Start up information

Start – up information

Welcome to the EEP program at Sister Mary Phillips school. I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year. Together, as a team, we will provide your child with a meaningful year full of experiences and learning to make sense of the world.

Below I have outlined various topics that you may have questions about.

Classroom Hours

Mornings – Monday – Friday – 8:10 – 10:50

Students do not have school every Friday. Some Fridays are just for teachers.

Please check the calendar link in the menu bar for the 2018 - 2019 calendar.

Toys and games are strongly discouraged from coming to school unless it is related to what we are exploring and your child is willing to allow others to manipulate the object.

School supplies

1 pair of non-marking shoes (to be left at the school)

1 backpack large enough to carry a large library book and any projects and crafts that are completed at school.

Lunch kit and water bottle. (Please send a water bottle that is easy for your child to open and close.)

Clothing

Please label your child’s jacket, sweaters, boots, shoes, mitts, etc. This will help us at dismissal, as well as avoid lost clothing items, especially in the winter months. I will hold forgotten items in our boot room for a week or two, then they will go to the “lost and found” bin. One small bag (clearly labelled) with a change of clothing would be appreciated. We are busy exploring, playing, painting, crawling on the ground, splashing in the water - sometimes it may result in a splash - or paint splat. It washes - (please don't dress your child in anything you don't want to get dirty)

Snack

We have a daily snack time approximately 20 minutes long. Your child’s snack should be small and a healthy snack is encouraged. E.g. a granola bar, and a juice, OR juice with some carrot sticks. We are a peanut safe school therefore any products that contain peanuts or traces of peanuts are not to be sent to school. Please read all packaging labels very carefully.

Important: Please note - Operating Policy 138 requires all Fort McMurray Catholic Schools to adhere to healthy eating, active living and a positive social environment. I have attached this document in another tab labelled OP 138 -for your convenience.

Absent / pick-ups

If your child is not coming to school, please leave a message at the school office (780) 799 – 5720. The school will contact you if your child fails to appear and you have not phoned. This is for your child’s protection. Your phone number and emergency contact names along with telephone numbers must be kept up-to-date for our files. If you child becomes sick during the day or you have an appointment and your child must leave prior to dismissal, you must sign your child out at the office upon pick up.

If a friend, relative, or babysitter is picking up your child, please send a note to inform me of this, otherwise I will not release your child to another person without consent from you. This is so I can ensure the safe departure of your child. For those using the bus system, I need a note of changes with pick up as well; otherwise I will follow regular procedures for your child’s schedule.

Dismissal

I will dismiss children that are being picked up from our boot room directly to their parent. We encourage independence with the children for self-dressing, but we will help where necessary. As long as the weather permits, we will dismiss from outside.

Volunteering

I welcome all parents to visit and volunteer in the classroom. The door is always open. Many parents cannot help in the classroom. I have many jobs that I do need to be completed that can be done at home. Please ask the front office for a form to submit to the RCMP for a criminal record check with the vulnerable child sector. This is an important part of ensuring safety for your children. Thank you for adhering to this policy by applying for your CRC.

Feel free to contact me at school @ (780) 799-5720. You can also contact me through my school e-mail sherry.duncan@fmcsd.ab.ca Please do not send me any last minute changes of dismissal arrangements on my e-mail unless they are a day in advance notice as I usually check my e-mail at lunch and again at night. Any last minute changes must be done through phoning the school and leaving a message at the office.

Please check this link for morning information about Early Learning with Fort McMurray Catholic School Board and Alberta Education

https://fmcschools.ca/early-learning/

https://www.alberta.ca/parenting-tips.aspx

https://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mychildslearning/