Absences

Punctuality and regular attendance at school are very important and good habits of coming to school and arriving on time are important habits to develop early on.

Punctuality: 

Students should arrive to school on time. A warning bell sounds 5 minutes before the start of class (8:55 a.m.). Students should enter there class at that bell so that they are ready to learn when the second bell rings (9:00 a.m.). It is important to be in class at that time because this is frequently when the teacher sets the tone for the day and tells the children the structure for the day. 

Students who arrive late must get a late slip from the office before going to class. Teachers take attendance first thing in the morning and submit this to the office for the safe arrival program. Students who are not present at this time are marked absent. The late slip allows us to change this notation in the attendance. The late slip also ensures we know exactly which students are present so we are able to account for all children in the case of an emergency evacuation.

Absences: 

If your child is sick, please keep her/him home. If your child will be absent, parents are encouraged to contact the school and leave a message with the child’s name and their teacher’s name or division. 

Because children cannot receive the curriculum if they are not at school, lengthy absences are a concern. If your child will miss considerable school due to illness, please let your child’s teacher know so we can help. If frequent or lengthy absences interfere with the child’s learning, parents will be contacted. If your child is going to be away for personal reasons (e.g. a trip or vacation), teachers cannot be held responsible for preparing work during the absence. If a lengthy absence means the child misses a lot of school and consequently prevents the teacher from adequately evaluating the child’s progress in a specific area, a comment of this nature may be made on the child’s report card.

Dropping Off / Picking Up your child

School staff provide limited outside supervision before school at 8:40 a.m. and after school until 3:15 only. Parents are asked to ensure their child clearly understands your family’s drop-off and pick-up arrangements. Children who are not picked up by 3:15 p.m. are asked to go to the school office to wait safely for their parent/caregiver. Please do not be late picking up your child. The office closes at 3:30 p.m. and staff are not always available to contact you or remain with your child until you arrive. 

Drive safely:

All drivers are urged to exercise particular and extra-special caution and care when driving in and around school zones:

• Watch for children and families crossing streets, both in and out of intersections.
• Remind your children about safe walking practices (look both ways before crossing streets; cross only at intersections, etc.)
• SLOW DOWN! The speed limit in school zones is 30 km/h.

Please respect street signage when dropping off or picking up your child. It is best is to park away from the school and walk in with your child.

Emergency Procedures 

School emergency procedures are consistent with Vancouver Board of Education policies and guidelines and are reviewed regularly with staff and with students. 

Medical Emergencies: 

• Students should come to the office for medical attention. We always have a first-aid attendant on site.
• Please ensure the office is made aware of any specific medical needs your child may have (e.g. allergies).
• Sir Richard McBride School is a nut allergy aware school. While we cannot prevent or eliminate allergens in the school, we remind everyone that we have students and staff in the school who have severe allergies to certain foods, especially peanuts, peanut butter and other nut products. We encourage families to take this into account when bringing snacks and foods into the school.

Evacuations:

• In case of an emergency requiring evacuation, staff and students are trained to assemble on the gravel field in their pod formation. Visitors to the school should assemble beside the command post.
• Fire drills are held regularly.
• Earthquake drills are held as well. The school has equipment and provisions to adequately care for children until their parents can pick them up. In such an emergency, parents are directed to carefully follow the instructions of staff so we can ensure the proper accounting and safe dismissal of children to their parents or emergency designates.
• In case of a real emergency, we can anticipate that children and parents both will be worried about their family members’ health and safety. The school has specific student release procedures in place to ensure that families are re-united as quickly and safely as possible, and to ensure accountability and tracking of each student’s safe release.

To this end, we must ask for parents’ cooperation during a real emergency:

• Students and parents will likely be quite excited and anxious to be together. Parents MUST follow the directions of school staff.
• Parents arriving to pick up their child(ren) should go onto the field to their child’s class(es) where the children’s teacher will release the child to you. Please DO NOT simply take your child with you without reporting to the teacher first. Please explain to your child that, even if they see you, they are not to run to you—you’ll be reunited soon enough.
• Please ensure you keep your “emergency contact” information current. This includes people who have your permission to take your child in the case of an emergency.

Other: 

• Staff and students also rehearse what to do in the unlikely event of a dangerous intruder either on the school grounds (“Code Yellow”) or within the school (“Code Red”). During a "Code Red", we lockdown the school: A “Code Red” is announced over the school PA system in the unlikely event that there is a dangerous intruder in the school. All students gather in their classroom (or closest room), lock the doors, turn out the lights and remain quietly with their teacher until they are directed that it is safe to come out. 
  • In the unlikely event of a Code Red lockdown, we will be turning off and collecting cell phones from students, as using them at such a time poses potential additional risks: We do not want phones to sound at times when quiet is essential. Additionally, texting, tweeting, etc. risks sending out inaccurate information that could hamper police efforts to resolve the incident. Parents are asked not to attempt to contact the school or their children directly.

Personal Items at School 

As the school cannot be held responsible for loss or damage, students are discouraged from bringing personal items to school that are dear, precious or valuable to them (i.e. toys, money, electronics, etc.) Any items students do choose to bring must not interfere with the primary purpose of school (student learning together in a safe and respectful environment). If it does, the item will be removed and given back to the student or parent at the end of the school day.

• There is a lost and found table set up in the west side of the garden basement. Having the child's name printed inside clothing and on personal items (e.g. gloves, hats, water bottles, etc.) helps "reunite" students with found items.
• Students should park and lock up bicycles once they arrive at school and not use them (as well as skateboards, scooters, etc.) to ride on the grounds when pedestrians are present.
• Mobile devices: Many students bring personal mobile devices (i.e. cell phones, smartphones, iPods, etc.) to school (although students are welcome to use the phone in the office to call home for emergency purposes). While these items are allowed at school, devices that interfere with the primary purpose of school will be removed and given back to the student at day's end. 
  • Social Media apps: Parents are reminded that most social media apps (i.e. Facebook, Text Plus, Twitter, etc.) have Terms of Use that require users to be 13 years of age or older to use. It is assumed that students should not be using these apps at school.
• Some sports equipment is restricted during school hours (wooden and full-length hockey sticks, bats, etc.) Feel free to call the school if you have questions about items.
• Weapons are expressly forbidden on school grounds.
• Parents bringing dogs onto school grounds are reminded to ensure they are leashed.

Rainy Days

At McBride School, we highly value exercise and physical activity. As such, students are encouraged to be outside before and after school and during recess and lunch, and are discouraged from being inside the school hallways. On rainy or inclement weather days, however, numerous activities and places are available for students. 

A broad range of supervised activities for students is available. 

• If students choose to run and play more actively, they can play outside. They should make sure they are dressed appropriately if they make this choice. (Younger students may wish to keep a bag of extra dry clothes in their classroom in case they get too wet). Students will be told to leave the inside of the building if they are using it as a play area (e.g. running in and out of the building).
• If students choose to stay inside to play sit down games with their friends, they can go into the designated areas:
  • Intermediate (4-7) students to garden basement
  • Primary (K-3) students to the activity/lunch room in the outbuilding
  • No running – for safety sake.

Please encourage your child(ren) not to simply “hang out” in the hallways where we cannot provide supervision. And, when they make their choice, they should stick with it for the whole lunch hour and not go in and out of the school.

School Closures

Information regarding school closures in the event of snow, or other emergency situations, will be provided to the following radio and television stations by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the closure: CKNW (980 AM), CKWX (NEWS 1130 AM),) AND CBC Radio (690 AM, 105.7 FM), FAIRCHILD Radio (CJVB AM 1470/CHKG FM 96.1), BCTV/Global (cable channel 11), CITY TV (cable channel 13)” School closure information is also available online at www.vsb.bc.ca. Please do not call media outlets to determine whether schools are closed.

We will also endeavour to update the home page of this website and the school answering machine message.

School Fees 

Under provincial Ministerial Order, schools are permitted to charge students certain fees including annual supplies fees and fees for certain student-personal-use items. Fees that are typically requested at Selkirk School include:

• School fees ($25 per student)
• Personal use planners/agendas - $8
• Band Program ($25 per student) - not including rentals and other materials

Other possible fees:

• Field trip costs (transportation, entrance fees)
• Special programs (workshop, special materials)

Please contact the office if you have any questions or are in need of financial assistance.

The Vancouver Board of Education has a policy that no student will be denied an educational opportunity or service for reasons of financial hardship. If you require a subsidy for any school program, opportunity or material, please contact the Principal at the school either in person or by phone (604-713-4971). All requests are kept confidential.

Sign-In / Sign-Out

Parents who pull their child out of school early or during the day (e.g. for a medical/dental appointment) must sign their child out of school in the office, and then sign them back in when the child returns. Like our late arrival policy, this is done to ensure the safety of the children. Students may sign themselves in and out but must have written permission of a parent.

Students who occasionally go home for lunch, need to provide a note to their teacher in advance or that day. The office will have available a form for students who wish to go home daily for lunch. This form will need their parents signature and submitted to the office before any student can sign themselves out. Students will be shown how and where to sign out. If your child does go home for lunch, please remind them of the importance of signing back in on their return. For safety reasons, students without parental permission are not allowed to leave the school ground at any time.

Student Information/Records

At the start of the school year, a “verification sheet” is sent home to parents/guardians asking them to verify that the contact, safety and health information we have on file for their child is accurate and correct. It is extremely important that the school always have the most current information for all students. If any information about your child should change over the course of the year, please contact the office immediately. It is especially important to have as many phone numbers as possible for parents, guardians, caregivers and any other adults who have parents’ permission to pick up their child in case of illness or an emergency.

Student Internet Use

Student use of school computers is for learning purposes only. Students are asked to complete and return a Student Internet Use Agreement at the beginning of the year that reviews school internet rules.

Students are reminded that the school will take action against inappropriate use of the internet or of social media that has a negative impact on themselves or others even if their use occurs outside of school hours. If students' personal use of the internet or social media outside of school hours affects the safety of students back at school, the school has a responsibility to take action.

Social Media apps: Parents are reminded that most social media apps (ie Facebook, Text Plus, Twitter, etc.) have Terms of Use that require users to be 13 years of age or older to use. It is assumed that students under 13 should not be using these apps at school.

Subsidies/Financial Assistance

The Vancouver Board of Education has a policy that no student will be denied an educational opportunity or service for reasons of financial hardship. If you require a subsidy for any school program, opportunity or material, please contact the Principal at the school either in person or by phone (604-713-4971). All requests are kept confidential.