School Hours
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Junior Campus |
Senior Campus |
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Senior yard supervision |
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9:05 am |
Morning Bell |
9:00 am |
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9:15 am |
Start of Day |
9:05 am |
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11:15 - 11:35 am |
Morning Recess |
11:05 am |
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12:35 - 1:25 pm |
Lunch |
12:25 - 1:15 pm |
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2:25 - 2:45 pm |
Afternoon Recess |
1:15 pm |
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3:45 pm |
End of Day |
3:35 pm |
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3:55 pm |
Bus Departure |
3:45 pm |
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Children may not leave the school grounds at any time during the school day unless they bring a note from home from their parents. The office must approve this.
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Children who are enrolled in the Daycare and/or Lunch Programs must follow the regulations as stated at registration.
The school playground is supervised 10 minutes before start of day. Please do not drop off or send your child to school to arrive earlier than this time. The children are also supervised 10 minutes after dismissal before buses leave. All students, except those registered in Daycare, are expected to leave the school property after school at the designated times unless an authorized school event is taking place.
Whenever entering the school after the entry bell please use the front door entrance. This ensures that we are able to control who is entering the school. Adults are not permitted in the school yard to help us ensure the children’s safety. This is a necessary precaution. Please wait outside the gate for your children.
Absences
If you know in advance that your child will be absent from school we ask that you please send a note stating the reason, date and duration of the absence to your child’s teacher. If the absence is unforeseen, please call the school to report it before 7:50 AM and 12:00 PM.
Punctuality: The Importance of Being on Time
One of the special skills or habits children learn over their primary years is that of punctuality. Arriving on time for the beginning of the school day is an important contribution to this learning. Being on time has importance for your child because missing the “set up” or critical information for the day will surely put your youngster at a disadvantage. It can be difficult for your child to enter a group that has already launched into the day’s work. It is also disruptive to the other children and class teacher. Being late happens to everyone once in a while. When it happens more frequently, it becomes a problem for your child and potentially for the class and teacher. All students arriving late to school must report to the secretary’s office before proceeding to class.
School Buses
Students who live farther than 1.6 km from the school (0.8 km for Kindergarten) may take the bus to school. Children taking the bus must obey the rules for conduct and safety. Bus transportation to and from school is a service provided by the school board (Transportation Department: 514 422 3001 or https://www.lbpsb.qc.ca/transportation).The bus driver is in charge of the bus and must have the co-operation of all students in the course of the daily run.
Bus infractions occur infrequently. A first and second offence calls for a reprimand by the principal. Subsequent offences may result in suspension from the bus. Communication between the school and drivers occurs consistently.
A student misbehaving on a school bus may lose the privilege of using this means of transportation. Additional consequences may include:
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Restitution for damage caused
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Detention and/or suspension from school
Please go over the following bus safety rules with your child:
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Always be at the bus stop 10 minutes early.
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Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop, then board the school bus in single file, in an orderly fashion, using the handrail.
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Find your seat quickly without pushing other students. Keep the aisle clear.
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Remain seated, talk quietly. Do not eat, drink or leave trash on the bus.
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Do not vandalize the bus in any way i.e. writing on seats or walls or cutting seats.
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Always listen to the driver’s instructions. Do not distract the driver by yelling, arguing, fighting or throwing things.
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Never put your head or arms out the window.
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Know where the emergency exits are but DO NOT tamper with them.
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When getting off, wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving your seat. Descend in a single file.
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Walk a safe distance from the bus so the driver can see you and know that you are out of danger.
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Should you need to cross in front of the bus, keep a safe distance and watch for the driver’s signal. Do not run. Proceed with caution.
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Skateboards or rollerblades are not allowed on the bus.
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Failure to follow the above rules will result in disciplinary action and/or suspension of bus privileges. The safety of all the children on the bus is each student’s responsibility. Suspension from the school bus is not subject to any negotiation or discussion.
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Children must ALWAYS ride on the bus to which they are regularly assigned. They are not permitted to take any other bus. Other arrangements must be made if they want to go home with a friend or a relative.
Safety and Emergencies
Always remind your children that when in doubt they should always report to the office.
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Student safety is an ongoing concern of the school community.
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All the school doors are locked while there are children in the building.
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The school board has installed safety lock release systems on the main doors. This allows us to control entry to the school during the day and to the Daycare before and after school.
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Teachers supervise arrivals and departures in the bus area.
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There is an annual bus safety campaign to sensitize the students to this theme.
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Fire drills are held five times a year and the practice of emergency codes.
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In case of an emergency, the school board's messaging system will be used.
Visitors and Access to the School
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All visitors to the school, including parents, must use the building's main entrance.
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All visitors must sign in and out at the office and wear a 'temporary pass' sticker.
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Please note that only staff members and students are allowed in the school yard.
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When picking up students at lunchtime, all parents/adults are asked to wait outside the school grounds. For safety reasons, we cannot allow adults to wait in the lobby or wander the halls.
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Individuals on school property must either be here to pick up/drop off a child, be here as visitors or volunteers, or they will be asked to leave. Students and staff are asked to report any stranger sighted on school premises.
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When dropping off your child by car, please respect the "drop off" zone rules.
Parental Responsibility – Emergency Closings
There are times when it becomes necessary to close a school unexpectedly during the day. For example, a fire, a power failure, a burst pipe, etc. may require that children be sent home during the day. We have an emergency telephone relay made up of parent volunteers to inform parents of this emergency situation. The school board's electronic messaging system will also be used.
In the case of an emergency closing, the children will be instructed to go to the location provided to us by parents in writing on the Pupil Information Form which parents must fill out annually and keep the school informed of any changes. In such cases, the buses are called early and the children are bussed home by the usual routes. We are usually able to have major English radio stations notify the public of any emergency school closing.
It is the parents' responsibility to periodically remind their children where they should go if there is a school closing; the school must also be notified of any changes in where your children are to go in an emergency. Please note that unless you are advised to the contrary by the media, the school will be open as usual the day following the emergency closing.
Custody
The administration must be made aware of any custodial issues involving the students of the school. If the custodial parent changes or any details of the custodial agreement change i.e. who picks up the child and when they are allowed to do so you must notify the school secretary immediately.
Communication
Open communication is important to all members of our St. John Fisher School community. We all need the opportunity to give and receive clear messages. We appreciate the keen interest you show in your child's progress and we wish to show you our commitment as well. The opportunity for instant communication may not always be available; we really appreciate your cooperation in not seeking "instant conferences", especially during teachers' planned classroom or school activities. We do, however, value your input and concerns. Here are a few suggestions on how to contact us:
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use your child’s communication book (pochette) for messages, questions, clarification and feedback.
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send your child's teacher a note or phone the school to request a meeting for you, your child, and your child's teacher.
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if matters still have not been resolved to your satisfaction, request an appointment with your child's teacher and the school principal (communication book or a note). It is usually best to contact your child's teacher first.
Please make an appointment. Thank you for understanding.
Important Information
Please advise the school immediately about the following:
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Change of address, phone number or school.
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Change in your child's medication.
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Changes in home structure.
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Major changes to your child's routine (i.e. staying with a relative for an extended period).
Appropriate School Attire
Why is it important at St. John Fisher School to emphasize appropriate attire? We believe that behavior is influenced by an environment that promotes an atmosphere of serious work. We want the students to dress warmly in the winter weather and dress with modesty at all other times. Spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, bare shoulders and t-shirts with inappropriate printing are not acceptable in our school. Safety and comfort are foremost. Sandals, tight fitting or very short skirts and shorts are not suitable.
Running shoes are mandatory in the gymnasium for safety reasons. As well, they should not be worn outside in bad weather. T-shirt type garments must be worn that cover the entire torso when both arms are raised. (No tank tops.)
Medications
For students who must take medications during the school day parents must bring their medication to school and deposit it at the main office with the secretary. A permission form to administer the medication must also be filled out and returned to school before the medication can be administered.
Library
St. John Fisher boasts one of the largest school libraries in the Lester B. Pearson School Board. The children take books out weekly in order to encourage good reading habits. Keeping the books in good condition is a priority for the library. We ask that the children take proper care of the books they take out. The books themselves are expensive to purchase therefore parents are responsible for any book that is damaged or lost.
Personal Belongings
School is a place for your child’s education to progress. There is little time for the students to engage in activities that segregate them from their classmates or other groups. This includes cell phones, MP3 players, IPods, games and other electronic equipment. It is impossible for us to safeguard these items and there is really no proper place or time for their use. For their own protection such items will be taken and returned to your child at the end of the day. Please help us in this endeavour.
Homework Assignments
Homework is given as part of the learning process, but there may be times when homework is not called for. If your child is generally unable to complete the assigned work within a reasonable period, contact the teacher so that the situation can be remedied. As a rule of thumb Grades 1 & 2 should have approximately 10-20 minutes of homework per night. The homework for grades 3 & 4 should not exceed 45 minutes. Grades 5 & 6 should have about 1 hour.
It is important for teachers to give parents clear and simple explanations of homework expectations, as each teacher may have different requirements. It is also of importance to ensure adequate follow-through if homework is given. Homework assigned on a consistent basis is helpful in establishing a routine.
In accordance with the Quebec Education Plan, a child learns to read by reading his/her guided choice of children's literature. This requires daily practice at home for at least fifteen minutes per day above and beyond their regular homework. Helping a child to form this reading habit requires support from home. In addition, every child of school age should become an active member of a public library so that each may have an equal opportunity when faced with school expectations.
Reporting
There will be three reporting periods as well as a Student Led Portfolio Evening. The reports are issued at the end of school terms in November, March and June, and a Student Led Portfolio Evening will be held in March (Junior Campus) and April (Senior Campus).
You need not wait until you receive a report card to discuss your child's progress with the teacher. You may call at any time to arrange an appointment to see a teacher.
Student Ombudsman
In accordance with the Education Act, the Lester B Pearson School Board has appointed a student ombudsman. Please refer to the school board’s website at www.lbpsb.qc.ca for more comprehensive information.
