Morna Heights School
Handbook
EMERGENCY PLAN
Periodically
we will be practicing our EMO (Emergency Measures Operation Plan.) This
includes practice fire drill, lockdown procedure and emergency evacuation
plan. Please expect these procedures to be practiced the first few weeks of
school.
In
the event that the school must be evacuated, the children will be taken to
the KBM Club House and remain there until the situation has been assessed. If
we are unable to return to the school we will contact all parents. Buses will
operate from the KBM and walkers will be sent home.
STUDENT
MEDICATION
The Department
of Education has set the following conditions, concerning the giving of
medication to students at school:
A.
Before a teacher administers ANY medication to a
student, the teacher must have, in writing, consent from a parent of the
student. A form completed by the family physician regarding the prescription
is also required. Forms are available at the school office. Medication must come in its proper
labeled bottle.
B.
Parents are responsible to advise the teacher
when any changes have been made in the medication.
C.
Teachers may only dispense medication (including
Aspirin) if there is a written request from the parent who assumes complete
responsibility from any consequences resulting from the provision of the
service.
D.
Teachers shall not administer any oral
medication, which is not delivered
to them directly by a parent or another responsible adult, and
teachers shall not be responsible for mixing medications to be administered
to students.
These
guidelines do not apply to medication which parents have their children
administer to themselves at school.
LOST &
FOUND
Property
lost or abandoned at the school will be placed in the lost and found box in
the hallway. When the box is full, the articles will be stored away to be set
up on a table in the hallway on parent/teacher conference days. Unclaimed
objects will be disposed of in December and again in June. Rotting, smelly or
otherwise objectionable objects will be disposed of within days of being
discovered if unclaimed.
ALLERGIES
More
and more children and adults are developing allergic conditions. Just a
reminder – Morna Heights
School is a
“scent free” school. Aerosol hair sprays strong perfumes and some
felt tip markers can be particular problems in confined spaces. Everyone is
encouraged to be conscious of the need for good air quality. We also have
children with Life threatening food
allergies. We discourage the sharing of food. We also ask that peanut
products not be brought to school.
We want a safe environment for ALL
of our children.
HOME &
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
The
Home & School Association has played a vital role over the years at Morna
Heights School.
Our Home & School committee and volunteers have raised funds for many
projects over the years. Currently, our Home and School is continuing to
raise funds for new playground equipment. The Home and School volunteers are
also in charge of operating our lunch program. Participation by willing
parents in the Home & School Association activities is vital to the well
being of our children. If you are interested in becoming a member please
contact the school.
PARENT-SCHOOL
SUPPORT COMMITTEE (PSSC)
The
PSSC is a group of parents and community members who work in an advisory
capacity with the principal and staff. The purpose of the PSSC is for all
members to work with the principal to enhance student learning and
development, and to enrich the educational experience of all children by
increasing family and community involvement. This committee meets monthly at
the time selected by the members.
VOLUNTEERS
Many
of the programs and activities that have made Morna Heights School
special over the years have been operated voluntarily by parents, other members
of the community and teachers. With more and more homes having two parents in
the work force and expectations ever increasing on the school, volunteers are
harder and harder to find. If you are able to give some of your time we would
greatly appreciate it. It is mandatory
that all volunteers to the school have a criminal record check
completed yearly, as well as signing a code of conduct and Policy 701.
All forms are available in the office.
STUDENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
Throughout
this handbook it is implied that all students, within their capacities, have
responsibilities regarding the completion of homework, proper conduct,
appropriate dress and the following of all other school rules deemed
appropriate and socially acceptable by school authorities. Students should be
especially aware of the following responsibilities:
A.
to give their opinions in a mannerly way
B.
to fairly treat all other children and the
adults at the school
C.
to show respect for their fellow students,
parent volunteers, school custodian and teachers in their communications and
attitudes
D.
to obtain and take care of all the materials
they need for their school work
E.
to be careful not to damage the property of the
school or of others at school
HOME - SCHOOL
COMMUNICATION
We
will communicate throughout the year using several different means:
Telephone, using Aliant’s home-school
connection, monthly calendar and newsletters, as well as our school website http://schools.brunnet.net/mornaheights
If at any time
you have any questions or concerns about school, please get in touch right
away so that we may deal with them.
SCHOOL CLOSURE
School District 8 is committed
to the safe and efficient transportation of students and recognizes that it
may be necessary to cancel bus runs, close schools or delay school opening
due to poor weather or road conditions.
The
following options are considered when deciding what to do during inclement
weather conditions:
1.
Schools will remain open as usual. No radio
announcements will be made.
2. All schools are
closed for the day. An announcement will be relayed to radio stations prior
to 6:30 am.
3. Buses are
delayed one hour. All schools
will open at their regular time to receive students.
4. Schools may be
closed early. This could happen on a day when the weather conditions are
anticipated to deteriorate during the day.
This
information may be found on the District
Snow Line – 643-7669.
Ultimately,
parents have the final decision in inclement weather situations.
BIRTHDAY
INVATATIONS
In
the spirit of inclusion where all students feel comfortable in our school
– we are asking parents to reconsider distributing birthday/party invatations at school. We want to strive for a building
where children are not experiencing hurt feelings or rejection because of
this practice. With that said,
this year we will allow invitations to be
passed out by the teacher as long as everyone in the class is invited to the
event.
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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Morna Heights Elementary School- your school! We are very pleased and
proud to welcome you to Morna Heights.
If you are returning, we are so glad to see you again. If you are a new
student, we can’t wait to meet you and get to know you!
I am
looking forward to another exciting year. We work very hard at Morna
Heights to be welcoming
and inviting to students and parents, and we greatly appreciate the parental
support that we receive. We are able to offer our students the
“extras” because of the support volunteers provide.
We
want everyone to feel safe and happy while here, last year we implemented a
Code of Conduct which explained student behaviour
and expectations. Please be sure to review these pages with your child. We
ask that both parents and students sign this document.
Please
use this handbook to learn about the procedures and routines at our school.
The agenda section (in 3-5 agendas only) is a great discussion tool that you
may use with your child.
Thank
you for your help and cooperation. We hope you enjoy your year at Morna
Heights!
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OFFICE HOURS
PHONE: 738-6505
FAX: 738-1032
Monday to Friday
8:30 – 3:00 pm
Secretary’s
Lunch Break – 12:00 – 12:30
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SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS
The staff of Morna
Heights School,
in partnership with the home and larger community strives to help each child
continue to develop the basic social and intellectual skills which he or she
will need to reach full potential as a happy and productive member of a
humane and democratic society. We seek to prepare children for a world where
information is constantly expanding and outdating itself; a world where
information on almost any topic is readily available to those with the skill
to find and use it.
The expectations
set for each child vary with his or her demonstrated ability. Although there
are basic minimal standards set for most skills, the staff aspires with the
resources at hand, to help each child exceed those standards to the highest
degree possible.
Specifically we
aspire to help develop each child's potential in:
A. Listening,
speaking, reading and writing as essential tools in a literate society.
B. Reasoning and thinking skills.
C. Problem solving using the scientific method and the tools of mathematics
in realistic situations.
D. Working successfully as an individual and as a member of a group.
E. Appreciating others, society and the world as a precious, fragile
community of interdependent individuals.
F. Appreciating the creativity of others and developing his or her own creative abilities in all efforts.
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GENERAL SCHOOL RULES
- Everyone at Morna
Heights School
is expected to behave in such a way that he or she shows respect and
consideration for others.
- Everyone is expected
to work hard at the assigned tasks whether individually or as part of a
group.
- Everyone is expected
to make a strong effort to be ready for each activity and to be there on
time.
- The children are not
expected to change for gym classes. Students should not wear good
clothes to school on days they have gym class.
- Children, having been
sent to school, come on to the school grounds as soon as they arrive and
do not leave the school grounds until it is time for them to go home. If
they have reason to leave during the school day, they must bring a
permission note from their parents or guardians on or prior to that day.
- Everyone at Morna
Heights School
makes a habit of using polite language and avoids the use of foul or
otherwise offensive words. Words such as "Thank you", or
"May I", "Excuse me", and "Please" should
be commonly a part of everyone's language at school.
- Because of the
longstanding mess which gum causes, we do not bring it to school.
- Bikers lock their
bikes at the bike stand as soon as they arrive at school. To avoid
damage, other students do not sit on or touch the parked bikes. Because
the bikes cannot be supervised, they are brought to school with the
understanding that it is at the owner's own risk.
- To avoid accidental
injury, no one play-fights at school.
- When a child feels
that another has seriously wronged him or her, he reports it to the duty
teacher, knowing that it is not acceptable for one to take the law into
his or her own hands.
- Every child is
expected to be extra careful when around or on the climbing bars. So
that no one will be accidentally hurt, no one chases hits or grabs
anyone else around or on the bars. No one stands or gets in the way of
others using the bars. Everyone stays out of the way until it is his or
her turn.
- Everyone is
responsible for the safe keeping of his or her own property and other
property loaned to him or her. Each child is expected to be careful to
keep things where they belong and not to mark on or otherwise deface
loaned materials. Children who do not take care
of their borrowed text books or library books, resulting in loss or
damage to them, will find their parents billed for the replacement cost.
- Everyone is careful
not to throw or kick snow, ice, sticks, rocks or other potentially
dangerous materials around school and at the bus stop.
- Students do not bring
knives, other weapons, cigarettes or other non-medicinal drugs to the
school or school grounds.
- If a child brings a
radio, cassette recorder or other expensive personal property to the
school or school grounds he or she does so at his or her own risk and
should keep it near at all times. The school cannot be responsible for
the loss of or damage to such articles.
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SCHOOL BUS RULES
- Students are to be
reasonably quiet on the bus.
- Students find and sit
in a seat immediately upon entering the bus. They are to remain in that
seat until the bus comes to a complete stop at their bus stop.
- Nothing must ever be
thrown within or from the bus.
- Children are not to
lean out of bus windows.
- If children must cross
the road from their waiting place, they must not cross until the bus has
arrived, the red lights are flashing, and the bus driver has signaled
them to cross.
- While waiting at their
bus stop, children will wait well away from the paved part of the road
and avoid all bullying, rough play or throwing of rocks etc. They will
be careful not to touch each other's book bags etc. and will form and
orderly line to board the bus.
- Everyone on the bus will
stop talking and be silent when the bus comes to a railway crossing.
They are to remain silent until the bus is over the crossing.
- The bus driver is to
be obeyed by all students on the bus.
- General rules of
behavior at the school also are to be followed on the school bus and at
the bus stop. Students who do not comply with school bus rules may be
suspended from traveling on the bus.
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HOMEWORK
Kindergarten will
have homework, which should not require more than 5 or 10 minutes. Grade 1
and 2 are to work approximately 10 to 20 minutes nightly. Grade 3, 4 and 5
students at Morna
Heights can be expected
to spend between 30 minutes and an hour on homework on average from Monday to
Thursday. Weekend assignments will often be shorter.
If a child is
spending much less than this time on homework, the parent or guardian should
check the quality of the work being done. In that situation, insist that
"completed" homework come home for a look.
Homework could
include:
A. Reading
B. Collecting information
C. Practicing skills being learned
D. Reading for specific information
E. Proofreading work already written
F. Doing science experiments
G. Making corrections
H. Using a cassette recorder
I. Studying spelling words
J. Occasional study of notes
K. Making notes on given material
L. Working on long term projects, a bit at a time
M. Model making
N. Writing
Often assignments
are given several days in advance and the students are being taught to plan
ahead so that the work will be completed by the given date. If a child
suddenly has excessive homework, check to see if he or she has been putting
off long term assignments until the last minute.
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EMERGENCY PLAN
In the event that
the school must be evacuated, the children will be taken to the KBM Club
House and remain there until the end of the school day. Regular buses will
operate from there at the regular times unless other notice is given. Walking
students could be sent home, if necessary, after parents or their
"alternatives" have been contacted.
STUDENT MEDICATION
The Department of
Education has set the following conditions, concerning the giving of
medication to students at school:
- Before a teacher
administers ANY medication to a student, the teacher must have, in
writing, consent from a parent of the student. A form completed by the
family physician regarding the prescription is also required. Forms are
available at the school office
- Parents are
responsible to advise the teacher hen any changes have been made in the
medication.
- Teachers may only
dispense medication (including Aspirin) if there is a written request
from the parent who assumes complete responsibility from any
consequences resulting from the provision of the service.
- Teachers shall not
administer any oral medication, which is not delivered to them directly
by a parent or another responsible adult, and teachers shall not be
responsible for mixing medications to be administered to students.
These guidelines
do not apply to medication which parents have their children administer to
themselves at school.
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SCHOOL DRESS CODE
1. Students should
come to school clean and neat in person and in dress. 2. Students are not to
wear outdoor footwear in the classrooms or the gym. Outdoor footwear is taken
off and put on in the hallway. Students are to keep a pair of sneakers at
school, to be worn in the classroom and the gym.
STUDENT ABSENCES
Whenever a child
is absent from school:
¨ The parent
or guardian is responsible for providing the teacher with a note of
explanation when the child returns to school.
¨ Activities that go on in the last week of June are considered a very
important part of the school year as well. All attendance is mandatory not
optional. You are encouraged to phone the school, if your child will be
absent for the day.
¨ Messages can be left on the answering machine as well.
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PUPIL EVALUATION SERVICES
When a child is
having serious difficulties making progress at school, he or she may be
referred to District 8 Multi-Discipline Team for evaluation with the
permission of a parent or guardian. If the cause can be found, after
consultation with the parent, a joint home and school program may be set up
to help the child. A parent may request the school to refer his/her child to
the Multi-Discipline Team. At that point the resource teacher will do some
preliminary evaluation to determine if formal evaluation would be advised.
LOST & FOUND
Property lost or
abandoned at the school will be placed in the lost and found box in the
hallway. When the box is full, the articles will be stored away to be set up
on a table in the hallway on parent/teacher conference days. Unclaimed
objects will be disposed of in December and again in June. Rotting, smelly or
otherwise objectionable objects will be disposed of within days of being
discovered if unclaimed.
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SCHOOL SMOKING POLICY
In keeping with
District 8 School Policy, Morna Heights
School is a smoke free
building.
The grounds are smoke-free as well. This is a 24/7 policy.
ALLERGIES
More and more
children and adults are developing allergic conditions. Aerosol hair sprays
strong perfumes and some felt tip markers can be particular problems in
confined spaces. Everyone is encouraged to be conscious of the need for good
air quality. We also have children with Life Threatening food allergies. We
discourage the sharing of food. We also ask that peanut products not be
brought to school. We want a safe environment for ALL of our children.
Back
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HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
The Morna Heights Home & School Association has played a
vital role over the years at Morna Heights
School. Home &
School committees and volunteers have raised funds for many projects,
including the paved court and climbing bars, as well as important computer
equipment. Volunteers have also done valuable service in operating the lunch
program and maintaining the library. Participation by willing parents in the
Home & School Association activities is vital to the well being of our
children.
Our current
executive are:
President: Leslie
McKinley
Vice President: Tina Levesque
Treasurer: Heather
McNulty
Secretary: Kelly DeLuchry
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PARENT-SCHOOL SUPPORT COMMITTEE (PSSC)
The PSSC is a
group of parents and community members who work in an advisory capacity with
the principal and staff. The purpose of the PSSC is for all members to work
with the principal to enhance student learning and development, and to enrich
the educational experience of all children by increasing family and community
involvement. This committee meets monthly at the time selected by the
members.
Our current PSSC
chairperson is Lori Nason.
Other members
include: Ms. Andrea Matthews,
Mrs. Jennifer Keilty, Rose Hooley, Terri Chadwick, Tara Safford, Coral Matheson,
Barb Wilson and Jeannie Thomas.
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VOLUNTEERS
Many of the
programs and activities that have made Morna Heights School
special over the years have been operated voluntarily by parents, other
members of the community and teachers. With more and more homes having two
parents in the work force and expectations ever increasing on the school,
volunteers are harder and harder to find. If you can make the time, you as
the parent of a child who benefits from the volunteer efforts of others, are
urged to consider giving some time to your child's school this year.
Voluntary activities offered to the children by volunteers at Morna
Heights in recent years
have included:
¨ Computer lab
¨ Hot Lunch Program
¨ Trip Supervision
¨ Enrichment/Activity Days
¨ Fund Raising
¨ Noon Sports
¨ Hockey
¨ Drama
¨ Track & Field
¨ Library
¨ Math Fair
¨ Science Fair
¨ Kindergarten classroom
Volunteers who
provide vehicles to transport students on school sponsored trips must have at
least one million dollars of liability on each vehicle provided during the
trips.
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HUMAN RIGHTS/MULTI-CULTURAL POLICY
School
District 8 affirms and supports the principles expressed in the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the New Brunswick Human Rights
Act; and acknowledges the rich contribution made to the school community and
the larger community by persons from varied cultural backgrounds. Therefore,
no student or staff member shall by discrimination against or receive special
privileges on the basis of language, race, sex, color, religion, age,
ancestry, mental or physical handicap or place of origin.
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SCHOOL POLICY ON STUDENT RIGHTS
In the spirit of
the United Nations Universal Declaration of the Human Rights of the Child,
the staff at Morna Heights
School strives, within
reason, to assure each child of the following school related rights:
A. the right to am education
B. the right to a healthy smoke free school environment
C. the right to an opinion
D. the right to protection from physical, mental and sexual abuse
E. the right to due process of law
F. the right to fair treatment
G. the right to be heard
H. the right to appeal
I. the right to be respected
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Throughout this
handbook it is implied that all students, within their capacities, have
responsibilities regarding the completion of homework, proper conduct,
appropriate dress and the following of all other school rules deemed
appropriate and socially acceptable by school authorities. Students should be
especially aware of the following responsibilities:
A. to give their
opinions in a mannerly way
B. to fairly treat all other children and the adults at the school
C. to show respect for their fellow students, parent volunteers, school
custodian and teachers in their communications and attitudes
D. to obtain and take care of all the materials they need for their school work
E. to be careful not to damage the property of the school or of others at
school
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FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
Your child has the
best chance of success at school if he/she:
¨ has a full nights sleep each school night
¨ eats a nutritious breakfast
¨ is ready for school on time
¨ has a set location, time and routine for doing homework
¨ reads and is read to at home on a daily basis
¨ receives lots of encouragement and earned praise from the people who
mean the most to him/her
The
teachers at Morna Heights School support and
applaud your efforts in sending your child to school motivated to learn and
eager to participate fully in the activities of his or her class.
Thank You,
From the Staff at Morna Heights School
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