ATTENDANCE CALL IN LINE-AVAILABLE 24/7

519-579-1160 Ext. 1

wtt-attendance@wrdsb.ca

WELCOME TO W.T. TOWNSHEND PUBLIC SCHOOL!

Our Mission (the motto Bill Townshend lived by):

“There are two lasting things we can give our children – One is Roots, The Other is Wings”

Welcome to a new school year that will bring many opportunities for learning and growing. Learning can be scary and often times frustrating. It takes a Growth Mindset and lot of practice to become accomplished at something. In fact, research has shown that the only way to learn and improve is to try something new and not give up on the task! As you make mistakes and struggle you create new pathways in the brain…and this is what is called “learning”.

We have a dedicated staff whose goal it is to help our students develop “Roots” – to build a strong foundation in knowledge, skills and positive attitudes and to help them spread their “Wings” – to realize their highest potential on the TRAIL of – “Teamwork, Respect, Academics, Independence, Leadership”.

SAFE WELCOME PROGRAM

Visitors are welcome at WTT but, for safety of all students, must access the main doors to the school using the intercom system. All visitors must report to the office immediately upon arrival, to receive the assistance that they require. When parents or guardians are signing out children, the child will be called to the office.  Parents wishing to meet with a specific staff member are asked to call ahead to arrange an appointment. Volunteers also sign in at the office and wear badges while they are volunteering. Please note, the YMCA has a separate intercom to accommodate before and after school care.

ATTENDANCE CHECK – SAFE ARRIVAL

Regular attendance and punctuality are important for students’ success at school and in life.

When a child will be late or absent, parents must phone the Attendance Check Line at 519-579-1160 ext.1 to record details of the absence including the child’s name, class or teacher and the reason for the absence.  Or email any time of day at our new email wtt-attendance@wrdsb.ca

Students arriving after the bell must sign in at the office and get an “Admit Slip” before going to class. Frequent unexcused late arrivals will result in home contact to inform parents or guardians about the situation and to request cooperation in resolving the problem. Older students may be given consequences. In extreme circumstances a Board Social Worker may become involved.

EXTENDED STUDENT ABSENCES

If a student will be away for more than five days for reasons other than illness, parents are required to sign a form accepting responsibility for schooling during the student’s absence. Students absent for more than 15 consecutive school days are removed from the register and must re-register upon return. Placement in the same class is not guaranteed.

USE YOUR WITS

Parents often ask, “How can I help my child resolve conflicts”? When children are experiencing problems with peer conflict, it’s natural for parents to want to come to their rescue, swooping in to solve the problem and protect their children. One of the best things parents can do, however, is help their children use their WITS to solve the problem. Check out the website for more resources http://www.witsprogram.ca/families.

Help your child determine how to respond by using his or her WITS. Be solution-focused. This is a problem that can be solved!

Walk away: Role-play the incident with your child to help him or her practise walking away from a situation. Ask your child what might happen if he or she walked away. Would it solve the problem? If not, try another WITS strategy.

Ignore: Discuss ways to ignore, such as physically removing oneself from the situation or withdrawing eye contact. Ask your child what might happen if he or she ignored the child bothering him or her. Would it solve the problem? If not, try another WITS strategy.

Talk it out: Suggest questions or statements your child could use to “talk it out” with the person bothering him or her. Sometimes telling the person to stop is enough. Making a joke can also help defuse a conflict. Ask your child what might happen if he or she talked it out. Would it solve the problem? If not, try another WITS strategy.

Seek help: Suggest other adults your child could go to for help, such as a teacher or playground supervisor. Ask your child what might happen if he or she asked another adult for help. Would it solve the problem? Who else could he or she seek help from?

ENTRY/DISMISSAL

Students must use the designated doors for entering and exiting the school. Prior arrangements must be made to meet younger siblings outside their school door upon dismissal. Parents are also asked to meet their children outside at the designated doors at dismissal times.

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Please visit our school website regularly. As a school we communicate primarily through our school website and on Twitter

http://wtt.wrdsb.ca

@wttwrdsb

The calendar on our website is a fantastic source of information about school events. Parents can subscribe to the website and to the calendar on the website to receive an email whenever there is an update. If you are not on Twitter you can always enjoy keeping up with our tweets on the website. We also use School-Day to directly share information about class trips, gather permission forms and take payments.  We strongly encourage all parents to register for School-Day.

OUR SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE

	Kindergarten to Grade 6
Arrival	8:30 to 8:40 a.m.
Entry Bell Rings	8:40 a.m.
Period 1	8:40-9:10 a.m.
Period 2	9:10-9:40 a.m.
Period 3	9:40-10:10 a.m.
Period 4	10:10-10:40 a.m.
Period 5	10:40-11:10 a.m.
Nutrition Break #1	11:10-11:50 a.m.
Period 6	11:50-12:20 p.m.
Period 7	12:20-12:50 p.m.
Period 8	12:50-1:20 p.m.
Nutrition Break #2	1:20-2:00 p.m.
Period 9	2:00-2:30 p.m.
Period 10	2:30-3:00 p.m.

 

Teachers begin supervising the playground at 8:30 a.m. each morning therefore, students must not arrive at school prior to this time. At afternoon dismissal, teachers supervise the playground until 3:10 p.m. Students must leave school property to ensure that a supervising adult knows their whereabouts. If parents, guardians or caregivers are remaining on school property, please refrain from allowing children to play on school property until after 3:10 p.m. when the supervising teachers are sure that all students are safely with an adult or on their way home.

SCENT FREE

We ask that parents, visitors, staff and students refrain from wearing perfumes and other products with scents. We have students and staff in our building who are extremely sensitive to perfumes and scents, and can suffer from asthmatic reactions.

SAFETY OF STUDENTS:

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE PARKING LOT TO PARK OR PICK UP OR DROP OFF STUDENTS

PARKING

The school parking lots are needed and reserved for school staff. If parents need to park and enter the school, they are asked to park on neighboring streets and walk to the school.  Activa Avenue in front of the school is a no parking zone.  The ring road is also a no parking/no stopping zone. Students are not to be picked up on the ring road at any time.

We respectfully ask all parents and guardians to place a higher priority on student safety than on personal convenience. We request that parents make arrangements to pick up and/or drop students off at places other than the parking lots. Large numbers of students travel through this area at entry and dismissal times and their safety is our primary concern. Parents are reminded to pay close attention to the clearly posted ‘No Stopping’ street signs. Bylaw Enforcement is prepared to issue tickets to cars stopping in no stopping zones.

PLANNER USE

This planner has been designed to enhance student learning and to facilitate communication between students, parents and teachers. It can be used by students to record homework assignments, special events, specific goals and reminders. We have included a daily reading log! Parents and teachers can also use the pages to write notes.

We do ask students and parents to read through the first eight information pages and sign the front page to acknowledge understanding of them. When requested by the teacher, students are expected to have their planner at school every day and to show it to their parents on a nightly basis. If the planner is lost, the replacement fee is $5.00.

STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEPHONES

Students are given permission to use the telephone in emergency situations. All arrangements for lunches, social activities, permission for extra-curricular and for meeting friends at other homes must be made at home. Thank you for your parental assistance with this matter.

ILLNESSES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

If your child becomes ill or has an accident in the course of the day, we will try to contact you. We would ask that you arrange for someone to come to the school to take your child home or to your doctor.  For this reason, it is important that we have your current home, business and/or childcare number. Please keep us informed of any changes.

NUTRITION BREAK

PROCEDURES

Two nutrition breaks are built into our school day. Students are encouraged to pack healthy snacks for each break. Students will have time to eat in their classrooms, play and socialize at each of the breaks. Parents will indicate at the start of the school year whether their child will be regularly eating at home or at school for the nutrition breaks. Parents of children going home are asked to instruct their children to return directly back to school after eating. Students who stay at school are expected to eat their lunch at school and to remain on school property during the entire nutrition break. Students may not leave school property during nutrition breaks unless they are going home to eat or are being picked up by a parent/guardian. It is important for the safety of all students that both parents and school staff are aware of where all students are during nutrition breaks. Your support and co-operation is appreciated. Many opportunities for intramural sports, games, choirs and clubs are offered to students during the nutrition breaks.

NUTRITION FOR LEARNING

A snack bin is available in the office for all students to use when they are especially hungry, if a lunch has been forgotten or if they simply do not have enough food. The bin contains items from three food groups – typically Multi-Grain Cheerios, fresh apples and cheese strings. We do ask that students eat their lunch from home first and take only what they need.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

Please do not send any non-prescription medication to school with your child. Staff members are not permitted to administer non-prescription medication of any sort. If prescription medication needs to be administered during school hours, parents/guardians are required to complete an Administration of Oral Medication Form available at the office. All medications are kept in the office.

NO NUT OR TREE NUTS!

Some students and staff have life-threatening allergies to peanuts and nut products.  Your cooperation in not sending peanut butter sandwiches or other peanut/nut foods to school is sincerely appreciated by the staff and the families of these children.  Substitutions including WOW Butter are also not allowed. Students with epi-pens are required to have two (2) epi-pens. One remains with them at all times and the second is kept at the office. To keep our students safe, we respectfully ask parents to refrain from bringing treats or snacks (homemade or store bought) to share with the class.

RAIN, SHINE OR SNOW,

PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN!

When outdoors and the UV Index is 3 or higher, use a combination of sun protection actions:

1. Plan activities before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
2. Seek shade
3. Wear clothing to cover your skin
4. Wear a wide-brimmed hat
5. Wear UVA/UVB sunglasses
6. Apply a UVA/UVB sunscreen and lip balm with SPF  30 or higher

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

Power failure, breakdown of the heating system, or broken water lines are examples of events that might cause an immediate school closing. In such an emergency the students at W.T.T. would be evacuated to John Sweeny Catholic School.

FIRE – TORNADO– INTRUDER DRILLS

A regular schedule of fire drills, tornado drills, and intruder drills, under the direction of the principal will be maintained in the school. Each room of the school has posted the fire route exit.  Experience in meeting emergency situations with a practical procedure can ensure your child’s safety.  There is a very specific Emergency Plan binder in the office to respond to these and other emergencies.

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

Research shows that the best support parents can give is encouraging reading of all sorts, and to interact with children through discussion and questioning. Homework is not marked and does not figure into report cards. Dinner conversations, talking and questioning children after watching a show or movie together, playing board games and outdoor time can create wonderful family learning opportunities and memories too. Tech-free time is beneficial for kids but teachers can recommend technology sites that provide fun learning for tech time at home.

WEFI

WEFI, the Waterloo Education Foundation Inc., is a registered charity accepting donations from individuals, corporations or organizations wishing to support a strong public education in Waterloo and receive a charitable tax donation. Donations to support WTT are greatly appreciated. Donating is easy at wtt.wrdsb.ca. Just click the “Donate Online” on the left hand side.

NO DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

Due to health and safety issues, we ask that dogs not be on school property at all during the school day.

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR-TRAIL PHILOSOPHY

TEAMWORK

I choose to believe that everyone is unique and has a contribution to make.

RESPECT

I choose to believe that everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others.

ACADEMICS

I choose to believe that everyone has strengths, which must be encouraged and supported.

INDEPENDENCE

I choose to own my attitude, my actions and my learning.

LEADERSHIP

I choose to believe that leading others with care and love makes a difference.

These attributes are taught, modelled, practiced and celebrated throughout our daily instruction, our TRAIL assemblies, and in all we do and say at W.T. Townshend.

ON THE TRAIL

On the TRAIL outside we always:

• Stay within school boundaries

• Have fun by playing safely and respectfully
• Avoid rough play
• Are aware and look where we are going
• Use equipment appropriately and safely
• Include everyone
• Act and speak politely

When entering or exiting the school, we always:

• Stop our games when the bell goes
• Carry all equipment (e.g. balls) to the line
• Line up in 4S lines
• Enter and exit at the proper door
• Walk in or out of the school respectfully
• Hold equipment in the halls (no playing)
• Wait for our friends and siblings outside

On the TRAIL in the hallways we always:

• Walk in 4S lines (silent, single file, still, safe)
• Travel on the RIGHT HAND side or assigned side of the hall or stairs
• Walk one stair at a time, hand on railing
• Keep our hooks and hall tidy – shoes up or toe to the wall

On the TRAIL in the washrooms we always:

• Use quiet, inside voices
• Conserve water by turning off the taps and not splashing
• Respect the washrooms and our custodians by using the facilities properly
• Clean up after ourselves
• Only take the time we need

Students are often asked, “Are you on the TRAIL?” Indeed we want our students to learn to ask themselves, “Am I on the TRAIL?”

CODE OF CONDUCT

Our Code of Conduct has been established to provide consistent student behaviour expectations. We believe helping our students live up to these expectations is a shared endeavor with home, school and the extended W.T. Townshend Community.

Our goal is to provide each student with the opportunity to reach his/her potential as an individual and as a contributing member of our society. The goal of W.T. Townshend’s approach to discipline is to encourage students to become self-disciplined by taking responsibility for their behaviour. This means making and accepting no excuses for inappropriate behaviour. We recognize that this learning process begins long before the child enters school and continues throughout the education process. We assist students in developing appropriate behaviour through:

Encouragement: Frequent and positive acknowledgement is shown to all students, modeling exemplary and appropriate behaviour and conduct.

Prevention: Counseling and further encouragement for students who experience difficulty accepting and/or conforming to the rules of appropriate behaviour in the classroom, or on the playground.

Correction: All inappropriate behaviour will follow progressive discipline and be recorded and tracked. Sometimes a pattern of poor behaviour may be indicative of a more serious problem and a referral for intervention and support may be made. Though most incidents will follow a standard progression of consequences, each child will be dealt with on an individual basis and each incident is investigated as thoroughly as time permits. At times mitigating circumstances will factor into consequences for certain Special Education or students in the early grades.

Students who are referred to the Principal or Vice-Principal are given a reflection sheet/wheel for taking ownership and reflecting on their own behaviour in order to make better choices with classroom rules, incidents of behaviour in the lunchroom or on the playgrounds. These will be sent home to inform parents. Please discuss these with your child, sign and return the sheet/wheel the next day. Owning mistakes and taking responsibility for one’s actions are important life skills. Not letting your child own their mistakes, rescuing or making excuses for them, deprives a child of a valuable learning opportunity. We believe that when school staff and parents co-operate and work together, all children can learn from their mistakes.

In all cases consequences are at the full discretion of the school administrator and will be carefully considered.

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR

Some behaviour may not allow for Progressive Discipline as they may be violent or racially motivated. Please keep in mind that severe behaviours may result in immediate suspension, rather than following the progression discipline.

It is the policy of the WRDSB that the following actions or behaviours will not be tolerated on school property or in school-sponsored or related activities: smoking, use/sale of alcohol/illicit drugs, possession or use of weapons or items which are intended to be used as weapons; any physical assault, threats of assault or intimidation, bullying, intimidation, fighting/play fighting, vandalism, theft, verbal abuse (including swearing and racial/sexual/religious slurs), swearing at staff, a progressive pattern of negative behaviour that is contrary to the school behaviour code, repeated refusals to cooperate with staff or follow the rules of the school.

Cyberbullying: Any web-based accessible activity which harms another emotionally or socially or affects another’s reputation is a serious offence and will result in a suspension and the involvement of the police.

BULLYING/RUDE/MEAN?

What makes bullying different from the normal conflicts kids have with one another is the fact that bullying is comprised of the following key elements: the intent to harm; an imbalance of power; repeated aggression and/or the threat of further aggression.

What bullying is and isn’t? First and foremost, it’s important for kids (and adults who work with them) to understand that not all hurtful behavior is bullying. It is important for the school community to understand the different tiers of hurtful behavior:

When someone says or does something unintentionally hurtful and they do it once, that’s RUDE.

When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they do it once, that’s MEAN.

When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they keep doing it- even when you tell them to stop or show them that you’re upset—that’s BULLYING.

Adapted from and for more information visit: http://www.trudyludwig.com/author_bullybasics.html

When a student experiences or observes bullying behaviour he/she is expected to report it to a staff member immediately. At W.T.T. Public School, we believe it is important that all members of the school community have a safe, caring, accepting and inclusive school environment based on mutual respect.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Electronic devices such as cellphones and other hand-held devices should NOT be brought to school unless with specific parent permission and then must be kept in the child’s backpack at all time during the day.

DRESS CODE

At W.T. Townshend Public School, students are to be appropriately dressed in a style conducive to a learning environment and respectful to all.

• Tops must totally cover the midriff and back areas
• Sleeveless tops need straps two fingers-wide
• Backless, strapless or low-cut tops are not permitted at school
• Undergarments are not to be visible in any way
• When standing straight-up tall with hands at your side, the length of skirts, dresses or shorts need to be longer than your fingertips (with or without leggings underneath)
• Clothing that advertises or displays alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, inappropriate language or disrespectful messages will not be worn at school
• Jackets, hoods and hats are for outside only
• Footwear needs to be worn at all times
• Bandanas or other gang identification may not be worn at school

Where it is deemed necessary, students will be asked to change into their physical education clothes or will be sent home to change to more suitable dress. Where clarification is needed, the principal or vice-principal will decide on the appropriate course of action to ensure fairness and respect for all students.

Parents are respectfully reminded to ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the weather as students are usually outside twice a day.

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally,” according to Jon Kabat-Zinn. “Mindfulness is about knowing what is on your mind.”

At WTT we practice a mindfulness moment led by an administrator or student announcers over the PA system as a part of our daily opening exercises. In addition, many teachers practice mindfulness with students during the day or offer mindfulness coloring opportunities.

What are the benefits of mindfulness? Mindfulness may provide students with a valuable life skill by supporting them to:

• feel calmer and more fulfilled;
• get on better with others;
• concentrate and learn;
• manage stress and anxiety
• perform well in music and sport.

We notice many positive benefits in our TRAILBLAZERS and we encourage anyone present to pause and take a moment to be mindful with us.

LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTRE & OUR VIRTUAL LIBRARY

Students are loaned books and other resources during the year. Primary students may bring home books from the Home Reading Program to read nightly.  Students are asked to treat all loaned books with care, as they will be charged for books that are damaged or not returned.

Our automated library-resource centre has an excellent collection of children’s literature, popular fiction, reference books, videos, computer software and other current learning materials. The resource centre is an extension of the classroom and students regularly visit to do research, select personal reading material, or use a computer. To maintain our collection in reasonable condition, we ask that parents help by overseeing the care and prompt return of borrowed items.  If borrowed items cannot be found, parents will be asked to assist with the cost of replacements.

Library Learning Commons can be found at http://library.wrdsb.ca/virtuallibrary

SCHOOL COUNCIL

At WTT we highly value parent collaboration and involvement in our students’ education. WTT School Council actively works to maximize learning for all TRAILBLAZERS by

• acting as an advisory council to administration,
• reaching out to the parent community,
• creating community partnerships and planning events, and
• fundraising for program enhancements.

School Council communicates regularly with parents on twitter @WTTCouncil and on Facebook at WT Townshend PS Parent Council. Agendas and minutes are posted to our website wtt.wrdsb.ca and on twitter @WTTWRDSB. School Council generally meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in our library. All WTT parents are welcome to attend meetings – as a council member or as an interested guest. Your participation will make a stronger School Council – we encourage you to get involved!

TRAVELING ON WHEELS

Students must place their bicycles in the bike racks and must lock them. Wearing helmets is the law! For safety reasons, all bicycles must be walked on school property.

Skateboards, rollerblades and scooters are not to be brought to school. Security, storage and loss prevention cannot be adequately provided at school. 

LOST AND FOUND

Please clearly label all clothing, gym outfits and personal belongings. Lost and Found boxes are located in the main floor stairwell and students and parents are encouraged to check them often! Items remaining in the collection at the end of December, March, and June are donated to a local charity.

REPORT CARDS

The school year is split into two terms and Provincial Report cards will go home twice a year for students in grades K-6. Parents can expect to receive a Progress Report in November, the Term 1 report card in February and the Term 2 report card in June.

The goal of the Progress Report is to facilitate communication among parents, teachers and students early in the school year. This report will assess students in the same areas as the report card but instead of assigning a grade or mark, it will indicate how a student is progressing — very well, well or with difficulty.

The first report card will reflect the student’s achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from September to February of the school year, as well as the student’s development of the learning skills and work habits during that period. The second report card will reflect the student’s achievement of the curriculum expectations introduced or further developed from February to June of the school year, as well as the student’s development of the learning skills and work habits during that period.

It is recommended that all parents attend a parent/teacher interview after receipt of the Progress Report in November to discuss and celebrate student achievement, progress, strengths and needs. Plans can be put into place, in partnership between home and school to ensure that all students will be successful in school.  An opportunity for an interview will also be available after the first report card for parents or teachers who feel that this form of communication will benefit student learning and progress. Both Provincial Reports will include tear-off sections for the student‘s comments, parent’s comments, and the parent’s acknowledgement of the receipt of the report card and/or a request to discuss the child’s report with the teacher.  These sections are to be returned to the student’s teacher.

OFF CAMPUS TRIPS

Off campus trips enhance the classroom programs and provide our students with meaningful learning experiences. Destinations include outdoor education centres, historic sites, museums, galleries and community facilities. Detailed information regarding off campus trips will be shared with parents well in advance on School Day. Whether the students will be transported by bus, car or will be walking, WRITTEN permission forms must be returned and signed in order for the students to participate.  This includes permission forms submitted through School Day. Teachers and parent volunteers provide adequate supervision according to Board policy and parent volunteers are needed for all trips. Our staff makes every effort to keep costs reasonable.  Families who may need financial support with trips are asked to contact the office directly.