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At Lo-Ellen Park, we believe that a well-organized student has a better chance of being a successful student. With this in mind, we have set some guidelines for the use of this student agenda by staff, parents, and students. All students are to keep the agenda neat and intact with all present and up-coming calendar pages, all hallway passport pages, and all school policy pages. Expectations for students:
carry the agenda with you to all classes and study hall periods
ensure that daily homework, assignments, tests, and examinations are recorded in the calendar section
given a teacher's permission, use the hallway passport section whenever you need to be in the hallways during class time
Expectations for parents:
use the entries made by students in the calendar section to remind students of homework, assignments, tests, and examinations
use the agenda for communication with teachers
Expectations for staff:
ensure that students enter daily homework, assignments, tests, and examinations in the calendar section
ensure that students in the hallways during class times are carrying a staff-signed and dated hallway passport
use the agenda for communication with parents THE SCHOOL DAY The school is open at 7:00 a.m. The main office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Classes begin with homeroom and students are considered late after 8:25 a.m., a warning bell sounds at 8:20 a.m. HOMEROOM: Homeroom begins at 8:25 every day. This is where attendance is taken, announcements are made, and Opening Exercises take place. Homeroom is also where you get information about whatever is happening that day and in the near future or about sign-up times and places for clubs, teams, sports, or special events. This is also the time you'll hear about special accomplishments by Lo-Ellen Park's teams, bands and individual students. LUNCH: It is every student's responsibility to keep the cafeteria clean and to use recycling bins as appropriate.
Students may choose to eat their lunch at school, at home, or at a neighbourhood restaurant. Students choosing to eat at school must do so in the cafeteria. Healthy food, snacks and beverages are available for sale in the cafeteria. Students leaving the building must return on time for their next class. GETTING STARTEDSTUDENT CARDS AND FEES: A student card is necessary for all Lo-Ellen Park students and should be carried at all times. It is required when you check anything out of the library and to access the library computers. It also admits you to school dances, lets you pay less for movies all over town, and proves to anyone that you really are a student. The student fee of $20 pays for the production of cards, the student handbook, other printing and copying costs, and your combination lock for your locker. Money from these fees also allows the Students' Council to sponsor school events for you. Fees are due at the beginning of the year, payable in cash in your homeroom. LOCKERS: Your locker will be assigned to you in homeroom. For security reasons, do not share your combination with anyone. You are responsible for the contents of your locker. Since lockers are the property of the Rainbow District School Board, they are to be used only for the storage of school-related equipment. It is your responsibility to keep your locker clean and tidy throughout the year. All pack sacks, book bags, jackets, walkmans, MP-3 players, cell phones, food, etc. must remain in your locker throughout the day. TEXTBOOKS: Textbooks will be distributed to you by your subject teachers. They are only on loan to you. Write your name, subject, and teacher's name in each text. Cover your text to prevent wear and tear. If you lose or damage a text or library book, you will have to pay the replacement cost. All textbooks must be returned to your teacher prior to final exams. PARKING: There is a student parking lot at the front of the school adjacent to Loach's Rd. This is the only place for students to park. The parking lot adjacent to the school building and along the track is for staff and visitors only. If you park in the wrong place, your car may be towed at your cost, you may be fined, and you may lose parking privileges. UNIFORMS: All Physical and Health Education students require the grey Lo-Ellen Park T-shirt, athletic shorts, non-scuff running shoes and socks. All jewellery, including facial piercing must be removed in order to participate. INSURANCE: Student Accident Insurance is available from an insurance company that works through the School Board. Co-operative Education students and athletes are strongly encouraged to purchase this insurance policy. Application forms arrive early in the school year and will be distributed in homerooms. Premiums are to be sent directly to the company.
OFFICE SERVICES
INFORMATION: The office is your first stopping point when you need information. Lo-Ellen's office staff can quickly direct you to the right person or place.
ILLNESS:
If you become ill during school hours, ask to be excused from your class and go to the office. Staff there can help you make arrangements if you need to go home. If you are leaving school due to illness, or any reason, you MUST sign out, in person, at the Main Office. You need a parent/guardian's permission to leave. PHONES: There are three pay phones available in the cafeteria foyer. Students may not use the phone in the office, except for emergencies. Please arrange to have money/phone card for the phone. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITYATTENDANCE: It seems obvious that you need to go to your classes in order to learn the material being explained, illustrated, or practised. No amount of asking a friend what happened in class or getting the homework can make up for being in class and being involved in the lesson. Often friends do not remember enough to explain things clearly, and the homework may not make sense if you weren't there.
Nearly everyone is occasionally ill, and staying home at such times is important for your health. However, when a pattern of irregular attendance develops, it leads to a number of consequences. First and most important, your learning suffers. Second, your marks will decline, because you haven't been able to learn as much as you would if you had been present. If your absences continue and are unexcused, you may not be able to earn all of your course credits.
In order to avoid all of these problems, and also because it is the school's responsibility to see to it that you do attend, Lo-Ellen Park has a carefully constructed attendance policy. SIGNING IN AND SIGNING OUT: You must report to the office if you are entering or leaving school at any irregular times.
If you intend to sign out during the day you must present a note to the office before homeroom explaining when you will leave and where you will be. If you return to the school that day you must sign back in at the office. If you forget a note or become ill during the day, you must go to the office to get permission to sign out. If you leave without permission you will be considered truant. If you are absent for part of a day, a full day, or longer, you must bring a note to the office when you return. TRUANCY: A student who misses one or more classes without permission is considered truant. Lo-Ellen Park staff members will discuss your situation with you to try and solve particular problems you may be having. If your attendance does not improve, you may expect the following consequences:
When you are truant from class you will receive a detention. After three truancies, a phone call home will alert your parents to the situation. At the next truancy you may be sent home for the day. After seven truancies you may be suspended for three days.
If you have missed 10 periods of a class, your credit in that course may be in jeopardy, and your eligibility will be reviewed by the office. The final result may be the loss of a credit. PUNCTUALITY: Getting to classes on time is every student's responsibility. When you arrive in homeroom on time, you hear all the announcements and the guidance information that is often provided there. When you arrive to your classes on time, you hear the entire lesson and don't fall behind. Students who are late disrupt classes, and miss class material. SUPERVISED STUDY PERIODS: Occasionally, you will have a supervised study period because of a teacher's absence. You must go to the Cafeteria/Study Hall at the beginning of the period, sign in for attendance, pick up the assignment, and stay there for the period. Since classes are still going on elsewhere in the building, roaming around the hallways or going to your locker is not an option.
If you are late for homeroom, you will be directed by the teacher in charge to stand in the designated area where you will listen to announcements. You will then report to your first period class. After three lates to home room, you will be assigned a lunch detention. Remember, a late between classes and after lunch is an automatic lunch detention. After five lates, a phone call home will alert your parents to your difficulties with punctuality. After seven lates, students may be sent home for the day and after ten lates a student may be suspended for three days. DETENTIONS: Detentions are a part of the school's disciplinary package. If you miss a detention without permission from the office, you may have two to serve. If you miss again or refuse to serve the detention you may be suspended for a minimum of three days. SCHOOL LIBRARY INFORMATION CENTREFrom 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the School Library Resource Centre welcomes students for study, research, and computer use. The library has 14 computers with Internet access and printing capabilities as well as connections for laptop computers. Students who learn to use all aspects of the library will be well prepared for any research demands they will encounter during post-secondary education.
Lo-Ellen Park's library has over 12,000 titles as well as magazines and newspapers which are all available for research and/or recreational browsing and/or borrowing.
Our library has a fully automated circulation system and electronic public access catalogue. IPAC, our web-based catalogue, is a database containing Lo-Ellen Park's complete library collection. IPAC is accessible from any computer with Internet access, both at home and at school.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM:
Each September, all grade 9 classes are scheduled for an orientation session which introduces them to the school's library facilities. The session gives students a chance to find out where things are located in the library, what services are offered, and how to borrow items from the library.
At times, a classroom teacher may bring their students into the library to work on projects, or students may be sent for independent study. Students should make good use of these opportunities and respect the rights of others who may be trying to concentrate. The library is an area for study and quiet work, if a student wishes to socialize they should go to the study hall/cafeteria. LIBRARY LOANS: All circulating books are loaned for a two-week period. In most cases, if a student needs a book for longer than two weeks, it may be renewed.
Fines of 254 a day per book are charged for any overdue items. It is the student's responsibility to treat all library materials with care and to return all items by their due date. At the end of each semester, marks are withheld until library materials are returned and fines are paid. STUDENT SERVICES/GUIDANCEPLANNING FOR SUCCESS IN YOUR SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAM: Guidance counsellors want you to succeed, so they try to help you make the most of your time at Lo-Ellen Park. They offer information and advice about the course selections you make each year so that you will be able to do well in your school work and to graduate with all the courses you want and need for your future. If you get into academic difficulty, they can provide helpful hints for studying, taking notes, or managing your time, and they can even set you up with a tutor in the subjects in which you need help. They can go over your school records with you to be sure you have all the necessary courses in order to graduate. A counsellor can also provide assistance in the case of personal crisis. PLANNING FOR SUCCESS BEYOND LO-ELLEN PARK: Perhaps it's difficult to imagine, but one day you will leave Lo-Ellen Park. One of the most important things the Guidance Department can do is to help you focus on what you want to do at that time, and to make sure you will be ready. The counsellors can help you identify your interests and your strongest aptitudes and skills so that you can make sound, realistic choices about your career path.
Counsellors can offer information about many career possibilities: what type of training is needed, where the jobs are most likely to be, what the jobs would really be like, even your potential salary. If you are planning to go on to further education, they have all the necessary information about which schools offer which programs, what the entrance requirements are, when and how to go about applying, and everything you need to know about scholarships for which you might qualify. In short, the guidance counsellors want to help you in any way they can. Make the most of their expertise! PEER TUTORING: This voluntary non-credit activity allows you to help others who are having difficulty in a subject area. It usually involves two thirty-minute sessions per week. Peer tutors are able to earn up to 3% on a corresponding course dependant upon the number of hours logged over the semester. More importantly, they gain valuable experience to add to their résumé and can accumulate community service hours. CO-OP EDUCATION: Co-op is a work experience that provides résumé contacts, develops professional work habits, and tests career interests which may later lead to full or part time employment.
Co-operative education can be an important part of every student's Educational Plan. Students may select either a 2 day (2 credit) or a full day (4 credit) program.
Interested students should fill out an application form, supplied by either the Guidance or Co-op Offices. For additional information see Lo-Ellen Park's calendar.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION & PROCEDURES
CREDITS, REQUIREMENTS, AND REGISTRATION:
There will be plenty of time to find out all you need to know about this with the help of the Counselling and Guidance staff. You do need to be aware that you will be planning your course registration for the following year in late February. Grade 9, 10 and 11 students are required to register for eight credits a year, four in each semester. Grade 12 students must register for a minimum of six per year, three in each semester. ONTARIO STUDENT TRANSCRIPT & FULL DISCLOSURE: A full disclosure policy is in effect for grades 11 and 12 courses. Under full disclosure, the marks for all of these courses including failed marks and all attempts on repeated and upgraded courses will appear on the student's transcript.
If a student withdraws from a course on or before the 5th day after issuance of the first provincial report card (mid-term report card) that course will not appear on the transcript. If a student withdraws from a course after that date, a mark will appear on the transcript along with an indicator that the student has withdrawn from this course. EVALUATION POLICIES: Teachers give assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects for many reasons. Practice in solving problems in assignments helps you learn and also shows both you and the teacher whether the learning is taking place. Also, teachers have to be able to report your progress to your parents and to the Principal (who is in charge of granting your credits when you have earned them).
At the beginning of each course, you will be told how you will be evaluated. Be sure you understand. You should know the different types of evaluation that will be used (tests, projects, class work, learning skills, exams, etc.), and how much each component will count towards your final mark. It is a good idea to keep track of the marks you receive for each test or assignment along the way so that you have a good idea where you stand in each course.
If you fail to complete or hand in assignments or miss quizzes, your term mark suffers accordingly. The marks you earn throughout the semester always count more than final exams. Be sure to submit all assignments.
Every teacher has procedures for what to do if you miss a quiz, test, presentation, etc., that should be explained to you at the beginning of a course. Be sure you are informed and meet your obligations when such absences occur. ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is a serious offence to copy the work of other students. It is also a serious offence to copy the words or ideas of professional writers without appropriately identifying them as such. You should consult your teacher if you are in doubt about how to legally cite print or electronic references. Students are required to sign the ALEP Academic Honesty Policy@ at the start of each year. There will be penalties for academic offenses. ACADEMIC OFFENSES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: Cheating (meaning trying to gain unfair advantage without individual effort) on examinations, assignments, reports, or any other work used to judge student performance including:
Copying from another student's work, or allowing another student to copy from your work;
Excessive collaboration or collusion;
Fabrication of data;
Consultation with any unauthorized person during a test or examination;
Possession, use of, or intent to use unauthorized aids (e.g. book, calculator, computer) during an examination or test;
Violation of examination regulations. Plagiarism is the act of presenting the ideas, words, or intellectual property of another person as one's own.
The use of other people's work must be properly acknowledged and referenced in all written and orally presented material (e.g. take-home examinations, essays, lab reports, presentations, design projects, statistical data, computer programs and research results). Submitting an essay, report, or assignment when a major portion has been previously submitted for another course without the express permission of the teachers involved Obtaining by improper means examination papers, tests or similar materials; using or distributing such materials to others FINAL EXAMINATIONSEvery course is required to have a culminating evaluation based on the entire semester's work. It usually constitutes a sizeable portion of the final mark. At the end of each semester, an exam schedule takes the place of regular classes for five days. The details of this schedule will be distributed about three weeks beforehand.
If you miss an exam, your exam mark is a zero. The only exception to this is in a case where you can provide documentation of a medical reason for your absence signed by a doctor, or in very special circumstances, with the permission of the Principal. GRADE / MAXIMUM LENGTH OF EXAM 9 - 1.5 HOURS 10 - 1.5 HOURS 11 - 2.0 HOURS 12 - 2.5 HOURS
PROMOTION:
The Ministry of Education has determined that promotion is based on a student's overall performance for the year. In all grades, promotion occurs by subject. You are granted credit in any course for which you earned 50% or higher. Students with a failing mark will be directed to repeat the course. Those with a mark below the provincial standard may be asked to consider a move to a more appropriate level of difficulty. KNIGHT SCHOLARS: Students who achieve an average of 80% or more for a year's work are designated Knight Scholars. In Grades 9 to 11, this means your average for all eight courses you take. For Grade 12, a Knight Scholar must achieve 80% or more in a minimum of 6 courses. A year 4 or 5 January graduate may become a Knight Scholar provided s/he takes a minimum of 3 courses in semester 1. EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTSIt is basic policy in the curriculum for Ontario that individual differences be accommodated to the greatest extent possible. For all students and exceptional students in particular, guidance services include orientation sessions and group or individual meetings with you and your parents. If you have any special needs, advice and assistance is always available.
Teachers are always willing to assist anyone who needs extra help either before or after classes. There are also peer helpers in many classes that can give you a hand.
DUTIES OF A STUDENT
Did you know there are legally defined duties for students? The Education Act (1980) and its supporting regulations includes duties for principals, teachers, and parents, too, but those for students are reproduced below. The Regulation which defines the duties of pupils (Reg. 262) states the following: A pupil shall
a) be diligent in attempting to master such studies as are part of the program in which the pupil is enrolled;
b) exercise self-discipline;
c) accept such discipline as would be exercised by a kind, firm and judicious parent;
d) attend classes punctually and regularly;
e) be courteous to fellow pupils and obedient and courteous to teachers;
f) be clean in person and habits;
g) take such tests and examinations as are required by or under the Act or as may be directed by the Minister;
h) show respect for school property.
Every pupil is responsible for his or her conduct to the Principal of the school that the pupil attends:
a) on the school premises;
b) on out-of-school premises;
c) while travelling on a school bus that is owned by a board or on a bus that is under contract to a board. The duty of the teacher in this regard is A...to maintain, under the direction of the Principal, proper order and discipline in his classroom and while on duty in the school and on the school grounds.@ (Sec. 235 [1] [e] Education Act, 1980) CODE OF CONDUCT All schools in the Rainbow District School Board have implemented the Ontario Schools Code of Conduct. The Code establishes provincial standards of behaviour and specifies mandatory consequences for student behaviour that does not comply with these standards.
Lo-Ellen Park has a reputation for being a school where students can, and do, succeed at outstanding levels. One of the reasons is that students, teachers, and all staff understand that success requires a healthy learning climate, one in which courtesy, cooperation, and common sense prevail. Traditionally, the vast majority of students manage this without any problem. But occasionally, a few students create difficulties that must be dealt with.
School staff want to treat students in a way that will help them accept responsibility for their actions and avoid behaving in ways that infringe on the rights of other students to be successful. If a student misbehaves, the consequences usually escalate if the behaviour continues. Consequences may include any of the following: detention, specific task assignment, involvement of parents, interview with a Vice-Principal, withdrawal of privileges, withdrawal from the course, suspension from school, referral to the police. Many of the consequences will be determined on an individual basis by the staff member dealing directly with the student or be referred to the Principal or Vice-Principal. Along the way students are also given as much encouragement and opportunity to improve their behaviour. The rules below are intended to accomplish this along with ensuring that all students can make the most of their educational opportunity. RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY AND PEERS: You are expected to comply with school procedures and with the expectations of your teachers both on and off school property. In addition, you are expected to be courteous and considerate in your dealings with other students. Your behaviour is expected to bring credit to Lo-Ellen Park when you are on field trips or when you go to other schools for academic or sports activities. You are to avoid the use of vulgar, offensive, disrespectful or racist verbal abuse of any other student or staff member.
CONSEQUENCES:
If a teacher finds that your behaviour is disrespectful in class, you will be asked to report to the teacher after class or after school. You may also be asked to see a Program Leader, Principal or Vice-Principal. If you are asked to leave a class, you are to report to the office.
If you are behaving in an inappropriate manner in the corridors or cafeteria, you may be sent to the office. Your parents may be contacted by a Vice-Principal. If your behaviour does not improve, you may be denied access to a particular area of the school (e.g. cafeteria, gymnasium, library).
Students who engage in fights on school property may be sent home for a ten day suspension. RESPECT FOR PROPERTY: You are expected to treat the school grounds, the school building, and everything in the school with respect. CONSEQUENCES: If you deface or destroy school property, you are required to pay the cost of repair or replacement. If you lose or damage a book or school equipment, you must pay for its replacement or repair. Vandalism (deliberate destruction of school property), may result in suspension and possible police action. MANDATORY CONSEQUENCES: Police will be involved, as indicated by the police/school protocol, and the student will be immediately suspended and proceed to an expulsion hearing for the following:
possession of a weapon, including, but not limited to firearms;
trafficking in drugs or weapons;
robbery;
use of a weapon to cause bodily harm, or to threaten serious harm;
physical assault causing bodily harm requiring professional medical treatment;
sexual assault;
providing alcohol to minors. IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION WILL BE THE MINIMUM PENALTY FOR: uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm;
possession of illegal drugs;
acts of vandalism causing extensive damage to school property or property located on school premises.
In these instances, police will be involved, as required, and conditions to return to school will be specified in accordance with school and Board policies. A STUDENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FOR: swearing at a teacher, or other person in authority;
being in possession of alcohol and/or drugs
being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs HARASSMENT: Harassment is a serious offense that we hear more and more about in the news. Unfortunately, it can be found in schools as well as in the workplace. Harassment can be defined as verbal, visual, sexual, or physical conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile or highly uncomfortable environment. It is offensive, insulting, intimidating, humiliating or hurtful for the person on the receiving end of the behaviour. It does not belong in schools.
Some forms of harassment include using degrading words to describe an individual's appearance, clothing, disability, racial origin, etc.; telling a joke or using language that causes embarrassment or awkwardness; displaying material that is racist, sexually offensive or derogatory; making written or verbal threats of abuse; or carrying out those threats.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BEING HARASSED:
First, talk privately to the offender and explain how their actions or words are affecting you. Often the person may not realize that the Ajoke@, etc., was not funny to you. Most people are not deliberately cruel, and the problem may be easily solved.
If this does not work, report the situation to a member of the administration or any member of the staff with whom you are comfortable. That staff member will report the situation to the Principal/Vice Principal who will follow the Board's Harassment Policy and proceed according to the school and Board's Discipline Policy. CONSEQUENCES: Harassment is a serious offense. The consequences of harassing another student or staff member will parallel those identified under Respect for Authority and Peers. PREPARATION FOR CLASS: You are expected to be prepared for classes with the notebooks, textbooks, uniforms, or materials that your teachers have indicated are necessary. You are to complete your homework, turn in assignments on due dates, and be prepared for tests and examinations. Students who will miss class for a school trip or sports event must notify teachers in advance. CONSEQUENCES: If your preparation in any of these areas is neglected, your parents will be notified. Continued neglect can lead to suspension. It will also naturally lead to failure in the course. SAFE SCHOOLS ACT: The duty of educators to maintain order and discipline gives them authority to address a broad range of conduct that threatens the safe, lawful and orderly operation of the school. The Principal, Vice Principal, along with staff, are responsible for maintaining a safe school environment. For this reason, we reserve the right to conduct searches of lockers, and personal belongings as needed. DRESS CODEThree issues determine what is allowable in the way of dress. The first is safety and health. The second is keeping the learning environment free of distraction. The third has to do with the image Lo-Ellen Park students project through their appearance. A dress code based on modesty and civility sets the kind of tone that is best for learning. Everyone gains when Lo-Ellen Park students are well thought of in the community.
You will have to avoid clothing with offensive logos or slogans. Also, avoid beach attire such as tank tops, muscle shirts, cut-offs, bare midriffs, frayed clothing. Face it, major displays of bare skin are distracting. When you get to school, leave your hat or other head gear, jacket, or coat in your locker. You will not be permitted to take these items to class.
Walking shorts of acceptable length are acceptable in season. Earrings for pierced ears are fine. Please avoid all other body piercing jewellery or accessories. It can be a matter of health and safety as well as image.
For safety reasons long pants and closed shoes must be worn in the technical shops. (Sandals are not permitted.) The administration may decide that certain additional accessories are not approved for reasons of health and safety.
$ ASSEMBLIES:
During the school year there will be a number of assemblies for entertainment, learning experiences, building school and community spirit, or acknowledging student achievement. Special timetables will be used to accommodate assemblies.
When you are called to the gym for an assembly, leave your books in the classroom. Teachers will lock the doors. Do not go to your locker or any other area of the school. Good manners towards participants in any assembly are always expected.
DANCES/SPECIAL EVENTS:
Dances/Special Events are arranged by the Students' Council as nights of fun and as fundraisers. Money earned goes towards equipment for clubs and teams and for other fun activity days. Dances/Special Events do have a few rules so that they can remain fun for all participants:
1. You MUST have a student card.
2. You may bring one non-Lo-Ellen student as a guest if you sign in for him or her ahead of time. (You are responsible for the conduct of your guest!)
3. All tickets are pre-sold. None are available at the door.
4. If you leave during the dance/event you may not return.
5. The Board's alcohol and drug policy is strictly enforced.
6. Chaperones are made up of staff, administration, and the police. The Student Council puts significant effort into these dances/events and would greatly appreciate your support!
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