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General InformationHomework Students are expected to set aside time each evening to complete their homework. A regular time and a quiet place to study is important. Homework may consist of completion of work started in class, study for tests, silent reading, special projects or review of daily notes. At The Valleys, we consider the completion of homework as a Learning Skill that impacts student achievement. Suggested Times For Senior School Students: 45 minutes Students should use their Student Organizer to record homework assignments, tests and due dates. Student Fees In order to consolidate the demands for money, we are instituting a one time Student Fee to cover the majority of costs incurred by the students. The Student Fee covers the organizer, French cahier, Math workbook, locks (for Grade 6 students), student card, yearbook, concert series and special events. The Student Fee is $35.00 for grades 7 & 8 and $40.00 for grade 6. Please make cheque payable to The Valleys Senior Public School. There will be other incidental costs throughout the year e.g. student pictures, field trips, etc. Lates and Absences Please phone the school at 905-275-5125 to advise us of a student's absence for the day. A dated note signed by the parent explaining the reason for absence must be brought to school when the student returns. A student is considered late if he/she is not in the assigned class by 8:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.. Students need to obtain a late slip from the office and will be expected to make up missed time after school. Permission is needed from the office to leave school early (use sign out book). Phoning Home From time to time students need to call home. Students are allowed to use the office phone when ill and for emergencies. A pay phone is available for students to use before and after school. The phone accepts coin, prepaid and calling cards. Electronic Devices Electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, walkmans, games, etc. must be secured in the student's locker during instructional hours (8:40 a.m. -2:55 p.m.) Valuables Students are not to bring valuable items to school such as expensive jewellery or any other valuable personal items. Please label personal items. Physical Education For reasons of health and safety we request that all students wear running shoes and proper attire and remove all jewellery for their gym classes. All students are required to participate in physical education unless excused by a medical certificate. Approved physical education equipment will be provided for all activities. Students are not to bring items such as baseball bats, hardballs, hockey sticks, pucks, lacrosse sticks, etc. to school. Guidance/Counselling Services Assistance is available from our counsellor. Students can make an appointment by placing a request in the appointment box. Counselling can be arranged individually or in groups. The counsellor can assist students in developing their study skil1s, with personal problems, school and grade problems, career planning, applications for regional programs and course selection for high school. Regional Programs The Peel District School Board offers several regional programs that may be of interest to our students.
Peer Mediation As part of our anti-bullying campaign, The Valleys has set up a peer mediation process where students help other students resolve conflicts peacefully. Peer mediators are trained in conflict resolution strategies and bring these strategies not only to the peer mediation process but also to their classrooms. Library All students receive an orientation on how to use the computerized library system that allows them to check in/out library materials. Each student has their own library access code and are not to share this code with other students. Students have a limit of signing out two books for two weeks (videos are a one week loan). All overdue materials are to be returned before new materials are signed out. Students are responsible for the materials they sign out and we expect that all materials will be returned in the same condition as borrowed. It is necessary for us to impose a recovery fee for lost or damaged materials. This fee helps defray the high cost of maintaining our excellent collection. Students and parents may check the loan status of borrowed items online. Copyright, Source Citations and Plagiarism Students are required to understand their responsibility in knowing how to properly acknowledge material quoted from other authors and publishers in their assignments. The Valleys has produced a plagiarism policy and citation guide to assist students in using the proper format for citing sources (bibliographies and footnotes). Included in this document are proper entries for books, encyclopedias, magazines, CD Roms, Internet, e-mail, and on-line images. Most people are familiar with many of these uses of resources; however, we would like to stress that any pictures, maps, charts, graphs, etc. taken off the Internet and scanned into reports are also subject to copyright and, if use is permitted, need to be cited beneath the picture and in the bibliography section. The Valleys Internet Use Procedure New technologies are shifting in ways that information may be accessed, communicated and transferred. Those changes may also alter instruction and student learning. Along with access to computers and people all over the world comes the availability of materials that may not be considered appropriate in the classroom. However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials. Ultimately, the school staff: parents and guardians of Ininors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that students should follow when using media and infonnation sources. The Valleys supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to allow their child to apply for access to the Internet. Rules and Responsibilities Students are responsible for proper behaviour on school computer networks. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behaviour and communications apply. Internet is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others in relation to schoolwork. Access to network' services is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Parent permission is required. Access is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, based upon the acceptable use guidelines outlined in this document, the system administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decisions are final. The system administrators may close an account at any time. The user is expected to abide by the following network rules of etiquette:
Visitors All visitors to The Valleys must enter by the front doors, sign the Visitor's Book and obtain a Visitor's Badge. Please sign out and return the visitor's badge on your departure. Wheels Skateboards, roller blades, scooters, etc. are not permitted on school property. Bikes should be locked in the bike racks. Report Cards Formal report cards will be sent home 3 times per year ~ November 28,2003, March 26,2004 and June 23,2004. Interviews will be scheduled the weeks of December lst, 2003 and March 29th, 2004. Parents are encouraged to keep in regular contact with the teachers and check the agenda daily for notes, due dates and other information. Student Recognition Valleys' students are recognized in a variety of ways for their outstanding accomplishments. Each month selected students are awarded a certificate for contributing positively to our school by consistently demonstrating excellence or improving in one or more of the following areas: responsibility, citizenship, and leadership in class, self-motivation, effort and academic achievement. Also, at the end of each month, two students from each grade level are selected as " Athletes of the Month" for demonstrating skill and leadership in Physical Education and extra curricular sports. These certificates are displayed in the hall outside the gym. At the end of each school year, specific awards are presented to students at each grade level. Students who win these awards have gone beyond expectations in effort, behaviour, attitude and academic achievement. Parent Permission Forms Parents' signature required for discipline policy, lunchtime options, walking form and Internet Discipline in Peel Schools Parents, students and schools working together The Peel District School Board requires each school to have a Code of Conduct that reflects the Board's Discipline Policy and the Violence Free Schools Policy of the Ministry of Education. A. The Peel District School board is committed to providing school learning environments that are safe, orderly, nurturing, positive and respectful. Such learning environments are to be peaceful and welcoming for all. They must be free of negative factors such as abuse, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, hateful words and deeds and physical violence in any form. They must clearly demonstrate respect for social justice and human rights and promote the values needed to develop responsible members of a democratic society. The goals of the policy are to:
The Safe Schools Act, 2000 s. 306, 307 and 308 governs the suspension of students from school and from engaging in all school-related activities. Mandatory Suspension -subject to mitigating factors in Reg. 106/01
Valleys Code of Behaviour Everyone has the right to learn in a safe and supportive environment Code of Conduct Statement I have the right to learn.It is my responsibility to participate and to follow school and classroom routines and expectations. What it looks like: I will come to class on time and prepared with supplies outlined at the beginning of the year I will follow classroom routines I will meet deadlines I will use my agenda daily and share it with my parents I will raise a hand in class to ask a question I will speak politely I will listen when others are talking I will take turns I will be honest (tell the truth, understand that plagiarism is not accepted) I have the right to learn in a safe environment. It is my responsibility to work and play safely and to respect personal and public property. What it looks like: I will keep hands, and feet to myself I will discuss, disagreements using an appropriate tone of voice I will keep unsafe objects at home I will not draw on, rip or otherwise destroy personal property I will use hall passes when out of the classroom I will never intimidate or bully other to get my way I will walk on the right hand side of the stairs and halls. I have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. It is my responsibility to be kind, thoughtful and considerate of others. It is my responsibility to listen to other opinions and accept differences. What it looks like: I will practice active listening skills I will accept others' culture beliefs, dress and ideas without putdowns or teasing I will express my opinion, thoughts using vocabulary that is not offensive I will use body language that demonstrates good manners and respect I will help teachers and students I will practice good manners I will cooperate with others in group situations I will speak with respect to adults and students I will clean up after myself, put things away I will follow the school dress code. In addition our Code of Behaviour supports the following statements:
Dress Code The Valleys is a school- a place for learning. Students are expected to dress in a manner that reflects proper self-respect and respect for our school. This code has been reviewed by our School Council, Valleys' staff and aligned with neighbouring schools. The intent of our Dress Code is to promote and maintain a respectful environment for learning. Dress Code Expectations
Responsibility Room The Responsibility Room is an area where students are referred after the classroom teacher has exhausted all other alternatives. Generally, it is not a time for the student to complete classroom work; it is a time for students to plan more effective behaviours to use when they return to their class. Missed work should be made up for home homework or during remedial time at the end of the day. Students are only removed from that class in which they have displayed unacceptable behaviour such that they have interfered in the teaching of the teacher or the learning of the other students in the class. Removal from class is an anticipated consequence of irresponsible behaviour not a punishment. Time Out System Time Out #1: Initial warning when any student interferes with the teacher's right to teach and the student's right to learn. Time Out #2: Separation from the group (back of class, another class) Time Out #3: Referral to Responsibility Room At the end of the day, teachers will receive referrals and student plan. A student conference may be arranged with the teacher to assist with re-entry into the class. Phone calls will be made home at the discretion of the Vice Principal or Principal. Lunch Hour There are four options for the lunch hour: 1. To eat lunch at school in the lunchroom supervised by school staff 2. To go home for lunch under parent/family supervision. 3. To go elsewhere for lunch under parent/family supervision. To assist us in our effort to ensure safety of our students at lunchtime, we ask for your cooperation and support of our lunchtime policy. Problems often occur when students go to friend's homes without parental permission, or to local malls. Due to safety conditions, the creek behind the Community Centre property is out of bounds. We will continue the service of selling pizza and subs and, in addition, the school has vending machines that sell snacks and drinks. Please provide a written note if there are any changes to the above procedures. Please sign and indicate your choice for your child over lunchtime. You may indicate more than one choice.
Bullying: Behaviours and Solutions Everyone has the right to learn in a safe and suportive environment.
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