GENERAL INFORMATION:

Door open at 8:40 A.M.

School begins 8:50 A.M.

A.M. Recess 10:35 - 10:49 A.M.

Noon Hour 11:52 A.M. - 12:52 P.M.

Classes commence 12:52 P.M.

P.M. Recess 2:25 - 2:40 P.M..

Dismissal at Town Students - 3:40 P.M. Bus Students - 3:43 P.M.

SUPPORT SERVICES:

    Support services are available to students in the areas of Speech and Psychology. A Speech Pathologist and School Psychologist are available in our school division to provide these supports.

    Students who may experience difficulties in learning or who would benefit from enrichment are supported through our Resource department. Referrals may be made to any of the Support Services by either parents or teachers.

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Our school has a full time librarian to assist students and maintain our library. The library is automated utilizing computer technology. Reference material is available both in hardcover and on CD-ROM. Internet is available for staff and student reference/research.

KINDERGARTEN:

All classes operate full days alternate days.

BASIC FRENCH INSTRUCTION:

Basic French instruction begins at the grade 4 level and continues to grade 6. It is a compulsory course.

COMPUTER INSTRUCTION:

Students are exposed to computer use beginning at the Kindergarten level. Formal instruction in Keyboarding skills and Word Processing begins at grade 4.

FAMILY LIFE/AIDS EDUCATION:

This program is offered with parent consent at the grade 5 level. Grade 6 also has a brief Aids Education component. A parent information session is held prior to initiating the program in a given year.
 

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EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS:

    Students at the Kindergarten level are screened for Speech and Language needs. Assistance is provided by a Speech and Language teacher assistant under the direction of the Speech and Language Pathologist.

    Early Reading Intervention Programs are used to assist students experiencing difficulties in reading in the Primary Grade levels. Our grade one and two teachers use special reading intervention procedures with struggling readers within the regular classroom.  These procedures are based on effective instructional practices which are strongly supported by research.  Such supplemental quality instruction provided in first and second grades for young readers experiencing difficulty helps them get off to a better start and often prevents them from experiencing unnecessary frustration.

APPROACH TO TEACHING READING:

    Reading is a natural progression which follows listening and speaking. The reading development of a child is fostered from infancy through parents reading to their children, modeling and sharing interesting reading experiences.  Having frequent conversations with your children and encouraging a variety of social interactions also contribute to early reading success.
    Investment of time on literacy is a major priority at the emergent level ( grades 1 & 2 ).  Emphasis on early literacy development through effective instructional strategies deployed within the classroom, combined with a supplementary intervention program for struggling readers, is essential to effecting a successful start in reading for all children.
    Beginning in Kindergarten, children are exposed to early pre-reading skills. Letters of the alphabet and their sounds are studied. The children experience opportunities to match letters and sounds, blend sounds together into words, segment words into individual sounds, and put this knowledge to use by attempting to unravel words or messages that the teacher puts on the board. Many center activities concentrate on letter identification and word games, beginning reading books, as well as matching and sequencing activities. Some children may read fluently by the end of Kindergarten while others may be still learning the alphabet.
    As the children progress into the other primary grades the skills taught in Kindergarten are reinforced and developed further. Students are taught to use a number of strategies to unravel the messages in print, e.g. Phonemic Awareness (Sounds of Language), Phonics (sounding out words), sight word bank, context clues (what makes sense), and picture clues.  Daily classroom reading activities include being read to, partner reading, choral reading read aloud, repeated readings, taped readings, individual reading, and  using songs and poems.  These strategies will help students gain the confidence they need to become independent readers.
 
 

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR:
    In attempting to provide a safe, caring environment for students to learn, the following has been put
in place:
    a) Second Step - is a curriculum designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behaviour in children and increase their level of social competency through empathy training, interpersonal problem solving, social skill training, and anger management. This curriculum is offered in gradesK-6 and is integrated into other subject areas such as Health, as well as in general group discussions.
    b) Social Skills Lessons & Activities - is a curriculum resource based on real-life situations to help build children's self-esteem, self-control, respect for the rights of others and a sense of responsibility for one's own actions.  This support material is also available for grades K-6.
    c) Bully Smart - is a resource available for teachers to use to address Bullying Awareness and how to cope with Bullies.  Videos are also available on this topic.
    d) Discipline Plan - This plan outlines specific, reasonable rules of expected conduct along with logical and realistic consequences for both appropriate and inappropriate behaviour. There are three components to the plan (i) Classroom Teacher's Discipline Plan, (ii) School-wide Discipline, (iii) Principal's Discipline Plan.

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    Each one outlines expectations and procedures for handling student behaviour. These plans are shared with parents each year in either an informational meeting or by a hand-out.

c) Midland School Division Code of Conduct - see attachment

REPORTING PERIODS:

Formal progress reports are prepared for each student and sent home to parents three times per
year usually near the end of November, early March and at the end of June. Formal parent/teacher
conferences are held twice per year, November and March. Interview times are scheduled. However, parents are welcome to arrange a conference at any time during the school year to discuss the progress of their child.

PARENTAL QUESTIONS/CONCERNS RE: THEIR CHILD OR SCHOOL IN GENERAL:

Parents are encouraged to follow protocol when they have any questions/concerns about their
child's progress in school or the operation of the school. Please contact the person(s) directly
involved. e.g. classroom teacher/principal

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL:

Parents are welcome to visit the school to meet with teachers/principals regarding anything
relating to their children's education.

Parental involvement at Carman Elementary is highly encouraged. Opportunities for such
involvement are available in the following areas:

a) Volunteer Program: We appreciate parents/community members volunteering their time to assist
children with language arts, math and computer skills. Other opportunities for involvement are also
available on an occasional basis with class outings, projects, or bringing expertise to the
classroom, i.e. knowledge, talent, trip experiences, etc.

b) Advisory Councils for School Leadership: Parents have the opportunity to become involved in
providing recommendations to the principal regarding school matters as they arise and as
requested, through this Council. At a meeting held in the fall, parents elect their representatives for
Council. Parent Council meetings are held once per month and all parents are invited to attend. For
more detailed information refer to the Carman Elementary Advisory Council for School Leadership
Constitution.

DISPENSING OF MEDICATIONS:

No medications including headache tablets are given to students unless a Doctor completes an "Administration of Prescribed Medication" form supplied by Midland School Division.
 

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STUDENTS WITH ALLERGIES:

    Information is gathered from parents on a yearly basis regarding allergies that their children may
have. This information is recorded on each student's information card at the main office. A
comprehensive list of students having allergies is compiled and distributed to each staff member.
Life-threatening allergies are identified and all staff are notified as to the specific child's condition
and how to proceed.

STUDENT SAFE ARRIVAL POLICY:

    Parents are expected to phone the school prior to 9:00 A.M. to inform the school that their child will
not be attending that day.
    Note: Staff are expected to notify the office of any students absent and the secretary makes
contact with the parents to check on his/her whereabouts.

MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS:
    To ensure that your child receives the message in time, please phone the school prior to 3:00 p.m.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE:
    If staff members suspect a child as having anything contagious, i.e. pink-eye, lice, parents are
contacted to come and pick up their child. In the case of lice, parents are expected to visit the
public health nurse prior to sending their child to school. The public health nurse notifies the
school when the child has been checked.

FIELD TRIPS: (Parent Permission)
    Any class trips that involve travelling out the of the Carman community requires a note to be sent
home explaining what the field trip is all about. A student permission slip duly signed by the parent
is to be returned to the school prior to the class outing. Note: For class outings such as skating,
tobogganing, swimming, etc. which may involve some element of risk the school will require
permission slips for students to participate.

EXCURSIONS:
    When teachers take their students out of the school grounds for outings such as a walk to the
park, visit to local businesses or facilities, concert practices at the Carman Collegiate etc., a note
will be sent home for parent information in grades K-2. (Teachers may obtain parental permission for these impromptu excursions at the beginning of the fall term.) Students in grades 3-6 will relay the
information to their parents verbally. Parental permission for student participation will not be
solicited.

BUS TRANSPORTATION:
    For students living outside of the Carman community, arrangement for bus transportation are made by contacting Midland School Division Office 745-2003.

BUS STUDENTS:
    Parents are expected to notify the bus driver if their child will not be travelling home on the bus that
particular day. A note is also to be forwarded to the classroom teacher. The bus driver must be
notified in writing by the parent when other children will be accompanying their child home on the
bus (e.g. birthday party). These guest riders are expected to adhere to the bus driver's code for
student behaviour.

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 BUSING OF TOWN STUDENTS:
    During the months of November to March inclusive the Town of Carman provides MORNING BUS
transportation for students living in the north-end of town. Parents are responsible for
transportation of their children home at the end of the school day.

STORM POLICY:
    a) In the event of a storm and/or when the windchill factor is above 2200, schools may be closed to
students, and buses will not run; however, all staff are expected to attend work if at all possible.
School closure announcements will be broadcast on the following AM stations CKMW 1570, CFAM
950, CFRY 920, CBC 990, CJOB 680 by 7:30 A.M.
    b) When the children are transported to school in the morning and a storm comes up during the
course of the day, and the buses will not operate to take the children home, announcements will be
made on CKMW 1570 around 3:00 P.M. Schools will remain open until regular dismissal time 3:45
P.M. Bus students will be billeted at the assigned billets that parents have arranged at fall
registration. Your child will phone you from the billet's home to notify you of his/her whereabouts.
    *Note: Once the school is informed that the buses will not run, students phone their billets to have
the person pick them up at school. For the younger children, teachers/teacher assistants help
make the billet contacts. A record is kept by each respective classroom teacher of where each
student was billeted. The principal will also have a copy. If parents have questions in regard to the
whereabouts of their child, either may be called.

PLAYGROUND POLICY:
    Students in grades K-2 are allowed to play on the north, east and west side of the school only
during recesses and noonhours.
    Students in grades 3-6 are allowed to play in the area described above as well as the playground
across the highway south of the school.
    When crossing the highway students are expected to cross at the crosswalk. Students are taught
and reminded to stop, look both ways and wait for traffic to stop before crossing.

SUPERVISION:
    a) Bus Unloading 8:40 - 8:55 A.M.
        Bus Loading 3:45 - 3:55 P.M.
    Two supervisors are on duty at all times.  One supervisor is from the Dufferin Christian School since their students load and unload for distribution to Division buses at Carman Elementary.
    c) A.M. & P.M. Recesses
    Three teachers are on duty at all times.  Two supervise the North section of the playground and another teacher supervises the south section. Teacher assistants supervise special needs students and assist with overall
supervision.
    d) Noon Hour      Note:  Because of student numbers the school would really appreciate having those students
                                            who live close to the school go home for lunch.
    Grade K-4 students eat in their respective classroom. During lunch time two supervisors move
from classroom to classroom to supervise these students while they eat lunch. These supervisors
are assisted by two or three grade 5 & 6 students in each of the classrooms.
    Parent Volunteers are welcomed to assist with supervision during lunch and noon recess. Parents
interested just notify the principal.
    Grade 5-6 students eat in a central lunch area which is monitored by two supervisors.
    Two custodians are also available to provide assistance when required. Lunch takes place
between 11:55-12:10.  At 12:10 P.M. students are dismissed and allowed to go outside. Students
who have not completed their lunch are allowed to finish.
    A teacher is on call between 12:00-12:55 P.M. and is located inside the building.
    During the noon recess three supervisors monitor students on the playground (two on the north, one on the south).  Assigned Educational Assistants are also on the playground as mentioned for A.M. and P.M. recesses.
    One supervisor is assigned indor supervisory duties to assist students needing attending.  This person also supervises any students who have been assigned to remain in during noonhour recess.

 OTHER INFORMATION:

1. Gum and candy are not permitted during class hours. Sunflower seeds are banned from the
entire school area.

2. All footwear worn outside on muddy and/or rainy days as well as during the winter season
should be removed at the entrances. This will assist the custodians in keeping the floors clean and
will provide a clean environment to work in. It is of utmost importance that students wear some
form of footwear at all times while in the building in case of a need to evacuate in the event of a fire
or fire drill. A clean pair of indoor shoes are a necessity. They do not have to be new and
expensive.

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3. Since all students are required to go outside for all recesses students need to wear clothing
suited to the weather conditions. (Exceptions regarding going outside for recesses will be made for
rainy or extremely cold days.)

4. To allow for the smooth flow of traffic both in and out of the building students are required to use
the entrances/exits as assigned.

e.g. Library Wing - west door

Kindergarten, Rooms 5-10 - south door

All others - east door

ALL BUS STUDENTS EXIT THE SOUTH AND WEST DOORS.

5. Phys. Ed. Gym Wear - Students will require the following:

Kindergarten - running shoes

Grade 1 & 2 - T shirts and runners

Grades 3-6 - T shirts, sweatwear and/or shorts, runners

6. Bicycles: Bicycles must be parked in the stands provided. They are off limits to all students
including the owners during recesses. The school assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen
bicycles, (PARK AT YOUR OWN RISK) but will assist in retrieving lost or stolen property if possible.

LUNCH PROGRAMS:

Watch for information coming home in this regard.

STUDENT DRESS CODE:

Carman Elementary does not have a formal dress code. It is expected that students and parents
will select clothing that is appropriate for an educational setting. Wearing of hats in class is not
acceptable.

RETENTION AND PROMOTION POLICY:

    Retention of a student in a particular grade level is done at Carman Elementary when it is deemed
most beneficial for the child.
    Serious consideration is given to retaining a student if that student has achieved minimal academic
proficiency and if moving the student to the next grade level would not be in the best interests of
the child.
    Parents are made aware of any consideration of retention of their child early in the second term of
the school year.
    Decisions for retention are made in collaboration with parents and are finalized by the first week in
June.

Telephone Directory
 

Principal	Dan Saunders	745-2623
Secretary	Bonnie Hooper	745-2623
Coordinator of Special Services	Wilma Ritzer	745-2961
Speech/Language Pathologist	Rachel Johnson	745-3126
School Psychologist	Alice Oswald	745-3116
Librarians	Bonnie MCutcheon	745-2623
	Sandra Van Steelant	745-2623
Head Custodian	Glenn Owen	745-3500
Superintendent	Fred Colvin	745-2003
Midland School Division Office		745-2003
Bus Garage		745-2174

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