Our School

Supervision of students does not begin before 8:00 am.  Students in are to place their bookbags, etc. in the appropriate area outside.  These students should not enter the building without permission unless weather conditions warrant.  Band students may take their instruments to the music room upon arrival and then go outside.  Students may enter the building for the breakfast program usually after 8:20.

Recess

Recess time for all students is from 10:15 to 10:30 am.  All students are expected to go outside during recess except on days that the weather is not suitable. 

Facilities

There is a faculty of more than 30 teachers, 6 teacher assistants, 4 Early Childhood Educators (Pre-Primary) 1 secretary, 2 ground supervisors, 1 janitor and 2 cleaners.  Our school offers students the opportunity to participate in many interesting extra-curricular activities as well as many rare learning experiences.

Our school provides the following facilities to our students:

• • 15 Classrooms

  • Administration Offices

  • Arts Education Office

  • Behaviour Specialist Room

  • CBVRSB Assessment Office

  • Conference Room

  • Cafeteria

  • Guidance Department

  • Gymnasium

  • High Needs Learning Centre

  • Library

  • Music Room 

  • Resource Room

  • School's Plus Offices

  • Snoezelen Room

  • Special Needs Active Sensory Room

  • Speech Pathology Room

Supervision of Students

Two ground supervisors are employed by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board in order to provide supervision for the students of Sydney River Elementary School.  These supervisors are responsible for loading and unloading bus students as well as school ground and lunch supervision.  These individuals continue to do an excellent job in ensuring the safety of our children.

Milk Program

As in previous years, we will once again be participating in the Nova Scotia Milk Program.  Cartons of 2% milk can be purchased by $.40 each.  Payment can be made weekly.

School Cancellation

During the school year, especially during the winter months, school may have to be cancelled for a number of reasons - weather, furnace problems, lack of water, etc.

When school is closed for a day, the eight-day schedule will continue.  For example, if a storm causes a cancellation of school on Day 3, the students would return the next day to Day 4. 

Because it is impossible to predict when school will be cancelled, we strongly advise parents to have alternate arrangements in place for the care of their children.  If you are not going to be at home, it is essential that your child(ren) are aware of an alternate plan that will ensure their safety.

Traffic Guidelines

When students are being dropped off or picked up at the school certain traffic regulations must be followed to ensure the safety of our children.  Only school buses and other school board vehicles are permitted on the school grounds while students are present.  Students must be dropped off or picked up on Philip Street.

Lunch Program

Again this year we will provide a full, 5-day lunch program at the school.  The menu has choices and is posted on our website.  There are occasional changes made to it.  The price will be $5.00 per item.  Lunch tickets can be purchased from the office or on-line.

History

Sydney River Consolidated Elementary School first opened its doors on Tuesday, December, 7, 1965 as Sydney River Junior High School.  It remained as such until the beginning of the 1974 school year, when Malcolm Munroe Memorial Junior High School opened. The building was then transformed into an elementary school.

As time went on through the 1960's and 70's, the population of Sydney River rose at an incredible rate. In 1983, the Cape Breton District School Board made a large addition to the already existing building. The Honorable Terence Donahoe was on hand to open the new section which provided a library, gym, art room, cafeteria, music room and new office space, as well as six new classrooms.

At its largest enrollment, there were over 700 children attending Sydney River Elementary, making it one of the biggest elementary schools in the district. Children came from areas all over, including Sydney River, Howie Centre, Sydney Forks, Sydney and Prime Brook.

After a period of declining population our school is now adding students with a current approximate population of 300 students.

Extracurricular Activities

Our school often offers the following extra-curricular activities:

• • Basketball

  • Choir (Co-curricular)

  • Co-ed Hockey

  • Basketball

  • Grade Five Band (Co-curricular)

  • Baseball (Spring)

  • Running Club

  • Small Ball Basketball Program

  • Student Leadership

  • Volleyball

Scent-Free Environment

There are a number of students, staff and parents who are asthmatic and/or allergic to various chemical-based or scented products.  In attempting to make the environment at Sydney River Elementary as healthy as possible for everyone, we are asking that staff, students and visitors to our school refrain from wearing heavily scented products.  With everyone's cooperation we can help alleviate these health concerns.