Hickson Central P.S.

Staff will not administer non-prescriptive medication to students.

Allergies

Hickson Central School is a >Peanut Safe School=. This means you must not send your child to school with snacks or lunch containing peanuts or other nuts. There are students at Hickson who have a severe allergy to peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, and all foods containing traces of peanuts.

If these students ingest or come into physical contact with these products, it may trigger a strong reaction. Symptoms might include hives, itching, swelling, vomiting, coughing, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and life threatening anaphylaxis. 

While we recognize that it may pose something of an inconvenience when packing lunches, the best way to ensure the safety of students with severe allergies is to ask that all parents try to ensure that food items, sandwiches, etc., which are sent to school do not contain peanut or nut products. When purchasing items such as brownies, granola bars, etc., read the labels carefully to avoid items that may contain traces of peanuts, nuts or nut oil. We would ask, as well, that items sent in for class consumption be either sent in their original container [if purchased] or have an ingredients list attached [if home baked].

In the event of an emergency, we have an emergency response plan in place and our teachers have received training on the use of the Epipen.

Special Medical Conditions

It is a parental responsibility to ensure the school is aware of any special medical needs or allergies your child may have. Contact the office directly in writing and provide us with detailed directions and required medications.

Those parents who do will receive an Individual Medical Emergency Plan form to complete and return to the school in early September. 

Emergency Procedures

Each year we have six fire drills, three in the fall and three in the spring. We have two tornado drills, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Finally, we conduct two code red / lock down drills annually.   We run these drills in order to practice in case of an actual emergency. The procedures for each of the drills will be reviewed with the students. 

School Records

Changes of address, telephone number, custody status, job, emergency contact person, doctor, etc. should be reported to the school secretary so that our records are always accurate and up-to-date.

Inclement Weather Bus Procedures

Transportation delays or cancellations occur for a variety of reasons including fog, snow, or other weather conditions. Fog delays sometimes occur even when it appears clear in parts of the Hickson community. 

In the event of a transportation delay, the delay will last for two hours. If, after the delay, transportation is cancelled, the school will remain open and there will be NO AFTERNOON transportation. If a student attends school on such a day, parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring their child/ren arrives home safely.

In the event of a transportation cancellation, there will be no transportation, morning or afternoon even when the school remains open.

Parents/guardians should be reminded that decisions to delay or cancel student transportation services are made in the best interests of student safety. Remember to listen to your radio [101.3 or 103.1 FM] for the Acode word@ WOODSTOCK REGION OR WOODSTOCK SCHOOLS or check the Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services website at www.mybigyellowbus.ca.

Temperature Extremes

Administration will consider indoor recesses and cease outdoor activity when the temperature is at or lower than -15BC or when we have a heat advisory in the spring.

Lost and Found

We have had an unusual amount of lost belongings in the past year. All student belongings should be clearly marked with the student=s name. The school cannot take responsibility for personal belongings. Found items are placed in the lost and found bin outside the activity room doors. Throughout the year, unclaimed articles are forwarded to local community agencies.

Dress for Physical Education

Because of the nature of the program, it is expected that all students will have a change of clothing to wear during Physical Education classes. Running shoes are necessary for all indoor P.E. activities.

Playground

Students are asked to adhere to the following guidelines while using the playground equipment:

• Be sure loose clothing such as scarves and shoelaces are properly fastened.
• No pushing or shoving.
• The slide is to be used in a feet first manner only.
• Leave the stones on the ground around the equipment.
• Only soft balls can be used on the school yard.
• Flip flops and loose sandals cannot be worn on the playground equipment.

 Leaving School Property

Once at school, students may not leave the property without verbal or written permission.

Lunch

Students are encouraged to bring healthy & litterless lunches.

Students are expected to:

• eat in their individual home rooms under the supervision of the assigned staff on duty (and lunch monitors for primary classrooms).
• remain in their seats and be respectful to other students in a quiet manner while eating their lunch.
• dispose of garbage and recyclable material and clean desk and floor area before going outside.
• avoid bringing utensils with sharp edges (e.g., peeler, corer, knife, etc.)

Personal Property

The school cannot accept responsibility for items brought from home, therefore students are encouraged to leave valuables at home.

Cell Phones, iPODS, etc.

These are not to be used at school between 8:50 a.m and 3:30 p.m. unless under the teachers’ supervision for curriculum related activities. Texting at school is not allowed.

Electronic Devices

In addition to the above items students are asked not to bring any electronic devices toschool.These include all types of video game consoles.

Dismissal

Bus students will depart from their assigned doors when dismissed. 

Students are to leave the school property as soon as they are dismissed, unless they are involved in a school activity. Supervision is not provided after school hours.

Parents/guardians must pick up their child(ren) at 3:30 p.m. through the front doors of the school. Students will not be dismissed without the adult being present.

School Bus Safety

To maintain a high standard of safety for our students while travelling on the school bus, we ask that all parents be aware of the rules of conduct for students.

As parents you can help us immeasurably in our efforts by becoming aware of the regulations and making sure your children understand them.

Students:

1.        Every student is responsible for good conduct on the school premises and while     travelling to and from the school on the bus.

2.         Punctuality is important - be at the bus stop on time, as the bus cannot wait.

3.        Students are expected to board and leave the bus quietly, in single file, without running or shoving.

4.         Students are expected to sit quietly and talk with quiet voices.

5.         Students are expected to sit in their assigned seats and remain seated at all times.

6.         All students are to listen to the bus driver.

7.         Students are not to eat while riding the bus.

Inappropriate behaviour may result in a loss of riding privileges. Nine buses drop off and pick up Hickson students each day. Please assist our drivers by not parking or stopping in the Bus Loading Zone. Riding another bus is not allowed. Parents are expected to transport students to other students= homes.

The TVDSB will only transport a student assigned to a particular bus to and from their permanent address/bus stop.

Thames Valley District School Board Policies

All TVDSB board policies can be found at www.tvdsb.on.ca under the Policies, Procedures and Independent Procedures tab.

Provincial Curriculum Documents and the Provincial Code of Conduct (under Safe Schools Project) may be accessed at www.edu.gov.on.ca.

Assessment and Evaluation