Student Agenda
Welcome to St. Patrick Catholic School!
Information below will acquaint you with the routines and programs at St. Patrick Catholic School. This information is a reference throughout the school year.
With the support of you, as parents, our highly competent staff and the St. Patrick community, we look forward to a rewarding year.
Address
280 Delaney Dr.,
Ajax, ON L1T 3N5
Tel: 905-427-2866
Fax: 905-427-5855
Principal: Carolyn Bartlett
Vice-Principal: Michael Neubauer
Please take some time to review the contents of our student agenda listed below with your child. Thank you.
| Durham Catholic District School Board's Mission |
| We are called to celebrate and nurture the God-given talents of each student as we serve with excellence in the light of Christ. |
| A Message from the Principal and Vice-Principal |
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At St. Patrick Catholic School, we are committed to providing a safe, caring and rich learning environment for all students. In partnership with St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and our parent community, student well-being and achievement are our top priority. We encourage every student to reach his or her full potential in an inclusive community and to live and work in a French Immersion centre. We hope to nurture, support and inspire students on their road to becoming compassionate, confident and responsible Catholic graduates. Students from Grades 1-8 will be using this agenda as a tool for learning. Recording daily work and making note of important dates will help foster good organization and time-management skills. The agenda is also a great tool for communication between home and school. We remind you to follow us on Twitter. Please subscribe to our school website for upcoming events, monthly calendars and other information. We also ask that you ensure that we always have your updated contact numbers as well as an email address. We regularly send out information through email. We look forward to working in partnership with you for a successful school year! Partners in Christ, Mme Bartlett Mr. Neubauer Principal Vice-Principal |
| School Hours |
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Entry Bell 8:40 Recess 10:04 - 10:20 Lunch 11:25 - 12:25 Recess 1:50 - 2:05 Dismissal 3:10
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| School Prayer |
| St. Patrick, we pray for our community to be a safe and caring place for our students, staff and families.
We pray for the poor and the needy. Help those who are sad and lonely and those who are sick. Help us to open our hearts and our minds as we work together as brothers and sisters in God’s family. Amen
St. Patrick, nous prions pour notre communauté afin qu’elle soit un endroit sûr et accueillant pour nos élèves, le personnel, et les familles. Nous prions pour ceux qui sont tristes et seuls et pour ceux qui sont malades. Guide-nous à faire des bons choix et donne-nous la force et la sagesse. Aide-nous à faire de notre mieux avec les dons que vous nous avez donnés. Aide-nous à ouvrir nos coeurs et nos esprits quand nous travaillons ensemble. Amen |
| Our Parish - St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church |
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Our school's Parish is: St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church 1001 Ravenscroft Road, Ajax, ON Phone: (905) 683-1403 Fax: (905) 683-2301 Pastor: Fr. Joseph Singh Associate Pastor: Fr. M. Buttigieg Weekend Masses: Saturday: 5 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM; 10:15 AM; 12:00 PM; 7:00 PM https://stfrancisdesales.ca |
| Daycare Information |
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P.R.Y.D.E. Learning Centre Phone (905) 428-0531 Supervisor, R.E.C.E.: Eileen Robinson |
| 2021 - 2022 School Year Calendar |
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The school will be closed on the following holidays and professional activity (PA) days:
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| Drop Off & Pick Up |
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Parents/guardians who are dropping their children off at school must use either Griffiths Street or Delaney Drive. Parking is allowed on the streets except in the no parking zones near the front driveway. Do not enter into the front parking lot (designated bus lane) to drop off students or to park before or after school. Also, there is limited parking for staff; therefore do not park in the parking lot. For pick up in the afternoons, you are asked to meet your child at the same place daily to reduce confusion. It is unsafe for students to be picked up in the parking lot or in the bus lane. Supervision takes place from 8:25 AM to 8:40 AM. The school day begins at 8:40 AM so students are expected to be in class and ready to learn at that time. Students should enter the building immediately upon arrival as we have supervised free entry into the building.to avoid peak traffic times. |
| Signing Your Child In and Out of School |
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The safety of our students is of utmost importance. Along with our regular attendance procedures, students are required to be signed in and out of the school, during the regular school day, if they are coming or going outside of the regular entry and dismissal times. To help facilitate this process, you must call 1-844-288-7628 before 8:40 AM and record any scheduled appointments in your child’s agenda so that classroom educators will be aware and send students down to the office at the required time. |
| Durham Student Transportation Services |
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Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) Office: (905) 666-6395 or 1 (800) 240-6943 Automated Telephone Line: (905) 666-6979 or 1 (866) 908-6578 Website: www.dsts.on.ca Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) is responsible for the management of all home to school transportation for eligible students in Durham Region. The DSTS automated phone line is the easiest way to obtain accurate information. You will need to have your child’s date of birth and student OEN number (9 digit student number found on your child’s report card). |
| Inclement Weather |
Cancellations Due to Weather Conditions:
To stay up-to-date with bus issues, download the DCDSB app to your smart phone. Search DCDSB. Once downloaded, select “School and Bus Alerts” from the bottom banner. You can then choose your child(ren)’s bus number. You need to still call into the Safe Arrival line to report your child as absent if you are NOT driving them |
| School Bus Safety |
Safety Expectations:
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 may be sent home. For repeated infractions, your child may be suspended from riding the bus for a designated period of time. Alternate transportation arrangements will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian during this time. |
| Bicycle & Skateboard Safety |
| Students may ride their bicycles or skateboards to school with their parent/guardian’s permission. It is required by law that helmets are worn, and this is the expectation for all students who choose to ride their bicycle or skateboard. Once on school property, students must walk for the safety of themselves and others. Bicycles can be locked in the bicycle racks at the back of the school, and skateboards should be dropped off in the office until the end of the day. |
| Lunch Hour |
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Due to our ever increasing enrolment and to ensure safety in the school yard, we have a “split lunch”. Students in Grades 1 to 3 eat lunch from 11:25-11:55, and then go out for recess until 12:25. Students from Grades 4 to 8 go outside at 11:25 and come in to eat from 11:55-12:25. For your convenience, there is a lunch drop off table in the front foyer where you can leave your child’s lunch with his/her name/teacher’s name clearly labeled. The privilege of going out for lunch is reserved for intermediate students only. Intermediate students leaving school property for lunch must have a dated and signed note, for each occasion, indicating that they have parent or guardian permission to leave school property during the lunch hour. Students will not be allowed to call home to make arrangements and verbal permission will not be accepted. Students are expected to be back on time for the start of class at 12:25 PM. |
| Parent Volunteers |
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Parent Volunteers in the School & Police Vulnerable Sector Checks Parent volunteers are a welcome and vital part of our school community. Volunteers provide valuable assistance in classrooms, during school trips, and support special programs and events in the school. If you are interested in volunteering in the school, a Police Vulnerable Sector Check is required. Once completed, the documentation is good for one year from the date of issue. A letter is available at the office to reduce the cost of this service. |
| Allergies |
| Anaphylaxis Alert Anaphylaxis is a serious and rapid allergic reaction which can be LIFE THREATENING. Foods are amongst the most common causes of an allergic reaction, but medications, insect stings, latex and exercise can also cause a reaction. Several students in our school have an anaphylactic allergy to various allergens. To help ensure their safety, nuts and products containing nuts are not permitted in the school. Please note that nuts may not be the only allergy in your child’s class. For classrooms that have students with anaphylactic allergies, signs will be posted advising of the specific allergies. We ask that you carefully read food labels before sending snack and lunch items with your child. Your cooperation is essential in keeping all of our students safe and we thank you in advance for your support and understanding. If your child has an anaphylactic allergy, it is essential that you inform the school and provide updated medical information and medication at the beginning of each school year and if medical conditions change. Please contact the school for more information on the required documents. |
| Administration of Medication |
| Medical Concerns and Oral Medications
In order to maintain the safety of all students, only nut free treats will be allowed at school for any celebration. Arrangements must be made with the classroom teacher PRIOR to drop off and must be left at the office. If arrangements are not made, the treats will be sent back home. Parents are not allowed down to the classrooms to deliver these treats. Also, purchasing pizza lunches for the class is not permitted. Please consider healthy snacks as alternatives to sweet treats such as fruit or veggies. A great alternative to food items are fun pencils or erasers. Asthma Medication & Ryan’s Law Ryan's Law, 2015, was recently passed by the Ontario Legislature. This piece of legislation is an important step to support the well-being of students with asthma in Ontario schools. If your child has asthma, you will be required to complete the “Asthma Management Plan”. This form provides specific details and instructions on the administration of the required medication for your child and gives parental consent to store and administer this medication at school. With your permission, your child will be allowed to carry his/her asthma medication on his/her person at all times. You are encouraged to provide a fanny pack or pouch to facilitate this. Permission will need to be renewed each school year along with any updates to your child’s medical information. |
| Homework |
| In order to ensure that we continue to have assessment for and as learning (in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s Growing Success Policy), homework will only be work that should otherwise have been finished in class and the end stages of in-school assignments, projects or practice activities. Students may be assigned incomplete work due to planned absences. Assignments that are solely done at home will not be evaluated for the report card.
Part of a nightly homework routine should include time for reading whether it has been directly assigned or not. Ongoing review of concepts and studying for quizzes or tests is also appropriate and necessary. Children need time to be children and to have the opportunity for family time. Consequently, homework will not be assigned during holidays and weekend homework will be kept to a minimum. |
| Dress Code |
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Health, safety and modesty form the basis of our dress code policy which will be enforced on a daily basis. Clothing must represent the ideals of our Catholic Education system (e.g., clothing that endorses alcohol or illegal activities, uses profane language or contradicts the teachings of the Church must not be worn). Students are expected to:
respect for others
(no higher than tips of fingers with arms at sides)
even when arms are raised overhead (no spaghetti straps; undergarments hidden from view)
for physical education class which can be used as indoor shoes during class time. |
| School Cash Online |
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School Cash Online is now our preferred method of payment for all activities and lunch programs taking place at the school. School Cash Online has been designed to be an easy to use, efficient online payment system. All you need to do is follow these four simple steps to get started. You will require your child’s OEN number to register. This number is found on your child’s report card.
***If you are NOT able to view or print a receipt, this means you have NOT YET paid or finished the payment process.*** |
| Stay Connected |
Subscribe to our school website and stay informed about upcoming events and information.
You will receive a verification email in which you must confirm before receiving our emails. We are no longer publishing a monthly newsletter. The website will be our main form of communication with you. You can also follow us: •Twitter: @StPatrick_DC |
| Safe, Caring and Healthy Elementary Schools |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| Attendance Matters - Make Every Day Count |
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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 |
| 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. |
| Restorative Schools |
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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 |
| Click here to read the Code of Conduct. |
