2021-22 Guidelines and Expectations

Ecole Heroes’ Memorial School

School Year 2021-22

Guidelines and Expectations

School Attendance

 Absences – General

Please phone the school (450-263-1612) before school if possible (between 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.), if your child will be absent from school.

If You Are Late For School

Students who arrive late for classes must report to the office upon arrival and explain the reason for their lateness. They will receive a late pass that they must give to their homeroom teacher.

Change In Routine

Students must provide a note for any change in their daily routine, i.e. leaving school for a medical or dental appointment, etc.  If the parents or guardians of a student are leaving for an extended period of time, please forward a note with the names and contact information of the people responsible for supervising the children. 

Overnight Visits

Students may travel to another student’s home by bus providing they have a note giving them permission from their parent/guardian, and that there is the  space available on the bus.  Before we can instruct a driver to make a change, the child must present a note from his or her parent/guardian to the office 48 hours in advance.  A bus pass will be issued from the office on the day the note is submitted. (During the pandemic there are no bus transfers available.)

Pick-Up of Students – Occasional

If you, as a parent, want to pick up your child after school rather than having him or her walk home or take the bus, we ask you to indicate your arrangement with a note, a phone call or email.

This communication must be received by the school secretary before 12 Noon. There will be no change in arrangements after 12 Noon. Texts, facebook and dojo messages to teaching staff will not be honoured if they have not forwarded the information.

  If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your child, please clearly specify who it will be.  For obvious security reasons we cannot knowingly release children from school without being certain that you approve of the arrangement.

Cell Phones

 Parents with students in possession of cell phones will sign an agreement allowing for the storage of cell phones in the classroom or office during the day. Cell phones will be collected during homeroom and returned to students at 2:30 p.m.

Cell phones that are discovered during the day will be stored in the office until such time as the parents can pick them up.

Part I

Student Code of Conduct

 Law 19 – The Act to Prevent and Stop Bullying and Violence in Schools

 It is expected that students show respect for the rights, property, and safety of themselves and others.

In this context disrespectful behaviour, fighting, obscene language, or expressions that make use of swearing, name calling, and insults are unacceptable. 

Intimidation or violence defined as bullying or violence as per the definitions in the law will not be tolerated.

Definitions Law 19

“Bullying” means any repeated direct or indirect behaviour, comment, act or gesture, whether deliberate or not, including cyberspace, which occurs in a context where there is a power of imbalance between the persons concerned and which causes distress and injures, hurts, oppresses, intimidates or ostracizes.

“Violence” means any intentional demonstration or verbal, written, physical, psychological or sexual force which causes distress and injures, hurts or oppresses a person by attacking their psychological or physical integrity or well-being, or their rights or property.

Heroes’ Memorial School – Discipline Procedure

Reward System for Appropriate Behaviour

Every effort will be made to promote positive behaviour.  This is a partial list of some of the reinforcements that may be given for positive behaviour.

• Positive behaviour notes
• Awards for improvement in behaviour
• Students having received seven positive behaviour notes will receive a letter from the office
• Heroes’ Heroes Award
• Student of the week
• Student of the Month

Follow-up for Unacceptable Behaviour

 Action will be taken as tickets for Minor and Major incidents accumulate.  The action taken will reflect the severity of the incident(s).  Parents will be notified.

A staff member will note an incident of misbehaviour for follow-up.  As an example, a student could write a note of apology during his/her recess or noon hour for a Minor ticket.  A Major ticket will involve greater intervention. Physical violence will result in an immediate suspension. A re-entry meeting with parents may be required.

After seven behaviour tickets are issued to the same student, that student will be suspended from school for one day. Each term the number of minor tickets will be reset at zero. However, major tickets are in effect all year long.

On the use of Computer Resources

 The internet is made available to students by the school to encourage their learning.  Our educational mission includes teaching students appropriate behaviour in the use of computers and the internet.  The full policy on Telecommunications, Network and Computer Resource Usage is available on the Eastern Townships School Board website at www.etsb.qc.ca. 

Being a Responsible Technology User

• I will make sure my device charged.
• I will follow the directions and rules set by any member of Heroes’ staff.
• I will use programs, pictures and music as directed by my teacher.
• I will report lost/damaged components immediately to my teacher.
• I will not have food and drinks around my device.
• I will not lend out my device.

Computer Security

• I will tell a teacher or the school principal about any vandalism or threat to device security that I am aware of.
• I will not open any email attachment that I receive unless I know exactly what it is and where it came from.
•  

Using the device as a Learning Tool

• I will search the internet using only the search engines recognised by my teacher.
• I will not share my music over the server.
• I will not add or delete any of my device settings unless instructed by the teacher.

Proper Internet Use – Student Safety

• I will not give out information about me without my parents’ permission.
• I will not sign up for any game or activity on line.
• I will not use someone else’s writing, images or sounds without first getting their permission.
• I will not send or knowingly receive text, images or sounds that are obscene, insulting or rude.
• Cyberbullying is strictly prohibited.
• I will not use an internet chat, discussion or news group without permission and supervision by an adult from the school. Students are not permitted to use Facebook, YouTube, Musically, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media, including interactive games that involve players from outside the school community. Students are prohibited from visiting inappropriate (violent or obscene) websites.
• Non-compliance will result in removal of device.
• Youtube is only permissible in class with teacher permission.
• I will turn in my personal cell phone or ipod it the morning.
•  

Proper Use of E-Mails

• I will not send e-mail messages at school without my teacher’s permission and supervision.
• I will not answer messages that make me feel uncomfortable. If I get that kind of message, I will show it to an adult.
• I will not open e-mail messages from people I don’t know or trust. I will always ask permission to do so from an adult first.
• I will not give my e-mail password to anyone.
• Students are not permitted to change passcodes without teacher’s permission.

Part II

General Areas – Student Code of Conduct

Language

It is expected that staff and children will speak as they themselves would like to be spoken to.  The school will encourage an acceptable standard of language. Verbal threats, swearing, and sexual innuendo are strictly prohibited.

Behaviour in Class

It is expected that students will behave in a manner to satisfy the instructional and emotional needs of classroom life. It is expected that students will in no way jeopardize the rights of other pupils to an education.

Behaviour Outside The Class

It is expected that in hallways and on the stairs, students will walk and the noise level be kept low.  Students are expected to respect the general principle of movement in the halls and stairs, which is to KEEP TO THE RIGHT.

Kissing and behaviour of a sexual nature is prohibited at school.

Doing front and back tucks (no hand flips) is prohibited.

 While Traveling On the School Bus

School bus transportation to “Public School Students” is by law a “service” not a “right”. 

General Rules Of Behaviour On The Bus:

• Punctuality is essential. You must be at your assigned point for the departure and avoid needless delay of the vehicle.
• The students should enter or exit the bus in an orderly manner.
• Students must immediately head for a seat, or occupy a specific seat when assigned to him/her, and remain seated until the bus stops at its destination.
• Students must not litter the bus in any way, or throw any objects out of the bus.
• Students caught using foul, immoral or abusive language will be liable to suspension from services.
• During transportation the students must abstain from screaming, whistling, and noisy conversations. It is forbidden to put head and arms out the windows.
• The bus driver has the entire responsibility of the group of students he is transporting. The students must respect and obey the driver.
• The violation of one of these rules could deprive the student of his/her privilege to use the school transportation service for a definite period, as determined by the Bus Transportation System.

Please note that playground supervision begins at 7:45 a.m. We are not responsible for students on the grounds before 7:45 a.m.

Never Bring Certain Items to School

Weapons of any variety including toy weapons and chains are never to be brought to school.  Likewise, matches, lighters, ammunition of any kind, and laser lights are prohibited at school and could result in immediate suspension.

Any electronic devices that are not school issued must be turned in to your homeroom teacher at the beginning of the day or they will be confiscated. (Parents are responsible to claim the confiscated device at the office.)

Devices are prohibited at special occasions and on class trips unless prior permission is obtained by the class.

Heroes’ Memorial Playground Safety Guidelines

• Skateboards, roller blades, and scooters are not permitted on the playground during school hours.
• Students may not leave school property at any time without permission. If a ball leaves the playground (i.e. over a fence) a person on duty must give permission to a student to retrieve it.
• Children who have a problem on the playground should speak to the monitor on duty.
• Students are to stay off fences, trees, and pipes.
• The throwing of rocks, sand, sticks, ice, and snow is strictly prohibited.

Safety Instructions for Playground Equipment

No standing on the seat or jumping from the swings.

No swinging sideways on the swings.

No climbing on the swing support or chains.

No walking up the slide.

Teeter-totters can only be used in a seated position.

No pushing on the climbing apparatus.

No front or back tucks are permitted on the playground.

No climbing on the retaining wall.

School Dress

 General

There is no formal dress code at Heroes’ Memorial.  Students however are expected to come to school clean, and appropriately dressed.  Students must wear outside clothing in accordance with the weather conditions.  Normally all students are outside each day for twenty minutes at recess and twenty-five minutes at noon hour.

Students are expected to have two pairs of shoes; one for inside and one for outside.  Students must NOT wear outside shoes or boots to classrooms.  Due to fire regulations, shoes must be worn at all times. Indoor shoes must be appropriate for physical education.

Hats are not to be worn inside the school building. Likewise, t-shirts depicting inappropriate images or phrases, belly shirts, halter and spaghetti strapped tops or mini skirts are prohibited.   Chains attached to pants are not permitted at school. Very short shorts are unacceptable.

During the winter months snow pants are required for playing in the field. The perimeter of the field playground where the snow is plowed is the designated play area for students without snow pants.

Physical Education

 The only uniform in our school is our gym uniform.  Shorts and t-shirts can be purchased from the Phys Ed teacher. Alternately black shorts and a red t-shirt are acceptable. The gym uniform is for gym class only and sporting events.

Bicycles

Bicycles must be placed in the racks provided.  Students are not permitted to ride their bikes on the school grounds during school hours, and may only use them after classes once the busses have left the school.  Students are to get off their bikes at the edge of school property and walk them to and from the racks.  It is recommended that students wear a helmet while traveling to and from school. 

Part III

Rules Regulations & Student Services

School Cafeteria

If you forget to bring your lunch:

For those children who forget their lunch or lunch money, they must see the lunch lady.  Students are asked to bring in the $5.00 the following day. 

Toys/Electronics

 All students must refrain from bringing expensive toys and electronics to school.

Students may bring personal property to school for “show and tell” or for a particular project if their teacher specifically requests that they do so.

Violent action figures and toy weapons are not to come to school.

The safe return of personal articles home is the responsibility of the student and his/her parent or guardian.

Student Lockers and School Property

Most Heroes’ students are given the use of a locker for the school year.   Depending upon the availability of lockers and student numbers, lockers are sometimes shared between students.

  Articles such as outside clothing, schoolbooks and related materials, lunches and running shoes may be kept in lockers.  Lockers are school property and a child who uses one inappropriately in any way will be charged for the damages and/or have the privilege to use a locker removed.

Care must also be taken for other items such as books, furniture, gym equipment etc. 

A replacement cost will be charged for school property intentionally or negligently lost or damaged.

After School Practices or Other Activities

Any activities that take place after school are for those students taking part in that activity.  Younger brothers and sisters are not allowed to stay behind and wait, as there will be no supervision provided.  A note is needed in order to participate in these activities that end by 4:00 p.m.  Students must arrange their own transportation home and should be off the school property by 4:00 p.m., as there will be no supervision after this time.

Any students left waiting for parents at 4 p.m. will be sent to daycare at the parent’s expense.

Recess and Lunch Hour Requests for Students to Stay Inside Due to Medical or Other Reasons

For any reason, should your child be unable to follow the usual school routine, he or she should remain at home.  Only under exceptional circumstances will requests for children to remain inside be considered. 

Part IV

Head Lice Policy

There is no preventative treatment for head lice.  Only rapid detection and treatment of infestations can prevent the spread of head lice.  The school cannot act effectively alone.  Your collaboration is essential and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Role of the School

• At regular intervals throughout the school year students are checked for head lice.
• Parents of students that are detected with head lice will be called to come to school and pick-up their child.
• We will re-examine the hair of students after pharmaceutical treatment applied by the parent.
• We strongly discourage your child from sharing headwear, brushes, and clothing.

In addition to our usual measures, as a result of the pandemic extra rules need to be observed.

Hand-sanitizing is mandatory throughout the day as directed by the adult in charge.

Students must remain in their class bubble at all times. Therefore, students eat at a table exclusively for their class and play outside exclusively with their classmates.

Facemasks in cycle 3 must be strictly worn during all transitions inside and outside or to and from the gym and Art room.