School Access

In order to ensure school safety and security, all exterior doors will be locked after school commences each day. Access during the day will be through the main entrance, by ringing our school buzzer which is inside the foyer. Everyone (students, volunteers, guests) is then asked to report directly to the office. Children will receive a late slip and volunteers and visitors will be asked to sign in. 

Each visitor or volunteer will then receive a name tag that will be worn while in the school. If parents need to take their children out of school during regular school hours, please come to the office and complete the sign-out information. We will call the classroom so that your child can come and meet you outside the office. If you are returning your child to school after an appointment, please sign them back in at the office.

If parents need to drop off lunches, please ring the doorbell and leave lunch in the bin by the door. Lunches should have names on the outside of the bag. We appreciate it when lunches arrive with the children as they learn responsibility for managing their own belongings, which is an important life skill.

Planning Your Child's Activities

We also ask that parents create a plan for each day, either the night before or in the morning so that children come to school confident that they know where they will go for lunch and at the end of the school day and who will pick them up. Please arrange a meeting spot outside the school so that family members know exactly where to be when dismissed. Dismissal times are always very busy in our school of over 700 and we are not always able to ensure that we receive and convey messages or provide phone service while attending to the learning needs of all children. Please arrange a consistent home routine and then a “Plan B” in case the first plan needs to be adjusted at the last moment. We appreciate your support in planning ahead with your children.

School-Based Supervision

Supervision of students begins 15 minutes prior to school start times. For safety reasons students should only arrive at school when supervisors are on duty outside. Children will remain outdoors to greet and play with each other. If the weather is very cold (-20 C with wind chill) or very wet, they will be invited to come inside the school through their designated doors and sit in the hallways by their classrooms. 

Teachers dismiss promptly at the end of the day and students are asked to go directly home to parents. If a child is staying at school for any reason, parents will be notified. All arrangements for after school play dates with friends should be made with parents prior to the school day.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are held on a regular basis. During a fire drill all students, staff and visitors exit the building according to established Fire Drill routes which are posted throughout the school. Many drills are held without warning and therefore students must wear indoor footwear at all times.