Attendance,  Punctuality and Reporting Absences

Teachers, counsellors, and administration regularly monitor attendance, attitude, and achievement.  Classroom teachers record absences and punctuality for each class into MyEdBC, (Ministry of Education student information data system). Student absences are then reported daily to parents/guardians via the School Messenger System by both voice mail and email notification. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the school office for both a daily absence and/or extended absence.

Daily absences - Parents/guardians can now report absences to the office by email at uhillswitchboard@vsb.bc.ca  Emails should be sent using a parent/guardian email address and should provide the students name, date of absence, grade, student number and reason for the absence.    For extended absences parents/guardians must email the student’s counsellor.  A student should also be provided a note for their teachers.  Students must be reminded that falsifying attendance notes is unacceptable.  It is the student’s responsibility to make up any work that is missed, regardless of the reason for the absence. Exceptions to this may be granted due to unforeseen circumstances.  If a student becomes ill while at school, or has an appointment during school time, student’s must sign out at the office.  Students will only be released with parent permission.  Students who are ill should not come to school and if they attend school and is deemed to be unwell, parents/guardians will be contacted to pick up their child.  

 Extended Periods of Absence

While parents/guardians have the right to remove their student from school for an extended period, there are natural consequences for this choice.  For students who take extended vacations, it is the subject teacher’s discretion to allow missed work.  Regardless, it is likely that a student’s grades will be affected from missing classes.  Any student who misses more than one month of school in consecutive absences may be withdrawn and asked to re-register upon their return.

Notice of Late Return 

Any student who arrives late for school in September without having completed a Notice of Late Return Form may be withdrawn.   Any student who leaves school before the final in-school exams may receive a zero on any missed exams.  Any student who leaves school before completing the Provincial Assessments must re-write the exam at a later date.   Note that U Hill Secondary may not offer all assessment sittings. 

Cell Phones and other Electronic Devices

The use of cell phones is not permitted in classes except as directed by the teacher for learning activities.  Cell phones must be turned off during classes.  Students who do not comply with this rule will have their cell phone or device confiscated and given to the administration to deem appropriate consequences.  Cell phones and other electronic devices should not be brought to exams.  During provincial and AP exams, if a student’s cell phone rings, the student will be disqualified for the examination.

Lockers and Locks

Lockers are school property. They must be treated with care and may be opened by the administration if the need arises. It is strongly recommended that students purchase and use a school-issued heavy-duty lock for their lockers. Please note, each student requires two locks – one for their personal locker, and one for the PE locker room. Parents/Guardians and students are reminded that neither the school nor the VSB has insurance to cover the loss of or damage to a students’ personal property. We recommend that students never leave valuable items or cash in lockers.

Textbooks

Textbooks are provided free of charge, subject to their return in good condition. Students are charged the REPLACEMENT COST for lost or damaged textbooks. Yearbooks, reports, and registration documents may be withheld if there are outstanding charges.

Illness & Accidents

All cases of illness and accidents occurring in the school or on the grounds are to be reported at once to the office. No student is to leave the school because of illness or accident without reporting to the school office so that parents/guardians may be notified.

Field Trips/Career Preparation

Prior to participating in field trips and work experience placements, students must have consent forms signed by parents/guardians and have obtained approval from subject teachers.

Lost & Found

If you have lost or found an item, please check or drop it off at the office as soon as possible.  Note that found items will only be held for 60 days.   It is very important that everyone takes care of their belongings to prevent them from being lost or stolen.

Thefts

All students are reminded to lock their items in a locker. Please report your loss or theft at the office immediately. It is imperative that students do not bring valuables to school or share lockers.  Parents/Guardians and students are reminded that neither the school nor the Vancouver School Board has insurance to cover the loss of or damage to a student’s personal property.

Lunch

The school has a cafeteria open before school and at lunch.  There are microwaves available for students who wish to bring a hot lunch.

Bicycles, Longboards, Roller Skates

Students are welcome to ride, board or skate to school but must dismount once on school property.  Students are strongly recommended to lock up their bicycles. The school accepts no responsibility for lost or damaged bicycles.

Environmental Friendliness

University Hill recycles and composts.  Students are asked to place their food waste in the green containers located throughout the school.  Our compost is collected by the U-Hill Environmental Club and taken to the UBC Farm.  Students are also asked to recycle refundable bottles and cans.  The U-Hill Leadership Class coordinates all recycling and donates all the money earned to the U-Hill Scholarship Fund. 

Parking Lot

The school parking lot is for University Hill Staff only. 

 Student Drop Off

The parking lot is very busy before and after school, Therefore, we encourage students to walk, bike or take transit to school.

School Store

The School Store is run by the Business Education students and is only open during the lunch break.  The store sells school supplies and other sundries.    

 

SCHOOL & COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS

 School website   u-hill-sec.vsb.bc.ca

Add our website to your favourites to view the most up-to-date information! 

Daily Bulletin

The daily bulletin is posted outside the Office and on the school website.  Students wishing to submit notices must have them initialed by a sponsor teacher before presenting them to the office by 12:30pm, the day prior to publication.  

Parent Bulletin

A monthly newsletter highlighting school events and activities are emailed out.

Email

Parents please ensure that your email is correct in our school records to receive community events and information.

 We ask Parents/Guardians wishing to meet with any staff member to make an appointment via email or by contacting the main office. 

Multicultural Liaison Workers The Multicultural Liaison Workers are the home language based cultural bridge of

 the Vancouver School Board, knowledgeable and active members of their ethnic communities.  They enhance communication between home and school through linguistic and cultural interpretation. They are professionally trained and have experience with issues related to cultural integration and cross-cultural communication.  Services and support are available in the following languages: Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Filipino, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, South Asian (Hindi and Punjabi) and Vietnamese.  Multicultural Liaison Workers can be reached at  (604) 713-5958.

 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Physically disabled students are supported in the following emergency procedures by their SSA, teachers, and other students.

FIRE - At the sound of the alarm:

 A.    When classes are in session, students:

1.     Follow the instructions of the teacher.

2.     Leave the building in an orderly and quiet fashion so that instructions can be heard.

3.     Remain in class groups with their Teacher.

4.     Move well away from the buildings and report to the assembly area (the turf field).

5.     Are not to re-enter the building until they hear the tone signal.

B.     When classes are not in session (noon hour, between periods, before and after school), students:

1.     Leave the building in an orderly fashion through the nearest exit and move to the assembly area (the turf field) and report to Homeroom teacher.

2.     Move away from the exits and off the driveways so as not to impede fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.

EARTHQUAKE

A.    When classes are in session, students:

1.     Immediately DROP AND TAKE COVER under desks or tables.

2.     TURN AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

3.     ASSUME CRASH POSITION (on knees, head down, eyes closed tightly, clasped hands on back of neck or head covered with book or jacket).

4.     Stay under cover until the shaking stops then COUNT ALOUD to 60 and remain in sheltered position.

5.     BE SILENT AND LISTEN FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

B.     When classes are not in session (noon hour, between periods, before and after school), students:

1.     Immediately DROP AND TAKE COVER.

2.     Move to an interior wall and TURN AWAY FROM WINDOWS, shelving, or heavy objects such as lockers that may fall.

3.     ASSUME CRASH POSITION.

4.     Stay under cover until shaking stops then COUNT ALOUD TO 60.

5.     BE SILENT AND LISTEN FOR INSTRUCTIONS; do not leave building until instructed. 

Hold and Secure

When a threat is outside of the school, all outside school doors are locked disallowing any entry into the school.

Lockdown

If a level of threat is more immediate, a code red involves full lock down with all staff and students quiet and away from the windows and sightlines while awaiting instruction.  All inside doors are locked and blinds are drawn.

 Shelter in Place

Environmental or weather hazard outdoors is impacting the school.

 Emergency Procedures

In the event that a potential threat may be encountered, emergency procedures will be used when it is either safer to stay in an area that can be secured and/or leave the building as and when it is safer to do so.

 Dangerous Goods Incidents

Instructions will be given over the PA system. Teachers and students remain in the building until an evacuation route has been determined.  Teachers guide their students to the evacuation assembly point. Students remain in class groups until dismissal or re-entry procedures are determined.