Staff Playbook

Please note that the information in this memo is the information that we believe to be pertinent for staff to be reminded of at the start of each school year. More comprehensive information is available on the Staff Playbook. The website is dynamic and will be updated frequently. bit.ly/bcssplaybook

Professional Learning 

This year our professional learning structure will align align with priorities for student achievement and well-being  and the School Improvement Plan (SIP). Our focus will continue to emphasize Anti- Black Racism and Anti- Oppressive pedagogy, as well as Indigenous Learning, Equity and Inclusion. In addition, we will continue with our emphasis on Asssessment and Evaluation, Mentorship and Mental Health and Wellbeing for staff and students. Our SIP for this coming year will be derived from The Trustees Multi-Year Plan and the Directors Action Plan.  

Time and school resources will be allocated to support these goals in addition to learning and sharing during our STT meetings and PD Days. Opportunity to further this work and develop your own leadership is possible through your participation in a variety of different committees that further our SIP. 

BCSS Staff

Welcome back to our Staff! Here our BCSS Staff (will be updated) that has staff names and photos.

Positive Climate for Learning and The First Two Weeks

• When establishing your classroom environment, inclusion activities should allow students to get to know and respect each other’s backgrounds.

• The first few weeks of class are critical to establishing a positive learning environment.  Critical attributes often include:

  • Be inviting and build positive relationships (e.g. greet your students at the door; chat about their interests/lives; learn their names asap)

  • Develop classroom expectations collaboratively with students and post them for future reference (TRIBES agreements, responsible use of technology– discuss and post). 

  • Always ensure that students are in uniform.  Cell phones in classrooms are to be used for educational purposes only, with teacher permission.

  • Consider an alphabetical seating plan until you’ve established procedures, expectations and know student names. Change seating plans when needed.

  • Start every lesson on time with planned activities /instruction (Effective teachers are able to take attendance with little disruption to the learning)

  • Use Assessment for/as Learning to drive your instruction.  Use diagnostic assessment tools in every class to assess student prior knowledge and skills

  • Communicate regularly with parents/guardians regarding concerns or to offer compliments regarding a student’s progress, attendance or behaviour Intervene early

  • Distribute first day handouts (e.g., course outlines and expectations regarding assessment and evaluation, literacy, assignment completion, units of study, textbooks, field trips etc.).

  • Collaborate with your peers to develop and refine effective instructional programs.

Student Attendance

• All students are expected to be in class on time and prepared to learn in full uniform as attendance is integral to student achievement.

• Use Teach-Assist to record lates and absences

• You must maintain your own attendance records for every class

• Submit attendance  within the first 15 minutes of class: The email for attendance is billcrothersss.attendance@yrdsb.ca 

• If a student is less than 15 minutes late for class, they are to report directly to their class and the teacher addresses the issue and records the student as late. Teachers should deal promptly with lates/absences (discuss with student, call home, detentions, etc.) and refer to administration  for persistent late/absence issues. When referring students to Administration please provide an outline of interventions used

• Do not lock students out of classrooms as a punitive measure.

• If a student is absent e.g. today and arrives tomorrow, and the Daily Attendance Record indicates an unauthorized absence (no note/parent call), send them to the attendance secretary upon arrival to your class

No Shows/Start-up Procedures 

Teachers must be very careful when marking their attendance, particularly the first two days. If a student is not present, mark them absent in Teach-Assist until the first day they arrive to your class. This will ensure that the student remains ‘inactive’ until they attend. If one teacher accidentally does not mark a student absence, the student becomes active in our tracking system, which is problematic. Please be careful!

• Please read your daily attendance record or Teach-Assist 

• If a parent has notified the attendance sexcretary of an absence, this will be indicated on your Daily Attendance Record and then reflected on Teach-Assist 

• Delete a student from your class only after you have received notification from the Guidance Department or Main Office.  For students who say they have dropped your class, please disregard and continue to mark them as absent until their name no longer appears on the attendance record.  If you do not have an add/drop sheet indicating the student’s drop status, the student has not dropped your course and is expected to attend.  Please follow-up with the student/parent or with guidance if no change occurs or you do not receive a change notice

• Add a student to your class list only when presented with either a timetable showing your class or a note from a Guidance counsellor or administration. Do not allow students to “sit in on” your class while they wait for a guidance appointment. Do not make deals or “trades” with students in different sections/semesters.

• If students in your class tell you that a student will not be attending BCSS, let the office know immediately with the reason so that we can follow up and verify.

Student Logins and Passwords 

• All passwords and logins can be accessed through the BWW for staff once the document is made available.

Classroom Procedures

• It is very important to be visible in the halls before classes to help students with questions and to encourage everyone to find their classes promptly and on time.  All homeroom teachers should be in their homeroom class by 8:30 a.m. to welcome students.  

• Please be prudent when allowing students to use the washroom and to allow only one out at a time.  Never refuse to allow a student to use the washroom. Develop interventions for students that appear to abuse this time.

• If a student is too disruptive to remain in class and your interventions have been unsuccessful, use the phone in the classroom to call the office and announce that you are sending student X to the office. Please try to discreetly provide some information to the office so that we know how to follow up until a lengthier explanation can be obtained after the class.

• Establish ILIP procedures and expectations from the outset. Sign out or in procedures are in the process of being finalised and must be followed to facilitate a learning environment.

• Ensure all students know the procedures. Read and repeat ILIP procedures for all students over the first two weeks.

Textbooks   

• Textbooks are managed by our office staff. No textbooks will be distributed until course changes have been completed. The main office staff will communicate the textbook distribution schedule.

• Reinforce the need for student responsibility concerning the proper care and return of their textbooks.  Materials are York Region District School Board property and are loaned to students. They will be held financially responsible for the items issued to them.

Technology/Devices

• Remind students to keep all communication devices turned off in class and safely stored to avoid theft.

• Cell phones can only be used in classes with teacher permission

• Remind students that they must respect the expectations of supply teachers when you are absent

• Avoid taking students’ property. Ask them to put it away or contact the office for support.

• Earphones and headsets should not be worn into a classroom. Teachers may allow students use when appropriate, but teach students to not have them on when they arrive to class. 

Class Lists 

• Will be provided to teachers and reprinted once guidance has completed course changes, class lists will be reprinted

Schedule/Bells (see new school schedule below) 

• No class should be dismissed before the end of the period.  You must wait for the bell

• Please do not allow students to line up at the door at the end of the period

• Students should remain at their desks for the duration of the period.

• HPE classes must remain with the teacher until the bell

Announcements

• Oh Canada and announcements will start daily after the bell.

• Ensure that your class is quiet and respectful at this time. Also ensure that students in the hallways around your classroom are standing still and not talking during this time  

• If you would like the announcement team to read your announcement, complete the Morning Announcement Form.  

• All Morning Announcement forms should be completed by 8:30 a.m. the day you would like it read. 

• Please refrain from 

  • writing announcements for information that can be posted

  • requesting that an announcement be repeated daily for extended periods

• The Announcement team will endeavour to play morning music 5 minutes before the period 1 bell to help students get to class on time

Supervision

• A supervision schedule will be available on Playbook.  You are required to be on time for your duty – consider safety issues/liability for students and courtesy to your colleagues.

• If your “relief” doesn’t arrive on time – contact the office and remain until we arrange for coverage

• Descriptions of duties are available on the supervision schedule tab. This is also a time to build relationships/chat with students, especially in the cafeteria 

• Halls should be clear of students during class time. Students on spares should be either in the cafeteria, library, or first floor foyer  

• Normally, during lunch period(s) students may eat on the 1st floor in the foyer or in the cafeteria.  There is no eating or loitering in the stairwells. Since we have a common lunch students will be eating in a variety of different locations.

•  Continually ensure that students do not leave garbage behind

• Remain vigilant and constantly circulate in the cafeteria and in the hallways as per your assigned duty.

Special Education

• The Special Education department will make contact with teachers regarding students with IEPs and the accommodations required to support their learning. Teachers can also check SSNet to review a student's IEP at any time.  

• Kitchens in ME and DD rooms classes are for ME and DD programs only.  Staff are to use kitchenettes for their own lunch preparation

Student Success 

• Students “at risk” will be identified to you by the student success teacher. The student success teacher will share the schedule and procedure for the Student Success Room

Guidance – Timetable Changes

• Welcome all students with valid timetables - otherwise do not admit them.

• If you learn that a student does not have the prerequisite for your course, contact the Guidance Department.

• Students must attend all scheduled classes – even while they are in the process of making changes to their schedule. Most classes are full and changes will be limited. Timetable change process will be communicated by Guidance.

• For students who say they have dropped your class, please continue to mark them as absent until their name no longer appears on your class list on Teach-Assist If you do not have an add/drop sheet indicating their drop status, the student has not dropped your course and is expected to attend.  Please follow up with the student or with guidance if you have a problem 

• Guidance will work with students on the following basis:

• Incomplete timetables

• failed courses

•  prerequisite issues

• level changes

• summer school issues 

• etc.

Concussions and Other Injuries

• As a school we wish to provide all students with the supports that they need when they have been injured inside and outside of school hours. All concussions and all other injuries must be reported to the main office so that we may ensure that appropriate supports are in place to ensure that students may access their classes and receive the supports that they may require.

Assessment, Evaluation and Communication

• Please be familiar with the YRDSB and School Assessment, Evaluation and Communication Policy and Growing Success

• Please be reminded that all Departments must follow this policy. The policy contains guidelines for late assignments and plagiarism. Information on plagiarism is also included on our library website. 

Food/Drinks in Class

• Students should not allow students to eat in classrooms. Use professional judgment when allowing students to consume snacks/beverages in classrooms. Remind students to be cognizant of allergies e.g. nuts

• Teachers should not excuse students to purchase food/drinks from cafeteria or vending machines during instructional times

• Normally food is only permitted in the cafeteria, and on the first floor foyer.  This year there will be additional locations that will be permitted for the consumption of food

Plagiarism 

The procedure for plagiarism is outlined in the Student Handbook

Allergies

• Remind students that allergies can be life threatening. Students should not share food, wear perfumes and colognes or bring foods containing nuts and nut by-products to school.

• Our school cafeteria service provider is Aramark. This provider does not knowingly purchase or bring on site any products containing peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds as an ingredient listing, they do purchase some products that include warning notices of possible traces. If you have food allergies, please share in your staff emergency form.

Dress Code/Uniforms

• Students wearing hats and religious head coverings must comply with the appropriate process as stated in the student handbook. 

• Review and remind students of the “Ready to Learn” protocol.

• Use the language with students: “At this school we wear uniform”

• Imperative that all teachers address uniform infractions

• Uniform- undershirt-(t-shirts) must be a BCSS colour (grey, black, red, blue and white) 

• Students must wear their BCSS uniform on all  field trips and to sporting events /school activities 

• Progressive Discipline 

Egregious Classroom behaviour

• • • 1st Offence: Parent Contact by Teacher (please track & keep a record of this)

    • 2nd Offence: Send Student to Alpha VP (detentions & call home)

    • 3rd Offence: Possible In School Suspension

    • 4th Offence: Possible Suspension

    • Repeated: Suspension

Uniform 

Students are expected to be in uniform in all areas of the school at all times.

•  Warning at safe school assembly/Newsletter

• First time: 1 full lunch detention

• Second time: 3 lunch detentions + call home

Vaping 

• Warning at safe school assembly 

• First time: call home + tobacco enforcement letter + 3 detentions 

• Second time: inschool/out of school suspension

Staff Professional Attire

• Staff are encouraged to wear the School Uniform to promote a sense of team and community.

• It is expected that staff will dress appropriately to reflect subject-specific activity needs

• Attire should not include ripped tops or pants, tank tops, or any attire not consistent with business casual wear, no jeans.

• See the board memo on BWW for further details

Teacher Absences

• If calling in absences on the day of your absence, it must be reported in STAR by 6:30 a.m. 

• Submit forms as early as possible for your anticipated absence and call in to STAR ASAP

• Lesson plans are to be submitted through Teach-Assist.  Submit requests /information as early as possible to ensure coverage for attendance at workshops, meetings, other  planned absences

• Please remember to submit your faith days on the BWW Faith Day Collection Tool to list dates ASAP

Parking 

• Always display your parking tag so that your vehicle can be distinguished from students parking in staff designated areas

• Students with permits are permitted to park on school property, but this permit does not guarantee a spot on heavy use days

• The speed limit in the parking lot is 15 km/hour 

• If you need a parking tag, please see the Main Office

Field Trips 

• Field Trip Procedures and Forms must be submitted digitally from the Staff Website

• Field trips must be approved by Daraius Bharucha before collecting any money or making commitments to an outside facility

• Plan ahead and ensure trips are based on specific/overall curriculum expectations.

• Do not keep field trip money. Please have trips set up on School Cash for money and parental permission forms. If collecting any money, please deposit daily with the Budget Secretary to be kept in the safe. Encourage students to pay using School Cash Online, as it is a more secure method of payment

• OFSAA bound teams must complete online overnight paperwork

Health and Safety

• Lockdown, Hold and Secure and Fire Procedures must be reviewed with your students on the first day. The students must know which exit they must use when in your classroom in the event of a fire alarm

• Do not leave valuables (purses, money) around in classrooms OR change rooms 

• Ensure that all classroom equipment and textbooks are secured

• Please report any health and safety concerns immediately. e.g., broken windows, spills, doors that can’t be locked, intercoms that do not work, etc., so we can attend to them

Phone/Email 

• Set up your voice mail by the first or second day (at school or do it from home). Please see Shirley De DiFebo if you have any questions shirley.difebo@yrdsb.ca

• You must check your phone messages and email daily to ensure you have necessary information and can return calls within 48 hours

Email Communications

• Email is often a welcome and preferred means of communication for many parents, however, there are times when phone conversations are preferable. In the event of a contentious matter, a phone call should be made. If the issue remains unresolved, please consult your department head or an administrator.

• Use of the BCSS staff Distribution List is not permitted for the purpose of soliciting, sport pools, etc.. Please use the staffroom announcement board or personal emails for these purposes. Communication of personal and professional achievements, eg. baby announcements etc., is permitted. 

Prayer Room

• BCSS is proud to offer a multi-faith prayer space for all students and staff in our school community. The prayer space is located in the library and is available for quiet reflection and contemplation. Please inform your students about the prayer space and if they request to use it, please call the library at ext. 4006 to inform them that a student is on the way.

Club Proposal Procedure

• Please consult with Daraius Bharucha prior to starting any new clubs.

Fundraising

• Teachers/coaches must ensure that any plans for fundraising are communicated to administration. Any fundraising done must be consistant with YRDSB Policy regarding fundraising. See BWW for details