355 Annette Street, Toronto, Ontario M6P 1R3 Telephone: 416-393-5218 Fax: 416-397-6045

Principal: Lorinda Mazza Pastor: Father Joseph Tran, 416-769-8163

Vice Principal: Laura Smith-Warburton Secretary: P. Gougeon

Superintendent of Education: Dr. J. Saraco Trustee: B. Poplawski

CSAC Chair:Ersilia Serafini After-School Program P.L.A.S.P., 905-890-1711

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2013 – 2014

Learning with Hearts, Hands and Minds – Growing in Harmony

We at St. Cecilia School endeavour to promote a welcoming community based on trust and mutual respect, where all individuals feel that they are valued and belong. We develop our spirituality through prayer, reflection and celebration whilst living out our faith. We encourage students to open their hearts to God, their minds to learning, and their talents to service. As a community of learners, we strive for excellence, unlocking the full potential of each individual, leading to their development into confident and independent learners who value and live their faith. As we journey together with Christ, we seek to engender the joy and wonder of learning through celebrating God’s love and presence in our lives, encouraging within each child a love for learning and a desire to do one’s best.

2013-2014 School Year Calendar

Labour DaySeptember 2, 2013Six Professional Development Days

First Instructional DaySeptember 3, 2013Provincial Education PrioritiesOctober 11, 2013

Thanksgiving DayOctober 14, 2013Parent-Teacher Conference EveningNovember 14, 2013

Christmas BreakDecember 23, 2013 toFaith DayNovember 15, 2013

January 3, 2014Provincial Education PrioritiesDecember 20, 2013

Family DayFebruary 17, 2014Assessment and EvaluationJanuary 24, 2014

Mid-Winter BreakMarch 10-14, 2014Provincial Education PrioritiesMarch6, 2014

Good FridayApril 18, 2014Assessment and EvaluationJune 6, 2014

Easter MondayApril 21, 2014

Victoria DayMay 19, 2014

Last Day of classes June 27, 2014

School Day Routines
Morning Entry 8:30 a.m.
Morning Recess 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Lunch Hour 11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
Afternoon Recess 1:40 p.m. to 1:55 p.m.
Bus Dismissal 2:55 p.m.
Walkers Dismissal 3:00 p.m.

Parish Information

As we encourage all families to celebrate masses regularly, therefore, for your convenience, the following is the schedule of the Sunday Eucharist celebrations at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Saturday: 7:00 p.m., Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., Weekday masses: 9:05 a.m.

Further information may be obtained at:

Rights and Responsibilities of a Student

I have the right and responsibility to learn in a Catholic atmosphere:

  • I apply Christian values to life’s opportunities, challenges and choices.
  • I am responsible for my own learning and I allow others to learn.
  • I do my best at all times.
  • I am honest.
  • I arrive at school on time, prepared with the necessary materials and homework completed.
  • I am respectful and courteous at all times especially during prayer celebrations and religious activities.
  • I demonstrate global perspective and community responsibility.

I have the right to be safe and the responsibility to permit others to feel safe:

  • I comply with all school expectations, procedures and codes of behavior.
  • I avoid games that promote violence or that could hurt others.
  • I do not bully others.
  • I keep my hands and feet to myself.
  • I tell an adult if someone is hurt or doing something dangerous.
  • I listen to and obey teachers and others in positions of authority.
  • I use school equipment in a safe and respectful manner.
  • I apply collaborative decision-making skills.

I have the right to be respected and to be treated with dignity and the responsibility to treat others in a similar manner:

  • I will demonstrate respect for others without discrimination against race, culture or ability.
  • I treat everyone kindly and with respect.
  • I speak to others in an appropriate and polite manner.
  • I listen to others when they speak.
  • I respect the space and belongings of others.
  • I work quietly allowing others to do the same.

I have the right to learn in a clean environment and the responsibility to do my part in caring for our environmentand keeping it clean:

  • I keep my desk and classroom neat and tidy.
  • I clean up after myself at lunchtime.
  • I keep the washrooms clean.
  • I cooperate in keeping the schoolyard clean and put litter in the proper bins.
  • I recycle wherever possible.

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents

Parents Have the Right

  • To expect their children to be educated in a school community formed by Catholic beliefs and traditions, which promote the basic Gospel values.
  • To expect that the individual potential of each child will be recognized and an appropriate program be made available for all students.
  • To expect their children learn in a safe environment that is free from violence and/or threats or fear of violence.
  • To receive periodic reports on the performance and progress of their child.
  • To expect school staff to be approachable and open to parents, students and community members.

Parents Have the Responsibility

  • To ensure regular and punctual attendance.
  • To ensure that children are well rested, well nourished, appropriately dressed and prepared for school.
  • To inform the school of health conditions or family changes that may have an impact on a child’s education.
  • To ensure that children have scheduled times for homework and an appropriate location to complete their studies.
  • To allow children to grow and develop responsibility for their own actions/decisions.
  • To provide positive support for the policies and efforts of the school in the education of their children.
  • To demonstrate to their children a commitment to our Catholic beliefs and traditions.

Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers and Support Staff

Teachers/Support Staff Have the Right

  • To be treated with respect by all students, parents and visitors.
  • To work in an environment in which it is possible to teach without undo disruption, fear or discomfort.

Teachers/Support Staff Have the Responsibility

•To assist students to work to their full potential and develop their self-worth.

  • To communicate regularly and meaningfully with parents.
  • To empower students to be positive leaders in the classroom, school and community.
  • To prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship.
  • To clearly review the rules and expectations of the school and the rules of their individual classrooms in relation to behaviour and discipline.
  • To promote trust, reconciliation and acceptance in relationships within the school and the communityat large.
  • To model community standards of behaviour and dress.
  • To accept responsibility to adapt instructions to meet the individual needs of students.

Homework Policy

The St. Cecilia Community recognizes the value of homework that furthers students’ learning in relation to the curriculum. Homework should be a positive experience and supports the TCDSB guidelines found at:

Safety Policies

Safe School /Arrival Program

The Safe Arrival Program is a program implemented to ensure your child’s safety. Therefore, we will continue to call you after morning and afternoon attendance if your child is absent from school and we are unaware of the reason for the absence. If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please call the school at (416) 393-5218 and leave a message before 8:00 am. This action is a required and necessary part of our Safe Arrival Program, where the school and home share a joint responsibility in an effort to ensure a child’s safety.

Early Dismissal

Students who must leave before dismissal time may do so ONLY with the written authorization and permission from the parent/legal guardian. We require that parents come to the office to sign their child out of class. We ask that a written note be provided to your child’s teacher in the morning, notifying him/her of scheduled appointments and changes to end of day procedures. As a safe arrival home requirement, please avoid calling late in the school day to request that your child change their regular home procedure.

Visitors to the School

All visitors to the school including parents, grandparents and babysitters, must report to the office FIRST. We ask that all visitors to the school follow this policy for the safety of our children. Please do not approach any of our students in the schoolyard. The office staff is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Please drop off and pick up your students from the schoolyard. Students may be dropped off in the schoolyard beginning at 8:00 a.m. when teacher supervision begins. Pick up is at 3:00 p.m. at the back of the school, unless otherwise advised. In the morning, please do not wait in the schoolyard with your child. Adults in a schoolyard become a safety issue. Your child may know you but you are a stranger to other students. It is very difficult for the teachers on supervision to detect a stranger when adults are in the schoolyard. As well, please do not walk your child to their classroom. Children need to learn the school routines and too many adults in the school during drop off and pick up enables a stranger to enter the building unnoticed. In an effort to respect our environment, please try and walk with your child to and from school. However, if driving your child, please refrain from parking in the staff parking lot and/or in the school bus loading zones. Driving or parking in these locations is a safety issue. Also, we ask that you respect our Evelyn street neighbours by not restricting their access to and from their homes.

School Telephone

Parents are asked to refrain from requesting the school secretary to deliver messages to their children in their classrooms. This disruptsvaluable learning and should be done in emergency situations ONLY. Also, students are only allowed to use the school telephone in an emergency. Please organize your day with your children before they come to school.

Cell Phone Policy

Many students now have cell phones to assist with their safety and well being before and after school. Cell phones that are brought to school must be powered off and stored in backpacks.If students choose to ignore this guideline, cell phones will be taken away from them and returned at the end of the day. The second time it is taken away it will be kept in a safe place until a parent can come to the school to claim it. It is expected that all calls being made to parents/guardians during the school day be made at the office. Students require teacher permission and a signed phone slip to make these calls.

Electronic Devices Policy

It is highly recommended that all other electronic devices not be brought to school.The only exception to this rule is if a teacher is conducting a lesson that allows for BYOD (bring your own device). The school is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property. These items are not to be worn during school hours. Students are further reminded that taking pictures of minors requires written parental authorization.

Health Policies

If your Child Becomes Ill at School

We do not have facilities at school to accommodate children who are ill. It is the policy of the school to make a sick child as comfortable as possible while the parent is being contacted. In a case where an injury appears to be serious, the Principal or designate may take the child to the hospital emergency or an ambulance may be called and a parent will be contacted. Please ensure home, work, and emergency phone numbers and contact names on file in the office, are accurate and up to date.

‘Allergy-Safe’ School

We have several children with severe, life-threatening food allergies, especially to peanuts/nuts. This is a medical condition (anaphylaxis) that causes a severe reaction to specific foods and can result in death within minutes. As this affects the entire school community, we request that you do not send food with your child to school that contain allergens e.g. peanuts, nutella, shellfish etc. If your child has been diagnosed with such a medical condition, please let the school know, so that we can plan for their safe integration. Children are asked not to share food with other children. Please do not send food to school for birthday celebrations. Teachers do recognize special occasions such as birthdays in a variety of ways, which do not include foodi.e. the donation of a book in your child’s library. Please respect the ‘Allergy-Safe’ designation for our school and help ensure a safe and healthy environment for all children.

Children with Medical Conditions

Please make sure that you notify the office and the classroom teacher of any health problems that your child may have. If your child has severe allergies that may require an epi-pen we ask that you provide one epi-pen for the office and we ask that another epi-pen be carried by the student at all times. We require updated medical forms in September or when a condition is diagnosed. Please keep track of expiration dates and replace medication as required.

Administration of other Non-Allergy Medication Policy

Do not send medication to the school with your child. If your child is required at any time to take medication at school, it is our School Board policy that parents or guardians must submit a completed Request and Consent for the Administration of Oral Medication form to the school with the medication. This form is available through the office and must be signed by both the parent and the doctor.

Staying In At Recess

Students are expected to go outside for recess. If a child is too sick to go outside, they are too sick to come to school. If the weather is extremely cold, stormy or rainy, an indoor recess procedure is followed.

Pediculosis-Head Lice

Outbreaks of pediculosis are common among school children. They are not considered a health problem. They are considered a nuisance. Any person, however clean, may become infected by exposure to other infected persons or their belongings (clothing, hats, combs, brushes). Parents are advised to look for pediculosis when their children are observed excessively scratching their heads. Please inform the school if your child has head lice. The school will send home a letter to the parents where cases of head lice have been reported, advising the parents to check their children’s hair.


Other Policies

TCDSB Dress Code Policy

Effective September 6, 2011, TCDSB has implemented a dress code policy for all elementary students. The Appropriate Dress Code consists of plain white top and navy blue bottom. No slogans, logos denim or denim copies will be permitted. In keeping with our commitment to reflect Christian values in our day-to-day lives and to abide by the social teaching of the Church and our own Mission and Vision Statement, the Toronto Catholic District School Board has implemented a Sweatshop-Free Purchasing Policy. For more information on this policy, please click on Sweatshop Free Purchasing Policy F.P.04. A list of school apparel suppliers who have declared compliance with our policy, is available on our website.

Inclement Weather Entry Procedures

All students go directly to the basement until 8:30a.m. when the bell rings for them to go to their classes.

Personal Property

Parents are requested to see that their children’s clothes, boots, gloves, scarves, shoes, lunch boxes etc. are marked with the child’s name. Clothing does get misplaced and many children have identical or similar belongings. The following items are not allowed at school: video games, skateboards, scooters, roller blades, hardballs, bats and other similarly valuable toys.

Leaving the School Grounds

Students are prohibited from going to local stores and restaurants for lunch. Only students supervised by parents/guardians during lunch hours may leave school grounds. Parents will be notified of violations of this policy.

Assessment and Evaluation

Each child’s progress is assessed primarily on the basis of daily work, projects, periodic testing and student participation. A Progress Report will be sent home in November and Provincial Report Cards will be issued in February and June. We ask that when you have read your child’s report, please sign the last page and return it to your child’s teacher. Normally parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled to coincide with the Progress Report and the first Report Card. The staff at St. Cecilia will keep parents informed of their child’s achievements as well as areas of concern. This can be achieved through report cards, scheduled personal interviews, telephone calls, newsletters, student agendas and any other forms of home and school communications. We ask that you do not just drop in on a teacher if you need to talk to him/her. Please make an appointment. Parents who come to a classroom door while a teacher is teaching disrupt both the students and the teacher.

Bus Zone/Bussing

Students are required to ONLY use the bus assigned to them both to and from school. Please be aware that both teachers and drivers have been apprised of this requirement and will strictly enforce it. For safety reasons, parents are not permitted to pick up their child from the bus loading area. This area extends the length of the school along Evelyn Drive. Streets to the south and west of the school are available for parking. We trust that everyone will cooperate to ensure the safety of our students. Please call the school if you have any concerns regarding bus transportation.

Bus procedures

Students are responsible to the Principal for their conduct on the bus. Bus safety procedures are reviewed yearly. Therefore, students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that ensures the safe operation of the bus and its passengers.