STUDENT HANDBOOK

2015-16

Greetings from the School Administrator Dear Students and Parents: Welcome to another school year at William Mason School! The startup of a new school year brings excitement and an eager anticipation of good things to come. We believe that each student can reach their fullest potential with the collaborative support of all stake holders. Each student can succeed academically and socially when we work together to support the learning environment at school and at home. Working collectively and collaboratively will foster a culture of learning and social development which is the hallmark of William Mason School. Students at William Mason School will have a broad range of opportunities in order to pursue their academic goals, develop socially, or strive for excellence through athletics. We believe that students who are actively engaged will always do much better. We will encourage each student to find ways to develop strong character and healthy personalities by participating in various extracurricular activities. Our Student Handbook was written with the premise of helping students and parents with guidelines to enhance student learning. This handbook is a living document and may be subject to change as the needs of the student population change. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call at 428-2157. I would like to end with wishing everyone a happy and successful school year. Best regards, Darren LaRose Principal

William Mason School’s Mission & Vision Statements --- Mission --William Mason School is committed to providing a safe and caring environment for our students. We will endeavor to create an environment that allows students to experience a high level of academic achievement. As professionals we will continuously strive to improve in order to support every student in learning curricula via differentiation. We will work collaboratively with colleagues, students, parents and community to help students become problem solvers and life-long learners. --- Vision --We will have a high level of expectations for our students, and with our help and guidance, students will take responsibility for their learning. We want positive and caring relationships between all staff and students that promote a nurturing and inclusive school climate and culture. We will offer a quality K-12 program for our students, and we will investigate and research ways to keep William Mason School a strong and viable institution. We will provide students with meaningful opportunities to grow academically, socially and in the area of extra-curricular activities. We will foster positive parental and community relationships. Students will take ownership of their school and all stakeholders will be proud to be a part of William Mason School. North East School Division’s Mission & Vision Statements

WMS STAFF Staff Members Mrs. Lois Baerwald Mr. Kyle Dufault Ms. Amanda Lyons Mr. Erik Kendrick Mrs. Renée Kurbis Mr. Darren LaRose Miss Allison Belair Miss Katelin Stankowski Mr. Todd Atkings Support Staff Miss Tracy Baerwald Mr. Rick Black Mrs. Lori Burka Ms. Cindy White Mrs. Gladys Whitrow Mrs. Kimberly Black

TELEPHONE NUMBERS School Office School Fax Student Phone School Website NESD Website

Position Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Principal Teacher Teacher Teacher Position School Janitor School Janitor Administrative Assistant Educational Assistant Educational Assistant Library Clerk

428-2157 428-2178 428-2299 http://wms.nesd.ca/ http://www.nesd.ca/

BELL SCHEDULE ELEMENTARY BELL SCHEDULE (Grades K-6) 8:55 Warning Bell Oh Canada & Announcements Period 1 (62 min) 9:00 Period 2a (30 min) 10:02 10:32 Recess (15 min) Period 2b (31 min) 10:47 Period 3 (62 min) 11:18 12:20 Noon (45 min) Period 4 (62 min) 1:05 2:07 Recess (15 min) Period 5 (63 min) 2:22 3:25 Dismissal

MIDDLE YEARS & HIGH SCHOOL BELL SCHEDULE (Grades 7-12) 8:55 Warning Bell Oh Canada & Announcements Period 1 (62 min) 9:00 10:02 Break (7 min) Period 2 (62 min) 10:09 11:11 Break (7 min) Period 3 (62 min) 11:18 12:20 Noon begins (50 min) 1:10 2:12 2:23 3:25

Period 4 Break Period 5 Dismissal

(62 min) (11 min) (62 min)

Elementary – (morning and afternoon attendance) before Recess a student is marked as late. After Recess a student is marked as absent for either the morning or afternoon session. High School – (hourly attendance) A student is marked absent after 30 mins of the class. At this point a student has missed most instruction.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT William Mason School promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. All students, parents, teachers and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to be law-abiding citizens and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety of others or oneself. The Schools standard of behavior apply not only to students, but also to all individuals involved in the publicly funded school system – parents or guardians, volunteers, teachers and other staff members – whether they are on school property, on school buses or at school-authorized events or activities. Students are expected to utilize the following principles: • conduct themselves in an appropriate manner when going to and from school, in classrooms, within school, on school grounds, during extended classroom activities, and on school buses; • apply themselves in all curricular areas and to set high standards for personal achievement; • attend school and classes on a regular basis and be punctual; • dress in a manner which reflects purpose and propriety; • be considerate of the thoughts, feelings and heritage of others; • be free of illegal drugs/alcohol, possession, use or influence during any time they are under the jurisdiction of the school district; Towards ensuring the above, we will create an environment which will encourage students to exercise self-discipline by: • developing programs which promote appropriate behavior; • using methods and procedures which enhance self-esteem and self-discipline; • providing opportunities for students to practice cooperative classroom behavior; • using procedures which model fairness, equity and respect; • establishing a code of conduct consistent with Board policy. *Students must follow the ‘School Wide Behavior Expectations’ that fit in with the above mentioned* DRESS CODE A reasonable standard of dress is expected of all students of William Mason School. A clean, safe, and neat appearance is the general theme of the code. Fashions reflecting antisocial values, vulgar or suggestive thoughts, or promoting alcohol or drugs are not to be worn. Revealing clothing is also not to be worn. Every attempt should be made to keep under garments from being exposed. Clothing worn by students should promote a positive, safe and healthy atmosphere within the school. All concerns related to student apparel will be reported to the office. Students who are not dressed appropriately will be asked to comply with the dress code and to fix the situation. A phone call home may be required in order to get more appropriate clothing. As a matter of common courtesy, students are not allowed to have hoods up within the school. Non-Scuffing shoes should be worn in the building. Students are expected to have a change of clothing for their physical education classes if required by the teacher.

COUGAR CRITERIA A pleasant, orderly, and safe school environment provides an atmosphere which promotes learning. Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a way that shows respect for teachers, support staff and fellow students. Students are expected to be punctual and attend regularly. Students are expected to be diligent and complete assigned tasks in a timely fashion. While all persons shall be entitled to assistance and support to complete the tasks assigned to them, the Board expects all persons to be ultimately responsible and accountable to ensure that they complete assigned tasks in a reasonable and responsible fashion. We expect that while undertaking educational endeavors, all persons will display courteous, co-operative behavior and respect for the rights of others. William Mason School has established rules of behavior at school and school sponsored activities. Students of William Mason will: a) b) c) d) e) f) g)

Observe reasonable standards with respect to cleanliness and tidiness of person Refrain from using tobacco in any form Refrain from using or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. Refrain from using profane language, from teasing or verbally abusing others Refrain from bullying and intimidating others Refrain from sexually harassing others Respect property ownership and refrain from unauthorized use of property or material belonging to others. h) Refrain from the use of violence or excessive force to impose their will on others. i) Refrain from using weapons or threats to intimidate, humiliate or harm others. The Board expects that all persons associated with the educational enterprise will conduct themselves in a manner that brings credit to that enterprise at all times. The Board further authorizes its administrative officers, teachers and other appropriate personal to take disciplinary action as outlined in the Education Act or Policy 409 where conduct is such that disciplinary action is required. DISCIPLINE POLICY/PROCEDURES The Education Act states that students are expected to behave in a respectful and disciplined manner to all members of the school community. From time to time discipline issues arise and these will be dealt with by the teacher, the RtI Team (Response to Instruction), and the administration. Discipline is always administered on a case-by-case basis. Considerations are made that take into account past history, the nature and seriousness of the offense, and the restitution the offender is willing to make. All incidences are tracked by the RtI team in an effort to better identify behavior patterns or concerns, as well as providing evidence of previous acts. Acts such as obscene language, verbal and physical abuse, harassment, damage to personal or school property, failure to complete assigned tasks, disrespect for authority and use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs will lead to escalations in the discipline procedure at William Mason School. Parents will be informed of any serious offense that takes place. Students may have any number of consequences to face as a result of the nature and seriousness of the

incident in question, as well as the student’s past history. Restitution when possible is preferred, but consequences may also include any of the following:  Verbal Reprimand  Parent Notification  Meeting with parents, student and teacher  Loss of privileges such as school dances, extracurricular participation  Student Behavior Contract  In-school suspensions  Out of school suspensions We strive to provide a safe, caring and fun environment for all members of the school community and we will take the steps necessary to make sure this is the case. We find one of the most important pieces in helping students through any discipline problems is parental support. We prefer to work with parents to help find solutions that can lead to improved behavior and greater success at William Mason. It is assumed: 1. Before any contact is made with the parents, the teacher has done everything in their means to help the student modify their behavior. 2. The student has been given alternatives and encouraged to correct the misbehavior in positive ways. 3. Situations occur in educational settings that do not allow “blanket” consequences. On a case-by-case basis, the staff and administration will use fairness and professionalism and obtain cooperation from home to deal with issues that arise. To respect the privacy of all students, staff will only discuss with parents the disciplinary action that involves their child or children. SMART DEVICE, TABLET AND LAPTOP USE Goal: To allow all students to access technology in every classroom to enhance and support learning. We want to further develop our student's understanding of digital citizenship and to teach/encourage students to learn how to be responsible and respectful digital citizens. Our school is now able to provide students with wireless internet access. Cell phones and other portable computing devices (such as iPads and laptops) are governed by the North East School Division’s Acceptable Use Protocol. We are very sensitive to the nature of the internet and the possibility of accessing inappropriate material. Students must complete and have parents sign the NESD Acceptable Use Protocol form. Students must abide by this agreement as responsible digital citizens. William Mason School believes that students need to access all tools available to support their learning. As a result, we are allowing students to use any smart device, tablet, or laptop (devices) in their classes for educational purposes. Students are allowed to have devices out during breaks and noon hour with the expectation that the device does not hinder student’s ability to arrive in class on time. Here are some examples of how a device might be used in class: - use the dictionary app to search for a new vocabulary word (or maybe there's an app that we can use to help pre-load vocabulary, etc) - using your device to search for information relevant to the class. - using your device to take notes during class (which can be shared later on their webpage) - using the camera feature to capture an image/diagram drawn on the board or SMART board

- using your device to watch/find a YouTube video - using the calendar feature of your device to stay organized. - using a reminder feature to leave yourself notes of what you need to review, etc. - using the text message option to follow a teacher on Twitter Guiding Principles: 1) Students are only to use their device when the teacher gives them permission to utilize it for educational purposes. Device use is a privilege not a right. 2) Students are responsible for the security of their devices at all times. The school will not be responsible for lost or stolen devices, but the school will investigate any such matters. 3) Students without a device will have access to laptops provided by the school when possible. 4) Under no circumstances can cell phones be used for texting during school hours. Taking pictures or videos without permission is also strictly prohibited. Guidelines for appropriate use include: 1) Using your device in class with permission, you need to be willing to show your screen to your teacher at any time, and you are responsible for it at all times. 2) If you would like to use your device for something that was not outlined by the teacher then you need to ask permission first. 3) No Texting or instant messaging in class unless asked to do so by your teacher. 4) Social Networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace will only be used for educational reasons and as directed by your teacher. 5) Accessing school appropriate websites. 6) Recording videos, images, or voice recordings with permission. 7) Not participating in Cyber bullying. 8) Ensuring you don’t “Hack” or misuse someone else’s device. Inappropriate Use Policy: Action will be taken if cell phones are binging used in a way that violates the guidelines. A student may be asked by the teacher to put them away. If the problem becomes chronic then a referral will be made to the office. The principal will decide what the next action will be. SCHOOL VISITORS We welcome visitors, and ask for understanding that during school hours staff are very busy attending to needs of students. Therefore, we require all parents, community members, and maintenance and delivery personnel to report to the office where we can assist with your business at the school. VOLUNTEERS Volunteers (parents or community members) are appreciated. Please phone the school for more information – our School Community Council has developed a volunteer protocol, and we have a community member coordinating volunteer activities at the school. Some examples may include duties such as: 1) Reading or listening to reading 2) Helping with art, physical education, music, drama, etc. 3) Helping in the library, with copying, etc. 4) Being a guest lecturer, show slides or videos of trips, etc. 5) Preparing meals such as hot dogs, etc.

Volunteers will be required to respect certain expectations of our school in the course of their duties. TELEPHONE CALLS Telephone calls to and from the school should not be made during class time. Students are asked to use the student hallway phone for local calls. Phone slips are required from the homeroom teacher before a call is made. BEFORE SCHOOL HOURS Supervision of the school begins at 8:30 a.m. Students should not arrive prior to this supervision period. AFTER SCHOOL HOURS Students should check with the teachers during the day if they plan to use the school facilities after 3:25 p.m. (Bus supervision takes place outside from 3:26- 3:40, but no other supervisors are on duty at this time). In general, some teachers may be at the school until 4:30 p.m., and might be willing (if asked) to allow students access if they need to use the library, computer room, or labs. There is a student sign-in book for the library and we ask that all students have a teacher sign them in if they are staying after school. ASSIGNMENTS AND HOMEWORK Assignments, projects, and homework are necessary extensions of class work. They provide for individual work, discovery and practice. Two types of assignments are given to students: formative and summative. Formative assessments do not count for marks, but are used for practice. Summative assessments do count for marks. - Both types of assignments must be completed by the expected due date. - Both types of assignments must be completed to the best of the student’s ability. Failure to complete assignments so will result in actions being taken by the teacher. Very importantly, assignments must be completed. Please talk to the teacher before the due date if you experience difficulty or cannot meet the due date. Moreover, if a student has a history of neglecting assignments, they can expect teachers to proactively insist upon checking progress in advance of due dates. When students do not hand in assignments by the due date, or if students do not apply themselves adequately and turn in rushed work that is not to the best of their ability, then students will be required to use their own time to redo or complete the assignment. Repeated incidents will result in referral to the school’s RtI (Response to Instruction) team to support necessary interventions. The RtI team will work with the student to teach them how to take academic responsibility. STAR CLUB In many cases, the student with incomplete assignments will be sent to STAR Club during noon period time to catch up. (STAR Club stands for “Students Taking Academic Responsibility”.) STAR Club is specifically for catching up on homework, and is not a punishment for misbehavior. When a student is absent, the missed assignments and notes, etc. are still required work. Students must catch up on what they have missed, and work is expected on due dates (unless the student meets with the teacher to make other arrangements).

REPORT CARDS Report Card and Student-Led Conference times will be posted in our newsletters. North East School Division uses an online marks program (Students Achieve) for collecting marks and issuing report cards. Parents will have access to check their child’s current progress – see the main office for login information. STUDENT TEACHER CONFLICT: (Should be dealt with in this order) 1. Parents should telephone or visit the teacher to obtain details of the problem. This should be done after school unless the teacher is able to set up an interview during the school day. 2. If the conflict continues, parents, student and teacher should meet to try and resolve the problem. A mutual exchange of expectations often results in an agreement that suits both parties. 3. If further assistance is required to solve the problem, contact the principal of the school. 4. After all local avenues of resolution are tried; the Superintendent of Schools may be contacted. ATTENDANCE POLICY

**The guidelines presented will be followed to enable students to be responsible for their attendance. The staff and administrators of William Mason School are aware that extenuating circumstances will arise; these will be handled on an individual basis. 1. Regular and punctual attendance is a legal requirement for all students under the age of 16. 2. Both tardiness and absenteeism can be a disturbance to the rest of the class. 3. Students with poor attendance often have problems completing their course/grade successfully.

 Parents should telephone the school at 428-2157 prior to the start of school to report confirmed absences. Parents should also inform the school if their child is expected to be absent for more than one day.  If, for some reason, a student must leave during the school day, they must report to the office and be signed out by Mrs. Burka. GRADE 10-12 ATTENDANCE 1. Students are to be accountable and responsible for their own actions. 2. Lapses in student attendance will be documented. 3. Lates will also be documented. Students must have materials and be ready to begin the class when the bell rings. 4. The RtI team (Response to Instruction) will be involved if a serious problem develops. FIVE (7) Unexcused ABSENCES IN ANY COURSE WILL RESULT IN A LETTER BEING SENT HOME TO PARENTS TO INFORM THEM OF THE ATTENDANCE SITUATION. TEN (10) Unexcused ABSENCES IN ANY COURSE WILL RESULT IN THE RtI TEAM’S INVOLVEMENT. THE RtI TEAM WILL INVOLVE THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AN ATTENDANCE PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED.

FIFTEEN (15) Unexcused ABSENCES IN ANY COURSE, MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THAT COURSE. THE RtI TEAM WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH ANY STUDENTS IN THIS SITUATION ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. (Any school-sponsored events (field trips, sporting events, etc.) do not count as absences towards the total number, provided the student participates in the activity.) CLEAN SHOE POLICY Students are encouraged to have an extra set of shoes reserved exclusively for indoor use. Please be sure that indoor shoes have non-marking soles. On wet or snowy days mud and snow tracked onto the school is often a problem. Therefore, we will require all students without clean/dry shoes to remove outdoor shoes at the door. If students do not have a clean/dry pair of shoes, they will be required to go sock feet. If outdoor shoes leave a mess, the student must clean up after themselves. GYM SHOES Students must have an extra pair of clean gym shoes that are used exclusively inside. Again, please be sure that indoor shoes have non-marking soles. Gym shoes should be locked in lockers and only used during gym periods. BULLYING Bullying entails an imbalance in strength between the bullies and the victim. This is what experts call an asymmetric power relationship. It includes an assortment of negative acts carried out repeatedly over a period of time generally away from the presence of adults, or in the presence of adults who fail to intercede. A broad definition of bullying is when a student is repeatedly exposed to negative actions on the part of one or more other students. These negative actions can take the form of physical contact, verbal abuse, or making faces and rude gestures. Spreading rumors and excluding the victim from a group are also common forms. For these reasons we consider bullying to be a very serious matter and will investigate any instances of bullying reported to us. Any students involved in such behavior will face appropriate disciplinary action. GRADE 10-12 SPARES Students are heavily encouraged to take a full course until their grade twelve year or when facing 30 level courses. Both the parents and the student must discuss all available options with the administration before a spare is granted, in efforts to ensure that all students have the requirements needed to graduate. Students on spare are expected to work on school work from other classes. BIKES Students who bring bicycles to school are to park them in the provided bike rack. At no time will the bikes be ridden other than by the owner, and only for the purposes of going home for lunch, or at 3:15 p.m. Students are asked not to loiter around the bike rack. After school, bicycles are not to be ridden down the sidewalk – this is for the use of students walking home or to the bus. CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL William Mason School will ALWAYS be open during inclement weather. On days when there are severe weather conditions such as wind chill or blizzard, the busses may not run. This decision will be left up to the bus drivers themselves. If a bus is not running, it

will be announced on CJVR and CJNE 94.7 Storm Radio (to be aired by 7:40 a.m.) If buses do not run, regular lessons will be taught and all bus students will have the opportunity to catch up. It is not recommended to bring bus students in on your own if the roads are deemed unsafe. CHEATING Cheating includes illegal use of unauthorized materials or copying on exams, internet fraud, electronic plagiarism, or copying of other student’s assignments which are to be submitted for marks, and plagiarism. Cheating will not be tolerated; any instances will be handled at the discretion of the teacher and/or the administration in accordance with the NESD Assessment Handbook guidelines. Appropriate disciplinary action will be pursued, and along with these consequences, the student will still need to do a reassessment so that the assignment is complete. COPY MACHINES AND COMPUTER PRINTERS Personal items (such as recipes, patterns, etc.) to be copied will cost 25 cents/page. Do at breaks or after school with permission and in consultation with a staff member. Notes and resource material for class assignments will be copied at the subject teacher’s discretion and by that teacher. Students will not have access to the color printer. If needed for class purposes, the teacher will coordinate color printing by students. FIRE DRILLS Fire drills are to be treated seriously. There are 3-5 drills held each year to familiarize students and teachers with procedures. One monitor is chosen from each room to report absentees to the checkpoint, during a drill. We also prepare students for other types of drills which occur: - Lock-down drills, where students remain in their locked classrooms - Evacuation drills, in which the entire school moves to the skating rink. - Bus evacuation drills, in which students practice exiting the bus through the rear emergency doors. (This drill also includes town students, to prepare them in case of emergencies while on bus for extracurricular or field trips.) FLOURIDE TREATMENT Weekly fluoride treatment is administered by homeroom teachers to students in Grades 1-6. INTRAMURALS Noon sports in the gym are organized and supervised by the teachers. LEAVING SCHOOL PROPERTY Leaving school property during class time and breaks is prohibited. Any student who has to leave because of appointments, parent pickup, etc. must sign out at the office before leaving. Leaving the school at noon hour is only allowed when: a) The student is in Gr. 9-12 and the parents have signed a Request for Noon-Hour Privileges sheet (effective for the current school year only). b) A note from the parent of bused Gr. K-8 students must be provided to the homeroom teacher. The note must be dated, signed with the purpose for leaving, and handed in prior to leaving the school. The note cannot be a blanket note that covers multiple dates. c) Students with spares are expected to remain at the school, working quietly on other class work. Having a spare does not grant a student permission to leave the school grounds.

Students leaving the school for any reason other than going home for lunch must sign out at the office, and sign in at the office upon their return to the school. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. LIBRARY (LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER) Open Monday – Friday – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 EXPECTATIONS 1. Sign out all materials and books before taking them out of the L.R.C. 2. No food or drinks in the LRC. 3. Do NOT move the tables without permission from the library clerk. 4. Replace chairs under table and tidy your study place when finished. 5. Meetings should not be scheduled for the LRC during the school day without the library clerk’s permission. 6. Students are to work quietly. 7. Loaning period for LRC materials is two weeks. Students are urged to check the due date of their material and return them by this date. Overdue lists will be posted outside the LRC frequently. The cost of lost or damaged materials will be billed to the student’s family. 8. Reference books are not to be removed from the LRC. No CDs or Computer disks are to be removed from the LRC. 9. The printer is not be used without consent from teacher or paying the librarian for the pages.

LOCKS AND LOCKERS Each student is issued an individual locker. Grades 7-12 will be provided locks, and grades K-5 will be provided carabineers that clip easily and keep the door closed tidily. Only those locks provided by William Mason School can be used on the hallway lockers. Students will be charged $3.00 for the lock if it is not returned at the end of the year. Students are expected to keep all their books and personal items in their locked lockers. Students are requested to get books from their lockers only at breaks, and before the bell rings for class to begin. There have been instances of theft from backpacks and unlocked lockers in recent years. Items of value should never be left where other students have access. Put valuables in your locker and lock it up. ** AVOID FUTURE PROBLEMS BY NOT TELLING ANYONE THE COMBINATION OF YOUR LOCK AND ALWAYS LOCKING YOUR LOCKER. LOCKERS AND VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT In striving for an environment that is safe and conducive for learning, William Mason School has adopted the following policy with respect to searching of lockers within the school and vehicles situated on school property. The locker remains the property of the North East School Division and is loaned to the student. All students who utilize a locker within school property must clearly understand they can have NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY in this locker at any time, and without notice the lockers can be subject to inspection. The Principal or designate may also solicit and utilize the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and a trained Police Canine to facilitate any search.

Further, the Principal or designate may direct an exterior search of any vehicle that is parked on school property, again utilizing the assistance of the R.C.M.P. and a Police Canine. Any illegal substances will be turned over to the R.C.M.P. for criminal investigation.

MEDICATION No medication will be provided at the office (i.e.: Tylenol, Aspirin). Students must keep any personal medications in their locked locker. NEWSLETTER Newsletters are sent home monthly. Newsletter dates will be posted in the first newsletter. If you would like to post something in the newsletter please contact the secretary at least two days before the newsletter is to be sent home. If you wish to save paper, the newsletter is also available by email. Please call if you are interested. PROPERTY DAMAGE Students will be charged the cost of repairing or replacing property that was carelessly damaged or broken. It is the duty of the students to report willful or accidental damage to property. PEDICULOSIS (HEAD LICE) Public Health nurses are no longer available for head lice. They will provide general education around prevention and will meet with individual parents whose children have contracted head lice. Parents will be notified if head lice is found in the school. TIPS: -

Encourage your child to treat grooming aids as personal and not for sharing. Stress the importance of not sharing towels, hats and sleeping bags as these items are also know to transmit lice. Children with long hair should keep it tied or braided. See our school’s webpage (or contact the Public Health nurse) if you have further questions.

SCHOOL BUS REGULATIONS 1. Pupils must obey the driver promptly and respectfully. Pupils must obey orders of the monitor or patrol on the bus. 2. The pupil must be on time. 3. Unnecessary conversation with the driver is prohibited. 4. A pupil not returning home by bus must ensure the driver is notified. 5. Parents are responsible for their children between home and the bus stop. 6. All students must be properly dressed for weather conditions and in complete readiness to board the school bus when it arrives at each pick-up point. 7. When boarding the bus students shall, immediately and in an orderly manner, proceed to their seats as assigned by the bus driver. Student shall remain in their seats at all times unless told to move by the driver. 8. Students must not bother each other. There shall be no unruly behavior of any sort. 9. There shall be no tampering with doors and windows or any other part of the bus. No object may be thrown out of the bus; neither is it permitted to have a limb or any part of the body extending out of the bus. 10. No student may leave the bus on the way to and from school except when permitted by the bus driver, or if written permission by the parent is handed to the bus driver. 11. Students must be prepared to board the bus immediately after school and remain there until delivered at the bus stop, except when excused by the bus driver or by written permission of the parent. 12. Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, firearms and the use of obscene language on the bus are prohibited. 13. Bus passengers are expected at all times to be courteous and considerate to each other and to the bus driver.

14. The bus driver is directed to report pupils breaking these rules to the Principal. *** For violation of any of these rules, a pupil may be suspended off the bus for up to 3 days per incident. The suspension will be issued by the principal subsequent to consultation with the driver. If the principal and driver recommend a suspension exceeding 3 days, the Director of Education, or designate will become involved and make a decision in accordance to North East Policy 409*** SMOKING By Saskatchewan law: There will be no smoking on school property. Students should also be aware that the breaks throughout the school day are intended for class changes, NOT smoke breaks. Students are encouraged to utilize this time to get to class on time with the proper school supplies by the time the bell rings. Students are not to leave the school to have a smoke during this time. William Mason School encourages students who smoke to quit, and is prepared to assist in providing some means of counseling and other support services for students upon request. STUDENT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES School Sports Jr = Gr. 6-9;

Sr = Gr. 9-12;

* Volleyball * Badminton * Curling * Cross Country Running * Track & Field * Wrestling

JrSr B/G JrSr B/G JrSr B/G/M JrSr B/G JrSr B/G JrSr B/G

B = Boys;

G = Girls;

M=Mixed

ALL drivers must have $2 million liability insurance and and complete an authorization form yearly. Students will NOT drive to school sponsored events.

Other Clubs: Yearbook, SRC, Canteen, Drama, Singing Club, Library Club, Robot Club

STUDENT EXTRACURRICULAR SPORTS WILLIAM MASON SCHOOL ATHLETIC PHILOSOPHY The coaches of William Mason School volunteer their time to provide opportunities for students to grow both mentally and physically, through their participation in competitive junior high and high school athletics. Our athletic philosophy (which will be given to athletes at the opening organizational meeting for each sport) states: At the junior level playing time will be split as evenly as possible so that all athletes have adequate time to grow and develop. Junior sports are entirely developmental. At the senior level all members of a team will receive playing time but it may not be split evenly. Senior sports are intended to balance developmental and competitive purposes. WMS CODE OF ETHICS (FOR COACHES & ATHLETES) William Mason Coaches are expected to:  remember that the athletic area is a classroom with moral and education obligations required at all times.  insist upon a high degree of scholarship from all participants.  maintain a genuine and current knowledge of that which he/she proposes to teach.  maintain fair, unprejudiced relationships with all team members.  pay careful attention to the physical condition of the athletes.  inspire a love of the game and a desire to compete fairly.

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take a strong stand against profanity, unfair play and unsportsmanlike behavior of their athletes. maintain self-control at all times and to accept the decisions of all officials. teach athletes to win by use of legitimate means only. believe in the honesty and integrity of opponents and officials. teach that to win is always desirable, but to win at all costs defeats the purpose of the game.

W.M.S. athletes are expected to:  conduct themselves at all times with honor and dignity, cooperating fully with all coaches and staff members.  treat visiting teams, spectators, and officials as honored guests.  faithfully complete schoolwork as practical evidence of their loyalty to school and team.  show that it is a privilege to represent their schools.  remember that there is no place in school athletics before, during, or after competition for the use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol.  maintain a suitable level of fitness.  be fair at all times no matter what the cost.  believe in the honesty and integrity of opponents and officials, accepting gracefully and without question the decision of the officials.  learn and abide by the rules of the game.  accept both victory and defeat with pride and compassion, being neither boastful nor bitter, recognizing and applauding honestly and whole-heartedly the efforts of their teammates and opponents.  play hard to the limits of their abilities regardless of discouragement. True athletes do not give up, nor do they cheat, bet or show off. William Mason School is a place where academics is the top priority and participation in extra-curricular activities is encouraged. Students are expected to comply with the Duties of Students as prescribed in the Education Act and to follow all school rules as outlined in the W.M.S. student handbook. Students who do not meet these minimum requirements may lose the privilege of participating in extra-curricular activities. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC) The SRC is intended to be inclusive of the student population, and is formed through volunteerism. There will be no elections. The SRC consists of volunteers from grades 6 through 12 who make application to join the SRC. Once accepted, the SRC will then choose among themselves by consensus who will serve what roles on the SRC executive (president, secretary, treasurer, room reps, etc). The function of the SRC is to provide leadership and organization of the extracurricular, intramural and social programs of the school. Council members meet regularly to organize recreational and cultural activities in accordance with the wishes of the Student Body and to promote Cougar spirit. SRC activities are funded through fund-raisers, which are organized by the SRC. All students are encouraged to participate in fundraisers, and in each campaign the purpose of the funds will be clearly identified. Fundraisers will be publicized through the school monthly newsletters and posters. The SRC will raise money for the following initiatives: - new playground equipment for the elementary students - stage equipment (including lighting and sound) for dances and pep rallies - general SRC funding to meet costs of activities and events - sports- and clubs-related SRC funding to cover costs associated with extracurricular teams and clubs

The SRC organizes every student in the school into three houses in order to have a large pool of participants and to promote a friendly spirit of competitiveness. House points are tallied twice per year – at mid-year the winners are announced and the points are erased to start again, meaning that no team is ever left far behind in the standings. Expectations of SRC Members: Students can earn a social credit for their work with their SRC, but must meet a minimum standard of participation of functions (meetings or working at events). If students are unable to attend meetings/functions then they need to let the SRC advisors know immediately. THE CREDIT SYSTEM Every student is enrolled in the Credit System when they enter William Mason School. The Credit System is an award system, which has the following objectives: 1. To recognize those students who consistently perform above average in some aspect of their school career. 2. To recognize the importance of all areas of the school program. (athletic, academic and social) 3. To provide students with long range goals. All student activity is grouped under one of the following headings. Each activity is given a credit value. When a student has acquired the required number of credits s/he is presented and allowed to wear the school crest. This crest must be earned. It cannot be bought. In order for an activity to qualify as a credit activity it must fulfill the following requirements: 1. It must be sanctioned by the S.R.C. 2. It must have a staff advisor who will determine whether the group has been sufficiently active, and decide which persons qualify as members of the group.

WMS CREDIT ACADEMIC (26 credits) Honour Roll – Gr. 9-12 80% Ave – 2 70% Ave – 1 (Calculated from Report Card Ave)

ATHLETIC (28 credits) School Teams - Gr.7-12 Team Members – 1 plus 1 additional point for each level of activity ex: unit, district, sectional etc.)

SOCIAL (14 credits) Gr.7-12 SRC - 1 Yearbook - 1 Drama - 1