• School: 514-744-2614
• Daycare: 514-744-8180
• Transco Bus: 514-648-8625

Students are not permitted to use the school telephone unless there is an emergency. Likewise, parents are asked to refrain from calling to speak to their children except for serious and urgent matters.

Please note: The answering machine is on between 11:20 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. In case of emergency contact the daycare at (514) 744-8180.

In order for the school to be safe and secure, everyone's co-operation is essential.

• All visitors, including parents, must always enter and exit the school by the front door and must always report to the office. If you are dropping off an item for your child or leaving a message, the secretary will be pleased to help you and will make sure your child receives the information.
• Parents are NOT permitted to pick-up or accompany their children to class.
• Parents are NOT permitted to enter the school yards.
• Children are not permitted to leave the school premises without prior written permission signed by the parent.

Parents who wish to speak with a teacher are required to call the office and schedule an appointment and are asked to not speak with teachers during supervision time or while they are arriving or leaving for the school day.

Our students' safety is our number one priority. All parents, volunteers and visitors must report first to the school office and sign-in. A visitor's pass will be given out to anyone spending time in the school (volunteers, consultants, workmen and parents), thus assuring students and staff that the bearer has identified themselves at the office and has legitimate reason to be in the building. Visitors should sign-out and return the pass to the secretary.

Regular and punctual attendance contributes greatly to a student's success at school. Appointments with doctors and dentists should be arranged before or after school hours or on pedagogical days to avoid missing classes.

If your child will be absent, you must contact the school to give the following information:

• Child's Name
• Teacher's Name
• Reason and Length of Absence

Please call or leave a message any time before 7:30 a.m. to report your child's absence. If we have not received a call about your child's absence, we will contact you to ensure your child's safety.

Should an absence due to illness extend past five (5) days the school requires a medical certificate giving, among other information, the approximate date of the student's return to school. The administration may communicate with the parents as to the reason for any absence over two days.

If a child is absent as a result of a planned family vacation, the parents are responsible for the work missed. The teacher will not assign specific work and is not required to help the student catch up upon their return. Please bear in mind that if a child is pulled out on non-designated holidays, he/she is also missing valuable teaching time. If the child misses too many days, he/she is at risk of not being promoted to the next level.

May and June is the End of Year Exam period for students in grades 1 – 6. All students must be present during this period. A medical note would be requested to justify an absence.

We request that your child remain at home if he/she is not well. Parents must inform the school if their child develops an infectious disease transmittable in the school.

Sick children with a cough, cold, fever, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, etc. are to be kept at home until they are fully recovered, in order to avoid the spreading of viruses. Should your child fall ill during the day, you will be asked to pick up your child at school.

A student reporting to school late must report to the office to pick up a late slip from the secretary. This slip must be handed to the teacher who will then record the late on the absence card.

*If a student is late 3 times in one month, a warning letter will be sent home. A meeting with a child’s parents will be requested once that number is surpassed in a month.

If it is necessary for a child to leave early, during school hours, then a note must be sent, signed by the parents, indicating the time the child must leave and for what reason. Students must be picked up and signed out at the office before leaving.

If there is a change in the dismissal routine (i.e. student must take the bus instead of attend daycare), parents must report this through the "Changes to Dismissal" link on our website before 12pm.

We strongly discourage family trips when classes are in session. Such absences are detrimental to a student's academic progress. Students will be responsible to catch up on the content that was taught during their absence. Students will also be responsible for any assignments or tests that they missed.

In case of inclement weather, please check the English Montreal School Board website or Social Media outlets as all announcements will be posted there. Furthermore, most local radio stations will also provide this information.

If a decision is taken to close Cedarcrest during the course of the school day due to an emergency situation (power failure, no water), you will be contacted via our school's outcall phone or School Messenger E-mail system.

In the event that we need to evacuate, our students will walk to our emergency shelter location: Parkdale School, 1475 Deguire Montreal, Quebec.

All students are expected to participate in Physical Education classes. A note from a parent is required to temporarily excuse a student from participating in Physical Education classes. If a student needs to be excused for a prolonged period of time, a medical certificate is required.

All students are welcome to participate in the Lunch Supervision Program. However, according to the policies of the school board, it must be self-financing. That is, all expenses incurred must be covered through the fees paid by parents. The fees are set in consultation with the School's Governing Board and are communicated to parents at the start of the school year. Failure to make the necessary payments in a timely fashion will result in loss of service.

Students are expected to respect and obey all the rules as outlined by the supervisor at all times. If a student will be going home for lunch, he/she must have a note from his/her parents. This note must be presented to his/her teacher upon arrival and to the supervisor at the start of the lunch period.

We ask that all parents respect the EMSB Nutrition Policy by sending your child to school with healthy snacks & lunches (e.g. no candy, chocolate, chips, etc...)

Beginning in mid-September, hot lunches are available by our food supplier. If any modification/adjustment is required, the parent must inform the food supplier. Meals that are not eaten are not stored at school.

The school provides daily daycare services before school starts at 7:00 a.m. and after school from 2:35 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For regular users of the service, daycare is also available on pedagogical days. For more information on our Daycare Program, please contact our Daycare Technician. Please refer to the Daycare Handbook on our website for information regarding policies and procedures.

Students that attend our B.A.S.E. Daycare are expected to be respectful and follow the instructions of their daycare supervisors. Once in daycare, students are expected to complete their homework and then participate in the structured activities in a calm and orderly manner.

When a student will be absent from daycare, parents must inform the daycare technician (Ms. Georgia) through a phone call, a note in the agenda or through the Changes in Dismissal form on the school website. Once the parent arrives, the student is then under the parent's care.

Messages to parents are placed in the student's agenda book. Parents are asked to check their child's agenda book daily. General messages from your child's teacher, will be found there. Parents are also urged to use the agenda book to communicate with their child's teacher.

Parents who wish to speak with a teacher are required to call the office or e-mail the teacher directly to schedule an appointment. They are asked to not speak with teachers during supervision time or while they are arriving or leaving for the school day.

Please note that all communication (verbal, written, e-mail) with staff members must be done in a respectful tone and manner. There is a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, aggression (verbal, written or physical) or disrespectful behaviour towards any staff member.

Homework is an important extension of the learning that takes place in school. It provides practice which reinforces classroom learning and can provide opportunities for independent study, research, supplemental reading, writing and project work. The amount of homework will vary according to each cycle. Homework can be assigned from Monday through Friday and students are expected to complete assignments on time.

Homework should be mostly completed independently, especially in the older grades. Students should complete their homework in quiet, well-lighted place for study free of distractions. Parents should verify that their child's homework is completed on a daily basis.

Request for homework must be made only for absences of two days or more. In case of absence due to vacation, homework will not be provided. Please make sure to check your child's agenda daily, including the transparent pocket folder.

Students will not be allowed to go back to their lockers once they are dismissed. Please note, that it is the students' responsibility to ensure that they have all their materials and belongings before dismissal.

Field trips are a positive educational experience. At times, the school may request, depending on the nature of the trip, parent volunteers to accompany the students.

Please note: The principal and/or teachers may exclude a student from a field trip if it is felt that the student's participation may be detrimental to the safety and security of the student and/or other students participating in the field trip. Parents will be notified of this decision prior to the field trip.

Parents' cooperation is essential in ensuring that books are properly cared for and returned. It is understood that parents must pay for lost, non-returned or damaged books.

Students will be permitted to borrow two books per week from the library. No additional books may be borrowed until the books have been returned.

Students are to bring to school only items that are needed for instruction.

The following items are not permitted in school:

• Toys
• Trading cards
• Electronic devices (phones, tablets, personal gaming devices)
• Sports equipment from home
• Weapons

In the event that such items or any other item that is deemed disruptive or inappropriate is brought to school, it will be taken away from the student and will only be returned to a parent. The school is not responsible for personal belongings which may be damaged, lost, traded or stolen.

Each year, many sweaters, mitts, boots, running shoes, etc., are lost by the students, and although we have our Lost and Found box, many of these articles are never claimed.

We urge parents to label the inside of their child's clothing, footwear, lunch boxes and school bags.

Unfortunately, many students suffer from severe allergies to nuts and peanuts. Consequently, we ask that your children's recess snacks and lunches be nut / peanut free. We ask you to please read the labels carefully before putting these foods in your child's lunch box.

For this reason, parents/students are not to bring food/cake in class for any reason, including goodie bags for any occasion.

Please note that the school will make every effort to provide nut/peanut free snacks. However, we recommend that students with severe allergies refrain from partaking in the snack program. Parents are reminded to warn their children with severe allergies NOT TO SHARE FOOD with other children.

Students with allergies requiring EPIPENS must ensure that their EPIPEN is with them at all times.

It is the parent's responsibility to update the school of past and current health issues.

Administering medication to children is the responsibility of the parents. However, the school will help if:

• Every effort has been made to have the child medicated at home.
• The medication is prescribed by a doctor. Non-prescribed medication will not be administered.
• The container/bottle has the prescription label, with the doctor's name indicated on it.
• A dated school medical form or signed note from the parent/guardian absolving the school of all responsibility.
• The child is willing to take the medication.

Parents are urged to periodically check their children for head lice. This will help isolate cases before a serious problem develops.

If head lice is discovered, you will be called to come and pick-up your child. An information sheet will be sent home to the parents. Treatment must be completed before the student will be readmitted to school.

• Follow the instructions and directives given by school staff.
• To be respectful and polite towards other students, school staff and administration.
• Use appropriate language when addressing or referring to others.
• To have academic integrity by refraining from such things as cheating or plagiarism.
• Walk in a safe and quiet manner in and around the school.
• Play safely by only using equipment provided by the school and not engaging in activities that involve rough body contact.
• Be respectful of other's personal belongings, classroom materials and school property.
• Keep the school clean by disposing of garbage properly and by not chewing gum on school grounds.
• Eat their snack/lunch only during the designated period. Only water can be consumed during class time and the use of water bottles in the classroom is at the discretion of the teacher.
• Be a good role model for others in the school.

Students must follow the classroom rules set by each of their teachers as stated in their course outline.

Students are expected to:

• Write their homework down in the school agenda.
• Bring home all the materials needed to do the homework properly.
• Complete all the written work as neatly as the teacher would expect it to be done in class.
• Complete long-term projects gradually and not wait at the deadline to complete them.

Students are to use their school agenda solely for school use such as recording of homework and assignments as well as for communication to and from home.

• Students must never leave the school yard.
• Students are not to engage with strangers outside the school yard.
• Snowball or ice throwing is forbidden.
• Students should play in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Students should speak to each other politely.
• Once the bell has rung, all students must cease all play immediately and prepare to enter the school as directed.

All school rules and regulations are in effect during activities, whether in school or outside of school. The school dress code is mandatory unless otherwise stated.

Our aim is to provide students with a pleasant and safe environment during lunchtime. In order to accomplish this, every child is expected to follow these rules:

• Students registered in the school's lunch program are not permitted to go home at lunchtime unless they bring a signed note from a parent. This note must be given to the student's teacher upon arrival in the morning as this information must be relayed to the child's lunch supervisor.
• Students should bring a nutritious lunch – no junk food. Please include straws, spoons, etc.
• Energy drinks, Gatorade and soft drinks are forbidden.
• Students are to remain with their lunch monitor unless they are participating in a lunch activity or tutorials.
• In any case, they must notify their lunch monitor.
• Students must be respectful and have good manners towards their classmates and their lunch monitors.
• Students must speak in a moderate tone of voice and remain quiet when signaled by their monitor.
• Students are to remain seated for the duration of the lunch period.
• Students are to raise their hand to ask permission to leave their seat.
• Students are to ask for permission in order to go to the washroom.
• Students must clean up their eating area and place all garbage in the garbage bins. Throwing food or other objects is not permitted.

Please note: The second portion of the lunch period is held outdoors therefore, students should be dressed appropriately for the weather. Snow pants and boots are mandatory all winter and until the schoolyard is dry. If it is raining or very cold outside, the students will remain indoors with their lunch monitors. Any child who does not adhere to these rules is subject to disciplinary measures. This could include reflections, detention, suspension or expulsion from lunch services.

Our school strives to instill in our students a sense of belonging and identity. A dress code is also conducive to good behavior and fosters a positive educational experience that promotes success. In view of this, we ask for parents' full cooperation in ensuring students adhere to the school's dress code.

Cedarcrest Elementary School has a color dress code, all students are expected to come to school appropriately dressed and well groomed. Students from K4 (Pre-Kindergarten) to Gr. 6 are expected to wear navy blue bottoms and white tops. If they are cold, only a navy-blue sweater is permitted.

The dress code consists of the following:

• Navy blue pants, skirts, or Bermuda shorts (when the weather permits)
• Long sleeved white polo*
• Short sleeved white polo*
• Navy cardigan/sweater*
• Dark shoes
• Outdoor shoes (shoes that students remove upon entering the building to keep the school clean)

*ALL garments must be plain and not have any stripes or designs on them.

Physical Education Uniform:

All students must wear the physical education uniform (available at www.monioutlet.com) which consists of:

• Grey T-Shirt with Cedarcrest logo
• Jersey blue shorts with school logo
• Indoor running shoes (that remain indoors - no outside wear permitted)

The following items are NOT permitted:

• Nylon tights (used as pants)
• T-shirt / tops with pictures, slogans and messages
• Clothing that reveal midriff or tops with spaghetti straps
• High heels, platforms, running shoes with wheels or that make sounds, strapless and flip-flop sandals

The following items are discouraged:

• Expensive jewelry / costume jewelry should not be worn
• Students are encouraged not to wear makeup or nail polish to school

Recommended: It is recommended that students with long hair keep it tied while in school.

At times, students are permitted to deviate from the school's color code. Nonetheless, on these days, students must still observe the restrictions mentioned above and dress appropriately for a school environment.

Physical Education Class Policies & Procedures

The bus driver is responsible for the safety and security of all passengers. During the bus route, the driver is in charge and the students must respect transportation rules and regulations. They must take responsibility for their actions. Bus drivers will report infractions to the Principal. Furthermore, the school bus is not to be used for students to go to a friend's house. Parents must make their own transportation arrangements for their child to go to another student's house for any reason.

For the safety of all students who ride the bus, students are expected to observe the following rules:

• Always be at the bus stop 10 minutes early.
• Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and then board the bus in single file, in an orderly fashion.
• Find your assigned seat quickly without pushing other students. Keep the aisle clear.
• Remain seated, talk quietly. Do not eat, drink, chew gum or leave trash on the bus.
• Always follow the bus driver's instructions.
• Never put your head or arms out of the windows.
• Never throw any objects out of the windows.
• Glass or sharp objects are not allowed on the bus.
• When getting off, wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving your seat.
• Walk a safe distance from the bus so that the bus driver can see you and knows that you are out of danger.

The bus driver will monitor student behavior on an ongoing basis. The bus driver will advise both the student and the Main Office of any breaches to the bus safety rules outlined above.

Disciplinary Procedure (For the Bus):

• First Offense: At the principal's discretion, a letter of warning may be issued notifying the parents that any further incident will result in suspension of bus transportation services.
• Second Offense: The principal will notify the parents in writing that transportation has been suspended for a period of 1 to 3 days.
• Third Offense: The principal will notify the parents in writing that transportation has been suspended for a period of 3 to 5 days.
• Fourth Offense: The principal will notify the parents in writing that transportation has been suspended temporarily for reasons of safety and security.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT BUSSING IS A PRIVILEGE. THE SAFETY OF ALL THE CHILDREN ON THE BUS IS EACH STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

WITHDRAWAL OF SCHOOL BUS PRIVILEGES DOES NOT RELIEVE EITHER STUDENT OR PARENT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN SO FAR AS ATTENDING SCHOOL.

All Staff Members are responsible for intervening in discipline. Any breach of the expectations, policies and procedures outlined in this agenda may result in disciplinary measures.

These may include interventions such as:

• Gestures of reconciliation
• Restitution or the payment of damages
• Reflections
• Letters of apology
• Loss of school privileges
• Exclusion from field trips and school activities
• Detentions
• Suspensions

Depending on the nature of the breach of discipline, a parent may be required to meet with the school's administration.