School District 8 - Public Information

Calendar 2009-2010
Health Support services in Public Schools
High School Brochure for School District 8
International Student Brochure
International Student Registration form
Nutrition Information - Food Categories
Nutrition Information - Handbook
Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA)
Public Transportation FAQs
Registering for School in District 8
School Bus and Bus Stop Rules
School Bus Transportation - Alternate Arrangements
School Closure due to Inclement Weather
School Rental Information
Textbooks
When Conflict Arises
Useful Websites for Parents and Newcomers to District 8

NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL CALENDAR 2009-2010
(Click here for PDF printable version)

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HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Why are Health Support Services provided in schools?

• To prevent students from being excluded from public schools because of health conditions requiring care that can be provided in school.
• To put in place the best practices for protecting students who have a serious condition (e.g., severe allergies) and for protecting all students in emergency situations.

What is meant by Health Support Services?

Health Support Services are those services that:

• Would normally be provided by the student's parent or guardian to relieve discomfort;
• Are absolutely necessary during school hours; cannot be provided at another time of the day.

What is the procedure for parents to follow?

• First of all submit a written request.
• By requesting the service in writing, the parent acknowledges that the school's responsibility for health care is limited.

The school will provide the service requested for the student, if certain rules are followed:

• Make sure the service is absolutely necessary during school hours.
• Request, in writing, that the school provide these services.
• For over-the-counter medications, provide detailed written instructions that indicate clearly the type of medication, dosage, frequency, and method of administration.
• For prescription medications, attach the pharmacist's instruction sheet indicating the physician's prescription, possible side effects, and any storage requirements.
• For EpiPen prescriptions, provide the school with a copy of the physician's prescription at the beginning of each school year, and two EpiPens.
• If the student has severe allergies, work with the school to try to make the school environment as secure and caring as possible for the student.

The parent must notify the school, not the teacher, of any changes to be made in the student's health services or medication.

For Additional Information, contact: Department of Education, P.O. Box 6000; Fredericton, N.B.; E3B 5H1

Public Health Services
55 Union Street
P.O. Box 93
Saint John, NB
E2L 3X1

Tel: ( 506) 658-2454
Fax: ( 506) 658-3067

ACCESSING PUBLIC SERV ICES FOR SCHOOLS

In order to access the following services through our mandated programs listed below:

• mandatory immunization
• communicable disease
• train the trainer support to your committees on issues such as head lice and sexual health
• prenatal teaching through our Early Childhood Initiatives program
• parenting issues for teen parents through our Early Childhood Initiatives program

Call 658- 2454 and ask to talk to the School Coordinator

Other important numbers :

• Communicable Disease Nurses 658-5188
• Sexual Health 658-3998
• Saint John Fax Number 658-3067

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PUPIL TRANSPORTATION FAQs

Q: Which students are eligible to receive transportation?
A: Students who live more than 1.5 KM (0.93 miles) from their neighbourhood school.

Q: What is the method of transportation?
A: Students will be transported via yellow school bus whenever possible. When yellow school buses are full, students may be transported by Saint John Transit. Priority is given to senior students when determining access to Saint John Transit.

Q: How do I apply for transportation?
A: Application for transportation may be made at the school, which the student attends.

Q: When and where are Saint John Transit bus passes available?
A: Saint John Transit passes are available on the first day of school at the school which the child attends.

Q: What if my address has changed?
A: Submit the new address to the school that the child attends.

Q: Under what circumstances can pupil transportation be removed?
A: Pupil transportation is a privilege, not a right. Pupil transportation can be removed for discipline infractions or actions which compromise student safety.

Q: What should my child know about School Bus Safety?
A: The Department of Education has prepared a School Bus Safety presentation which can be viewed at: http://www.gov.nb.ca/education/docs/bus/frame.htm

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REGISTERING FOR SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 8

Registering for Kindergarten
View Kindergarten - Welcome to School

Kindergarten Registration will be held at your neighborhood school during the month of October. Your neighborhood school is the school closest to the child's place of residence. Contact the school for registration information.

Kindergarten attendance is compulsory for all children who reach the age of five years on or before September 1. Children who reach the age of five years between September 2 and December 31 inclusive are eligible for Kindergarten in September, but parents may defer the entry into Kindergarten of these children until the following September .

The requirements for entrance are 1) Proof of age: birth certificate or baptismal certificate with the seal of the church and 2) proof of immunization. It would be helpful to have the New Brunswick Medicare information.

Proof of immunization can be shown using:

1. any document that the applicant supplies that he or she reports to be proof of immunization. Public Health will be responsible for any interpretation, translation or confirmation of the contents of this document. Verification of Immunization must be dated and signed by a doctor or nurse with each needle received listed.

Or

2. A Proof of Immunization Requirement or Exemption for School Entry form with one of the three sections completed:

• A signed statement from a physician or Public Health Nurse verifying the immunizations the student has received,
• A medical exemption signed by a physician, or
• A signed statement by the parent making a Declaration of Objection to Immunization

Students who are in the Grade 5 English Program may be registered for Grade 6 Late French Immersion during January and February. French Immersion Information sessions are held during the month of February for parents who register their children in French Immersion Programs.

Registering for High School
View High School Registration Handbook

Students who transfer schools within District 8 or move residence during the summer
Transfer permits are issued at the neighborhood school or at the District Office when schools are closed in July and August. The student’s cumulative Record will be sent from the student’s current school to the new school.

Students who are moving into District 8 from another jurisdiction in Canada
Students who are moving into District 8 from another jurisdiction in Canada will require a permit to enter school. They need to contact the neighborhood school and bring with them documentation from their previous school ( i.e. report cards, statements of progress, letters of transfer). Permits are issued at neighborhood school or at the District Office when schools are closed in July and August. District 8 school will request Cumulative Records from previous school.

Students Moving to District 8 from another country

• International Student Brochure
• Registration form for International Students

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SCHOOL BUS AND BUS STOP RULES

The following set of rules, for behavior on the bus and at bus stops, are designed to
make traveling to and from school a more positive experience for all involved. Please take the time to understand these rules.

If you have questions, feel free to ask your bus driver or a teacher for an explanation.

1. Please be at your bus stop 5 minutes prior to its scheduled arrival time. Never stand in the street or on the highway while waiting for your bus.
2. Please get on or off the bus at your designated bus stop. For your safety, stops are located in areas that easily visible to on-coming traffic.
3. Please be quiet and orderly at all times, especially while the bus is approaching your stop and while it is stopping at a railway crossing.
4. Please follow the driver's instructions and avoid unnecessary distractions or conversations while the bus is in motion.
5. The use of profanity on the bus is not permitted.
6. For your safety, crossing the road after leaving the bus should only take place once the red lights are flashing and the driver has given you instructions to cross. Always cross in front of the bus crossing arm, never at the rear of the bus.
7. Please respect the driver's decision to assign seats. Only occupy seats assigned by the driver.
8. Please obtain approval from the bus driver prior to opening the windows on the bus. Do not throw anything out of the window or extend anything through the openings.
9. Please do all you can to keep your bus free of garbage. Eating on the bus shall only be permitted with the driver's approval.
10. When space permits items such as skates, skateboards, and small musical instruments may be transported when placed in an appropriate carrying case or backpack. Otherwise, items such as these will not be permitted on the bus. Permission to transport any other items will be granted at the driver's discretion.
11. The use of tobacco, alcohol or any other banned substance is not permitted on the bus.
12. No pets or animals will be permitted on the bus.
13. Willful damage to the bus shall be the responsibility of the offender.

PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL OF FELLOW PASSENGERS AND THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

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SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION - ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS

Click here for parent / guardian information on Alternate Transportation .

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SCHOOL CLOSURE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

The following options are considered when deciding what to do during inclement weather situations:

1. Schools are open as usual in which case no radio announcement will be made.
2. All schools are closed for the day with an appropriate announcement being relayed to radio stations prior to 6:30 a.m. Parents are urged to listen to the radio early in the morning particularly on days when the weather is inclement.
3. Some schools in the district are closed with appropriate radio announcements being made.
4. All school bus routes are delayed one hour. On these occasions, all schools in the district will be open at their regular time to receive students.
   Students arriving late will not be penalized.
5. Schools may be closed early on days when the weather conditions are anticipated to deteriorate significantly during the day. Every effort will be made to notify parents via the radio or by telephone. Parents are reminded of the importance to ensure an alternate arrangement for their child in cases when they or another adult will not be available to be home when students arrive.

During the winter months there may be occasions when the condition of a particular road along a bus driver’s route is hazardous. Individual school bus drivers have a responsibility to recommend to their supervisor either the cancellation or delay of their individual bus runs should they have a particular safety concern. Whenever possible, such cancellation or late bus will be announced on the radio.

While the loss of valuable instruction time is always a concern, the safety of students is paramount. The decision to close schools is always with this in mind. If schools remain open, and you as parents find that conditions in your area are not conducive to your child going to school, then ultimately you have the final decision whether to send your child to school. Absences on these days will not be a factor in a student’s attendance record.

School District 8 has also established a telephone line with a recorded message to inform the public of school closures because of inclement weather - 643-SNOW(7669). Please feel free to call this line at any time.

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SCHOOL RENTAL INFORMATION

• School Rental Procedures & Conditions
• New School Rental Rates effective Sept 2006
  

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TEXTBOOKS

Schools distribute free textbooks to students. All textbooks are the property of the school and students are required to take due care of the textbooks issued to them. All free textbooks are to be returned to the school on or before the last day of the school year, when a student completes his or her course, when a student leaves a school or when a student transfers to another school.

Any student losing, destroying or mutilating any free textbook shall pay for it or purchase a replacement textbook that will become the property of the school.

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USEFUL WEBSITES FOR PARENTS OR NEWCOMERS TO DISTRICT 8

• EcoKids Environmental Education
• Post Secondary Days
• District 8 Enrichment Center
• Marco Polo Project
• Information on Newcomers to Saint John
• PASAGE (Preventing Addiction, Substance Abuse and Gambling Education)

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