Policies & Procedures

At Maddaugh Elementary, our vision for learning is to promote joy, well-being and a love of learning, and to equip our learners to thrive in the modern world. To do this, all community members, staff, students, and families, work daily on the goals to "Work Hard, Be Kind, Be Your Best You".

OUR RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Maddaugh Elementary students, staff, and parents have the RIGHT:

To be safe.
To learn.
To speak and be heard.
To be valued and to be treated considerately.

Maddaugh Elementary students, staff, and parents have the RESPONSIBILITY:

To be safe at all times.
To always do their personal best in learning.
To listen.
To respect the rights of others and speak up when someone needs help.
To help solve problems.
To contribute actively and positively in developing a caring, collective school culture.

Our values for learning and thriving apply to all members of our community in classrooms, in the school building, on school grounds, and in the community.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR:

Inappropriate behaviour can consist of, but is not limited to:

Actions that are unsafe such as running inside the school, leaving the school grounds unattended, violence of any sort, possession or use of weapons, replicas, firecrackers, or fireworks
Actions that do not share care for school community members, such as the use of foul language, interfering with the teaching and learning process, rudeness, acts or threats of verbal, physical, or sexual abuse (intended or not), or theft.
Actions that lead others to feel unsafe, such as acts of bullying, harassment, threats, intimidation, racism or discrimination, or retribution against a person who has reported incidents
Actions that do not show care of self, such as poor school attendance, use or possession of illicit or illegal substances, including cigarettes, matches, or stolen merchandise
Actions that do not show care of the school and community, including littering, or acts of vandalism
Misuse of cyberspace/Cell Phones/Electronic Devices/Computers – Students are responsible for the safe and responsible use of school and personal electronics as well as the use of the internet.

REPORTING:

It is the student’s responsibility to report to a person of trust (parents, staff members, Principal, or Vice Principal) activities related to the behaviours listed above, whether the student is a witness or a victim.

It is the responsibility of staff members to establish and maintain trusting relationships so that students have someone they trust with serious information.

Serious breaches of our values for thriving and learning will be communicated to parents and may be reported to School District personnel as well as external agencies such as the R.C.M.P., the Ministry of Children and Families, or others as deemed appropriate at the time to best support the student.

USE OF PERSONAL DIGITAL DEVICES

Personal Digital Devices are defined as any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or to access the internet, such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or smartwatch. These devices are important tools which can be used to enhance learning and prepare children for the world in which they will work and live. Personal digital devices provide support for children who rely on these tools to access learning through services such as translation, adaptations for Individual Education Plans, medical support, health needs, or to provide equity of access to resources. The classroom teacher is responsible for the learning environment in the classroom, for guiding children to use personal digital devices appropriately, and for determining when personal digital devices should be used.

The safe and responsible use of personal digital devices is expected by all Surrey School District students, employees, volunteers, parents, guardians, and community members who are on school district property or interacting with students or staff. This includes the following:

Those using personal digital devices need to abide by the school code of conduct as well as all Provincial and Federal laws and the British Columbia Human Rights Code. This includes not using personal digital devices to engage or participate in bullying or harassment, discrimination, or defamation of character.
At both elementary and secondary schools, personal digital devices can be used during class time to enhance learning at the direction of the classroom teacher. These devices should be used in a way that is respectful of other’s learning and does not distract others in terms of light, sound, or by other means.
At elementary schools, it is expected that personal digital devices are to be put away during non-class time such as recess and lunch. Exceptions to this are for students who need digital devices for medical or health reasons, translation, accessibility, or other student-specific reasons.
Personal Digital Devices should not be used during lock down procedures or drills. The use of personal digital devices during this time may impact the emergency safety response.
Surrey School District staff and students should not be recorded, visually or audibly, for any reason without their prior consent.
The Surrey School District is not responsible for lost, missing, or damaged personal digital devices that students choose to bring to school.

DRESS EXPECTATIONS:

Students and staff are expected to dress in an appropriate manner to establish a positive learning atmosphere at an elementary school and do not detract from the learning process. Appropriate clothing allows for active learning and is not restrictive for engaging in activities. Clothing for school should follow these guidelines:

Hats and hoodies are worn outside the school building.
Undergarments must not be in sight.
Clothing should be free of alcohol or drug references, or any other inappropriate wording or images.

Maddaugh Staff will use their discretion when applying these expectations and will do so in a respectful and discreet manner.

CONSEQUENCES:

All students make inappropriate choices sometimes. Our goal is to use these opportunities to promote problem-solving, accountability, responsibility, and learning. Consequences will be applied in a fair and consistent manner, and every effort is made to ensure they maintain the dignity of the student, while being progressive and appropriate to the offence. They can include:

discussion and think sheet
temporary loss of privileges
restitution or duty to the school
home contact
additional supports put in place

In the case of serious or repeated issues, the following consequences may be applied:

in-school or out of school suspension
placement in a special program
expulsion •

There are continual reviews of referrals to the office, to assess what structures and strategies can be put into place to support the student. During suspensions, every attempt is made to ensure that the student’s educational program continues. Serious or repeated offence with be communicated to parents so that a team-based approach may be taken to support the student. All serious incidents will be documented and may be reported to the School District and, if deemed necessary, to the School Liaison Office.

SCHOOL VISITORS

All visitors to Maddaugh Elementary are asked to register at the office where they will be given a visitor badge to wear.

Students from other schools or friends of our students can visit during the school day if the teacher has prior permission granted.

SCHOOL FEES

Each school year, parents support their child(ren)’s formal learning experiences in a wide variety of ways. We appreciate all that you do to ensure a successful year!

We have provided an itemized school supply list based on grade. Parents may opt to purchase supplies directly from the company. However, parents may choose to wait to do the purchasing themselves.

In addition to providing the school supplies itemized on a grade list, parents are periodically asked for monies to cover specific items and/or special events. No student will be denied the opportunity to participate in any school activity due to the inability to pay. Please contact the Principal should you require any financial assistance.

Student Planner: We encourage all students in Grades 1-7 to purchase a School Planner at a cost of $5.00. Included in the planner is our school code of conduct, school calendar and school district information. We find this an excellent tool for facilitating home/school communication and developing our students’ organizational skills. However, using our school planner is optional as a parent may purchase their own version.

Field Studies and Field Trips: Classes often enjoy educational visits to community facilities which extend and enhance the curriculum. While we use school monies or fundraise to cover the costs of such activities wherever possible, there are times when parents are asked to contribute towards the cost of the trip. If you choose to have your child not participate in a field study, a suitable program will be provided at the school.

Musical Instruments: Grade 4 students may learn to play the recorder. Students can purchase one through our music teacher for $10 (cost tentative) or receive one on loan from the school. Also, our Grade 7 students who opt for/take band either purchase or rent an instrument. Costs vary depending on the instrument.

Parents can purchase their child’s school supplies on their own using the grade supply list or for your convenience, you may wish to purchase supplies as a package through School Start. Payment is made directly to School Start. Costs for supplies vary based on grade.

Important Notes: Our Kindergarten teachers will buy bulk supplies for Kindergarten students and will be asking for $55 from each family to cover the cost of these supplies. Supplies for Grade 1-7 will not exceed $65.

STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICY

A great deal of time and effort goes into the appropriate placement of students. When assembling classes, meetings are held which combine input from last year’s teachers, the Learner Support Teacher (LST), the Counsellor, the Child Care Worker and the Administration Team.

The following beliefs guide this process:

Building classes is a collaborative process that includes current and future teachers, administrators, support staff, students, and parents.
Classes are organized to create the most positive learning environment possible for all.
The "goodness of fit" between individual students, groups of students, and the teacher, matters.
Classes are formed so that academic and behavioural supports are in place.
Students may or may not be placed together based on how they have interacted in the past.
There are ministry guidelines that determine the maximum size of classes and number of designated students in each class.
Parent input is considered in helping us better understand their child's strengths and stretches. It would be appropriate for parents to recommend a specific kind of learning environment, but not a specific teacher.
Combined classes are considered equally effective learning environments as single-grade classes.

Given the above criteria, our staff works hard to ensure that each class will form a solid and effective learning group. If parents have educational concerns about the placement of their child, they are welcome to discuss them with their teacher and, if agreement is not achieved, with the school administrator.

STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

Please obey and respect all posted signs and staff members directing traffic.

WEAR SEATBELTS
The DROP-OFF ZONE is FIRE LANE. Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the DROP OFF zone. Thank you!
Encourage your child to meet you quickly after the final bell if you are picking them up
Be patient
Walk to school whenever you can
If you must drive, park further away than usual and walk a minute or two
Observe school zone speed limits

ASSEMBLIES

Once permitted to meet in larger groups again, assemblies will be held at the end of every month. Please see our website for details. Students are expected to enter gym quietly and display appropriate audience manners. Parents are always welcome to attend assemblies and other special events at Maddaugh Elementary.

PRESCRIBED MEDICATION & LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

If your child requires on-going prescription medication, please obtain the appropriate form at the school office to be completed by your doctor and signed by yourself. This procedure complies with School Board Policy regarding prescription medication to be taken at school.

Also, if your child has any life-threatening medical conditions such as extreme allergies, it is imperative that you notify us so we can be prepared should the need arise.

JUICE AND DISPOSABLE DRINK CONTAINERS

Maddaugh Elementary will open as a learning community free of sticky, sugary juice and disposable drink containers that create many challenges such as cleaning, removal of straws, and disposal.

All learners will be strongly encouraged to drink water and to use reusable drink containers.

The Canada Food Guide provides research that drinking water is:

Important for your health
A great way to quench your thirst
A way to stay hydrated without calories

NUT AWARE SCHOOL

At Maddaugh Elementary we have a large number of students who have life threatening allergies to a variety of nuts and nut products. Even touching a desk that another student has touched with nut product residue on his/her hand can cause the allergic student to go into anaphylactic shock.

As a result, we ask that students do not bring nuts or products containing nuts to school. While this can be an inconvenience, it is a very dangerous issue for some of our students, and we appreciate your support.

ILLNESS OR INJURY AT SCHOOL

Students, parents and staff who are sick must stay home until symptoms clear. Please call the school if your child will be absent.

Given our current context, students who become ill at school will be quarantined immediately and monitored and parents will be contacted to come to pick up their child. If an accident causing minor injury occurs to your child while at school, the supervising teacher will document the injury in the office. The school will always err on the side of caution and notify parents at the time of the accident. If the injury is in any way considered serious, the school will call 911 and notify parents.

DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

Please be advised that the school community is not allowed to bring dogs with them when attending school activities. With a school full of active children, dogs can become frightened and agitated and may bite someone, even if it is not in the dog’s general nature. For the safety of the dog and the students, please leave your dog at home during events.

Having said this, parents are permitted to bring their dogs when walking children to and from school. We ask that when dogs are on the grounds before and after school, they are kept on a short leash and in control. Thank you!

FIELD TRIPS

Educational field trips are an important part of a child’s experience at school. If your child’s class is taking a field trip, they will bring home a permission slip describing the activity and the purpose. A signed and returned field trip experience form is required for your child to participate.

Parents may be asked to pay part of the costs for field trips. No students will be excluded from an educational field trip due to being unable to pay.

TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS

Transportation of students will generally be by School Board bus. Parent drivers are acceptable under the following conditions:

The parent driver must fill out the District volunteer driver form (please see the office)
The teacher in charge must visually inspect parent vehicles to ensure they are safe
The teacher in charge must ensure that the parent is in an appropriate condition to drive

EMERGENCY OR SCHOOL CLOSURE

Sometimes extreme weather conditions or other unusual circumstances can cause class cancellations at a school, or district-wide on short notice. In the event of class cancellations, the Surrey School District will post information on its website at www.surreyschools.ca and provide updates to the following radio stations: CKNW (980 AM) NEWS 1130 (1130 AM)

Weather, power, road and safety conditions can change substantially within a few hours, therefore assessments and decisions must be made as close to school opening as possible for the information to be reliable. However, the district will do its best to communicate the status of schools by 7:00 a.m., when possible.

In case of an emergency school closure, students will be sent home or to one of the contacts identified on the student registration form. Students will not be released until contact with a parent or a designated adult is made. Discuss with your children where they should go in an emergency school closure. It is important that the information at school be kept up to date. Parents should also listen to the radio station CKNW (AM 980) or CKWX (AM 1130) for information about school closures.