(copy) TDMcGee School Handbook 2022-2023

Principal's Message

Welcome to Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School. As Catholic educators, our mission is to build a truly Christian school community through our example and our commitment to the Gospel values. Our school promotes self-confidence, self-esteem, school spirit, recognition and respect for individual differences, and freedom for all to develop to their full potential through their own efforts and with the help of God. The school atmosphere is one of respect, responsibility, courtesy, and pride that fosters academic excellence, and emotional and spiritual growth. We foster a strong sense of community and promote service for the common good.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board Strategic Commitments of Be Well, Be Community and Be Innovative help guide our school decisions and the learning opportunities provided to students.

This year, we continue with our spiritual theme: “Gratitude, Rooted in Joy, Fills us with Hope”. In our second year exploring this theme, we will focus on JOY. Joy resides in our heart and overflows with love. This Joy of knowing that God resides in the depth of our hearts not only brings forth gratitude but also inspires us to love God and to love our neighbour in response to our encounter with Christ.

We look forward to continuing to work with you during this school year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Hutchinson
Principal

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Covid-19 Guidelines

Daily Self-Assessment

Please be sure to complete the daily school screening assessment to determine if your child should attend school.

Masks

Masks are currently optional for all students in Kindergartn - Grade 6.

Important key messages to review with your child:

Stay at home when you are sick, even when symptoms are mild. Staying home helps prevent spreading your illness to others.

Ensure that personal belongings and food are not shared with students and staff.

Practice ‘no touch’ greetings with your friends and teachers at school. Let’s share a wave and not our germs.

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm, not your hands! Throw the tissue away, and wash your hands right away.

If you don’t feel well, tell someone.

Avoid touching your face. We can easily spread germs from our hands to our mask or face.

Bring your own water bottle from home to stay hydrated throughout the day.

When not wearing a mask, physical distancing is especially important to keep you and the friends around you healthy.

Does your child have a cold, the flu, or ANY symptoms related to COVID-19?

If your child is ill, you must keep your child home from school and notify the school.

Staff and students with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 (as listed in the screening tool) should get tested and isolate while test results are pending, unless there is a known alternative diagnosis provided by a health care provider.

Please visit Ottawa Public Health: Supporting Schools for current information on self-isolation guidelines and details on when your child can return to school after an illness.

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Symptoms of Covid-19

* Fever and/or chills (a temperature of 37.8 degrees or higher);
* Cough
* Shortness of breath (unable to breathe deeply or feeling unable to catch one’s breath);
* Decrease or loss of taste and smell
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy/congested nose
* Muscle aches/joint pain
* Headache
* Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (not related to other known causes or conditions);
* Extreme tiredness

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What if my child becomes ill while at school?

During the school day, if your child becomes ill with any of the symptoms listed, they will be separated from other students and supervised by a staff member.

Parents/ guardians are contacted and asked to bring their child home. The Covid Screening Tool can be helpful in determining when your child is able to return to school.

General School Information

School Staff

Arrival and Dismissal

Attendance

Bussing

Electronic Devices, Toys and Sports Equipment

Office

Principal: Ms. Hutchinson

Resource Teacher:
Mrs. Figura

Office Administrators:
Ms. Andrea
Ms. Annie

Kindergarten

Mrs. Angevaare
Mme Steed
Ms. Shannon
Ms. Tonia

Primary

Mr. Dino
Mme Hampton
Ms.Chapman
Ms. Lachambre
Ms. Prusakowski
Ms. Renaud

Junior

Ms. Burchill
Mme Chittilappilly
Mme Hampton
Ms. Shannon
Mrs. Morin

Developmental Education Program

Ms. Braganza
Mrs. Clarmo
Ms. Craig
Ms. Kassandra
Mrs. Maitland
Ms. Mubarak

Ms. Stefanie
Ms. Redmond
Mr. Ross
Ms. Taylor
Mrs. VanLoon
Ms. Zito

Other staff

Custodians:
Mr. Ben
Mr. Ryan

Library Technician:
Mrs. Kim

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Morning Arrival:

Arrival and Dismissal

PLEASE NOTE
For the safety and privacy of all students, parents are not permitted on the playground between 9:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Please wait in your car or in the "waiting zone" immediately in front of the parking lot. Please maintain physical distance from other families while waiting.

Students should arrive at school between 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

Upon arrival, they should proceed to the playground. Kindergarten students should enter the Kindergarten yard.

Supervision of students begins at 9:00 a.m. Students should not arrive on school property prior to 9 a.m.

Any students who arrive after classes have entered the building will have to sign in at the main office. (See section on Attendance).

Afternoon Dismissal:

Dismissal procedures will begin between 3:40-3:45.

Students who are walkers or who are being picked up will wait in assigned line up areas. We ask all parents to wait in the parking lot or on the grassy area near the parking lot.

Students taking the bus will line up in the bus loading area. Students taking the bus will have assigned seating.

Students in childcare will be taken directly to childcare.

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Attendance

Children who are not feeling well before school are need to stay home. A sick child is unable to put forward his/her best effort. Please review the section on Covid-19 procedures.

All children are expected to participate in outdoor recess. In this part of the school day a great deal of social development takes place. In the case of long-term injuries or illnesses, alternate arrangements can be made upon request of your child’s physician.

Parents are requested to call the school at 613-749-2251 or send an email to thomasdarcy.mcgee@ocsb.ca before 9:00 a.m. if your child will be absent or late. There is an answering machine available to take messages. When an absence is noted by the teacher and no reason for the absence has been received, parents will be contacted to ensure that your child is safe.

Arriving Late or Leaving Early
Promptness is an important life skill and provides students with a positive start to the school day. Students should arrive by 9:15 am, ready to enter the school with their classmates. Students arriving late to school are to report to the office. *NEW* Parents will need to sign their children in or out using a QR code digital form. This will be posted at the main entrance. Excessive lates will be reflected in a phone call to the parent/guardian and a letter sent home.

Should you need to pick up your child early, please call the school or send email. We will have your child wait in the front foyer. Parents are not permitted to enter the building at this time and must wait outside the front door.

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Bussing

The Transportation Department normally requires at least 3-5 days notice in order to respond to changes to student pick-up and/or drop-off locations. For safety reasons, we are unable to accommodate a schedule of varying pick-up and drop-off locations for reasons such as play dates, emergency childcare, etc. School bus drivers are NOT permitted to alter bus routes without the prior knowledge and approval of the Board’s Transportation Department. This is important for maintaining a database of bus stops and student pick-up and drop-off locations.

For more information, visit: ottawaschoolbus.ca

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
* Arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes BEFORE scheduled arrival time.
* Review bus safety procedures with your child.
* Students in Kindergarten MUST be met at the bus by a parent/guardian

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE BUS
* Students must be seated at all times.
* Students must remain in the assigned seat for contact tracing purposes.
* All students MUST wear masks.
* Respectful and courteous behaviour towards the bus driver and each other is expected.
* Use of profane, racist or discriminatory language is not permitted
* Eating food and drinking beverages is not allowed on the bus.
* Quiet talking will ensure that the bus driver will not be distracted and ensure a safe trip.

CONSEQUENCES
* The driver shall provide a verbal warning to any student who misbehaves on the bus.
* If misbehaviour is repeated the driver shall notify the principal in writing. Parents will be notified.
* Continued or severe misbehaviour could result in the loss of riding privileges.

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Dress Code

Learning will take place outside as much as possible, including Physical Education classes. Students should come to school expecting to participate in Physical Education each day, both inside and outside.

Appropriate clothing at school is required at all times and students should be prepared to learn outside, regardless of weather. This would include having items such as: sweaters and jackets for colder weather; appropriate footwear for outside when cold/wet; hats and mitts in colder weather; rain gear on rainy days.

* Clothing (including masks, hats, etc) cannot contain slogans depicting violence, discrimination, profanity, or vulgar messages

* We kindly request that clothing respect the dignity of a person's body and should not be too revealing. (e.g. Underclothing (bras, underwear) should not be visible)

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