Message from the Principal and Vice-Principal
Welcome to St. John Bosco Catholic School! It promises to be another year filled with many exciting lessons, events, activities and new learning opportunities, all of which are undertaken in the context of our Catholic Faith. As a staff and as a community, we are proud to work together to make our school a safe learning environment where we develop the whole child and recognize the God given talents of all.
At St. John Bosco Catholic School, we value the relationship between parish, home and school. We are committed to providing a supportive environment that fosters the development of the Catholic Graduate Expectations, Virtues, and Social Teachings. These, along with equitable and fair practices, will guide all members of the community to maximize their potential.
A critical life skill for all students is both time management and organizational skills. Please support your child in using tools which will support her or his responsibilities and commitments as a learner, but also as a means of communication between you and the school. Edsby offers a daily opportunity for sharing of academic information between home and school, and should be reviewed each day. Parents are encouraged to send a separate note for communication with the educators regarding more sensitive issues (e.g., family or academic issues).
Please use our DCDSB website (which is the home of our school website) as another way to stay connected. We encourage you and your child(ren) to explore our website for more school and classroom information. You can also follow us on Twitter @StJohnBosco_CS for updates.
This handbook provides information regarding many of our school operations and policies important to both parents and students. It should be read together and signed in the sections indicated for clear understanding.
Thank you for your support as we strive to continue to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students at St. John Bosco Catholic School.
Yours in Catholic Education,
S. Dowling , Principal
C. McBride, Vice-Principal
| Mission Statement |
| We are called to celebrate and nurture the God-given talents of each student as we serve with excellence in the light of Christ. |
| Catholic Dimension |
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St. John Bosco is committed to building a strong and healthy faith community. We look forward to continuing to develop a positive working relationship with our pastor Father Micheal Hughes at St. Gertrude’s Parish. The Catholic Graduate Expectations are lived out in all aspects of our student’s lives and strong connections between school, home and parish only serve to benefit them as they strive to develop their talents and gifts guided and nurtured by the adults supporting them in their faith journey. At St. John Bosco Catholic School:
Students in Grade 2 receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion and grade seven students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sacramental preparation is the responsibility of the parish and the parents. Please contact the parish for details about the Sacraments. |
| Parish Information |
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St. Gertrude’s Parish Pastor: Father Micheal Hughes Mass Times: 5:00 p.m. |
| St. John Bosco Catholic School Prayer - English |
| Dear God, We thank you for blessing us in so many ways. Thank you for our families, our friends and our St. John Bosco Catholic School community. May we be guided by the spirit of St. John Bosco to help us live as Jesus taught us. Amen |
| St. John Bosco Catholic School Prayer - French |
| Seigneur, Nous te remercions pour toutes les grâces et tous les biens que tu nous donnes. Merci pour nos familles, nos amis et toute la communauté de l’école Catholique St. John Bosco. Que l’esprit - saint de St. John Bosco veille sur nous et qu’il guide nos pas afin de vivre comme Jésus nous l’a enseigné. Amen |
| Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations |
A graduate is expected to be:
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| School Hours |
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Yard Supervision - 8:05 a.m. |
| St. John Bosco Parent Involvement Committee |
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The role of the St. John Bosco Catholic Parent Involvement Committee is to advise the Principal and Vice-Principal on matters set out by the Ministry of Education and the Durham Catholic District School Board. The Council is composed of elected parent/guardian representatives (i.e. Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, Parish Representative, Community Representative, Parent Representatives), Principal, Vice-Principal, Teaching and Non-Teaching representatives. Please consider participating in the Council, as many voices make us a stronger Catholic community. Meetings will be held throughout the year. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend any Catholic Parent Involvement Committee meeting held throughout the school year. We look forward to working together for the betterment of every student in our Catholic community. |
| Volunteers |
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Volunteers are welcome at St. John Bosco Catholic School. They provide support in a variety of ways, including assisting in the classroom, participating in school excursions, preparing materials for students, and helping with fundraising efforts. Please Note: All volunteers are required to submit a Vulnerable Sector Criminal Background Reference Check prior to volunteering in the school. A reference check is valid for the period of one year only. A letter to receive a lower fee for this document is available at the school office. For the 2021-2022 school year we will follow the direction from the Durham Regional Health Department regarding visitors and volunteers in the school. |
| Lunch Time |
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Children eat their lunch in designated classrooms for the first 30 minutes of the lunch break. Students are expected to remain in the playground area (weather permitting) for the remaining 30 minutes. No child staying for lunch is allowed to leave the school yard without written permission from a parent or guardian and notification must be provided to the school. |
| Nut Aware Allergy Policy |
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Anaphylaxis refers to a life-threatening allergic reaction. Some of the potential causes of anaphylaxis are common foods such as: peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs and milk, as well as medications and insect stings. Anaphylaxis can occur quickly and has a variety of symptoms, including hives, swelling and difficulty breathing, which makes it a potentially life-threatening condition. In order to help protect our students at risk for anaphylaxis, St. John Bosco Catholic School has implemented a “Nut Aware” policy, which states that no peanuts or nuts are permitted into the school. This applies to snacks, lunches and any food items brought in for school events (e.g. birthdays and special celebrations). Students are asked to refrain from bringing products to school which states on the packaging: “may contain peanuts/nuts”. Please consider purchasing non-food items if you want to share a special treat with your child’s classmates; (e.g. pencil, stickers, etc.). There are other students at risk for anaphylaxis in our classrooms who are allergic to other food items or allergens. We strive to help minimize the risk for all children in our school. As per DCDSB policy, all anaphylactic students MUST have an Individual Student Plan which is to be completed by parents or guardians and returned to school by the end of the first week of classes. |
| Medical Considerations |
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If your child requires medication at school, medical information forms, including the Administration of Oral Medication Form, must be completed and submitted to the office. These forms are available in the office and must be signed by a parent or guardian. All medications will be stored at the office. Please inform your child’s teacher of any medical conditions or concerns that may arise during the school year. |
| Eco School Initiative |
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The staff and students of St. John Bosco Catholic School are excellent stewards of God’s creation. We follow environmentally friendly practices at school such as: reducing our waste (e.g., boomerang lunches and using reusable containers for snacks and lunches), recycling (e.g., using the blue bins to recycle paper and cardboard), and reducing our electrical usage (e.g., turning off lights and computers when not in the classrooms). We BOOMERANG every school day! This means that students and staff must take home all packaging and food which is not eaten. Not only does this reduce waste but it will assist parents in monitoring what the students are eating. |
| Dress Code |
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Students are required to dress modestly and appropriately for a Catholic School. All clothing must be reflective of our Catholic School environment and must not display any inappropriate logos or messages. Please do not wear: strapless tops, basketball tank tops, low riding pants, or short shorts. All shorts must be an appropriate length (i.e. at an arm’s length). All undergarments must be covered. All dress code infractions will be addressed with discretion and respect. |
| Bus Transportation |
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Students who live within the Bus Transporting Zone will have bus transportation provided. It is important that your child arrives at the pick-up point at the designated time and disembarks at their designated stop. Students must be made aware that riding a school bus is a privilege. The students must exhibit proper and safe behaviours while riding the bus. If an infraction occurs, a warning letter will be sent home. For repeated infractions, your child may be suspended from riding the bus for a designated period of time. In such cases, parents must then make alternate arrangements until the child is permitted back on the bus. Students who walk to and from school are not permitted to ride the bus under any circumstance. Bus students are only permitted to ride their designated bus to and from school. Students are assigned a “bus stop” and are not permitted to get on or off the bus at a different stop. Students who ride the bus are expected to travel both ways on the bus and are not allowed to walk home unless they have prior written permission from a parent. Students are expected to sit quietly on the bus while being transported to and from school. They must also obey the bus driver at all times. |
| Kiss and Ride |
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Students may be picked up by a parent or guardian in our Kiss and Ride which is located in the driveway off Clearbrook Drive. Students will arrive at the front of the school in the morning and after school they are to wait outdoors until their “ride” arrives. We ask all drivers to respect the signage and painted lines. During Kiss and Ride, only right turns are permitted out of the driveway to lessen the traffic at the intersection of Clearbrook Dr. and Coldstream Dr. We encourage all students to walk to school. This will alleviate the volume of traffic around the school during arrival and dismissal times. Parents and guardians are asked to OBEY road signs at all times. We thank you for your assistance in this important safety matter. |
| DCDSB Safe, Caring, and Healthy Elementary Schools |
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The Durham Catholic District School Board recognizes that a school should be a place that promotes responsibility, respect, civility, and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. A positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, comfortable, and accepted. It is the responsibility of all members of the school community to work together to create a positive learning environment where all members feel supported. |
| Access to Premises |
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Parents/guardians are welcome to visit the school to discuss an issue with teachers or administrators. In keeping with the Board’s Access to School Premises Policy, all doors will remain locked during school hours. Our Safe Welcome Program provides an intercom and camera at the main door of the school for all visitors to communicate with the office prior to entering the school. This enhances the safety of students and staff. Please remember that anyone coming into the school must first sign in at the office and obtain a Visitor’s badge. (Parents/guardians are not allowed access to the school yard before school or during recesses and noon hour.) At recess time, the school yard is well supervised and staff will question anyone whose presence is not expected. Each member of staff is wearing photo ID and is identified on duty with a safety vest. If a parent/guardian needs to pick up his/her son/daughter during the school day, this must be facilitated at the office. Members of the office staff will call the student down to the office to be signed out. If parents send a friend/relative/designate to pick up their child, please advise the school in advance and ask the designate to provide photo identification at the office. If the student returns to school before dismissal, he/she must sign back in at the office so that his/her attendance can be monitored. |
| Make Every Day Count - Attendance Matters |
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Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Now is the time to start building this habit so your child learns right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college or university and in the world of work. Did You Know? Research shows:
School success goes hand in hand with good attendance! What You Can Do:
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| Safe Arrival - Automated Attendance |
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In June 2018, The Durham Catholic District School Board adopted a new automated attendance system, called Safe Arrival, for reporting student absences. Safe Arrival reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance making it easier for you to report your child’s absence and easier for staff to respond to unexplained student absences. Parents are able to report their child’s absence quickly and conveniently using three different methods: 1. Parents can log into a website: go.schoolmessenger.ca to report student absences. 2. Parents can call into the automated interactive telephone system using the toll free number 1-844-288-7628 through which absences can be reported. 3. Parents can download the SafeArrival app for iOS and Android smartphones. Search for the keyword school messenger in the Google Play store or the Apple App store. Select Canada, select sign up, enter your email address that is on file with the school, enter a password. All three methods are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Future absences, like doctor’s appointments can be reported ahead of time. For more information, please visit the school website. |
| Restorative Schools |
| We believe that safety begins with positive connections between the students, staff and parents. To foster these relationships, staff in the Durham Catholic District School Board use restorative practices, including classroom circles and small group conferences to build community within the classroom and the school. Restorative Practice is rooted in the same philosophical approach as Canada’s Native Aboriginal communities. It rests on the belief that it is best to do things with people, rather than to them. When conflict arises, using restorative practice engages students in a fair process that responds to behavior in ways that strengthen and repair the relationship. It is collaborative rather than adversarial in nature. The aim of restorative practice is to hold individuals accountable for their actions while restoring and repairing any relationships amongst each other and within the community that may have been harmed.
Catholic Restorative Schools will:
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| Code of Conduct |
| Please click here to read the Code of Conduct |
