THE LEO BAECK DAY SCHOOL PARENTS’ GUIDE TO POLICES AND PRACTICES 2016-2017, 5777 SCHOOL YEAR 1 THE LEO BAECK DAY SCHOOL PARENTS’ GUIDE TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES 2016-2017, 5777 SCHOOL YEAR ERIC PETERSIEL, RJE Head of School YVETTE BURKE Principal North Campus 36 Atkinson Avenue Thornhill, Ontario L4J 8C9 905-709-3636 FAX: 905-709-1999 ROCHELLE CHESTER Interim Principal South Campus 501 Arlington Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6C 3A4 416-787-9899 FAX: 416-787-9838 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.leobaeCk.ca AVI GREENSPOON ELI MOGIL Co-Presidents 2 INDEX A. Introduction 1. Mission Statement 5 2. Code of Conduct 6 B. HEALTH AND SAFETY 1. Allergies/Anaphylaxis Policy 12 2. Head Lice 22 3. Illness and Student Injury 23 4. Immunization 24 5. Medication 24 C. SCHOOL LIFE AND DAILY PROCEDURE 1. Birthdays 25 2. Eco Sense 25 3. Fundraising and Community Engagement 25 4. Lockers 26 5. Lost and Found 26 6. Lunch and Recess 27 7. School Hours 27 8. Snacks 29 9. Staff Meetings/Early Dismissal Monday/P.D. Days 30 D. CURRICULUM AND CLASS INFORMATION 1. Homebase Teacher 30 2. Homework Policy 30 3. IBO and The Leo Baeck Day School 32 4. School Trips 33 5. Student Services 33 6. Supplies and Textbooks 36 7. Toilet Training 37 E. COMMUNICATION 1. BaecKids 37 2. Friday File 37 3. Parent/Teacher Communication Policy 37 4. Privacy of Information 38 5. Student Progress 38 6. Reporting to Parents 39 7. School Personnel 46 3 F. STUDENT LIFE 1. Cell Phones 47 2. Drop Off and Pick Up (see also Parking) 48 3. Extra-Curricular Sport 49 4. Toys and Other Items brought from home 51 5. Transportation 51 G. PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL 1. Parent Volunteer Policy 51 2. Parents in the Classroom 52 3. Parking 53 4. Refunds 53 H. REFORM JEWISH PRACTICE 1. Bar/Bat Mitzvah 53 2. Holidays 54 3. Kabbalat Shabbat 54 4. Kashrut Policy 54 5. Kippot Policy 54 6. Reform Jewish Practice 55 I. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 1. Emergency Closure 56 2. Emergency Information 56 J. APPENDIX – POLICIES 1. Class Placement Policy 56 2. Class Size Policy 57 3. Dress Code Policy 57 4. Acceptable Use Policy 59 5. Technology Use Guidelines 60 6. Abuse Policy 62 7. Academic Honesty Policy 63 4 A. Introduction THE LEO BAECK DAY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT Leo Baeck, a Reform Jewish day school, is committed to providing academic excellence in a nurturing community. Our goal is to graduate students through our International Baccalaureate (IB) accredited program who: Academic Excellence: ● Achieve their personal academic potential, are critical thinkers and effective problem solvers. ● Are equipped to live and thrive in an increasingly globally connected and technological world. ● Become life-long learners. ● Are well rounded and develop their leadership and creative capabilities. ● Develop their physical capabilities and the knowledge as to how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Nurturing Community: ● Are educated through a caring, compassionate supportive community. ● Have a positive self-image that enables them to grow emotionally, intellectually and socially and make good choices. ● Promote a culture of derech eretz, including the importance of self-respect and respect for others. ● Understand the value of social conscience and how to contribute to positive social change. Reform Jewish day school: ● Understand Reform Jewish practices and perspectives and are able to make informed Jewish choices. ● Have a deep and meaningful connection to Judaism, the State of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community. ● Have the skills to be practicing liberal Jews at home, school and synagogue. ● Are knowledgeable and comfortable with Jewish prayer and participate with spirit and commitment. ● Embrace their responsibility to participate in acts of tzedakah, tikkun olam and other personal mitzvoth. 5 CODE OF CONDUCT The Leo Baeck Day School (“LBDS”) is a very special place. It is an environment where teachers, students and families enjoy learning and growing in an atmosphere where excellence and social responsibility are the benchmarks. The school promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment, and expects, from every member of the school community, conduct that is respectful, courteous, considerate, and which supports the school's Mission Statement and Goals. A positive school climate exists when all members of the school community feel safe, included and accepted and actively promote positive behaviours. All students, parents and teachers and other school staff have the right to be safe, and to feel safe in their school community. With this right comes the responsibility to contribute to a positive school climate. This Code of Conduct outlines the school's expectations of behaviour. The acceptance and continued enrollment of a student at The Leo Baeck Day School is a privilege contingent on the agreement and commitment of the student and parent(s) to uphold, abide by and support this Code of Conduct as well as the school's Mission Statement and Goals. This Code of Conduct is consistent with Policy/Program Memorandum No. 128 entitled “The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct”, issued by the Ministry of Education on December 5, 2012. At the start of the school year, parents should read and discuss this Code of Conduct with their children. All members of our community are required to formally sign the Code of Conduct to acknowledge that it has been reviewed and is understood. Standards of Behaviour By enrolling at LBDS, students automatically assume the obligations to comply with the provisions of the Code of Conduct. Central to the Code of Conduct is the understanding that each student will follow certain standards of behaviour. Self-discipline and a willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions and conduct are fundamental to the Code of Conduct. All members of the School community must: • respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws; • demonstrate honesty and integrity; • respect differences in people, their ideas, and their opinions: 6 • treat one another with dignity and respect at all times, and especially when there is disagreement; • respect and treat others fairly; regardless of, for example, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability; • respect the rights of others; • show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others; • take appropriate measures to help those in need; • seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict peacefully; • respect all members of the school community; • respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching; and • not swear at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority. Safety All members of the school community must not: • engage in bullying behaviours; • commit sexual assault; • traffic in weapons or illegal drugs; • give alcohol to a minor; • commit robbery; • be in possession of any weapon; • use any object to threaten or intimidate another person; • cause injury to any person with an object; • be in possession of, or be under the influence of, or provide others with cigarettes, alcohol or illegal drugs; • inflict or encourage others to inflict bodily harm on another person; • engage in hate propaganda and other forms of behaviour motivated by hate or bias; and • commit an act of vandalism that causes damage to school property or to property located on the premises of the school. Roles and Responsibilities The LBDS Code of Conduct recognizes that all members of the school community, including the Head of School, Principals, teachers and other staff members, students and parents have an obligation to comply with the standards of behaviour outlined in this policy. Each member of the school community has the following roles and responsibilities: 7 The Leo Baeck Day School The Leo Baeck Day School will provide direction to ensure opportunity, academic excellence and accountability in the school. It is the responsibility of the school to: • develop policies that set out how the school will implement and enforce its Code of Conduct and other rules that promote and support respect, civility, responsible citizenship and safety; • review policies regularly with students, staff, parents, volunteers and the community; • seek input from the Board of Directors, parents, students, staff members and the school community; • establish a process that clearly communicates the Code of Conduct to all parents, students, staff members, and members of the school community in order to obtain their commitment and support; • develop effective intervention strategies and respond to all infractions related to the standards for respect, civility, responsible citizenship, and safety; and • provide opportunities for all of the staff to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to develop and maintain academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. Principals Under the direction of the Head of School, Principals take a leadership role in the daily operation of the school. They will provide this leadership by: • demonstrating care for the school community and a commitment to academic excellence in a safe, inclusive and accepting teaching and learning environment; • holding everyone under his/her authority accountable for his or her behaviour and actions; • empowering students to be positive leaders in their school and community; • communicating regularly and meaningfully