SCHOOL CALENDAR

A detailed school calendar is sent home for each school year.  A copy is also included in the front pages of the student agendas.  

ARRIVING AT AND DEPARTING FROM SCHOOL
In order to achieve

• a prompt start to the school day
• the fullest possible day of learning with a minimum of interruptions,

it is important that students arrive several minutes before 9:00 and 1:00.  Parent conversations with teachers after 9:00 are rarely possible.  With pressing information, please leave a note or message at the office.

Students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 are typically picked up by their parents or guardians at their classroom.  Families who are picking up students in Grades 2 to 7 are encouraged to do so at or near the entrance to the school or at an agreed to location near the school.

Walking to and from school is strongly encouraged, both for the exercise and to reduce the pressure of traffic congestion.

BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS, “WHEELIE SHOES”
Students are encouraged to travel safely to and from school in an active way.  Appropriate safety equipment (helmets!) should be used and bicycles should be locked securely. Once on the school grounds, these transportation tools must be put away and not used until it is time to return home. Skateboards & scooters are not to be used on school grounds between 8:40 and 3:20

CAR DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP: 
There is space in front of the school for student drop-off and pick-up and also  on 27th & 28th Avenue .  The parking lot is for staff use only. Student must not walk through the Staff Parking Lot and should instead “follow the PAWS Prints for a safe route between the school and 28th Avenue. Please note that cars left unoccupied for more than 3 minutes in the “Stopping Zones” may be ticketed.

SUPERVISION: 

Supervision of students begins at 8:40 and ends at 3:20.  Students should not arrive at school prior to 8:40 unless they are participating in a team practice or have an appointment with their teacher.

SAFE WALKING ROUTES: 
Students and families should always use safe routes that take advantage of marked crosswalks where possible.  It is always ideal for students and families to walk in groups, an approach known as “the walking school bus”.

ATTENDANCE

If your child will be arriving late for school:
If students arrive at school late, they need to report to the office and collect a late slip to be given to their teacher. 

Students are expected to be in their classrooms by 9:00 a.m and 1:00 pm.  When a student is late, they both disrupt the class and will likely have missed important
instruction.

LEAVING SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

During Teaching Time  If a student needs to leave school for an appointment, their parent should send a note to their child’s teacher and then when it is time to depart, “sign out” at the office.

At Recess  All students must remain on school grounds at Recess

At Lunch Hour  For children who regularly go home for lunch, please give a note confirming this plan to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the school year.  One letter is sufficient for the year.

For students in Grades 6 and 7 who normally stay for lunch in the school, but occasionally have special permission to leave the school grounds, we require a note to the teacher, dated specifically for that day, stating where the child is going and signed by the parent. Students must “sign out” at the office before leaving indicating both the time they leave and their destination.  The student must also remember to “sign in” upon return to the school.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS
The school is organized into sixteen divisions and additional staff members provide support focused on a library program, English as an Additional Language
learning and supporting students with complex learning needs.  

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CITIZENSHIP
Students have a range of opportunities to experience contributing meaningfully and positively to the school community.  Students make important contributions to the community as Lunch Monitors, Library Monitors, PA Announcers, Class Buddies, Equipment Monitors, Kindergarten Helpers, Games Leaders, The Green Team and Student Council and as members of project leadership teams.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Each year the staff, parents and community members volunteer to provide a range of sports and arts opportunities typically including volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, cross county running, track and field, band, choir, chess, and other activities. 

COMMUNICATION
School and class newsletters are emailed throughout the year.  We will be trying to reduce our use of paper by relying more on electronic communication Parent- Teacher Evening and Open House, Parent Conferences and Report Cards are key elements of communication. 

WHEN I HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN
Contact  your child’s teacher directly and arrange a suitable time to discuss the matter (either by phone or in person) .

CELL PHONES and “HAND HELD DEVICES”
Students may bring these devices to school
- for the purpose of communicating with parents as needed
- the phones must be turned off during instructional time
- camera functions may not be used without teacher permission
- electronic games on phones or other devices may not be played during the school day.

“MEDIA CONSENT”
Parents are invited to provide written consent that their child’s image  be used in photos or films for specific educational purposes.  A link to an online form is sent home at the beginning of the school year which asks for parent consent. No other photography of students is permitted

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
All visitors are required to report to the school office.  Only families of General Wolfe students, Sparetime Clubhouse, Vancouver Board of Education staff and invited guests may be in the school building or on school grounds.

CHILDCARE (Before and Afterschool Care)
Childcare is provided on the school site by the Sparetime Clubhouse. For information, call 604 875-1818. 

LUNCH PROGRAM
The General Wolfe Parent Advisory Council (PAC) run the hot lunch with Foodie kids on Tuesday's and Thursdays. Please visit HERE to access more information.

Parents who do not wish that their child participate in this program should send a home-made lunch.
*All students should bring a recess snack each day.
* Nut Policy.  We ask that families make every effort to avoid including nuts and nut products in students’ snacks and lunches.

RECESS AND LUNCH HOUR SUPERVISION AND SAFETY
Four Supervision Aides monitor the outdoor play areas, the basement play area and the lunch rooms.  Our team of Supervision Aides monitor who is on the playground, problem solve with students as needed and also organize some activities for students. Student “Equipment Monitors” sign out playground equipment.

CLOTHING AND OUTERWEAR FOR SCHOOL
Students should always wear clothing that is comfortable and suitable for active learning.  It must also be appropriate (no beach or party wear) and any visible logos or messages must be respectful and in keeping with the school Code of Conduct.  Students should always have outerwear that is suitable for the season including warm or waterproof jackets and boots when needed.

ELECTRONIC GAMES AND A.V. TECHNOLOGY
While electronic games, music and video devices play a large role in many students’ lives, these devices are not permitted during the school day.  In this way, students’ interpersonal communication and interaction skills are strengthened.  Students have access on school computers to games that are educational and there will be some exceptional circumstances when teachers may permit students to use music listening devices.

LOST AND FOUND
Our “Lost & Found” area is located at the main entrance of the School. Please check it regularly for lost items.  We recommend you sew tags or write your child’s name on coats, jackets, sweaters, and lunch kits.  If your child has misplaced an item, please check the Lost & Found immediately, then check again every few days, as lost items often take several days to arrive in the Lost and Found.

Very valuable items (e.g. eyeglasses or jewelry) are kept in the office.

Any items not claimed will be cleaned and sent to charity groups at the end of December, mid March and the end of June.

RAINY DAYS – RECESS AND LUNCH HOUR
On days of heavy rain, students have a choice of (1) playing outdoors or (2) playing quiet games in the basement.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK
Children often have eight to ten colds per year and Vancouver Coastal Health provides us with the following helpful advice:

• Students should not attend school if they are too unwell to take part in activities
• We can not always tell when someone is infectious.  For this reason we should use good infection control procedures all the time
  • Wash your hands properly (soap and water for 20 seconds)
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, throw it out and then wash your hands.  If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hand.

In the interest of the best possible overall student and staff health, students who are clearly unwell and contagious should not attend school!

EMERGENCIES – FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, INTRUDER
The staff and students regularly practice emergency procedures and are prepared for these circumstances.  In the event of an earthquake, students will be evacuated from the school, assembled on the playing field  and supervised until each child is picked up by a parent or an authorized “emergency contact”. In the event of a prolonged evacuation, students and staff will likely move to the local Community Centre.

Reach for the Stars:  Wolfe School has a home reading program called “Reach for the Stars”. All classes participate in this program for the school year.  In September, each student has a certificate posted in their classroom and receives a star after their recording sheet is returned to the classroom teacher. The last assembly of the year is used to acknowledge the year long reading achievements of all students. Students who achieve 18 stars will have read every day for the entire school year.