A Message From The Principal
Welcome to Woodman Drive/Echo Place School - A School of Everyday Heroes!
This year we will be working on improving our writing and math skills. Our staff will continue to improve our instructional skills in these areas, while our students will be working hard to become more competent in numeracy and literacy. At Woodman/Echo schools, character education is valued and hence our mission statement of being Everyday Heroes. We believe that if our students care about each other, make their community a better place and always give their best effort, our students will become valuable members of our society-and what more could anyone ask?
We also update the calendar all the time to assist you and your families with your school organization. To find your child's teacher information, click on "classes "at the top and then your child's teacher. This will allow you to access classroom information. Call me if you have difficulty navigating the website and I will assist. We are learning how to better utilize the website as well.
Parent Engagement means: making learning an important part of a child's day, supporting students at home and at school and participating in the life of the classroom, school, and community. For more information on how this can happen, go to www.ontario.ca/EDUparents
The best way to help your children is to stay involved with the school. Ask questions, offer feedback-help us help your children!
If you have any concerns please call me at 519-756-5013 or e-mail me at greg.rowe@granderie.ca.
Greg Rowe,
Principal
Registration
Below is the form needed to register your child here at Woodman Public School. We look forward to seeing you! Please print off both sides, filling them in, and bring them with you when you register your child.
Please note that in order to register a child in our school, you need to bring with you the following documents
- A piece of mail to prove that you live at your address. For example, you can bring with you an electric, gas, or phone bill that includes your current address.
- Your child's birth certificate.
Kindergarten Registration
Please report to Paulette Doyon (secretary) for registration information and details. We would appreciate that you call the school by appointment to set a time and date to register your child. We can be reached at:
519-756-5013.
If you have missed the registration deadline, and still are wanting to register your child for Junior Kindergarten, please note that in order to register for September, your child needs to turn four years of age by December 31st, of the same year. Please contact the school as soon as possible to register your child. Staffing of schools occurs in April/May and is based on existing and new student registrations.
Voluntary Aboriginal Self-Identification
When you register your child for school, you may wish to also declare your aboriginal status. Below you will find information regarding voluntary aboriginal self-identification.
Grand Erie District School Board recognizes the importance of school success for Aboriginal students. Our dedicated staff members are committed to improving services and programs for Aboriginal students attending school in the Board.
With a goal to improve the school experience for all Aboriginal students, the Board encourages the development of strong partnerships with Aboriginal families, communities and organizations, both on and off the reserve.
Through the Voluntary Aboriginal Self-Identification process, Aboriginal parents and students will have access to additional support services, including educational, social, and emotional supports that focus and foster Aboriginal identity, culture and values.
There are three categories of Voluntary Aboriginal Self-Identification – First Nation, Métis, or Inuit. Your child may bring a GEDSB Voluntary Aboriginal Self-Identification form home or if not, you can contact your child’s school to receive a form.
You can also, visit the Aboriginal Education section under the Program tab at granderie.ca for more information and a copy of the Voluntary Self-Identification form.
Student Handbook
All handbook information will be in the agendas which will be handed out in the first week. Fund raising money will reduce the price to six dollars. We feel that the agenda is an important organizational tool as well as a great communication vehicle between the parent and the teacher. Below is a copy of the handbook for your convenience.
This agenda will be your child’s communication and organization tool throughout the year and he/she is expected to have it in every class. Organizational skills are an important part of completing any task at school, at home or in the community. We want to work with your child to provide you with all information possible for a successful school year.
Message from the Principal
Woodman-Cainsville / Echo Place is a school with two buildings, one located on Woodman Drive and the other located on Colborne Street. The two campuses provide programs for approximately four hundred and twenty students from junior kindergarten to grade eight. These twinned schools share many opportunities to plan jointly, to share resources and student activities. We have two websites for our schools, so please check sites for current and updated information. The Grand Erie District School Board web site is a source of further information about the school.
If you haven’t noticed already, Woodman-Cainsville /Echo Place School is “a School of Everyday Heroes.” We strive to be the best we can be at all aspects of our school program. An Everyday Hero cares for others, engages in his/her learning and leaves a legacy by sharing our school with others. We believe that everyone at Woodman/Echo can be an Everyday Hero – our secretary, our teachers, our educational assistants, our, ECEs, our custodians, our volunteers, our administration, and of course, our students and parents. We can do this- if we work together.
The academic focus of Woodman-Echo this year will continue to be literacy and numeracy. As a staff, we continue to develop our skills so that our instructional practice improves and therefore our students’ learning does as well.
I would like to stress the importance of parental involvement in your child’s education. All of the Ontario Curriculum documents discuss the responsibility of parents in education and they state: “Studies show that students perform better in school if their parents are involved in their education. Parents therefore have an important role to play in supporting their child’s learning.”
Lunch
It is wise to have your child go home for lunch whenever possible. At Woodman, this can only happen at the 1st nutrition break (10:35am) and at Echo Place at 2nd nutrition break (1:00pm). Students that leave the property can only do so if they have written consent from their parents and if they sign out. Students cannot return to the property until after 11:00am (Woodman) and after 1:20 (Echo) when there is a supervising teacher on the yards. It is very important that the office knows the whereabouts of all the students during school hours. Students who stay for lunch will be supervised in their designated classrooms. Students will be expected to cooperate with lunchroom procedures. Students may have their lunchroom privileges suspended for periods of time if the procedures are not followed.
Dismissal Procedures
The students are expected to leave the school grounds promptly as supervision is not provided. Students should report home or to the appropriate caregiver. We would appreciate your support by insisting that your children follow this expectation. If students are kept at school for any reason you will be informed by the classroom teacher, the vice-principal, the principal, or the secretary.
Picking Up Students
During the school year you may pick up your child for appointments and other activities by coming to the office. We will assist you with this by locating your child in the school. Please enter through the front doors located at the offices as other doors are locked during the school day for your child’s safety.
Each school has specific areas for picking up your child by vehicle. Please use these areas as other areas around the schools have been designated for school buses and taxis. Please have your child meet you at your vehicle or on the playground to avoid congestion and excess noise in the hallways.
Attendance Policy and Procedures
Please remember that regular attendance and arriving to school on time are necessary for student success. If you know you child will be absent or late, please call the school, since absence of a student needs to be explained by a legitimate excuse such as illness.
Students who are late, need to report to the office to receive a late slip. There will be consequences for students who are frequently late for no legitimate reason.
If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the school between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. You may call earlier and leave a message on the answering machine. If your child is absent for more than three days the classroom teacher will require a note which states the reason for the absence. The secretary implements a call-back system if you do not inform the school of an absence. She requires your home, work and emergency number[s] in order to determine your child’s location. The Ministry of Education has required that formal “Safe Arrival” procedure be in place for all schools. Under this policy it is mandatory for us to ensure that your child is accounted for each day.
Illness or Accidents
The school must have the phone number and name of an emergency contact person should your child become ill or have an accident while at school. The school will call home with any head injuries. We will make every effort to contact you first, but the emergency contact person must be recorded on the student information sheet which you will receive each fall. Please call the school as soon as possible if any of the phone numbers or names change during the school year. Your child may not be sent home without the consent of a parent or emergency contact person.
School Closure – Inclement Weather
With the possibility of inclement weather, it is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility at all times to decide whether or not it is safe for their children to attend school, as they would at any other time. The decision to close schools and cancel transportation services shall be made before 6:30 a.m. and broadcast on the following television and radio stations, as well as the Student Transportation web site.
- Ch. 11 CH TV Hamilton
- CHUM
- New VR
- CITYTV Toronto
- A CHANNEL London
- 91.7 GIANT FM Welland
- 92.1 CKPC FM Brantford
- 820 CHAM AM Hamilton
- 100.3 CKRZ FM Oshweken
- 900 CHML AM Hamilton
- 101.3 CKOT FM Tillsonburg
- 1150 CKOC AM Hamilton
- 102.9 K-Lite FM Hamilton
- 1380 CKPC AM Brantford
- 98.9 CD FM Simcoe
- 1510 CKOT AM Tillsonburg
- 107.9 Y108 FM Hamilton
WOODMAN - ECHO PLACE SCHOOL IS IN ZONE 4.
Emergency Evacuation
Six fire drills and two lockdown drills are scheduled throughout the school year. Students and staff practice evacuation routines and emergency procedures in order to ensure safety during emergency situations.
Student Medication
In order for any medication to be administered at school, the physician prescribing the medication must complete a form stating the specific procedures involved. These forms are available from the school secretary. Asthmatic students may keep their medication with them for easy access. Students who may have allergic reactions to stings, peanuts, etc. should have the appropriate forms and medication filed at the school. Please keep the staff informed about any health concerns.
Dress Code
It is expected that student appearance will reflect a positive image for our school. This means a neat and clean appearance. Please keep the following in mind:
- Clothing that reflects or celebrates the use of drugs, alcohol, violence or gangs is not appropriate for school wear.
- Clothes with words or pictures of a sexual nature are not appropriate for school wear.
- Undergarments should not be visible. Clothing should not be ‘see through’
- Short skirts or short shorts (must be below fingertips at side), tube tops, halter tops, muscle shirts, bare midriff tops, spaghetti strap tops, and revealing tops (no cleavage to be shown) are not appropriate for school wear.
- Hats, hoods, bandanas are not to be worn in the school.
- If clothing is inappropriate, students will be asked to change or to wear appropriate clothing available at school. If the student persists in wearing inappropriate clothing, he/she will be suspended. The dress code applies to all students. Discretion will be used for children in Kindergarten to Grade 5.
- This dress code has unanimous support from the SCHOOL COUNCIL.
School Trips
School trips are planned periodically throughout the school year by classroom teachers. The objectives for a trip are always related to the school curriculum (except some Hero Reward Trips). Students participate in activities to prepare for a trip and also have follow-up activities. It is expected that all students participate as the trips are an extension to the regular program and student evaluation is linked to them. Students are expected to behave appropriately on school trips to ensure the safety of everyone.
Bicycles, Skateboards, Rollerblades
Students may ride their bicycles to school but they are expected to walk their bicycles while they are on the school grounds. Bicycles must be locked on the bicycle racks provided.
Students are not allowed to use skateboards, roller blades, or scooters anywhere on school property. Students are also not allowed to wear shoes with wheels at school (e.g. “wheelies” or “heelies”).
Homework
There are several types of homework which students may be asked to complete at home. They may be required to complete unfinished daily work or an assigned homework exercise to reinforce skills. In addition, they may be asked to work on a long range project or study previously learned material for tests. These requirements will vary according to your child’s age and grade level. Classroom teachers will provide more specific information regarding this topic in their newsletters.
Cellphones and Electronic Devices
We understand that student cellphones can be used for safety reasons. While at school, however, cellphones are not be used, including during recess time. If students are found using a cellphone at school, it will be confiscated. Other electronic devices such as digital cameras, iPods and hand-held devices, are not be used at school as well, unless authorized by a teacher for a particular purpose.
Staff at Woodman - Echo Place School are not responsible for any electronic devices that are brought to school. We are not responsible for any items that are lost or stolen.
An acceptable use of computers/internet form will be given out for parents to sign. This form outlines the responsibilities of students when using board computers.
Use of School Telephone by Students
There are two lines available on all school telephones and these are used extensively for school business. Students are allowed to use the telephone only with their teacher’s permission.
Student calls are limited to emergency situations only.
Communication with Parents
The staff at Woodman-Echo Place work very hard to build and maintain successful relationships with parents and guardians. Relevant and meaningful information needs to be shared between the school and home in order for this to occur. The school and your child’s teacher will post a monthly newsletter detailing up-coming activities. You can expect Open House and other after-school events for parental involvement.
Classroom information will be posted on the website along with general school information. If you need any assistance navigating the website, please call the school.
If you need to speak to a teacher, you can leave a message with the secretary or on the answering machine.
Report Cards
Students will bring home a progress report in November and report cards in January and June. Please review the comments and grades with your child and help them to identify some personal goals for improvement. Parents/Guardians are asked to assist their children to record their goals on the report card. Please ensure this page is signed and returned to the classroom teacher in the report card envelope. If you are interested in an interview with a teacher, please check the box.
From the Guide to the Provincial Report Card, Grades 1-8, Ministry of Education:
The Provincial Standard
Level 3 (which corresponds to B– to B+ or 70 per cent to 79 per cent) is the provincial standard. Level 3 is a high level of achievement of the provincial curriculum expectations. Parents of students achieving at level 3 in a particular grade can be confident that their child will be prepared for the next grade.
The Meaning of “A”
The report card indicates that grades of A– to A+ or 80 per cent to 100 per cent correspond to level 4 of the provincial curriculum expectations and states: “The student has demonstrated the required knowledge and skills. Achievement exceeds the provincial standard.” Achievement at level 4 does not mean the child is working beyond the expectations for the grade. It does, however, indicate a grasp of the knowledge and skills specified for the grade that is significantly above average. A grade of A– to A+ or 80 per cent to 100 per cent indicates the highest level of achievement of the curriculum expectations at the grade.
The Meaning of “R”/“Below 50”
“R”/“Below 50” does not correspond to one of the four achievement levels. “R”/“Below 50” is used for reporting purposes to flag the need for remediation and parent involvement. “R” signals that additional learning is required before the student will begin to achieve success with this grade’s expectations. “R” indicates the need for the development of a plan to address the student’s specific learning needs and to ensure success for learning.”
At times, a mark is not assigned to a student for a particular subject. This means that the student did not complete enough work for the teacher to accurately evaluate the student’s achievement. A comment in the subject will provide an explanation.
Kindergarten students will receive a conference report in December (for SK students) or January (for JK students) after the parents are invited to a classroom observation. A formal report card is sent home in late June.
Premier School Agenda
Students from grade one to grade eight receive agendas in September from the school. The cost of the agenda is supported partially through school fundraising or school council. A small charge is collected from the families to pay for the rest of the cost. Parents are encouraged to use the agenda regularly to communicate with the teacher. Students will record homework assignments and tests in the agenda. The pouches at the front of the agendas are used to carry notes, newsletters, etc. back and forth. Agenda will also be used as part of the Character Development program at Woodman – Echo Place School.
Extra-Curricular and Intramural Activities
All students are organized into Colour Houses for clubs, sports and other activities. Students earn points for their Colour House by participating in the various activities and sports.
A wide range of activities is offered at the school. Your child is encouraged to take part in the various sports and clubs.
School Council
As a school council member, you can contribute to improving student achievement and performance. If you are interested in joining, please call the necessary contact information will be given.
Home and School
The Echo Place Home and School Association is a very viable, hardworking organization that supports students at the school. If you would like to join, please call the school, and we will forward to you the necessary contact information.
Progressive Discipline
Grand Erie District School Board takes a Progressive Discipline Approach to promote positive student behaviour. Progressive discipline is a whole school approach that utilizes a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences that include opportunities for reinforcing positive behaviour while helping students make good choices. A progressive discipline approach includes:
- Warnings for students
- Completion of Problem Solving sheet by students
- Counselling sessions
- Detentions
- Letters to parents / guardians
- Meetings with parents / guardians
- Meetings with Board support staff and outside agencies
- Suspensions
- Expulsion
Expectations for Conduct in Grand Erie Schools
Each individual is important and unique and should be empowered to contribute positively to the school community. Responsibility and ownership for a safe learning environment must be assumed by all members of the school community. Educators and community members have a responsibility to work in partnership to develop responsible citizens.
The Role of the Grand Erie District School Board
- To develop policies to implement and enforce the Provincial Code of Conduct,
- To seek input from School Councils and other stakeholders in the development and regular review of policies,
- To communicate the Provincial Code of Conduct to all stakeholders,
- To develop effective intervention and response strategies to maintain safety and security,
- To provide staff training to support these initiatives
The Role of School Personnel
- To demonstrate care and commitment to academic excellence and a safe teaching and learning environment,
- To act as role models and to hold everyone to the highest standard of respectful and responsible behaviour,
- To maintain a consistent standard of behaviour respectful of the human rights of all participants,
- To communicate regularly and meaningfully with all members of the school community,
- To demonstrate respect for all students, staff and parents,
- To prepare students for the full responsibilities of citizenship.
The Role of the Students
- To attend school prepared, on time and ready to learn,
- To show respect for themselves, others and to those in authority,
- To refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others,
- To follow established rules and take responsibility for their actions.
The Role of Parents/Guardians
- To show an active interest in their child’s school work and progress,
- To communicate regularly with school personnel,
- To help their child be neat, appropriately dressed and prepared for school,
- To ensure their child attends school regularly and on time,
- To promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival,
- To become familiar with the Code of Conduct and school rules, and assist their child in following these rules of behaviour,
- To assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues.
Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Bullying adversely affects students’ ability to learn, the maintenance and establishment of healthy relationships and the school climate. Therefore bullying will not be accepted on school property, at school related activities, on school buses or in any other circumstance (eg. Online) where engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on school climate.
Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear or distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.
Bullying is a dynamic of unhealthy interaction that can take many forms. It can be:
- physical (e.g., hitting, pushing, tripping),
- verbal (e.g., name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist, or homophobic comments),
- social (e.g., excluding others from a group, spreading gossip or rumours).
- use of technology (e.g., spreading rumours, images, or hurtful comments through the use of e-mail, cellphones, text messaging, Internet websites, or other technology).
To combat bullying, the individual schools and the board will provide:
- policies which include comprehensive intervention strategies
- procedures to allow student to report bullying incidents in a safe and timely manner
- supports for students who have been bullied
- training for all staff and provide community education
- a bullying prevention strategy as part of each individual schools school improvement plan
- a Safe School Team at each school responsible for school safety
Daily Schedule