Handbook

300 Carleton Street, Box 209

Borden-Carleton, PE, C0B 1X0

Phone: 437-8525 Fax: 437-8527

Attendance:

Regular school attendance is an important factor to school success. The responsibility for attending classes lies with the parents/guardians and students. We hope that parents and students will do their best to have students here on time.

Parents are asked to contact the school before 8:45 a.m. if your child is going to be absent . This year we are asking that parents also report if their son or daughter is home due to a Influenza -Like Illness (IFI).

Students must report to the office if arriving late so that we are aware that the student has arrived and attendance for the student, which comes to the office every morning, can be changed.

For the safety of our students, all parents and visitors are required to report to the school office upon arrival at the school. Parents picking up students are asked to remain in the main lobby to meet students. This as per Western School Board policy.

Teacher of Grades 1 to 6 purchase school supplies for our students. We request that parents pay a $30.00 school supply fee for the school year. This covers the cost of all classroom supplies (paper, duotangs, scribblers, markers, crayons, glue, pencils, erasers, scissors, rulers, etc.) and the school agenda. Parents need only purchase scuff -free shoes, school bags and lunch bags.

Students in Grades 7 and 8 bring their own school supplies. A list of recommended supplies is provided. They are required to pay $10.00 for the use of a lock and for their school agenda. Students will be refunded $5.00 at the end of the school year when they return their lock.

Throughout the year, notices may go home for additional money to be sent in to cover field trips and athletic fees. We do our best to keep these costs at a minimum.

Students at Amherst Cove have as recess break at 10:20 and a lunch break at 11:40. We believe that fresh air and outdoor exercise is important and we try to have students outdoors when possible. Please ensure that children have proper outdoor wear

(clothing and footwear) for the weather conditions as you can expect that they will be going outdoors, weather permitting.

Students are expected to complete homework assignments most evenings. On average, the time spent on homework should be approximately 20 minutes to half an hour. Homework will vary for many grades depending on activities going on in class or in the school (e.g. science projects, seasonal events, etc.).

Homework, at any time, should be reasonable and with the child’s limits. If a parent has any concerns regarding homework assignments, please contact the child’s teacher.

There are three reporting periods per year in which you will receive information indicating how your child is doing in each strand of her/his academic program. Parent - Teacher Interviews are set for parents/guardians to meet the teacher(s) and discuss the progress of the student. Those dates are on the school calendar. We encourage all parents or guardians to attend our Parent - Teacher Interviews as good communication between home and school greatly supports student success. If you have any questions or concerns at any time during the school year, contact can be made with the teacher(s) or administration at the school.

- November 4 (evening) and November 5^th (day)

- March 4 (evening) and March 5 (day)

For safety and legal reasons WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST be given for any students to participate in an activity which involves leaving the school grounds. If a student does not bring a slip back signed, she/he will be unable to attend the activity or field trip. We ask that parents and students respect this requirement.

As well, if there are any changes in the usual busing or after school destination for a student, a note should come to the teacher to inform of these changes. Otherwise the student will be expected to go where they normally go as provided by the information collected at the beginning of the school year.

Cell phones, if they come to school with a student at all, should be turned off and in the student’s school bag and/or locker. This is for privacy purposes and to avoid disruption in instructional settings.

Student who violate this policy will have the cell phone taken away. The principal or vice principal will call the student’s parents who will be asked to come to the school to pick up the cell phone. Repeated violations will have more serious consequences.

The school is not responsible for the loss or damage to cell phones or other personal electronic devices. Students should carefully consider taking them to school.

Due to serious allergies within the school, all students and visitors are asked to avoid bringing into the school foods that contain nuts or traces of nuts and to avoid wearing scented products when in the building.

Amherst Cove School participates in the school milk program. On Mondays students can order milk for the week. Milk prices are: White Milk - .45 cents and Chocolate Milk - .65 cents.

Pizza, subs and wraps will be available on Fridays only. Order forms will go home with students on Thursdays or Fridays and these can be ordered on Mondays as well.

All grades participate in the physical education program and are required to have scruff-free indoor sneakers. Students must have appropriate gym footwear and are not permitted to wear crocs or flip-flops to physical education classes. Grades 1 to 3 students are expected to wear loose fitting clothes in order to participate. Girls are NOT to wear skirts or dresses to class.

For health and hygiene reasons, students in Grades 4 to 8 are expected to change into proper gym wear. This would include shorts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, T-shirts, etc. Students in Grades 4 to 8 who do not change for Physical Education will be expected to do alternate activities including tidying the equipment room, or walking laps around the gym.

A student who participates in any of the following is making a commitment to the program. We encourage the student to see this as a responsibility which requires regular attendance.

Intramurals: These activities take place during the noon hour recesses and are offered to grades 3-8. The goal of intramurals is to encourage participation rather than competition. Most intramurals this year will take place on days when the weather is poor outdoors. Activities will depend on the sports seasons and other school activities.

Amherst Cove Consolidated is a member of the P.E.I. School Athletic Association. We have joined with Somerset Elementary and Kinkora Regional High School to form combined teams which enable us to continue offering extra-curricular sports activities.

1. Extra-curricular activities are a privilege, not a right.

2. Students in extra-curricular activities must maintain an acceptable academic standing as judged by the sports committee.

3. Academic subjects will have priority over extra-curricular activities. This includes extra help, homework, tests, assignments, etc. Students are responsible for work missed.

4. Students involved in extra-curricular activities are reminded that they are representing the school and should act and dress in a manner which will make the school proud.

5. Students are expected to complete the season in the sport that they have chosen to play. If a student chooses not to finish the season, his/her case will be reviewed by the Committee.

1. All teams members must abide by the rules for extra-curricular participation.

2. Be in school the entire school day.

3. Care for uniforms and return them in good condition. Those not returned will be billed to the student.

4. Students who quit or are dismissed from a school team will be referred to the sports committee.

P.E.I. now has School Accident Insurance. It is for any student who is registered in Grades 1 to 12 in the P.E.I. Public School System. This program helps to cover the costs of medical treatment for a student who was injured at school or when participating in a school-related activity. A brochure is enclosed for your information. Please contact the school if you have any questions about this program.

Library Book and Textbooks are available to enhance and enrich the learning of the student. These books are to be given proper care and security, and must be returned at the specified times. Students will be expected to pay replacement costs in case of loss or willfull damage.

We have an active music program at Amherst Cove School. We are very excited that we now have a band program for students in Grades 7 and 8, and we encourage their participation. There is also a Primary Choir (Grades 1,2 and 3) and an Elementary Choir

Grade 4, 5 and 6). Practices for all music program take place during the morning and noon hour recesses.

Reading Recovery is a highly effective short-term early literacy intervention program. It provides one-to-one tutoring for first graders who need additional support learning read and write. A specially trained teacher Reading Recovery provides the program which usually lasts for 12 to 20 weeks. Students are selected for this program after a brief assessment. Parents whose children are selected for the program will be provided with information.

Counselling services are available to all students at Amherst Cove Consolidated and are provided by a school counsellor who is specifically trained to offer support and guidance to students.

Students may request an appointment to see the counsellor on Thursdays for personal, social, academic or career-related issues. Parents are also encouraged to contact the counsellor if they have any concerns about their child. For reasons of concern, teachers and administration may also make referrals.

Information shared with the counsellor is kept in the strictest confidence; unless, by doing so, it is deemed a risk to the safety and well-being of the child.

Individual or small groups of students can receive extra support in specific curriculum areas. Assessments may be carried out to help identify a student’s learning strengths and needs. When appropriate, an adapted, modified, or Individual Education plan may be developed for a student to outline individual goals and objectives for learning.

A select group of staff members meet on a regular basis to discuss students’ academic, behavioral, and/or emotional needs. On occasion, the Western School Board Student Services team - consisting of Autism Consultants, Special Education Consultants, and Psychologists - may be contacted to further assist with planning an adequate program for the student(s).