Trout Creek School

Parent Handbook 2008-2009

Phone: (250) 494-7876

Fax: (250) 494-8825

Web Address:http:/sd67.bc.ca/schools/troutcreek

email: troutcrk@summer.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.	“Keeping In Touch” Trout Creek Philosophy / Logo	Page 3

2.	Trout Creek Staff / Bell Schedule	Page 4

3.	Curriculum Information For Parents	Page 5, 6

4.	Policies	Page 6, 7, 8, 9

6.	Student Involvement	Page 10

7.	Code of Conduct	Page 11, 12

8.	Trout Creek PAC	Page 13

9.	District PAC	Page 14

10. Home Ideas for Math Support Page 15, 16

“KEEPING IN TOUCH”

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Trout Creek Elementary and a wonderful year of learning. I am very pleased to be your principal and look forward to working with staff, parents and students. Our partnership will ensure the continued ethic of caring, sense of quality and standards of excellence that are characteristic of our school.

This revised Parent Handbook is one way of “Keeping In Touch”. This booklet will familiarize you with many parts of our school. We will continue to inform you of happenings around our school through the Trout Speak, formal and informal interviews, our web page, letters, telephone calls and meetings. Should you need assistance or have a quiry, please call us at 494-7876.

We are committed to working with parents and students so this year can be the very best educational experience possible. At Trout Creek School there are high standards for student achievement and behavior. Please join us as valued members of the team, to make this year successful for your child.

Paula Reay,

Principal

TROUT CREEK PHILOSOPHY / LOGO

At Trout Creek School:

· we learn

· we care

· we cooperate

PLAY FIRST LUNCH

Play First Lunch is a change in the traditional scheduling order of lunchtime an playtime-students go out to play first and then eat lunch.

The benefits of this change are:

*increased food and drink consumption

*students are calmer during the eating block and focus on eating rather than racing to get outside

* students return to the classroom quickly and are more settle and ready to learn

*less litter on the playground

At Trout Creek we wish to try this approach so students will play from 12:00-12:25. Then a bell will ring (12:25) students enter the school, remove outside shoes, walk to their classrooms and begin eating. At 12:40 another bell will ring to signal students to finish eating, clean up and be ready to start instruction by the next bell (12:45).

Recess will continue to be from 10:15-10:30; please ensure your child has a nutritious morning snack.

TROUT CREEK STAFF

2008-2009

Principal	Ms. P. Reay	Librarian	Mrs. Jang
Secretary	Mrs. Kinch	Librarian Assistant	Mrs. Kinch
Grade 4/5	Mr. Hutcheson	LAT / ESL / Support Teacher	Mrs. Campbell
Grade 4/5	Ms. Thorp	Speech Pathologist	Mrs. Mason
Grade 3	Ms. Miles	Psychologist	Ms. Micallef
Grade 2	Ms. Pryde	Education Assistant	Mrs. Pascua
Grade 1-2	Ms. Millman	Education Assistant	Mrs. Chenery
Grade 1	Mrs. Hopkins	Noon Supervision	Mrs. Pascua
Grade K (Mon/Wed)/1	Mrs. Riedl	Noon Supervision	Mrs. Chenery
Kindergarten(Tue/Thur)	Mrs. Addison	Noon Supervision	Mrs. Kinch
		Custodian	Mr. Jorgensen

BELL SCHEDULE

8:40	Warning bell
8:45	Classes begin
10:15	Recess
10:30	Classes resume
12:00	Lunch
12:00	Students may go out
12:25	Students come in to eat lunch
12:45	Classes resume
2:30	Dismissal

Please be advised of the new office hours:

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 8:00-3:30

Tuesday: 8:00-3:30

Wednesday: 8:00-9:15 and 12:45-3:30

Thursday: 8:00-11:30 and 12:45-3:30

Friday: 8:00- 9:00,10:00-11:30 and12:45-3:30

SECRETARY IN LIBRARY

Wed. 9:15-10:15 & 10:30-11:30

Fri..9:00-10:00

CURRICULUM INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

About Curriculum

Curriculum is what students in the province are expected to know and be able to do in each subject area at each grade. The curriculum for a given subject is outlined for teachers in an Integrated Resource Package (IRP) which you can also read and review.

IRP’s are packages of information that contain suggestions about ways to teach, how to assess students and which resources could be used in the classroom. IRP’s also, most importantly, include “learning outcomes” for specific grades. Learning outcomes (also referred to as “content standards”) are the required elements of curriculum – they describe the knowledge, skills and attitudes students are expected to develop by the end of a particular grade.

What are the required areas of study for K-Grade Five?

School Boards are required to provide students in Kindergarten to Grade Five with an educational program that meets the learning outcomes set out in the following IRP’s:

· English Language

· Social Studies

· Mathematics

· Science

· Physical Education

· Fine Arts

· Personal Planning

· Second Language Studies (French beginning in Grade 5)

About Timetables

In Kindergarten to Grade Five, schools are required to offer 23 hours and 45 minutes of instruction per school week (note, recess is 15 minutes/day = 75 minutes per week).

What is D.P.A.?

D.P.A. means Daily Physical Activity and is a new requirement for the 2008-2009 school year. Teachers are required to instruct students in a physical activity for 30 minutes every day.

What does a Report Card tell me?

There are two different types of report cards for students in K to grade five: formal written report cards and informal reports. In different ways, they both tell you about what your child is good at, what he or she needs help with, and how he or she compares to the general expectations for students at that age. You will receive at least two informal reports, and three formal report cards, every school year.

For students in K-3, formal report cards to not use letter grades. Instead, they include a structured written report that relates to the learning outcomes set out for the appropriate grade. Formal reports describe:

· what a student is able to do

· areas of learning that require further attention or

· ways to support a student in his or her learning

Formal reports for Grades 4 to 7 must include ministry-approved letter grades, which are used to report your child’s progress. Letter grades should indicate how your son or daughter performs in relation to the provincial expectations (“Learning Outcomes”) for each subject or course. Letter grades can be assigned for an activity, a unit of study, a term or as a final grade for a subject or course. Grade 4 is the first year where letter grades apply.

The formal report includes written comments that describe your child’s behavior, including information on attitudes, work habits and effort. In addition, the formal report comments on your child’s progress compared to what is generally expected for students in a similar age range. These comments can be either written or communicated orally by your child’s teacher.

Informal reporting, on the other hand, gives the teacher a chance to tell you how your child is doing on an ongoing basis. This kind of reporting can occur in many ways: by telephone, for example, or in a note, or an arranged conference with you (and perhaps your child as well). The informal report should let you know, in relation to the curriculum, what your child is doing well, what he or she is having trouble with in school, and what the teacher is doing to support your child’s learning.

At the end of the year, a copy of every student’s final formal report, and records of the oral or written statements that parents have received about their child’s progress are placed in each student’s Permanent Student Record file.

POLICIES

ATTENDANCE

· punctual, daily attendance of all students is essential to learning

· if your child will be late or away, please call 494-7876 as soon as possible to advise the school

· our Call Back service will check on any absence not reported by parents so the safety of all children is assured

COMMUNICATION

· communication between home and school is essential and takes many forms, some formal like this Parent Handbook, report cards, scheduled interviews and others, informal like phone calls, notes in Student Planners or PAC meetings held monthly.

· please watch for our monthly Trout Speak delivered by the eldest child in each family and check our web page for current information

· you are welcome to join in our regular school assemblies advertised in the Trout Speak

· should you require information or have a question or concern, please contact our staff as soon as possible

POLICIES

FIRST AID / ILLNESS / APPOINTMENTS

· once students arrive at school, they are not permitted to leave the school grounds

· should you wish your child to leave the school for appointments, etc, please send a note to inform your child’s teacher or come to the office to report the absence

· please ensure the school has complete information regarding emergency numbers, health issues, custody arrangements or medication issues in September by completing the family information sheet

· should your child require medication while at school, the forms provided by Public Health must be completed and signed before staff may administer any medication. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure all medications are current

· should a child become ill while at school or require medical attention, school personnel will attempt to contact parents/guardians first and will if necessary, emergency contact numbers

STUDENT PHONE

· the student phone located by the gym doors, may be used by students once a phone pass is obtained from his/her classroom teacher or office personnel

· any phone calls regarding illnesses, injury or emergency situations, must be made through office personnel

NEW LEGISLATION-BANNING TOBACCO AND SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES AND SCHOOLS

A new legislation, Bill 10, comes into effect September 2, 2007. With a limited exception for ceremonial use of tobacco, it prohibits all persons from smoking or using tobacco, or holding lighted tobacco, in or on school property. Schools are asked to inform the public of the smoking ban on school property through newsletters and P.A.C. meetings. Please note the prohibition extends to all tobacco products including chewing tobacco.

Thank you for your co-operation in making Trout Creek School a tobacco- free premise at all times

LOST AND FOUND

· many unclaimed items accumulate over the school year

· these items are placed in the lost and found box located immediately inside the gym doors

· items will be displayed at various times throughout the year but please check the box if your child is missing an item

PEANUT ALLERGY

There is a student enrolled in our school who has a severe life-threatening allergy to peanuts. All nuts are banned at our school at this time. As a result, we would like to ask you not to send any food to school that might contain peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil or any nut. This will allow us to maintain a safer classroom and school environment for this student.

FUR ALLERGY ALERT

A member of our school community has a severe allergy to animals with fur. Please do not bring dogs or any other fur bearing animals on school ground.

GYM CLOTHING

· students should wear gym strip for PE, which includes shorts, gym shirt, and gym shoes that do not mark the floor

· please label all items with your child’s full name and grade

LIBRARY

· resources in English are available in our computerized library

· students select and sign out materials during library class as well as learn many skills to access information and further their reading skills

· students will be charged for any lost or damaged books

SPECIAL SERVICES

· specialized staff is available to assist classroom teachers with planning and providing an educational program for all students

· staff can access the expertise of a Learning Resource Teacher, English as a Second Language teacher, School Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, Teacher of the Gifted once required School Based Team meetings are completed as well as the request/consent for additional services is submitted

BUSSING

· School District #67 will provide transportation to students entitled to bussing, in accordance with the funding and guidelines established by the Ministry of Education

· courtesy bussing for students within the walk limits may be approved the Operations Supervisor

· a charge of $2.00 a ride is made for each extra curricular trip (ie.swim lessons, field trips)

HEAD LICE

Head Lice is common in school aged children. Head Lice do not cause disease. Itchiness from Head Lice can be irritating and uncomfortable for children. Head Lice spread easily to others, so it’s important for families to help prevent and control its spread. Outbreaks are more common following vacations.

How to Prevent Head Lice

· please check your child’s head every week for Head Lice

· teach your child not to share head gear (i.e. hats, hair accessories, scarves, helmets, combs)

How to Look for Head Lice

· the adult louse is a small, wingless insect 3mm or 1/8” in length that is very fast and not always seen.

· it is easier to look for nits (eggs) of the louse that are found close to the scalp. The nits may be white, yellow brown in color. The nits may look like dandruff but cannot be flicked off like dandruff. Instead, they must be removed by sliding the nit down the hair shaft.

Treatment Options

If your child has lice, please notify the school so that other children can be checked and treated. There are two treatments that are recommended by health professionals:

Option A

From a pharmacy, purchase a lice shampoo or lotion to kill the lice and then remove the eggs. Lotions are recommended over shampoos, with a second treatment in 7 days.

Option B

Use the wet combing technique to remove the lice, not the eggs. This technique removes the lice before they can make more eggs so eventually all the lice are removed because there are no new nits (eggs).

If you would like more information on Head Lice and treatment, please call the school (494-7876) or Health Centre (404-8050).

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTEERS

There are many ways the grade 3, 4 and 5 students can provide service to our school community. Students are encouraged to become:

· school patrollers

· office monitors

· milk/juice/ice cream monitors

· lunch time room monitors

· assembly monitors

· hot dog delivery monitors

· organizing dress up days

· tetherball monitors

We foster a caring, sense of community at our school by recognizing special efforts made by individuals through the “Helping Other People” award program. Staff noticing good deeds by students will commend such efforts through a H.O.P. award.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Students may be involved in many curriculum based activities throughout the year such as:

· field trips	· special assemblies / guest speakers
· swimming period / lessons	· skating period / lessons
· cross country skiing	· fine arts displays such as the Christmas concert
· recycling club

Students may choose to participate in age appropriate activities and events provided such as:

Charitable Work:	Athletic Activities:
· Terry Fox Run	· Noon Games
· Food Bank Drive	· Running Club
· Toys for Tots	· Naramata Run, Pumpkin Run
· Jump Rope for Heart	· Track and Field Club
	· District Track Meet

TROUT CREEK

A SAFE, CARING, ORDERLY SCHOOL FOR

KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE FIVE

A. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

At Trout Creek School we:

· establish and maintain a safe, caring, orderly environment for purposeful learning

· create conditions for people to fix their mistakes and return to the group strengthened

B. CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS

Trout Creek School believes:

· we learn

· we care

· we cooperate

Unacceptable conduct is behavior that:

· interferes with the learning of others

· creates an unsafe condition verbally or physically

· interferes with an orderly environment

· are illegal acts

· (refer to sheet outlining “Procedures for Organizing a Safe/Cooperative School”)

To this end, Trout Creek’s “bottom lines” are:

· “hands to self”

· no hurtful language/actions

· no direct defiance of adults

· no disruption of learning

Misconduct from violating the “bottom lines” listed above, results in immediate office referrals and once investigated, possible appropriate, escalating consequences.

At Trout Creek School, misconduct is dealt with using the principles of restitution. Restitution is an approach which encourages a person to grow towards self-evaluation, self-discipline and self-respect. It teaches a person to behave for self respect rather than to avoid punishment or gain a reward from another. It is our intent for members of our school to:

· solve problems by stating facts/frustrations/needs, identifying the less effective behavior and collapsing the conflict

· consider the social contract; the shared values of the school/classroom

· keep his/her identity and strengthen it

· fix their mistakes and make it right

C. NOTIFICATION

Staff inform parents and others of breaches of the school’s code of conduct by:

· written or oral form to the parent of the offender and victim

· as required by School District #67 in policy #310 Code of Conduct

· as required by other agencies

Please note the attached form which may be used to work through and record a student’s restitution and /or immediate consequences.

PROCEDURES FOR ORGANIZING A SAFE / COOPERATIVE SCHOOL

Students will:

1. follow the “In/Out Day” play designations

2. have a different pair of “inside shoes”

3. remove hats when entering the school

4. wear appropriate clothing

5. not use gym without permission and supervision or any other area inside the school

6. use playground equipment as follows:

K-3 4-5

Front M,T,F W,Th

SportsCourt T,W,Th M (5), F(4)

Back W,Th M,T, Fri

(swings only)

7. bring a signed note from home if he/she has to leave the school grounds at lunch or stay inside due to illness

8. be on time

9. obtain a phone pass before using student phone

10. walk bikes on school grounds

11. arrive at school no earlier than 8:05 a.m. and will leave immediately after school

12. stay away from out of bounds area (parking lot behind the school)

13. use the assigned entrance near the classroom to enter and leave the school

PARENT’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Trout Creek Parent’s Advisory Council (PAC) would like to welcome you and your child(ren) to Trout Creek Elementary School. We have a wonderful community of parents, administration and teachers that work together to ensure that our children have the very best experience possible while attending Trout Creek School.

All parents with children enrolled in Trout Creek are members of the PAC and as such are invited to attend monthly meetings (for information and voting) which are held the second Wednesday of most months at 7:00 pm in the teachers’ staff room. Of course, there are many other ways to help out besides attending meetings. We are always looking for help with Friday fun food days, special events, baking, phoning, set up and clean up of events and any other way that you can think of to help out.

The PAC meeting is a great place to meet other parents and find out what is happening at out school. It is also a way to achieve a greater understanding of how the school system works at the local and district levels. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings and provide their input and ideas.

Our focus as a PAC is to promote an effective communication between the staff, parents and students. We are also involved in fundraising to not only raise funds but also to enhance the sense of community spirit among our families. Various fundraising activities include fun food lunches most Fridays, family photos, welcome dinner, dances and other events. The funds we raise go towards such things as equipment, planners, swim and skate programs and field trips.

PAC EXECUTIVE 2008-2009

If you have any questions, comments or concern, please fell free to contact any of the executive and we will do our best to answer your questions.

The Trout Creek Elementary School is a special place. We welcome you and your child(ren) and invite you to come and see what the PAC is all about.

The various PAC’s of our School District belong to a body known as the District PAC. Each PAC is represented on the District PAC. Issues dealt with by this body range from PAC education to reviewing School District School policy, including all matters relevant to education on the district level. The District PAC generally acts as a liaison between the School PAC’s and the provincial bodies that are involved in school or parent support.

There are occasions when a parent representative is required in the elementary classroom for communication, consultation, or assistance. As the duly recognized parent body of the school, the PAC may assist in identifying individuals for the position of class representative. The PAC will attempt to organize the representatives to effectively use the time and energies of the representative, the classroom teacher, and the students and school as a whole.

· To use a phone network (tree or web) for communication appropriate message to and from classroom parents

· To work with the other classroom representative (normally there will be two reps. Per class)