General Information

Completion of Forms

Requests for outside agency form completion should be directed to the principal of the school. As it is important for us to assist parents with the completion of medical forms and letters, we ask that you allow the school adequate time (approximately two weeks) to meet these requests.

Counselling

LPS offers students and parents the services of a school counsellor. Among the areas in which the counselor can give assistance are the following: solution focused, short-term individual counseling; program selection; remediation strategies; and referrals to other agencies. The counselor also offers developmental experiences in a variety of areas such as:social skills development, conflict resolution skills, Zones of Regulation, drug awareness, safety awareness and school climate activities.

Curriculum Outlines

Grade 1 – 4 course objectives based on Provincial Curriculum Guidelines, along with course evaluation components and their respective weightings, will be presented to parents and/or students in writing during the first month of the school year. In addition, provincial curriculum is available on the New Learn Alberta website.

Dismissal

Changes in transportation method shall not be granted unless explicit parental permission is communicated through a note in the student agenda, direct communication with a teacher, or call to our office. Without prior notification from parents or guardians, students shall not be released via an alternative transportation method (i.e. walking home or riding an alternate bus).

Fees

LPS charges mandatory fees for agendas and technology. All fees apply to students in Prekindergarten to Grade 4 are due by September 30th each year. If you are unable to make payment according to these guidelines, please contact the school to make alternate arrangements. 

Field trip fees are paid upon booking of a field trip throughout the year.

First Aid

First aid is given to any child having an injury at school. If the injury is minor, first aid is administered, and no contact made with home. If the injury is of greater concern, the child’s parent/guardian is contacted by telephone. It is very important that the school has emergency numbers plus necessary medical information. 

In severe cases, the school will contact the Emergency Response Unit for assistance. Therefore, it is important to have an

Alberta Health Care number for each child in attendance at our school.

Footwear

Students are required to have two pairs of shoes at school. One pair is for inside and gym use, the other pair for outside use only. All students will be encouraged to wear shoes inside the school. Wearing shoes promotes safety, a healthy lifestyle and prepares students in the event of a fire drill. It is recommended to label all footwear with the child’s name.

Homework: Supporting Learning at Home

Children are learning from the moment they are born, and parents are a child’s first teachers. We encourage parents to continue this work by helping their child practice new skills learned at school. The child’s teacher may assign homework. However, at LPS, our expectation is that children always have “homework”. We believe that children should spend approximately 15 to 30 minutes each day on activities that support strengthening foundational skills. These homework activities could include reading books, practicing math facts (addition, subtraction, times table), etc. Practicing reading and math daily will assist your child greatly.

Lost and Found

Articles placed in Lost and Found remain the property of the owners. The larger articles, such as clothing and footwear, are placed in a box in the main entrance. Smaller items, such as jewelry and toys, etc. are kept in the office. Please remind students to check for their articles. Unclaimed articles are donated to various charitable organizations.

Medication

According to AP915 – Administering Medications & Medical Treatment to Students, the

school cannot administer medication unless the following procedures are followed:

Procedures: Students with Medical Conditions

The parents shall:

• Inform the principal of their child’s need for medication or medical treatment by the school during school hours or extracurricular activities, and provide a written request to the Principal to administer medication and/or carry out other medical procedures.

• Provide the school with a statement from the child’s physician outlining the information as requested by the Principal.

• Provide the school with written notice of any changes in the medication schedule or of any changes to the medical procedures required by the physician.

• Assist the Principal, if required, in helping employees and/or other parents and students in developing their understanding of the student’s medical condition and how they can promote a healthy environment for the student with the medical condition and other students.

Pet Visits

For health and safety reasons, pets are not allowed on school property without prior approval from the Principal or designate.

Promotion and Special Placement

Student placement normally progresses one grade per year (with maturity and successful completion of general and specific outcomes in Language Arts and Mathematics being considered). Retention, acceleration, or placement in a specialized program will be determined as early in the school year as possible, and such placement will be made in consultation with parents/guardians. It must be evident from assessment and evaluation strategies that the placement recommendation is in the best interest of the child.

Parent Advisory Committee & School Council

Legal Public School aims to include parents and guardians in the educational planning of the school. Parents and guardians are invited to participate on the Parent Advisory Committee until a formal School Council is established. The Parent Advisory Committee works to benefit all students in the school. It acts in an advisory capacity to the Principal and/or the Board of Trustees. It provides for more effective communication. The Committee provides leadership for the school and serves as a forum for items of mutual concern. The Committee provides an opportunity for all parents to have input regarding their child’s education. We encourage you to become involved.

School Pictures

Individual and class pictures will be taken by Life Touch for the 2024-2025 school year. Advance notice and order forms are sent to all parents. Individual pictures are taken in the fall and spring, while classroom pictures are taken in the spring.

Staff Meetings and PD Days

Staff meetings and PD Days are held on one day of each month. Please check the website calendar and agenda for upcoming dates.

Student Allergies

We have students in our school with life threatening allergies. The allergic reaction occurs when the child comes into contact (eating, touch, smell etc.) with any form of nuts or nut- based products. Because of the severity of these allergic reactions, we request that no peanut butter sandwiches, cookies with nuts or nuts of any sort be brought to our classrooms.

Visitors and Volunteers in the School

All visitors and volunteers at the school must sign in at the office. This procedure ensures the safety of students and prevents unwanted individuals from coming into contact with our children. All volunteers must have a current Criminal Record Check (with Vulnerable Sector Check) with the office.

Guidelines for Volunteers:

Legal Public School welcomes our volunteers. Important components of all Volunteer Programs at LPS are that they are cooperative and constructive. In order to make your visit to our school both helpful and beneficial to the students, yourself and the staff, the following guidelines for volunteers have been developed:

1. For the safety of the students, it is important that we know who is in the building. Please sign in at the office when you arrive at the school and sign out when you leave. There is a binder on the front counter for this purpose. Volunteers will be asked to wear a lanyard while working in the school. All volunteers must have previously handed in a recent Criminal Check to the office.

2. Volunteers work under the direction of a teacher.

3. Activities will vary depending on student and/or class needs. However, you may be involved in:

• Setting up classroom and hall displays.

• Preparing materials and/or resources.

• Assisting in the Gym, MakerSpace or outside.

• Carrying out other specific activities as needed.

4. For insurance purposes, siblings may not accompany their parents when they are acting as volunteers in classrooms or while involved in student supervision duties for activities planned on the school grounds or on field trips. Siblings may accompany parents who are volunteering for duties not involved in providing student supervision or work that takes place in classrooms.

5. When volunteering in the school, cell phones must be placed in “silent” mode. Calls should not be made or answered in classrooms during instructional times or when the volunteer is supervising or providing support for students.

6. If you are outside on the playground and an accident or incident occurs, please find an outside supervisor and they will determine a course of action.

7. In order to establish effective communication, if you have any questions orconcerns please discuss them with the teacher as soon as possible after they arise.

8. Because we have many students who are in unique situations, we would like to remind you that confidentiality is important both within the school and the community.

Thank you for being a part of your child’s learning team. It is through caring support from home that our children thrive!