Snacks School will provide snacks recommended by the Peel Health Department twice in the day. Parents need not send any additional snacks. Lunch It is strongly recommended that parents choose to cater the nutritious and well-balanced lunches from from the school's chosen vendor. A separate handout from the catering company will be provided to you by the school. At enrollment time, parents must list any food allergies that their child may have. Parents must detail these and any other conditions or preferences in regards to food so that the staff can act accordingly. Parents who choose to provide their own lunches must take care that the lunches do not contain:

• any contact allergy products (school will provide list based on enrolled students)
• any non-vegetarian (meat, eggs or fish) ingredients
• glass juice bottles
• any container that might shatter when accidentally dropped
• knives or cutlery that may be harmful

Parents must provide their child a well-balanced lunch. Eating candy or other high sugar foods is discouraged at school and should not be packed in lunches. It is a requirement that lunch be sent in an insulated lunch bag that contains an ice pack.

The school is very concerned with the students in our care that have severe allergies. We are aware that this can be life threatening. Each classroom is given a list of all children in the school that have allergies. We are a nut free school; our policy is as follows:

• No nuts or nuts products are allowed in any snack provided.
• If you are providing snack for your child's classroom, please check the package as many items are processed on machinery that has been used for nut products.
• Should a child’s lunch from home contain a nut product or a product whose packaging states ‘may contain traces of nuts’, the item in question will be sent home with a note reminding the child’s family that the school is a nut-free environment. Should the child’s lunch be insufficient, the school will provide food normally served as snack to replace the nut product.

What can parents do to help?

• Check all snacks that you provide to ensure it was not processed on machinery used for nut products.
• Talk to your child about their special diet and not to share food with others.
• If your child is allergy free, help them to understand what being allergic means.

Parents of children with severe allergies will be required to fill in the ‘Severe Allergy Form’ yearly and will be asked at the time of registration to meet with the school’s staff to discuss the allergies, medication, and procedures that will be followed.

Keep your child by your side at all times when dropping off or picking up. Your child needs to walk inside the school and on all school grounds. Please, no running in the hallway. Parents do not enter the classrooms during drop off or pick up times. Parents and authorized Guardians must Sign-In or Sign-Out the child when dropping off or picking up respectively. Ask a staff member for the Sign-In/Sign-Out terminal. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED OF ANYONE, INCLUDING PARENTS, PICKING UP A CHILD. Photo ID could be asked for each time your child is picked up. Pick-up Authorization Release of your child will be made only to authorized parties in this order of preference:

1. To parents
2. To authorized individuals on your list
3. To any person with written permission to pick up your child

Drop-Off

• Drop off window is 8:00 am to 8:30 am at both sites for all programs. Please do not come before 8am or after 8:30am unless you have discussed your exception with your child's teacher.
• Children must be escorted up to a staff member.
• A staff member will greet your child at the entrance and walk them into the classroom. Please do not go into classrooms unless you have booked an observation.

Pick-Up

• Pick up window is 3:10pm to 3:30pm at both sites for all programs. Please do not come before or after unless you have discussed your exception with your child's teacher. Lower Elementary students come out around 3:20pm while Upper Elementary and Junior High students come out at 3:30pm.
• Proceed to the pick-up point and make sure a staff member notices you.
• A staff member will bring your child to the door.
• You might be required to show a photo-id if the staff member does not recognize you
• Your child is your responsibility after the pick-up point.
• If you have not picked up your child by 3:45 pm (11:45am for Morning Half Day Students) he/she will join the extended day program. Charges for the extended day care, if not paid for at enrollment time, are $1.00 per minute.

Tardy Arrival

• All the students must be at school by 8:30am.
• Students coming between 8:30 and 8:45 will be gently rushed in by the Supervisor
• Students coming in between 8:45am and 9:00am will be asked to explain their being late
• Anyone coming after 9:00am will have to return home and come back after lunch. Exceptions will only be made for those who are generally punctual.

Early Dismissal If an early dismissal is necessary, we request that a written note be sent to the teacher that morning. This will allow us to have your child ready and will not cause disruption to the learning environment of the classroom. Parking Lot Safety For the safety of everyone:

• All children must be escorted in and out of school by an adult. Please watch siblings in the parking lot. This is not a play area.
• Do not leave your car running while dropping off or picking up your child. You are required to be with and supervise your child and keep him/her within 3 feet of you at all times before drop-off and after pick-up.

Please call 905-913-0801 by 8:30 am each day that your child will be absent or arriving late. Please inform us about the nature of the absence, as the school is required to report any communicable diseases. Please have your child to school early enough to start school on time at 8:45 am.

If a child has any one of the following conditions, the school requires that the child not be at school:

1. contagious disease, not including a cold
2. fever of over 100 degrees during the past 24 hours
3. vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
4. draining sores or burns
5. a rash, until diagnosed and determined to be non-contagious
6. accident requiring medical attention
7. any condition (including separation anxiety) that prevents the child from comfortably participating in program activities or that results in greater care for the child than what staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children

If a child exhibits any of these conditions while at school, the child’s parents will be notified to come and remove their child from the school until the above conditions no longer apply. While waiting to be picked up, the child may be placed in the office in order to remove the child from the rest of the class.

Please keep the office notified of all absences.

Extended Absences The school does not prorate tuition and does not give credits for time away from school. A 30 day notice in writing to the office is required for withdrawal or extended absences. In order to guarantee a space in your child’s classroom upon your return all tuition must be paid with pre-dated checks before your departure.

Inclement Weather Schedules In the event of bad weather, you can find up-to-the-minute information about school closure at the school’s website www.kmschool.org.

Power Outage The Ontario Ministry of Education regulations require the school to close if the power is out for 1½ hours. All parents must have updated phone numbers on file. We will call each parent. There is a mandatory pick up for all students within 1 hour.

Natural Disasters In the event of a natural disaster and if the phone lines are down, directions will be placed on the front door of the school.

There is an optional supervised nap or quiet time for all children. During this time, they sleep or relax quietly on their mats or cots. The mats and cots are provided by the school. Parents are requested to bring one crib sheet and at least one blanket. A stuffed animal can be brought from home for rest time only (toys are typically not allowed at school). Napping materials will be sent home to be cleaned at the end of each school week so that they may be returned at the beginning of the following week. All napping materials should be clearly labeled and sent in a small bag.

Whenever a field trip is planned, parents are notified and may be asked to assist in transporting and chaperoning the children. Parents must provide child safety seats for the field trip. If a parent wishes to not have their child go on a particular field trip, that child may be kept at home for the day.

The preferred communication medium is email. All our staff members are quite responsive and respond to emails within 24hrs. To contact a staff member via phone please call the school office at 905-913-0801. Office staff will deliver the message. Teachers are not available to return calls until the end of the school day or during scheduled breaks.

Teachers are informed of calls for students. However, students are only called from class for emergencies. Additionally, during extended day hours, we will take a message for the child. Staffing during extended day hours does not allow personal supervision while one child is in the building on the telephone.

We hold a special celebration for any student celebrating his/her birthday during a school day. Parents are encouraged to send pictures that the student can use to tell others about their growing years and family. However, our celebration does not include any eatables (e.g. pizza), loot bags or cakes.

If your child is having a birthday party or other social event, unless the whole class is invited, the invitations should be sent by mail. We will not hand them out at school. Address lists are available from your teacher.

Parent visits to the school are welcome. Please make an appointment for any in-class observations. Classroom observations can be disruptive to the learning environment. In-class observations will be limited to one half an hour with a prior appointment. Observation from the hall is allowed at any time for any length of time.

Many valuable articles of clothing remain unclaimed each year. Proper identification on coats and other articles of clothing will help to assure the return of lost articles. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged personal items. All unclaimed items are donated on the last day of school to a charitable organization.

Our goal is to provide an atmosphere and learning environment that is safe, supportive and nurturing for each student. The code established for the students attending the school will not inhibit their natural creativity and social growth.There is a strict code of conduct, which includes no hitting, kicking, biting, scratching and/or fighting. Also, appropriate language must be used at all times. Respect when speaking to teachers, students and any adult is mandatory.

In managing the children’s behaviour, under no circumstances will the teachers:

• use corporal punishment on a child (e.g., slapping, kicking, punching, pushing, grabbing, pulling, spanking, ear pulling, biting, etc.)
• use deliberate harsh or degrading measures on a child that would humiliate the child or undermine his or her self-respect
• engage in emotional abuse, name-calling, shaming, making derogatory remarks or humiliating a child
• deprive a child of basic needs including food, shelter, clothing or bedding
• use a locked or lockable room or structure to confine a child who has been withdrawn from other children
• shout or yell at a child
• threaten a child by saying that negative reports will be given to their parents
• compare one child to another
• send the child out of the classroom, out of teachers’ view

Disruptive Behaviour Policy
When excessive disruptive behavior occurs at the school, the following procedures are enforced: 1. The first occurrence will result in a conversation with the child and/or parent to discuss expected behavior and an incident report will go home to the parents. 2. The second incident of disruptive behavior will result in the parents being called in for a conference to go over expected behavior and/or required to pick up the child. 3. The third time the child engages in the behavior, the parents are called and the child is required to leave school for the day. 4. At the fourth disruptive event, the parents are asked to get behavior counseling for the child and family. A letter is required from the counselor notifying the school that the counseling process has started. Once the counseling starts, a behavior plan must be submitted immediately. If your child instigates what is considered dangerous behavior, for the safety of all staff and students, we will go directly to step 4.

Note: When a parent is called to pick up their child, we require the child be picked up within one hour.

Accidents
If a child is injured at school, the parents are called immediately. If we cannot reach parents, the persons listed on the Emergency Contact List are contacted. It is extremely important that we have received accurate information filled out in the enrollment application. PLEASE KEEP THIS INFORMATION UPDATED.

Your assistance in providing complete information on the Emergency Card is greatly appreciated. In order to be prepared for such emergencies, please notify us of any changes on your child's emergency card, especially changes in address, home, work or cell phone numbers, etc.

Procedures for life threatening emergencies require the school staff to respond in the following sequence: All phones throughout the school post emergency phone numbers.

• One staff member will stay with the injured or ill child, and take appropriate steps for the injury/ illness (CPR, First Aid, etc.
• The child’s teacher or available staff member will call 911, describe the situation, give our location and phone number and stay on the line until the dispatcher has indicated that they have all the necessary information. If possible, one staff member will stand outside to meet the emergency team.
• A staff member will gather the child’s file and have it available for use.
• A staff member will contact the parents/guardians as soon as emergency care has been obtained.
• The staff member will determine how and where the parent would like their child to receive medical care.
• Transportation to a care facility is arranged through the rescue team or the parent. The school will not be responsible for transporting the child in an emergency.
• A staff member will accompany the child and stay with the child until the parent arrives. An accident report is completed and signed by the staff member on duty and a copy is sent to the MCYS immediately. One copy of the accident report is given to the parents and one copy is kept in the child’s file at school.
• In the event that the parents cannot be contacted, the emergency contacts located on the child’s emergency card will be contacted. Parents are expected to update emergency information and availability quarterly.

Minor Emergencies:
In the case of minor emergencies such as small cuts, bruises, strains or bumps, the following procedure is used:

1. A staff member trained in first aid will take appropriate steps.
2. An Accident Report form and/or a head injury form is completed by the staff member and kept in the medical logbook and a copy is provided to the parent.
3. All incidents are recorded in the student's log. Information to be included: date, time, and details of injury, action taken/treatment given and the staff member’s signature.
4. Head injuries are reported to the parents on a head injury form.
5. All injuries are discussed with the Director regarding whether the parents will be notified immediately or when the child is picked up. If the parent is called, the time of the call and conversation are documented.

Accidental Poisonings:
If the child is experiencing any acute physical distress follow the steps under “Emergency Procedures”.

1. If a non-emergency, the Director or staff member will call the Poison Control Center at 1-800 268-9017 immediately.
2. Instructions given by the Poison Control official are followed.
3. The remainder of the poisonous material is saved for proper identification.
4. The parents of the child are contacted as soon as possible.
5. The incident is recorded in the student's log and reported to the MCYS if the situation warrants.
6. SYRYP OR IPECAC is not given unless instructed by 911 or Poison Control.

The school takes every precaution to maintain the wellness of each student who attends our program. The first step taken is to require that children have had a recent physical exam and all of the necessary immunization shots or equivalent alternative medicine solution. Staff members have immediate contact with children when they enter the school in order to detect any noticeable health conditions. Staff members are required to take annual training in infectious disease control and universal precautions for the transmission of diseases. In addition, students and staff alike are required to wash their hands consistently throughout the day in order to prevent the spread of germs.

Even with all of the precautions that are taken, viruses and other illnesses will still exist at school. In the event that a child contracts a communicable disease, the school will post a note at the front entrance. The note will state what disease has been contracted; list some of the symptoms, and the approximate incubation period.

If a child has a known medical condition (asthma, allergies, diabetes, etc.), parents are asked to note it on the proper place on the enrollment form. Teachers should also be notified of the steps to take if a problem occurs while the child is at school.

Whenever a child is to be given any medicine, including over-the-counter medicine, a parent must complete a Medication Authorization Form. Teachers may not give any type of medication unless this form is completed. Parents should ask the child’s teacher for the form, complete it, and give it and the medicine DIRECTLY to a teacher or staff member. Children may not bring their own medicine to school. The medicine must be in its original container, with a label specifying dosages, etc.

Beyond the medical health of our students, their physical safety is also looked after. The school staff is trained in first aid and CPR. First aid kits are present in each of the classrooms, and the dining room. If an accident should occur, a staff member will administer simple first aid. In the event of a more serious injury, an emergency vehicle will be called and the child will be taken to the doctor or hospital designated in the enrollment forms. A parent, or if necessary, an emergency contact, will be contacted immediately thereafter. After any injury is treated, an accident report will be written up to explain what happened and what treatment was performed. Parents will receive a copy of the report.

Emergency Drills THE SCHOOL has emergency drills throughout the year. Safety, order and control are the primary purposes of emergency drills. Speed in emptying the building, while desirable, is not the object and is secondary to the maintenance of proper order and discipline. The first few drills of the year are announced in advance. All remaining drills are unexpected and occur at different times of the day.

The school has also developed a series of procedures to follow in the event of a fire, natural disaster or other catastrophe. Staff members receive training on these policies at orientation, and at other times during the year. Anyone wishing to view these policies may obtain a copy of them from the office. In the event that the school should ever need to be evacuated, the children would be walked down to the Dashmesh Darbar, located in the same plaza – The Gore Plaza.