Our Vision "Embracing the spirit of community, we aspire to develop generations of enthusiastic learners". Dear Parents and Guardians. Welcome to James Ardiel!  We hope that you and your child will discover a rich and supportive learning environment. One important component of education is effective home-school interaction.  We will do our best to keep you informed about school activities and policies through our school sign, newsletters, classroom bulletins and telephone calls.  As a parent, you are your child's first teacher and advocate.  You are also an invaluable resource regarding your child as a person and as a learner.  Please feel free to contact the school whatever you have any questions, concerns or information to share with us. The purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable all learners to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribut to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy. The Surrey School District provides safe and caring environments in which all learners can achieve academic excellence, personal growth and responsible citizenship. We invite your full partnership in challenging our students to become 'enthusiastic learners'. School Plan Our school plan in updated annually.  Through discussion with the community and staff, and the analysis of data, the School Planning Council approves the School Plan.  Our goals for this year are: 1.  To increase the number of students who are able to meet or exceed expectations in math. 2.  To increase the number of students who are able to meet or exceed expectations in areas of math. Copies of our School Plan are availabe from the office. School Operations and Procedures In case of an emergency, you may leave messages for your children by contacting the school office at 604-588-3021.  Any articles to be delivered to children should be laveled with your child's name and class and left in the office. We try very hard to avoid unnecessary interruptions to the instructional program.  There are several ways that parents can be of assistance: - check with you child prior to leaving for school to see that he/she has a lunch and all necessary materials for class. If there will be a change in the regular routine, make sure your child is aware of it before leaving for school.  Also, please send a note to the teacher.  Children will not be allowed to use the school phone unless it is an emergency. Absentee Call Back Program James Ardiel uses the absentee call back program to ensure that children arrive at school safely.  Please call the school at 604-588-3021 if your child will be absent or late.  Unless the school is informed, you will be called if your child does not arrive at school. Student Dismissal Children are not dismissed during the day without parental permission.  if you wish your child to be dismissed before normal times, please send a note to the teacher giving your permission and informing us of the time that your child is to be released.  Parents who are picking up their child during school hours must sign them out at the office. Children will be released only to the care of their parent or guardian including designated babysitter or emergency contact. Student Recognition Program To promote and recognize the positive aspects of a child's behaviour, James Ardiel employs a student recognition program.  Students can receive a "Triple Check" from adults or other students when they have been observed doing something positive (see code of conduct) in and around the school.  Triple Checks are drawn once a week, by classroom teachers, and a prize is then given to those students by the office. Emergency Closure In the event of an emergency school closure, students will be sent home or to one of the contacts identified on the student registration form.  Students will not be released until contact with a parent or a designated adult is made.  Please discuss with your children where they should go in the event of an emergency school closure.  It is important that the information at school be kept up to date.  Parents should also listen to the radio station CKNW (AM 980) or CKWX (AM 1130) for information about school closures. Loss of/or Damage to School Property Students are responsible to all textbooks and library books checked out o them.  Students are expected to take good care of all books and to return them at the appropriate time. Students will be requested to pay for lost, stolen or damaged textbooks or other school property. School Visitors All visitors to James Ardiel are asked to register at the office where they will be given a visitor badge to wear.   Students from other schools or friends of our students are allowed to visit during the school day if there has been prior permission granted by the teacher. Student Transfers If you child will be moving from the school, please contact the school in advance.  We can then have everything ready for your child when he'she leaves.  This would include a transfer form, which will help make adjustment to a new school setting much easier.  Please ensure that all Library books, texts, and other school property are returned. Student Drop-off and Pick-up Obey all posted signs.  Please use the drop-off/pick-up zone on 113 Avenue.  Do not block the parking lot entrances when dropping off or picking up your children from school.   Do not enter the staff parking lots to drop off or pick up your children.  In additional to staff parking, the parking lots are used for the arrival and departure of school buses, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles. A crossing guard assists with traffic control at the corner of 112th Avenue and 138th Street.   Please do not double park, as it is unsafe for children and obstructs traffic. Home School Programs/Communication Reporting During the school year, formal report cards are issued in December, March and June.  In addition, interim reports will occur in October and April; one of these informal reports is in the form of a student-led conference.  Parent teacher conferences are also an integral part of the reporting process.  Early dismissal days are scheduled for the purpose of these conferences.  Please take advantage of the opportunity to schedule an appointment. Newsletter Our newsletter, the Jaguar Jabber, is produced monthly.  It comes home at the end of the month, usually on a Wednesday.  The Jabber contains information to keep you up to date with school happenings and important events.  Please take the time to read it. Home Reading Program Home reading plays a very important role in a child's reading development.  It supports and extends the reading he/she does in school.  Students are encouraged to read (or be read to) for a minimum of 15 minutes each night.  Independent readers will probably spend a longer time reading to themselves. Record sheets are available to record the nights spent reading.  After each 50 nights, the sheets are returned and the students are acknowledged.  Students who achieve 200 nights of reading will have their names placed in a new library book to commemorate the accomplishment.  Happy reading! Homework/Student Planners Home study is a valuable part of your child's educational program.  It provides extra learning time to reinforce the skills learned at school.  It also provides an opportunity to develop independent study habits and self discipline. It is important for children to recognize that their family places a value on learning and is interested in their school work.  Parents can also reinforce skills through informal games such as card and board games.   To encourage the development of good study habits, we recommend that: - a quiet, well-lit study area is provided so your child can work without interruption - a consistent study time is scheduled - the necessary supplies are available - you offer assistance when it is needed, but not complete the assignments for your child All intermediate classes use a school planner.  Students are encouraged to record their assignments in the planner.  Parents are asked to check and sign the planner when the assignments are completed. Resource Program/Services The following services are available to all students at James Ardiel Elementary School.  Referrals to these services may come from parents, teachers or the students themselves. Counselling Program: The counsellor is available two days a week to help children deal with emotional and social issues.  Parental consent is obtained for long-term counselling. Learning Support Team (LST) Program Learning support is a short or long-term program for children experiencing learning difficulties.  The LST also support English as a Second Language students.  Students may work directly with the LST teacher in their regular classrooms or in the LST room.  Students may also receive indirect service where the Learning Support teacher collaborates with the classroom teacher on assessment and teaching strategies to support the student. Music In Surrey, all students in grades K-4 participate in the Core Music Program.  At James Ardiel we have extended this opportunity to include Grades 5, 6 & 7 students.  The study of music involves singing, movement and instruments with the opportunity to perform at assemblies, concerts and District Festivals.  Students in Grade 7 are also offered the opportunity to join the Band. Library Students in gardes K-4 receive 40 minutes per week of scheduled library time.  Students in Grades 5-7 have periodic, scheduled times to work on specifikc projects and research skills.  The Library is also open before and after school to enable students to exchange their Library books.  Additional book exchange time is arranged on a class by class basis. Computer Lab Our lab is fully equipped with iMac computers linked to wide area and local area networks.  Classes are schedule into the lab. Child Care Worker Our Child Care Worker works with both individual and small groups of students.  Involvement with students focuses on social skills and anger management strategies as well as problem solving. Aboriginal Support Worker Our Aboriginal Support Worker assists students of aboriginal ancestry with their academic and cultural studies. English as a Second Language Children who are new Canadians or who come from homes where English is not the first language may receive individual assistance and/or small group instruction from our Learner Support Team (LST) teachers. School-Based Team The School-Based Team is composed of the administrator, counsellor, Learner Support Team (LST) teachers, Speech & Language Pathologist, and Child Care Worker.  The team meets with individual classroom teachers to discuss potential strategies for students in need of specialized support.  Placement and assessment referrals are often generated through this committee and parent meetings can be scheduled. Speech and Language Services The Speech/Language Pathologist is available for general speech and language assessment.  Parents will be contacted for permission prior to the assessment.  Occasionally, the pathologist may provide direct service to student.  At other times, strategies will be recommended to the teacher/parent to assist the student develop correct speech and/or language functioning. School Meal Program The Surrey School Meal Program provides meals for students who would otherwise go hungry.  Each month, permission forms, menus and envelopes are distributed.  Subsidies are available for those who need them.  All information is kept strictly confidential. Safety Locked Door Policy We have a locked door policy at James Ardiel to ensure student safety.  The only door that is unlocked during the school day is the main door by the office/gym.  When picking up your children after school, we request that parents wait outside the school at a pre-arranged meeting place. To and from School For safety reasons, it is recommended that students walk to and from school in groups.  We also encourage all students to use the crosswalks where adult crossing guards will be on duty. School Crossing Guard We have a Commissionaire crossing guard positioned at the intersection of 138th Street and 112th Avenue for one hour before school and one hour after school closing.  Please review basic traffic and safety rules with your child and emphasize the importance of using properly marked, supervised street crossings. Lunch Time Lunch time is 12:00 to 12:40 p.m.  If you want your child to leave the school grounds to come home for lunch, please let your child's teacher know in writing or call the school at 604-588-3021.  Children who do not bring lunch to school, may call home at lunch, and if the child is allowed to go home, the parent need to tell the office staff. Prescribed Medication & Life-Threatening Medical Conditions If your child requires on-going prescription medication, please obtain the appropriate form at the school office to be completed by your doctor and signed by yourself.  This procedure complies with School Board Policy regarding prescription medication to be taken at school. Also, if your child has any life-threatening medical conditions such as extreme allergies, it is imperative that you notify us so we can be prepared should the need arise. Illness or Injury at School When school-aged children are sick the best environment for them is in their own home where they can receive proper medical and parental attention.  Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a rash, fever, bad cough, sore throat, ear ache, bad cold or a communicable disease. If a student becomes ill or injured at school, parents will be contacted to come and pick up their child.  For serious medical emergencies, 911 emergency services will be contacted.  In some cases, where parents can not be contacted, it may be necessary for a member of the school staff to accompany the student to the hospital. Hospital/Homebound Program Students who are away from school for more than five days due to illness qualify for the services of a Hospital/Homebound teacher.  This teacher provides a liaison between the home and the school to assist in keeping up with the class during his/her absence.  If your child will be absent for an extended period time, contact either the Office or your child's teacher for a referral. Smoking There is no smoking allowed in school buildings at any time.  In accordance with School Board Policy we also request that parents refrain from smoking on the school grounds during our school day.