Primary Handbook
2011-2012
École LeMarchant St. Thomas School
6141 Watt Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 2B7
Phone: 902-421-6769 902-421-6770 Fax: 902-421-3036
Email: lmsts@hrsb.ns.ca
May 26, 2011
Dear Parent/Guardian
The purpose of this handbook is to acquaint parents of Primary children with routines, instructional program, and ideas which are of concern mainly to the Primary class. This handbook is a supplement to the École LeMarchant St. Thomas Information Handbook.
It is hoped that parents will be comfortable with the routines and policies of the school, and will maintain close contact throughout the years.
The Primary year for your child is one of the milestones of his/her life and can set the tone for the next thirteen years, so it is very important that it is a happy, as well as, a productive year.
Please feel free to ask questions, either in person or by telephone, should anything be of concern to you. Welcome!
Pauline Murray
Principal
Hours of the School day: September 2011-June 2012
8:40 - general supervision of students begins (on school yard)
8:50 - bell rings - classes assemble on school yard to enter the school. PLEASE BE ON TIME
8:55 - general announcements
9:00 - classes begin
10:30 - outdoor recess begins (weather permitting)
10:45 - outdoor recess ends
12:00 - noon - lunch dismissal
1:00 - general supervision of students begins/ extra-curricular activities end
1:10 - bell rings - teachers and classes assemble on school yard/ enter school building
1:15 - classes begin
2:45 - dismissal for grades P-2
3:15 - dismissal for grades 3-6
Note: For the safety of all, please do not leave children unattended on the school grounds. As well, it is important to be on time. Late arrivals miss important instructional time and disrupt the class. It is also important to listen carefully to the weather reports and have your child dress appropriately.
HRSB Visitors’ Policy: The Halifax Regional School Board Visitors’ Policy indicates that all visitors to the school, including parents, for whatever reason, must stop at the main office upon entering the school. If you are spending pre-arranged time at the school you will need to register and obtain a visitor’s or volunteer’s pass. You must do this at the main building. Parents are asked to see their child off at the door and to wait for their child upon dismissal outside. Thank you for your cooperation!
Lunch Hour: The Department of Education states that all students may stay for lunch at the school free of charge.
SMART LUNCHES: LMST has implemented a SMART LUNCH program. Healthy lunches are promoted, as well as “wasteless” lunches. In order to cut down on our waste and friendly little critters, we are promoting re-usable containers for sandwiches, snacks and drinks. We realize that some snacks will have wrappings, however. In order to facilitate this, the children will be taking their “waste” such as wrappings and empty juice cartons home with them in their lunch boxes. As LMST is a nut aware zone, students are not permitted to bring foods with nuts or peanuts. We have several students with life threatening allergies to nuts and/or peanuts. Thank you for your cooperation in this area!
Allergy Alert: LMST has a Nut Alert policy as there are some students who are highly allergic to certain substances. The HRSB Life Threatening Allergies Policy governs our school actions with regard to students who are allergic to certain, identified, physician confirmed allergens. Students with severe allergies will be required to fill out detailed information and permission sheets to be maintained in the office and to provide, if necessary, an epi-pen for emergency treatment. Students are not permitted to bring foods that contain nuts or peanuts to school.
Before and After School Programs: LMST has two external providers for before and after school programs that are provided space in the school. As well, there are programs offered in the vicinity. Below are some contact numbers:
Excel 464-2000 Ext. 8498
YMCA Childcare 496-1885
University Children’s Centre 494-1754
St. Joseph’s Early Childhood Education Centre 422-8441
School Supplies: In September, teachers will be collecting $ 50.00 per student to cover the cost of school supplies for the year. This is a considerable saving for the parents and allows all the children to have the same supplies throughout the year. The classroom teacher will buy the supplies. This amount also includes an LMST Agenda.
Curriculum Notes
All areas of curriculum are issued from the NS Department of Education, under the Public School Programs. Please refer to LMST Handbook for more information.
Mathematics
Your child will be using the Nova Scotia mathematics curriculum designed to help children learn a wide range of mathematical concepts, as well as ensuring knowledge of basic arithmetic skills. It stresses real-life mathematical experiences rather than pages of abstract drill and practice sheets.
At the beginning of the year, there will be a period of free exploration of all the materials in the program including:
pattern blocks collections of buttons pop-lock blocks
unifix cubes shells graph sheets
geoboards bottle caps links
Simple devices for measuring, comparing weight, length and volume are used. Over the school year, the children will work on:
patterning sorting and classifying counting
graphing geometry comparing
measuring problem solving
The children will have the opportunity:
- to become familiar with learning materials
- to observe likenesses and differences in texture, colour, size, weight, number
- to share ideas, materials and space with the other children
During this time, the children will be observed by the teacher as to how they interact with the materials and with each other. To encourage development of vocabulary, the children will be helped to put their ideas and discoveries into words.
Here are a few ideas on how you can help your child at home, with mathematical concepts.
In the kitchen...
When table setting
count forks, knives, spoons, napkins, cups
compare the number of items in each set
classify and sort items when unloading the dishwasher/putting items away.
In the tub...
Bath time can provide learning about capacity. Using containers of different sizes and shapes, of similar/equal capacity makes learning easy and fun with water.
In the laundry basket...
At laundry fold up time let your child
identify patterns and the types of designs - lines, flowers, plaids, etc.
compare sizes/shapes of items - large/small
sort items: pairs of socks, family member items, face cloths
On the road...
tally number of vehicles of a particular colour watch and read road signs
tally number of trucks on the road identify shapes of road signs
count number of wheels on huge trucks that pass notice lines on the highway
In the backyard....
identify the shapes of doors, windows, roof, etc.
count windows, doors, fence posts, blocks of cement, rows of seed, dandelions
help your child keep a record from the time that seeds are planted until sprouting occurs and graph the height of the plants in the garden for fun.
Language Arts
Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking are the four components of the Language Arts curriculum. From the beginning of school, we try to involve children as actively as possible in using language in all its forms. Reading with your child is one of the most important activities you can do at home to support your child’s academic success. Read books aloud. Re-read stories and stop to discuss the story or the pictures. Read a story, stop and ask your child to guess or “predict” what will happen next. Read a sentence and have your child guess the next word. Cuddle up and have fun reading!
Science
The Primary Science program is one of curiosity, exploration, and discovery. The Primary year is intrinsic to setting the stage for the ongoing development of and participation in science concepts and learning.
Social Studies
Social Studies centres on the study of concepts of:
self family school
Health
The year begins with a unit on the child and manners followed each month by different topics such as: safety (school, home, fire). The main concentration in health education is on teaching empathy, impulse control, anger management and problem solving techniques. Our school follows the provincial Positive Effective Behavior Support (PEBS) program, which emphasizes teaching correct behaviours and promoting positive choices.
Music
The music program at LMST is based on the Nova Scotia Music Curriculum. It includes: movement, actions, and singing. Primary students are involved in a performance in December.
Physical Education
Children participate in a Physical Education program twice a week. Children are requested to have appropriate attire for Phys. Ed. We ask that annex students have a second pair of indoor sneakers to keep in the main building for gym classes.
Art
The classroom teacher incorporates and integrates art with other curriculum areas. Examples of student work are always around to share with others and what a delight to see!
Library
Each week, the children go to the school Library or the librarian visits the classroom. They return borrow and return books, and hear a story and/or see a film. Special events also happen at the Library from time to time, from special guests to puppet shows. Book buddies are assigned to each student in each grade with a mix of older and younger students reading, writing, etc. together on a weekly scheduled basis.
Speech and Language Referral/Assessment Services
Screening of Primary students by the speech/language pathologists is on a referral basis only. The Primary teacher and/or parents who notice irregularities in communication skills and/or development, are the source of the referral. Upon request, the student’s name is referred to the School Planning Team (SPT). The SPT will determine if an assessment is required. Please contact the school should you have concerns in this area.
Footwear: Shoes/footwear must be worn inside the building at all times. A pair of indoor footwear is required for use in the classroom, as outdoor shoes have many contaminants on them which end up in the classroom. Indoor sneakers are required for physical education which can be used as their indoor footwear.
On the first day. . .
On the playground before school
A parent should accompany the new Primary child the first day, if at all possible. A grandparent, or other adult close to the child, would make a good substitute if you can’t be here. Arrive at 8:40 so your child will have time to socialize with their peers.
When the bell rings
The Primary class will line up near the side door at the main part of the school yard. However, on the first day, the children and their parents will enter together. Please escort your child into the room, help him/her find a desk, and put personal belongings in it. Also, see if there is a friend there and help your child locate the friend.
Pictures
If you wish to take a picture of this first day, feel welcome to do so, but please do this quickly.
A quick exit
The more quickly the parents leave, the less chance for the child to cry or become upset. If your child cries, please leave anyway. The teacher can settle the child more easily without the parent present. From our experience, it is usually a more traumatic day for the parent than the child, so do relax and the children will become accustomed quickly. We’ll take good care of them!
Recess Snack
On that first day, especially, a healthy recess snack goes a long way to satisfy our new little students.
Lunch dismissal
At 12:00, the children will exit through the front doors of the school. Please wait outside for your child and not in the hall outside the classroom. (There isn’t enough room!)
Beware some treats can be dangerous.
From time to time, youngsters bring candy, cough drops, etc., to school. We are very concerned about the possibility of choking on items such as these and ask that hard candies are not brought to school at all. Please avoid sending items with nuts to school as we have several students with life threatening nut and/or peanut allergies.
Thank you.
In all kinds of weather. . .
Rainy Days
When it is raining, the children are permitted to enter the building. Please do not send students before supervised times especially on rainy or cold days.
Please be sure that the child has footwear to wear in the classroom after the boots are removed. Boots and/or outdoor footwear are not permitted in the classroom.
Winter Clothing
Winter can be a lot of fun if the children are dressed properly.
Snowsuits.....the major consideration besides warmth is to purchase a suit that the child can put on reasonably well, alone. The Primary teacher will never allow any Primary child to go outside not dressed properly, but time is a factor, and it is most helpful if every child can at least get into the snowsuits, Scarves, ties, and some zippers, are often difficult and help is available from the teacher, If possible, try to choose outer garments with metal zippers. The plastic ones frequently split and are most frustrating for small children.
Mittens... become wet easily and do not have time to dry during the day at school. Please send some extra mittens along every day so that your child will not have to wear wet ones outside. Please make sure all clothing is clearly labelled. It is also important to keep a spare outfit in a plastic bag in your child’s backpack in case of accidents. PLEASE LABLE YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS SO WE CAN RETURN LOST ITEMS.
Winter Weather
Snowstorms are a very real part of our weather, and certainly are a concern when one is contemplating sending small children out into them. If a storm is in progress, you should listen to the radio or check the HRSB website for school cancellation notices for the Halifax Regional School Board (ÉLMSTS is part of the Citadel High Family of Schools). If you feel the storm is too severe for your child to get to school and from school safely, please do not hesitate to keep your child at home. Please use your own judgment.
Winter Safety
Safety is an ongoing topic in the school, and particularly with the Primary class. Please continue this at home. (ie., not walking on top of snow banks, extra time needed for cars to stop on slippery streets, etc.)
Recess - an important break. . .
Unless there is rain, a serious snowstorm or bitter cold at recess time, the children always have recess outdoors. Recess is only fifteen minutes long and the fresh air is good for the children, and also gives them a chance to work off excess energy.
If a child is too ill to go outside for recess, then it is likely that they are not well enough to attend school.
Safe at School: 421-2546
SAS was established to ascertain the whereabouts of students who are not present when daily roll calls are taken. Please call this line to let us know if your child will not be present at school or will be late for class on a particular day. Our secretary monitors a telephone answering system (on a separate dedicated phone line) to compare teachers' attendance lists with the call-ins, thereby allowing for the accountability of all children registered in the program. If a child’s whereabouts cannot be determined, the parent or guardian will be notified as quickly as possible and further action will be determined.
After-school Supervision
When Primaries are dismissed at 2:45pm some children are instructed by parents to wait for a sibling or friend in an older grade which does not dismiss until 3:15 PM. These younger students are not supervised after their dismissal while they are waiting. We kindly request that parents make arrangements for supervision of their children following dismissal. The YMCA and/or Excel programs may have some space from 2;45-3:15pm placements, so this could be one alternative. Your cooperation is most appreciated.
Parent Request for Early Dismissal
If you wish your child to leave early, (for a special reason) please come into the school to get the child at the time indicated on a note sent with the child to school. It is not safe to have a small child standing alone, or outside of a school. When someone other than a parent will be picking up your child for such occasions, be sure to indicate this on the note. It is preferable to have this information given to the teacher on the morning of the occasion rather than calling the school to get a message passed on to the annex building.
Homework/Assignment/Communication Book
Our school has a practice that each child in Primary to Grade Six has a Homebook/Agenda for listing daily assignments, project work and school messages. It is the student’s responsibility to complete and to carry the Agenda to and from school/home daily. It will be readily available for your inspection and ours, providing an important means of communication between home and school. Your cooperation in regular checking of the agenda is most appreciated by the staff.
The agendas will be distributed in September.
Disappearing Acts
Without a doubt school can be a place where you can always encounter a mystery! “Who owns this” or “I can’t find my...”. Many of these mysteries could easily be solved if EVERYTHING your child brings to school is labelled with his/her name. It is truly amazing that the same clothing item which is worn in the morning is not recognized at leaving time in the afternoon! Your assistance with this is most appreciated.
All clothing which is not claimed in the classrooms is placed in the Lost and Found bin in the basement. You might want to check it on a regular basis. Several times a year (usually on Parent/
Teacher Interview days) remaining articles are displayed in the gym, and all students are taken to look for and retrieve their items and then parents have an opportunity to check them out. Remaining articles are then donated to charity.
We hope you enjoy your experience at École LeMarchant St. Thomas School! Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the office should you have any questions or concerns.