Student Agenda

Principal's Message

At our school, we truly value the relationship between parish, home and school. We are committed to the education of the whole child which includes a focus on Gospel Values, academics, well-being and 21st-century skills.

We all work together to make our school a safe learning place for children to grow spiritually, academically and emotionally. We recognize the uniqueness of all members of our school community and support each other in our learning.

We encourage all students to participate in school activities and to share their talents and gifts with others. It is important to us to spend time and effort in finding ways to help those less fortunate. Being an active positive member of the school community is very important!

The agenda is intended to provide you with important information about our school. Please take the time to become familiar with this information. A mutual understanding of our school routines and a clear definition of our expectations will form the basis of a positive relationship between home and school.

Thank you for your support as we strive to continue to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School.

Mrs. A. Smith,
Principal

Our Mission

We are called to celebrate and nurture the God- given talents of each student as we serve with excellence in the light of Christ.

School Philosophy

The Catholic School is one in which Christ and His message is embodied in the total curricula. It is the goal of the school to teach each of our students a love of God, a love and respect for self and others and a sense of responsibility for their actions. It is an integral part of our Catholic school to provide opportunities for learning, growing, investigating, and thinking which will develop the whole child and teach our students to be lifelong learners.

School Hours

Supervision begins: 8:45 a.m.

Morning Bell: 9:00 a.m.
First Recess: 10:05 a.m. -10:20 a.m.

Lunch: 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Last Recess: 2:10 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.

Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.

Yard supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. We ask that you do not leave your child at the school prior to 8:45 a.m. as there will be no supervision available. The yard is also supervised during both morning and afternoon recesses and at lunchtime.

Safe Arrival – Automated

The Durham Catholic District School Board uses an automated attendance system, called Safe Arrival, for reporting student absences. Safe Arrival reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance making it easier for you to report your child’s absence and easier for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.

Parents are able to report their child’s absence quickly and conveniently using three different methods:

1. Parents can log into a website: go.schoolmessenger.ca to report student absences.

2. Parents can call into the automated interactive telephone system using the toll free number 1-844-288-7628 through which absences can be reported.

3. Parents can download the SafeArrival app for iOS and Android smartphones. Search for the keyword school messenger in the Google Play store or the Apple App store. Select Canada, select sign up, enter your email address that is on file with the school, enter a password.

All three methods are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Future absences, like doctor’s appointments can be reported ahead of time.

Catholic Dimension of Our School

Prayer is an integral and natural part of our school day. School begins with morning prayer for the whole school. Staff and students participate fully in formal and informal prayer in the classrooms and as part of all school activities.

The Religious and Family Life studies at each grade level are based on the programs and guidelines issued and directed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Religion lessons are taught daily in each class.

Parish, home and school are partners in helping our students with their development as young Christian learners. School Masses, religious liturgies and celebrations, preparation for receiving the sacraments and charity projects are all very important practices at our school.

Preparation and Reception of Sacraments

It is the responsibility of parents, assisted by catechists and by Parish Priests, to assess their child’s readiness for the Sacraments.

Since parents are the primary educators of their children, their responsibility is to nourish faith growth within the family context. The basic unit of the larger faith community is the local parish, where members of the home, school and parish become partners in this faith journey. Consequently, it is essential that all sacramental celebrations be centered within the parish community. Children in Grades Two and Seven will need to show proof of Baptism in the Catholic Church prior to receiving the Sacraments of First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation respectively.

St. John the Evangelist

John was the youngest of the twelve apostles. He and his brother James had been followers of John the Baptist. But Jesus saw them one day helping their father mend fish nets. He called to them: "Come, follow Me!" And from that time on they stayed close to Him.

At the Last Supper, John rested his head on the shoulder of Jesus. He stayed with Jesus during His Passion and Death, especially to console Mary. Jesus entrusted His own Mother to his care.

John preached in Palestine for many years. Later, he was taken as a prisoner to Rome. He was thrown into a pot of boiling water, but God kept him from harm.
When he was ninety years old, John wrote his Gospel to prove that Jesus was God as well as man. His symbol is the eagle because he soars above all things of earth and speaks of the divine nature of Christ.

Prayer for St. John the Evangelist Catholic School

Dear God,

We, your children, pray that we may bring peace and joy to all those whom we meet today being kind and caring like your special friend, St. John.

He was a student of your Son Jesus, and a teacher of the good news; help us to spread St. John's words that we are all created in your image, help us to learn to respect and protect your creation.

Like St. John's eagle, help us today to soar above all anger and hatred. Look after those who need you today in a special way (pause), and hold us all in the palm of your hand.

We ask these things, with love, through our Mother Mary and Jesus, your Son and our Brother.
Amen.

St. John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Partners in Positive Discipline

As the primary educators of your child, you the parent are encouraged to model the expectations and to support the school by reinforcing disciplinary actions reached cooperatively.

Each person who shares in the life of this school community is expected to behave within the confines of the norm of school conduct.

School Rules and Procedures

Use the proper door assigned at the beginning of the year.
Walk the bicycles on school property.
Do not leave at lunch without a signed note from your parent/guardian.
Play only in defined areas.
NO skateboards, large hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, hard balls, sharp pointed objects, matches, lighters, laser pointers, or technological gadgets which might interrupt learning.
Out of respect and safety for others, these activities are not allowed: throwing snowballs or stones, body contact sports, excessive force, fighting, play-fighting, swearing and ice-sliding.
Do not leave the playground area without permission and/or adult supervision.
The office telephone is restricted to medical or health related matters with the permission of a teacher.

Dress Code

Appropriate Dress and Appearance

It is expected that all members of the St. John school community dress in an appropriate fashion.

Students are expected to: 

Be attentive to personal grooming and cleanliness; 
Arrive at school in seasonal clothes for both indoors and outdoors; 
Wear age-appropriate attire that demonstrates modesty and respect for self and others and allows students to focus on learning; 
Wear clothing that is intact, non-revealing, modest age appropriate (eg. No inappropriate messages/pictures/racist content/ sexual content) and respectful; midriffs and shoulders covered (straps should be 3 finger width); 
Wear shirts, pants, skirts and shorts of reasonable length. Mid- thigh skirts; low-cut tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops and muscle shirts are not appropriate for school wear. Skirts and shorts should be the length of extended arms where fingers are in contact with fabric. Undergarments must be totally covered and pants are to be worn at the waist; 
Respect the Catholic learning environment at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School by wearing clothing that does not imply or contain violent, racist, profane, discriminatory or inappropriate suggestions;
Students are strongly encouraged to wear closed-toe, well-fitting shoes outdoors and indoors at all times to prevent injuries and to promote full participation in physical activities outdoors and indoors.
Clothing and jewelry must maintain the safety of the students (e.g. heavy belt or neck chains, studded bracelets, chained backpacks or sharp objects must not be worn).  
Remove hats, caps or other head coverings, as well as outerwear upon entering the school building(s); 
Dress with “sun wise” recommendations in mind. This means wearing a hat, putting on sunscreen and covering up. Our children are out in the yard during the day when the intensity of the sun is highest from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
All students from J.K. to Grade 8 are strongly encouraged to label all clothing, shoes, and personal items with their name or initials. The school is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen items.

All Dress Code infractions will be addressed with discretion and respect. 

Cell Phones

Students using cell phones (talking, texting receiving/sending messages, taking photos, making videos or checking message status) will have their phone confiscated and kept in the office until the end of that instructional day.

If this action persists, parents will be notified to pick up their child’s cell phone. Subsequent infractions will result in progressive discipline which may lead to suspension. 

Pledge of Academic Honesty

Students of the Durham Catholic District School Board are instructed in faith and are taught to use the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations as the guiding principles for their moral, Christian, and academic development. 

Academic honesty, based on respect for others and oneself, is a fundamental value in Catholic schools. Catholic educators are expected to teach students about the definitions of plagiarism and cheating and about measures they must take as responsible and self-regulating learners to avoid academic dishonesty.  

Students are expected to: 

Submit work, including tests and exams, consisting of their own ideas, expressed in their own words. 
Demonstrate respect for the ideas of others by acknowledging the sources they use in appropriate ways. 
Take responsibility for completing work on time and seek additional time or assistance when needed. 
Failure to meet these expectations may result in a variety of consequences, one of which could include a mark of zero.

Life Threatening Food Allergies – Anaphylaxis Procedure

Anaphylaxis is a rare but preventable and treatable reaction. An anaphylactic reaction is a severe, sudden, life-threatening allergic reaction after exposure to a food, drug or other substance. This type of severe allergic reaction occurs after a person has ingested or been exposed to a food or substance to which he/she is allergic.

The St. John the Evangelist Catholic School community supports the philosophy of inclusion and will endeavour to create a safe school environment for all staff and students. Precautions will be taken to ensure that the setting in which students with anaphylactic allergies spend the majority of their time be as safe and allergen-free as possible.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide the school with information relating to their child’s allergy and to provide the school with up-to-date EpiPens (2 required) and specific information from a physician.

Where a life-threatening food allergy exists, attempts must be made to create a safe classroom and school environment. Allergen(s) must be kept out of an anaphylactic student’s classroom. To ensure a controlled environment, all students will remain in their classrooms to eat their snacks and lunches.

All necessary forms with regard to the administration of medication, allergy alert and the emergency action plan will be duly completed in collaboration with the parents. These forms will be maintained and posted as per the Board’s Policy.

Lunch Hour

Student safety at lunch time is very important to us. It is our hope that all children who are able to, will go home for lunch. Students who walk home for lunch are expected to leave promptly at the bell and to return on time.

Students who regularly remain at school for lunch will require written permission in order to leave the school grounds. A written permission is required every time there is a change in routine. A verbal permission is not sufficient.

If you child goes home for lunch on a regular basis, we would also appreciate a note when he/she remains at school during lunch hour. Thank you for your co-operation.

Students who eat lunch at school are expected to sit at a desk in their own classrooms during lunch. Students are also expected to remain in their classrooms until the bell rings indicating that outdoor supervision has begun.

Bus Safety

Several school buses arrive and leave St. John the Evangelist Catholic School each school day. We all share responsibility for the students’ safe conduct. The following excerpts from the Durham Catholic District School Board Transportation Policy and Procedures Manual will hopefully clarify our roles. Please ensure students are at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes prior to pick-up time. Please speak to your children about proper conduct while waiting for the bus.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for their children’s conduct while waiting for the bus in their neighbourhood. The rule is simple -

“Respect and treat all people and property as you would have them respect you and yours”.

PLEASE NOTE: Permission will not be granted to students requesting special arrangements - transportation to birthday parties, visits to other children’s home, etc. after school hours.

The principal is responsible to take disciplinary action for unacceptable student conduct as stated in the revised Regulations of Ontario, 1980 - Regulation 262, Section 23 (4c) as follows: “Every pupil is responsible for his or her conduct to the Principal of the school that the pupil attends, (c) while travelling on a school bus that is under contract to the Board.”

Please remind your children of the bus rules:

Stay seated on the bus at all times.
Do not eat or drink on the bus.
Yelling or throwing things is strictly prohibited.
Act respectfully to drivers and riders.
Keep the noise level down.
Refrain from using inappropriate language.
Keep hands and head inside the bus.
Upon arrival at school go directly from the bus to the walkway by the gym and proceed to the schoolyard.
Respect the property of neighbours at the bus stops. Courtesy to everyone, including the driver, is expected.

The following procedure is in place at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School regarding repeated disregard of the Bus Safety Rules.

The bus driver makes every attempt to maintain a safe ride to and from school. The driver makes the initial contact with the student regarding misconduct and reviews the expectations for riding the bus safely.
The bus driver has at his/her disposal, “Student Behaviour Report” forms issued by FIRST STUDENT/DURHAMWAY/COACH CANADA. These forms are completed by the bus driver after attempts to correct the misconduct are unsuccessful.
The bus driver completes the “Student Behaviour Report” form when intervention by the Principal or Vice Principal is required. He or she brings the completed form to the school office.
The Principal/ Vice Principal will meet with the student and review the bus rules and expectations for riding the bus safely. The first behaviour report is kept on file and a warning is issued to the student - “upon the receipt of a second behaviour report, a phone call will made to the parent/guardian”.
The Principal/ Vice Principal will meet with the student and review the bus rules and expectations for riding the bus safely and call home upon the receipt of a second behaviour report. At this time the parent/guardian will be informed of the misbehaviours and the attempts to correct them. The parent/guardian will be informed that if a third behaviour report is received, there will be the loss of bus privileges for a period of 3 days.
The Principal/ Vice Principal will meet with the student and review the bus rules and expectations for riding the bus safely and call home upon the receipt of a third behaviour report. The student will lose bus privileges for a period of up to 3 days commencing the following day. A letter will be sent home outlining the reason for loss of bus privileges and the dates alternate transportation arrangements will need to be made to and from school for the student. Students who continue to break rules & expectations for riding the bus safely may lose the privilege of riding the bus.

We ask for your co-operation in reinforcing with your child the rules of bus safety. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the children arrive to and from school safely.

Catholic School Council

The Catholic School Council is a group of parents, school staff, parish representatives and community members who work together to foster the Catholic character of our school and enhance the learning of our students. You are invited to volunteer to participate in any of the programs they sponsor. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Student Progress Reports

The Ministry of Education guidelines are the following:

Term 1 September - late November: Progress Report
Late November – mid February: Achievement Report

Term 2 Mid February - end of June: Achievement Report

In addition to formal reporting and parent-teacher conferencing, we encourage on-going communication between home and school. Copies of achievement reports and any conference reports are filed in the student’s Ontario Student Record (OSR) folder.

School Code of Conduct

Please click here to read the Code of Conduct

CATHOLIC DIMENSION OF OUR SCHOOL