cause a severe reaction to specific foods and can result in death within minutes. We do ask that you remind your child that eating on the bus is strictly prohibited as there may be children with severe allergies travelling on the same bus.  As a safety precaution students are prohibited from sharing food.

Any students who have a Life Threatening Allergy are required to have their Epipen on their person throughout the school day.

Valuables/Electronics

Although it is strongly recommended that no item of value be brought to the school we do understand that electronics are often used as an excellent tool within the classroom and often a distraction on a long bus ride. Please note that if students bring electronics to school, and if items are lost, the school staff cannot be held responsible.  Outside of using the electronic devices within the classroom setting, we are insisting that students use their recess time for physical activity and social time rather than gaming time.

 Bus Routine

Students are reminded that riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. Behaviour that interferes with the safe operation of the bus or the safety of other students riding the bus will not be allowed. The expectations of student behaviour on the bus include:

• Enter the bus quietly
• Remain sitting, facing the front of the bus at all times
• Remain in your seat at all times
• Speak quietly
• Exit only when the bus has come to a complete stop
• No food/drink/gum allowed on the school bus.

Parents are reminded that bus students are not permitted to take a bus which is different from their assigned bus.  If for any reason your child needs to go to another student’s home, we ask parents to make alternate transportation arrangements.  Students who are walkers are not permitted to ride on the bus other than for school events.  For further information please refer to the School Board’s Policy booklet.

Car Gate

It has been requested by our neighbours that we do not use the driveways located on Lake Avenue to turn around after picking up your child from car gate.  We are asking that all pick-ups occur on the school side of the street to prevent cars lining up on both sides and parents crossing between cars to pick up their children. We would prefer a longer line up on Lake rather than students crossing during this busy time.

Telephone Policy

As anyone who has tried to phone the school knows, the telephone lines are extremely busy.  As such, it is important that they are reserved for school business. Students, therefore, need to make their travel, lunch and social arrangements before they come to school. School phones can only be accessed for emergencies. We ask also that should you need to contact your child throughout the day that it be done through the office as opposed to texting or cell phone calling. 

 

Recycling Policy

It is our role as members of this community to keep our environment clean, safe and beautiful and each one of us must do our part.  At St. Mary we do have a recycling program. Students and staff members are strongly encouraged to pack “litterless” lunches using reusable containers which are ideal solutions in assisting with the three R’s – REDUCE/REUSE/RECYCLE. Help be an ECO hero!

Breakfast Club

From 9:15 to 9:30 each morning, St. Mary School students can attend the Breakfast Club for toast, juice and socializing in the school gymnasium. We gratefully acknowledge our parent volunteers for sponsoring this event. Please inform the office if you would like to volunteer to help with this program as it is dependent on volunteers.

 
Snack Program

There are snack items (e.g. apple sauce, Nutrigrain bars, etc.) available at the office to any student who forgets his/her lunch or is short of food. Each classroom will have apples, bananas, and dry cereal available for any and all children who are hungry throughout the day.