We take the safety of our students and staff very seriously. W. O. Mitchell is monitored by recorded Closed Circuit TV to help us maintain safety protocols. Please be aware of these Calgary Board of Education protocols and make sure you observe them at all times.
School Entry – Safety Over Convenience
The protocol for adults, including parents, when wishing entry to the school, is through the office. All visitors are required to enter the school via the main doors, and check into the office. The office is always open from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. There are no exceptions to this protocol.
We are noticing that some parents are 'slipping in' through doors other than the main doors (ex. their child's class meeting door) during class entry/dismissal times to 'pick up one quick item', or 'chat briefly with a teacher', or use washroom facilities.
While it is not suggested that parents are compromising student safety when doing this, we are, first and foremost, student safety vigilant. We want and need our public message to be that the only way to access the school is through the main doors, and we have emergency protocols when non-CBE staff members gain access to the school through doors other than the main doors.
Staff are instructed to redirect parents. We thank you in advance for following our protocol of accessing the school by checking into the main office, and insisting that other adults do too. Student safety is all of our responsibility!
End of Day Protocol
The safety and security of students is our priority at W.O. Mitchell. We need the support of parents to ensure that students understand, prior to coming to school, how they will be going home and with whom. This is helpful for your child so they do not need to wonder/worry about this during their school day. Predictability helps children feel secure. Without this in place, the volume of calls received during the school day about such matters quickly becomes unmanageable and at the end of the day it is not always possible to locate a child regarding a last minute change. To that end, please do not use the office to change your end of day plans, except in an emergency situation.
Change of Plans
Please do not leave messages on the teacher’s voice mail, nor in their email, to make emergency end of day arrangements for your child. If something comes up beyond your control, the office staff will try to reach your child before dismissal, being mindful that classroom schedules are flexible and we may have difficulty locating your child during the final half hour of the day. Please try to complete all telephone arrangements with the office before 3:30 PM. Thank you for your co-operation. We all need to work together for the safety of our children and at the same time, minimize classroom interruptions.
Picking Up Children Early
When picking up children early, we will have you remain at the office while they are dismissed from their classroom and come to the office ready to leave. Please note: if you are picking up your child during school hours, our school policy is to only call your child to the office when you are in the building. We thank you in advance for supporting CBE and W.O. Mitchell School security policies to ensure the security of everyone in our school.
Visitors and Volunteers Sign In
Upon each entry to the building, all parents/visitors/guests at W.O. Mitchell School must proceed immediately to the school office. Under no circumstances are parents/guardians/etc. to proceed to classrooms without first coming to the office, even if you are in the company of your child, except during parent-teacher conferences. This protocol is in force on all school days, before, during and after regular school hours.
Volunteer Badges
Unless you are officially scheduled to volunteer, please do not use your volunteer status/badge to sign in and access the school.
School Access
With the exception of the main entrance, all outside doors leading into the building will be locked for the entire day (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). If your child is late, they should enter the building through the main entrance; do not drop off at their designated doors as the doors will be locked. All children who are late must report to the office to pick up a late slip. Please also note that, while the gym portion of the school may be open beyond 4:30 PM, due to rental groups, the core of the school will also be locked at 4:30 PM.
Student Sign-Out Procedure
When picking up students for appointments during school hours, parents/guardians need to sign students out from the office.
- Parents should only enter the school through the main front doors.
- Please report to the office to meet your child.
- Our office staff will contact the classroom teacher who will have the child meet you at the office.
If you are sending a friend or relative to the school to pick up your child, please inform the school either in writing or by telephone. We will not allow this person to pick up your child unless we have direct consent from parents and know the identity of the person (we ask for identification).
Accompanying Children to Their Classroom
We would also like to remind you to not accompany your children to their classrooms, either at regular entry time or if you bring them in late for any reason. All our students know their way to their classroom or can be assisted by school staff. This is an important part of CBE’s safety protocol.
Emergency School Closure
In the event of an emergency school closure, children will be sent home only if we can confirm by telephone fan-out that an adult is at home to receive the child. If the need arises to vacate the school, all students and staff will move to the predetermined muster point. Please see your School Handbook for details.
