Policies
The following policies are covered on this page;
Health and School Nurse
When Ill…
A student will report to the main office. A call will be made to the parent/guardian to arrange for transportation home. If a student cannot get home they will be required to rest in the office until transportation can be arranged or dismissal.
The Public Health Nurse…
The nurse will be in the school for one half-day each week. Appointments may be made in the guidance office. The nurse offers confidential counseling with respect to medical, family, personal or other such concerns. Special workshops such as stress management and smoking cessation may also be conducted.
Lockers
Lockers are issued by the period 1 teacher on the first day of school. Each student has his/her own locker. It is not to be shared with another student. COMBINATION LOCKS MUST BE USED. This style of lock may be purchased in the office. Serial numbers and combinations are recorded by the period 1 teacher. Students are responsible for the condition of their lockers. Damage or concerns must be reported to the office immediately.
Students who wish to personalize their lockers with posters etc. may do so as long as there is no offensive or inappropriate material displayed and it is easily removed.
Although individual lockers are on loan to the students, they still remain the property of the District School Board of Niagara and as such may be opened and examined by school officials whenever it is deemed necessary to do so.
NEITHER NDSS NOR THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OF NIAGARA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABSOLUTE SECURITY IN THEIR LOCKERS, OR DRESSING ROOMS. Arrangements should be made with a teacher or the main office for holding appreciable amounts of money or other valuables.
Texts, Library Books and Team Uniforms
All such items are on loan. It is the student’s responsibility to return them in good condition and on request. Texts are numbered. The specific book issued to you is the one that must be returned. Lost or damaged school resources must be replaced. Students are required to pay for them.
Lost and Found
Please hand in any found articles to the main office. Enquiries about lost books and articles should be made at the reception desk in the main office.
Timetables and Examinations
NDSS is a semestered school. Each student will normally take four courses in each semester. Final exams will be held in January and again in June—at the end of each semester. There will be no exemptions from examinations. Timetable changes will be permitted only during the first two weeks of the semester. Changes after this time will be at the discretion of the guidance department and administration.
Homework
Every student is encouraged to have a “homework buddy” in each class that they can call to find out what they have missed in class if they are absent for the day. If students know of their absence ahead of time they should make appropriate arrangements with their teachers to get the work they will miss. For extended absence of 3 or more days a homework request may be made through the main office.
Study Periods and Subject Drops
All students are encouraged to take a full program of eight courses a year. However, study periods will be allowed in the senior grades, with parental permission. A student must have gained 24 credits before he/she may choose to have a study period. Thus it is critical that students and their parents choose courses wisely. During study periods, students have the use of the library for research and studying, and the use of the cafeteria for socializing. Please note that students are not to be loitering in the hallways or stairwells during class time.
Preparation for Class
To get the most from each class, it is essential that you be well prepared so that your attention, the class’ attention and the teachers’ attention can be focused on the lesson. You are expected to have with you the notebooks, textbooks and materials that your teachers have deemed necessary. It is also imperative to have homework completed and assignments submitted on time. It is both wise and prudent to be prepared for tests and examinations.
Field Trips / Excursions / Class Visits
In order for a student to take school trips, excursions, class visits or to be involved in school activities, his/her behaviour record, classroom work and attendance record will be considered. Participants must also be deemed capable of catching up on missed work. Lists of students participating in these activities will be presented to the staff in advance for their perusal. Students ineligible for a trip will not be permitted to participate. These activities will require signed parental approval prior to departure.
Supporting Student Achievement
Information for Students of the District School Board of Niagara and their Parents
Through the assessment and evaluation of students’ work, teachers are able to determine the extent to which students have achieved the curriculum expectations of each course. Having this information enables teachers to adapt instruction and review as needed. It also allows the teacher to identify students’ areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Sometimes assessment involves spontaneous feedback to students based on observations made in the classroom, the answers to questions, etc. This is an informal process and generally no marks are assigned to his kind of assessment.
Frequently, work such as assignments, problem sets, essays, projects, pieces of writing, etc. are required to be handed in so that the teacher can accurately gauge the achievement of the curriculum expectations by each student. These represent a more formal kind of evaluation.
There are several reasons why it is important that students submit their work by the deadline indicated by the teacher:
- the teacher is able to give timely feedback to students about their achievement while there is still time to make improvements
- the class is able to move along at an appropriate pace so that all students are productively engaged in learning and the curriculum content can be completed within the time allowed
- students are encouraged to develop efficient time management skills that will be useful not only in school, but in areas outside of school as well
- a more equitable classroom environment is established when all students are expected to submit work at the same time
Teachers will do their best to ensure that students have the information and support they need in order to meet assignment deadlines. This will include the use of student-teacher conferencing and contacting parents/guardians. In addition, teachers may use other techniques, including:
- student-teacher conferencing
- contacting parents/guardians
- ’mini-deadlines’, on larger assignments, for subunits of work
- providing opportunities to complete the work under supervision outside of the regular class time(e.g. lunch time or after school)
If a student foresees that he/she will be unable to meet a deadline due to extenuating circumstances, he/she should immediately speak with the teacher to discuss a possible extension.
Once an assignment has been evaluated and returned to the class, late submission of that particular assignment may not be accepted. A substitute assignment and deadline may be offered where appropriate. Failure to do the substitute assignment may result in a mark of zero.
If, despite intervention on the part of the teacher where appropriate, the student does not submit assignments in a timely manner, the teacher may deduct 5% of the achieved grade per school day up to a maximum of 25% of the achieved grade giving consideration to individual student needs and circumstances.
The teacher will maintain a record of the grade without the deduction, however the adjusted mark will be used to determine the final grade in the course.
Eligibility for Teams and Organizations
In order to play on a school team – a student must maintain a monthly passing grade in all current credit courses and be a full time student (3 credit courses per semester). If a student’s marks start to fall, if attendance or behaviour becomes a problem, or the student becomes part time (two or less credit courses per semester) the student will be withdrawn from the school team.
School Dance Policy
Doors open at 7:00 pm. Students enter via the trophy case entrance. Students must check their coats, jackets and bags. Guest students must be on a guest list and registered at another Secondary school. One guest per student is allowed. The guest list will be available in the main office. Host students must check to see if permission has been granted. The list closes at the end of lunch hour on the day before the dance. Hosts are responsible for all actions of their guests. Doors will close at 8:30pm. Any student who knows he/she will be late because of work or other commitments may sign the “late list” in the main office. This will permit admission after 8:30 pm. Anyone who leaves the building during the dance will not be readmitted. All regular school rules are in effect. Anyone who misbehaves will be sent home immediately and the parents will be contacted. If necessary, further disciplinary action will be taken when the student returns to school. Dances end at 10:00pm. Parents are asked to pick up their son/daughter promptly at 10:00 at the East/West line entrance of the school. No food or drink is allowed inside the gymnasium.
Student Fee
Students are assigned an annual fee of $50.00 which is payable at registration. This fee pays for the student planner, yearbook and is used by student council to support their activities, such as inviting speakers to the school for assemblies and other presentations.
Policy Against Bullying
When staff, students and parents work together we create a safe, optimal learning environment at Niagara District.
Niagara District School does not tolerate bullying in any form. All members of the school community are committed to ensuring a safe and caring environment, which promotes personal growth and positive self-esteem for all.
Part A — What is Bullying
Bullying is an act of aggression causing embarrassment, pain or discomfort to another.
- It can take a number of forms: physical, verbal, gesture, extortion and exclusion
- It can be an abuse of power
- It can be planned and organized or it may be unintentional
- Individuals or groups may be involved
Part B — Examples of Bullying
- Any form of unwanted contact or physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting on others
- Interfering with another’s property by stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying
- Using offensive names, teasing or spreading rumours about others or their families
- Using put-downs, belittling others’ ability and achievements
- Writing offensive notes or graffiti about others
- Making suggestive comments or other forms of sexual abuse
- Ridiculing another’s appearance
- Forcing others to act against their will
- Cyber Bullying
- posting threatening messages or spreading rumours through email and chat
- creating a website/weblog (blog) that makes fun of others
- It can take place on-line or involve technology (cell phones, computers, camera phones)
- posting threatening messages or spreading rumours through email and chat
Part C — If we are Bullied
- We may feel frightened, unsafe, embarrassed, angry or unfairly treated
- Our work, sleep and ability to concentrate may suffer
- Our relationships with our family and friends may deteriorate
- We may feel confused and not know what to do about the problem
Part D — What do we do to prevent Bullying?
As a school community we will not allow cases of bullying to go unreported but will speak up.
- THIS REQUIRES STAFF TO:
- Be role models in word and action at all times
- Be observant of signs of distress or suspected incidents of bullying
- Make efforts to remove occasions for bullying by active patrolling during supervision duty
- Arrive at class on time and move promptly between classes
- Take steps to help victims and remove sources of distress without placing the victim at further risk
- Report suspected incidents to the appropriate staff member such as guidance, youth counselor, Vice-Principal, Principal
- NDSS RECOMENDS THAT STUDENTS:
- Refuse to be involved in any bullying situation
- If you are present when bullying occurs: take some form of preventative action; report the incident or suspected incident and help break down the code of secrecy
- NDSS RECOMMENDS THAT PARENTS:
- Watch for signs of distress in son or daughter e.g. unwillingness to attend school, a pattern of headaches, missing equipment, requests for extra money
- Advise son or daughters to tell a staff member about any incident. If possible allow him/her to deal with the problem themselves
- Inform the school if bullying is suspected even if your son or daughter is not directly involved
- Keep a written record (who, what, where, when, why and how)
- Do not encourage retaliation
- Communicate that parental involvement, if necessary, will occur
- Be willing to attend any interviews with school personnel if son or daughter are involved in bullying
- Treat disrespect with respect