ÉCOLE ERIC J. DUNN
Ḥaaḥuupaquwił
MIDDLE SCHOOL
3500 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3A8
Telephone: (250) 723-7522
Fax: (250) 723-7557
STUDENTHANDBOOK
2013~ 2014
Mr. S. Brown
Principal
Mr. J. Messenger
Vice-Principal
This Agenda belongs to:
NAME: ______GRADE: ______
CORE TEACHER NAME: ______
ÉCOLE ERIC J. DUNN MIDDLE SCHOOLḥaaḥuupaquwił
School Code of Conduct
DUNN SCHOOL R.O.C.K.S.!!!!!
Responsible______
On Time & Ready______
Cooperative______
Kind______
Safe______
Welcome to École Eric J. Dunn Middle School
Welcome to our school! Yes, we say OUR school because this is a learning place for our students and our staff. Your parents and guardians as well as our special invited guests are also welcome. École Eric J. Dunn Middle School is a friendly and safe place to learn. Along with your parents and guardians, we will work together with you to make this school year a very successful and enjoyable one for you.
Your Personal Planner
“It’s not that people plan to fail; it’s that people fail to plan”. The purpose of our Planner is to help you plan to succeed. It has important information you need to know. YourCore teacher will guide you on how to use it. We expect to see it in every class. Get in the habit of using it regularly right from the start! Using your Agenda planner regularly to write down assignments and test dates is a great way to get and stay organized. Being organized is very important in order to do well in school. In Core classes and by announcements, you will receive information about the events that you will be required to enter in your Agenda planner.
Have a great school year!
Our Discipline Practices
We believe in these guiding principles as the basis of our School Discipline System ~
the best discipline practice is our own self-discipline
it is okay to make a mistake
it is our responsibility to learn from our mistake and
to repair any harm that has been done by the mistake
it is our right to be treated fairly as we learn from our mistakes
and as we work to repair any harm created
We believe we have the responsibility to fix our own mistakes but also have the right to be guided in fixing these mistakes.
At École Eric J. Dunn Middle School students will be helped by the staff, their parents and guardians, as well as their own peers in developing self-discipline through a school-wide program based on Social Responsibility andRestitution.
To this end, the staff will…..
make time for the ‘teachable moment’
integrate social responsibility activities into our school programs
counsel and support individual restitution
monitor those who practice self-discipline and closely manage those
who are struggling to follow our Code of Conduct
acknowledge students who are meeting school wide expectations with
Dunn ROCKS tickets
keep in contact with parents/guardians
You Have a Core Teacher
On the Opening Day of school, September3rd, 2013, you will be assigned to a section with a Core Teacher. Your Core Teacher will be your guide for the school year. If there are things you do not understand, take time to ask your Core Teacher for help.
The School Timetable
Our school timetable is very simple. We have a 2 Day Timetable. Your Core Teacher will help you to understand the schedule for each day. The Daily Schedule can be found in this handbook.
Look in the calendar section of this School Agenda. You will see that on each date in the calendar the ‘School Day’ is labeled Day 1 or Day 2. We have done this so that you will know the schedule for that day.
Dress /Code
We understand that new fashions sometimes make it very difficult to determine what is suitable for school. There is a time and place for all fashions and school is not a place for some clothing. At École Eric J. Dunn Middle School we expect all students to help create an environment that is conducive to learning.
Here is a set of guidelines to follow:
Clothes are to cover the entire torso. Tops that expose the mid-drift or have low-cut neck lines are not appropriate. Skimpy shorts and low-cut pants are not suitable for school. Please ensure undergarments are covered at all times.
For safety, shoes/sandals are to be worn at all times.
Messages on clothing must be respectful. We do not accept language or logos that offend other people. Likewise, we do not accept language or logos that promote illegal activity.
Gang-related fashions are not permitted.
Hats are accepted as long as they do not interfere with learning and it is up to the classroom teacher’s discretion. Please remove your hat while in an assembly. It is up to the classroom teacher in class.
When within the school (e.g. hallways, classrooms, or gym) students must have the ‘hoods’ down on their hoodies. Students are permitted to wear their hoodies ‘up’ while outside.
Our Daily Schedule
Each day has 3 sessions ~ an early morning, a mid day and an afternoon. Lunch is everyday at 12:30 pm. from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, we have three shortened sessions with lunch at 12:20 pm and we dismiss early at 1:45 pm. Here is a glance at our weekly schedule.
MONDAY
/ TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAYSession 1
8:55 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:35 / Session 1
8:55 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:35 / Session 1
8:55 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:35 / Session 1
8:55 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:35 / Session 1
8:55 – 9:33
9:33 – 10:11
R E C E S S
Session 2
10:50 – 11:40
11:40 – 12:30 / Session 2
10:50 – 11:40
11:40 – 12:30 / Session 2
10:50 – 11:40
11:40 – 12:30 / Session 2
10:50 – 11:40
11:40 – 12:30 / Session 2
10:26 – 11:04
11:04 – 11:42
11:42 – 12:20
Core Classes~12:30-12:45
Announcements/Core Connections/Eating/Clean-up / Core Classes12:20-12:35
L U N C H
12:45 – 1:15 / Lunch
12:35-1:10
Session 3
1:20 – 2:10
& 2:10 – 3:00 / Session 3
1:20 –2:10
& 2:10 – 3:00 / Session 3
1:20 – 2:10
& 2:10 – 3:00 / Session 3
1:20 – 2:10
& 2:10 – 3:00 / Session 3
1:10 – 1:45
Early Dismissal Day
Lockers & Combination Locks
Every Grade 6 student will be given a lock at the end of Grade 5 to keep for the duration of their three years at EJ Dunn. Students who lose their locks will be responsible for replacing them which is a $5.00 cost.
We have the right to enter a locker if we feel a school rule, school policy or a law has been broken. Lockers are school property, not student property.
Unfortunately we do not have enough gym lockers to provide all of our students a locker for the year. We do however have day use gym lockers. Students can use these lockers to lock up their belongings for their PE classes or athletic practices. Locks must be removed from lockers by the end of the school day. To insure their belongings are kept safe students must secure their belongings in a locked locker. Simply leaving belongings in the change room is not okay. The school cannot be held responsible for belongings left out.
In order to properly look after their belongings students should purchase a lock to use on their gym locker. It is also recommended that students purchase a small, preferably, breathable bag to transport their PE equipment to and from their hallway locker.
Textbooks
Your teachers will issue textbooks to you. There is no cost for any textbook but it is important that you take good care of each book. Textbooks are expensive to replace. If you lose or damage one, you will be charged for replacing it.
Arriving and Leaving
Good attendance will help you do better with your school work. It is important to be here every day, be on time and ready with the books and supplies you need for the day. Your teachers record your attendance at school in the morning and during your class time. We will no longer be making calls home for unexcused absences. However, if we are concerned about student safety we will make a call to parents or guardians. A phone call or email to the school from your parent/guardian is important if you are going to be absent from school. The school number is 250-723-7522 and the Student Absence Reporting phone number is 250-723-2714. Or your parents can email your First and Last name, Grade, and reason for absence to . A phone call or email to confirm your absence may still occur.
If you arrive late, you are expected to…..
come to the office as soon as you arrive at school
sign-in to school through a secretary
pick up a signed late slip from the secretary for your classroom teacher
go to your locker to prepare for class
go quickly and quietly to class.
If you need to leave early, you are expected to…..
have a note from home
show the note to your classroom teacher and then bring it to the office when you sign-out
sign-out at the office through the secretary
If you are not feeling well, we will attempt to send you home to rest. However, you can only go home if there is a parent/guardian available to care for you. To be able to go home, you must allow a secretary, a counselor or an administrator to speak with your parent/guardian before you sign-out.
Closed Campus
When you arrive to school in the morning, you need to remain on school property until you are dismissed to go home. We do this to be able to supervise all students and ensure your safety to your parents. This means that at recess and lunch time you will have access to any parts of the school campus but cannot leave school grounds. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the school principal.
School Cleanliness
It is everyone’s responsibility to keep our school clean and free from litter. Litter includes spitting on the ground. Aside from being unsightly and contributing to make our school dirty, spitting on the ground contributes to the spreading of germs that can cause students to get sick. School cleanliness includes classrooms, the hallways, washrooms, the walkways and the school grounds. Please make sure you use the garbage and recycling bins located throughout the school. We take turns as “Friends of Oscar” to keep our school clean.
CELL PHONES
Cell phones may be brought to school but must be kept in the student’s locker during class time unless otherwise indicated by individual classroom teachers for educational use. Students may check messages before and after school, and during recess and lunch. Cell phones may not be used in the change rooms or washrooms, or between classes. Students should not use their personal cell phones to make contact with home and/or their parent/guardians during school hours. If they are ill or need to communicate, instead, students are asked to report to the office so we can ensure their well being and safety.
OTHER PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
MP3 Players, IPODs and any other listening devices are allowed at school but must be stored in students’ lockers during class time. These items can be used outside during recess and lunch as well as before and after school. They are not to be used in classrooms except under the approval of the teacher.
VIDEO AND PICTURE TAKING
Due to privacy issues, the only students who are permitted to take pictures, or make videos, at school are those students doing so under the direction of a staff member and for an approved project or course. Permission must be given by both the teacher and the student being photographed. Other students who take pictures with their own cameras and cell phones without permission from a staff member will have these items confiscated and the pictures deleted. Without direct supervision and permission, students cannot take pictures with their cellphones or electronic devices at any time while at school (i.e. before school, recess, lunch, or at the end of the day) or while attending events (i.e. Field Trips, Team Events, or Band Events).
The school will not be held responsible for any misplaced, lost, or stolen items. It is the responsibility of students to lock up and protect their personal belongings.
There are escalating consequences for the inappropriate use of technology equipment and cell phones:
- 1st Offence: Item is confiscated and taken to the office. The item is returned to the student at the end of the day. Any item confiscated will be documented by an Administrator.
- 2nd Offence: Item is confiscated and taken to the office. The item is returned to the student at the end of the day. Phone call home to parents or guardians to discuss concerns about the use of technology items at school.
- 3rd Offence: Item is confiscated and taken to the office. Item will be returned only to a parent, and at a meeting with School Administrators. Student receives a suspension for repeated defiance. The length of suspension will be determined by the Principal and Vice Principal.
Lost & Found
A ‘lost and found’ container is located in the office’s front foyer. If you lose an item, it may end up in this container. If you find an item, please bring it to the front foyer. Lost items may be claimed in there. At the end of every month, all unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity.
Nutrition and Lunch
We provide a daily nutritional lunch for students on the lunch program. The monthly cost of the program is $60.00. We will also be operating our own concession stand for students to purchase nutritious snacks and drinks. However, we require all students finish their nutritional lunch before purchasing snacks.
Students at E. J. Dunn will eat lunch in their Core classroom. Everyone is expected to stay in their room until after announcements are read and you are dismissed by your Core teacher. After you are dismissed, you can move to any other part of the school to be with friends or go to the concession stand which will remain open until 1:05 pm each day. If you wish to drink during the day, drink water. Bring a bottle of water to class, it helps the brain to think and learn. We do not accept students drinking pop and eating fun food during class time or class breaks.
Our school and the Province of British Columbia promote healthy snacks in place of pop and junk food.
Athletics
We encourage all students to get involved with extra-curricular activities at École E J Dunn Middle School, participating in extra-curricular activities contributes to a positive school community and creates additional opportunities for student success. Athletic teams are just a few of the many different extra-curricular activities offered at our school. Below you will find a list of teams, coaches, and tentative seasons of play. Please note that this information is subject to change. In addition to our more formal athletic teams we also offer lunch time activities in the gymnasium throughout the year. Come on out and be active. If you want to find out more about these athletic opportunities please ask your Core Teacher or our PE/Athletic Coordinator, Ms. Dyer.
Sport / Tentative Coaches / Tentative SeasonCross Country (Boys and Girls) / Mr. Hall / September – November
Girls Volleyball / Mrs. Dyer / September – November
Girls Basketball / Ms. Walter / November – February
Boys Basketball / Mr. Mahovlic, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Waldriff / November – February
Wrestling (Boys and Girls) / Mr. Messenger / November – February
Rugby (Boys and Girls) / Mr. Messenger / April - May
Getting Involved
We encourage students to get involved in student activities. There are many things to do at lunchtime, after school and during special activity days.
Skateboards/Bikes/Rollerblades/Heelies
At E.J. Dunn we encourage students to ride their bikes to school! Bikes need to be locked up at the bike stands provided, and used only to and from school. Due to safety concerns, heelies, skateboards and rollerblades are not to be ridden on the school grounds; these items must be kept in lockers during the day. Skateboards and bikes are not permitted to be used on the school grounds during the school day.
Student Safety
École Eric J. Dunn Middle Schoolstudents are safe when they:
Walk, don’t run, especially in the hallways, on stairs, and around corners.
Take all emergencies and drills seriously. During an emergency, follow the instructions of an adult supervisor.
Avoid taking risks that could be dangerous to you or others.
Avoid pushing and shoving others, even if it is ‘just for fun’.
Listen carefully to teachers on how to behave safely around equipment and other people especially in places like the gym, the shops and in the science lab. Then, practice what you learn.
Get help at the office if they become hurt.
Get help at the office if they see someone who is hurt.
Stay with your class during the Friday runs.
Taking Care of Our School
We need to take care of our school. This means our personal belongings, our textbooks, the lockers, furniture and all other school facilities. École E.J. Dunn students are responsible when they report vandalism or suspicious behaviour.
Communication
At École Eric J. Dunn Middle School we want you to know what is going on. Here is how we will keep you informed:
Student Information:
Student Handbook ~ This booklet is a good way to become informed. Read it. There is a great deal of information available within these pages.
Calendar ~ This Agenda has a calendar to help you to see what is already planned for the school year. Take time to browse through those pages.