Our School

WCDSB Code of Conduct:

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of the individual. All individuals concerned with the school system -trustees, staff, students, parents, visitors to schools –are subject to the following code of conduct; a code of conduct that will be implemented within the Catholic faith life experience of each school community and consistent with the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, the Safe School’s provisions of the Education Act and Regulations and the constitutional right of Catholic school boards to manage their schools as stated through section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867. APC 018 Code of Conduct

Office Hours

8:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Our Administrative Assistant is Mrs. Eduina Bloomfield. Office hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Between 4:15 p.m. and 8:15 a.m. you may leave a message on our answering machine.

School Hours

Class: 9:10-10:20 a.m.
Recess: 10:20- 10:35a.m.
Lunch: 11:55-12:55 p.m.
Class: 12:55-2:15 p.m.
Recess: 2:15- 2:30p.m.
Dismissal: 3:40pm

Student Drop off & Pick up

Supervision begins on the yard at 8:40am before school. Please do not drop your child off earlier as there is no supervision at the school. Staff supervise the yard at AM/PM recesses, and lunch. Students are expected to leave the school property at 3:40pm dismissal as there is no supervision after school.

If you will be picking your child up after school and you are running late, your child will be waiting for you in the main office. Do not instruct your child to wait for you on the playground as there is no adult supervision.

Important Information

• Concussion Awareness & Education
  • Concussion-Parents-Caregivers
  • CRT5
  • Page 15 signs and symptoms

Student Transportation Services Expectations (bus behaviour)

Please review the following expectations which can be found at Student Transportation Services Waterloo Region

• Responsibilities of Parents
• Responsibilities of Students

Contact Information

• please inform Mrs. Bloomfield of any changes regarding address, phone number, emergency contact, etc. as soon as possible. It is extremely important that we have current information for each student.

Intent to be absent

• if your child is going to be away for more than 15 consecutive days (e.g., family vacation for a week) please see Mrs. Bloomfield in the office to complete an Intent to be Absent form.

Oral medication

• if your child requires medication while at school it is imperative that a parent/ guardian complete the proper documentation with Mrs. Bloomfield in the office. Student medications must be kept in the main office with proper documentation and a log is kept to indicate when students receive their medication at school.

Extended Day Hours

We offer Extended Day care at St. Joseph. Students who are registered in this program before school can be dropped off no earlier than 7 a.m. Please access the program via the Extended Day buzzer on the front door of the school. Parents must sign their child in and out each day. Students registered in the after school program must be picked up no later than 6 p.m. For more information about this program click on the following link: WCDSB Extended Day program

Nut Free School

Many of you will be familiar with a product marketed as WOWBUTTER. According to this specific product’s promotional materials the product “looks, smells, and tastes just like peanut butter”. There are other similar peanut butter substitute products currently on the market as well. While the good intentions behind the development of such products certainly can’t be argued, allowing students to bring the product into a school where we have students with known allergies to peanuts and peanut butter is problematic and could have potentially devastating consequences.

Right now, all staff know immediately what to do if a student arrives at school with a peanut butter sandwich. Precautions to protect our allergic students are immediately taken. Our policy on anaphylaxis is clear.

However, should a food product that looks, smells and tastes like real peanut butter (but isn’t peanut butter) be permitted, it places all staff and volunteers in a position of having to decide definitively if the product is – or isn’t – real peanut butter. We are not qualified food experts and are in no position to make such decisions – particularly where exposure to real peanut butter can literally cause a child’s death.

Therefore, all peanut butter substitutes will be treated the same as real peanut butter and are NOT allowed at school.

Healthy Drinks/ Healthy Active Living

Research shows it is important to keep hydrated throughout the day, and WATER is what children require. Teachers will encourage students to keep water bottles on their desks throughout the day. Students will not be permitted to drink juice, energy drinks, or sodas during instructional time. We are committed to ensuring students have daily physical activity – a healthy body helps build a healthy mind. Please send a refillable water bottle (not breakable) with your child’s name clearly marked.

Nutrition for Learning Program

During the 2021-22 school year, every student will be offered snacks for afternoon nutrition breaks. These healthy, nutritious snacks are provided by Nutrition for Learning and are available to all students free of charge. Examples include: yogurt, cheese, multigrain Cheerios, apples, melba toast, and whole grain crackers. This program is provided to all students and staff; we build community when we gather together as equals. If your child has food allergies or you wish for your child not to partake in this program, you can request an opt out form. If you are interested in volunteering to support this program, or would like to make a financial donation to support Nutrition for Learning at St. Joseph, please speak with Mrs. Reesor.