Absences, Lates & Early Dismissal

If a student will be absent from school, late, or dismissed early for a valid reason, a parent or guardian must inform the school office by email (edinburgh@emsb.qc.ca) or by calling the main office (514-486-0981) before 7:30 a.m. and provide the reason for the absence. Voicemails are checked regularly so please leave a message in the event that you are not able to get through. Remember that academic success and attendance go hand-in-hand. Frequent late arrivals and/or absences often lead to academic difficulties in the classroom. When a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to make up what was missed in class.

Student drop-off time is at 7:47 a.m.. The gate remains closed before this time as there is no supervision until then. When the second bell rings at 7:55 a.m., students should already be present at school for the Homeroom period. After this time, they are considered late and MUST enter through the main office to get a late slip

For safety and security reasons, your child will always be dismissed to the bus, to BASE Daycare or to the gate as a walker, depending on the instructions originally given to the school. In the case of any change to the regular schedule, please notify both the office and the homeroom teacher (as well as the BASE Daycare Technician, if necessary) by a written note or email.

 Changes to dismissal routine and/or requests for early dismissal are strongly discouraged after 2:00 p.m.

Sickness

Students who are sick should remain at home. Parents will be requested to pick up their children if they become sick at school. If the student is well enough to be at school, they will be encouraged to go outside during recess and lunch.

Also please note that staff members are not permitted to administer any medication to students unless the appropriate forms are completed by the parent. Should your child have to take medication at school, it must be sent to the office in a measured container with the doctor’s instructions, as well as a signed waiver form from you to enable us to administer it.  Students are not permitted to carry medication with them.

ÉCOLE EDINBURGH SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

The Code of Conduct outlines a model of expected behaviours that help ensure a positive learning experience for all. We operate on a simple, yet critical principle of RESPECT - for  ourselves, for others, and for the environment, as outlined below in the “Edinburgh Way” All students have the right to learn in a safe and positive environment and so each student has the obligation to respect the rules of conduct outlined below.

The guidelines outlined below are inspired by Edinburgh’s "Mission Statement" and are in addition to "règles de vie" established in each classroom. They are a continual "work in progress" and are subject to change after consultation with the Staff and School Council of Edinburgh School.

At all times:

• We treat all students and adults with courtesy and kindness
• We are polite and considerate of the point of view of others.
• We always use appropriate language at school.
• We respect each other’s personal space (no hitting, pushing, shoving, tripping or play-fighting EVER).
• We proudly wear the Edinburgh Dress / Colour Code.
• We speak up to help each other, especially when we see any form of bullying.
• We keep the school clean by picking up debris anytime and everywhere and make an effort reuse and recycle
• We will try to settle disputes with patience and dialogue, and then by getting help from a staff member

During recess & lunch:

• We use games and materials provided by the school and do not bring any toys, cards or dangerous objects from home
• We play in a spirit of friendship and good
• We never leave the school yard without permission
• We play in designated areas in the yard and not areas that are “off-limits” or in the parking lot before/after school
• We keep the school clean by having a pair of indoor shoes and outdoor shoes/boots
• We are only indoors and in classrooms at recess and at lunch with adult supervision.
• We only practice gymnastics under the supervision of a teacher during Physical Education Class
• We get into the "entering the school line" when the bell rings and stop the game / pick up the ball right away
• We are courteous to others by holding doors open for them.
• We show respect for the school by removing our caps when entering the building.

In class:

• We follow the class rules set by our teachers.
• We arrive to class on time and ready to learn.
• We try our best to walk into class with a positive attitude every day.
• We behave in a manner that respects everyone’s right to a good education
• We write on paper and other suitable materials (and not on the desk or walls).
• We refrain from chewing gum at school
• We make sure to write down our homework and pack our bags properly at the end of every day

Outside of class:

• We move about the school calmly and without running
• We use the stairs one step at a time and on the appropriate (up or down) side.
• We keep right on stairs and in corridors leaving room for others to get by.
• We walk and work quietly in the halls (including at lunchtime and after school).
• We make sure our teachers know where we are at all time and only leave class with permission
• We respect work on display in the school.

On the school bus:

• We always remain seated while the bus is moving and wait for the bus to come to a full stop before standing up
• We speak in a quiet voice while riding on the bus to let the driver focus.
• We do not put any part of our body out the window or throw anything in or out of the bus.
• We respect the personal space of the other passengers on the bus.
• We respect property on the bus.
• We show respect to the bus driver and their instructions
• We always have our bus pass while riding on the school bus.
• We refrain from eating, drinking or chewing gum on the bus.
• We do not use electronic devices on the bus.

Bus Reports:

If students fail to follow the school board’s policy for the rules of conduct and safety measures on the bus, the driver will issue a bus report. Please take note of the consequences below:

CELLULAR PHONES & SMARTWATCHES

At Edinburgh, we believe in promoting human, face-to-face communication in order to foster strong personal connections and social skills. The use of cell phones, camera phones, and digital products in school situations by students can be disruptive to the educational environment. Students may bring their cell phone or smart watch to school, but the following rules will be enforced:

1. Such devices are to remain in the student's locker or school bag.
2. These devices are not to be used in If there is an emergency, or if a student must contact a parent, they must come to the office and we will allow them to call from our office phones.
3. If a staff member sees the device, it will be confiscated and brought to the
4. Students are NOT permitted to use their device to record (video and/or audio) while on school property.
5. Students are forbidden from texting, posting, or communicating with their devices while on school
6. Parents are asked to refrain from messaging their child during the school day; parents may contact the school office should a message need to be communicated to their child.

*The school will not be responsible for lost or stolen devices.

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

Inevitably, there are consequences in place for students who choose to act outside the ideals of the Edinburgh School Code of Conduct outlined above. When a child is in violation, they will:

• Receive a consequence (listed below) as well as a written report to be signed by parent
• After multiple reports, parents will be contacted to discuss a plan of action to prevent subsequent infractions.
• If the behaviour does not improve following this meeting, the child will receive a school suspension.

Generally, consequences are decided upon on a case-by-case basis and many factors are considered. Depending on the severity and frequency of incidents, disciplinary measures may include:

• Reflective and restorative practices and discussions; sometimes accompanied by follow up with a parent or guardian;
• Loss of free-play privileges during recess;
• Loss of other school privileges including participation in extra-curricular activities, field trips and special events;
• Suspension (in-school or out-of-school) for up to a maximum of 5 days as a result of (but not limited to) the following:
• Disrespectful or insolent behaviour towards students or staff.
• Derogatory comments, name-calling, racial, religious, or homophobic slurs of any kind
• Fighting, play-fighting, pushing, hitting, and other forms of physical violence
• Vandalism, theft, or destruction of property.
• Bullying (and cyber-bulling) - including physical, verbal or written threats and intimidation, intentional exclusion and/or humiliation, or repeated direct or indirect behavior which causes distress and injures, hurts, oppresses, intimidates or ostracizes

These actions may occur at school, on or near school property, during or outside of school hours or through electronic communication/social media/cyberbullying.

Following a suspension, an in-person meeting between a parent, the student, and a member of the school administration must take place at the school.  A student may not be readmitted to school until this meeting takes place.

For more information, please consult the  Anti-Bullying Anti-Violence Plan which can be found on the school’s website

Every student will have some homework to do each evening.  The type and amount of work will differ from one grade to another and will include formal assignments, projects and review work as well as studying for tests and exams. We rely on parents to help make sure to provide a quiet, well-lit area for study and make sure the homework is completed / sign the agenda each day, if requested by the teacher.

What is Homework?

It is based on lessons taught in class. Children should be able to do it alone. However, parents may have to help. Assignments can be of various types; written homework studying reviewing or memorizing material taught in class preparing a project reading a book or doing research.

Why do Teachers Give Homework?

• To develop regular and independent work habits
• To reinforce class work
• To develop responsibility
• To complete work not finished in class
• To reinforce skills taught in class

Approximately How Much Homework is Given?

Considering that each student is different, the following is what we consider to be an appropriate time to be spent on homework each night:

What are the Responsibilities of the Student?

• To write his/her homework down in an agenda used only for this purpose.
• To bring home all the materials needed to do the homework properly.
• To do all the written work as neatly as the teacher would expect it to be done in class.
• To bring home the appropriate books to study or read.
• At the senior levels, if a long term project is assigned, to do it gradually and not all at the deadline.

What are the Responsibilities of the Teacher?

• To assign homework based on material taught in school.
• To notify parents if a pupil is not doing his/her work on a regular basis.
• To ask that a parent sign the homework copy if necessary.
• Within a few days, to correct the written work and test the study assignments.
• To provide students with guidelines when a project is assigned and to explain the process of preparing a project.

What are the Roles of the Parents?

• To make sure that the homework is done and to support the child and school.
• To provide a quiet, well-lighted place for study, not near a T.V., computer, etc.
• To schedule a regular (not too late in the evening) time for homework and insist that this time is only for school work.
• To sign the agenda each day, if requested by the teacher, and to do this after having checked that the work is done.
• To encourage your child to read. Reading is one of the main keys to success in school. Parents should read to their younger children as often as possible so as to instill in them a love of reading.
• To inform the teacher if your child, on a regular basis, is spending too much or too little time on homework. It is only by working together that children will succeed.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

We at Edinburgh School are aware that we are unable to provide an environment that is completely allergy-free; however, we would like to help reduce the risk for our students. We encourage parents to provide healthy and nutritious snacks and lunches and encourage parents to avoid bringing snacks or bagged lunches from home that may contain peanuts and/or nuts, when possible

 TREATS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Parents are discouraged from sending in treats on special occasions, such as birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc., On these days, the school may choose to provide a peanut-free/ tree nut-free treat. Teacher-initiated classroom activities involving food are left to the discretion of the teacher; they will communicate their needs to the parents directly.

STUDENT DRESS / COLOUR CODE

The mandatory Edinburgh School Dress/Colour Code promotes school spirit and simplifies dressing for school in the morning. Edinburgh's Dress/Colour Code begins on the first day of school in August and ends on the last day of school in June.

Parents are asked to ensure their child’s attire follows the school’s colour/dress code before they leave home. Students’ clothing must be of solid colours, except for slacks, which may have a narrow white or red stripe along the outer seam.

• red, white, or navy-blue shirt, blouse, turtleneck or T-shirt; sturdy shoes
• red, white, or navy-blue cardigan, sweatshirt, kangaroo or sweater; sturdy shoes
• red, white, or navy-blue pants, jogging pants, shorts, skirt or jumper; sturdy shoes

Please Note:  Students are required to have a pair of indoor-only shoes to wear while at school.

The following are not permitted at Edinburgh at any time:

• Jeans
• Shorts/skirts which are too short, too tight, and/or generally inappropriate for a school setting
• Strapless/sleeveless t-shirts, muscle shirts, spaghetti-strap dresses/blouses
• Clothing with trademarks or logos greater than the size of the Edinburgh School Crest (8 cm or 3.5 inches)
• Sweaters of schools other than Edinburgh, including High Schools
• T-shirts with offensive language
• Anything that leaves their midriff exposed (i.e., cropped shirts or low-rise pants).
• Makeup
• Sandals and flip-flops, including crocs (for safety reasons)
• Luggage on wheels

If your child's clothing does not follow the outlined rules, a dress code infraction will be sent home in your child's agenda. Upon receipt of three infractions, the child will be asked to call home to request that a parent bring appropriate clothing to wear. If the problem persists, the administration will request a meeting with the parent. If you are unsure of the appropriateness of a clothing item, please check with the office before sending your child to school.

Free Dress Days

Students are welcome to wear clothing that does not follow the school’s dress/colour code on free dress days; however, clothing should remain appropriate for a school setting. The restricted items listed above remain in effect.

Physical Education Dress Code

• Shorts, sweatpants; T-shirt; running
• Students in grades 3 to 6 must bring a change of clothing (i.e., T-shirt, shorts) for PE class.

Winter Clothing

All students must have appropriate winter attire (including boots, a heavy jacket, hat, gloves and snow pants) at school throughout the winter months (November 15 – April 15). As the school has no drying facilities and children may be playing outside at least two or three times during the school day, it is extremely important that they be well dressed to remain warm and dry.

Children may choose to leave their indoor shoes at school or carry them back and forth between home and school. But anyone who does not have indoor shoes at school will be asked to call home to have them delivered.

IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONAL OBJECTS

All personal objects (clothing, school bag, lunch box, water bottle, running shoes, school supplies, etc.) should be clearly identified with your child’s name. Students are expected to check Lost and Found regularly if they have lost something.