Information & Policies
COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS 
We are very pleased that your child will be attending Watson Elementary School. Our school serves the educational needs of over 320 students in a growing, active community in the Upper Fraser Valley of British Columbia. We pride ourselves in providing a safe and challenging educational environment for all our pupils with a professional and dedicated teaching and support staff. Our school staff is available and willing to meet with parents at a mutually agreed time to discuss a child's progress; in addition, parents are invited to meet the school administration to discuss topics of common educational interest. Parents new to Watson school are encouraged to meet and get to know our school teaching and administrative staff.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES
Regular attendance and prompt arrival play a key role in the success a student achieves in school. If you know your child will be absent from school, please call the office (604) 858-9477 and leave a message on our 24 hour answering machine or between 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. when the office staff can take your call. This will prevent our staff from having to call your home or business to check on your child's absence. Your child's safety is our first priority.
Please keep your child home if he/she is experiencing a fever, stomach upset, coughing, sore throat or other cold/flu related symptoms. If you would like to pick up homework for your absent child, please call the office before 10:00 a.m. so the teacher will have a chance to organize homework for you to pick up after 2:30 p.m.
If your child is returning to school after serious illness or injury, we need a doctor s clearance note. This note should include any physical limitations or special instructions, i.e. No P.E. for one week, etc. This is done for the protection of your child and the safety of others.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
The office keeps your child's emergency information on file. These files contain important information for us in case of student illness, accident or other emergency. Please keep these updated. If you have a change of address, phone, babysitter or emergency contact person, please notify the office immediately. If your child becomes ill or injured at school, we cannot always count on him or her to remember the new phone number.
MEDICATIONS
There is a firm District-wide policy in effect that mandates us to send a form home for your doctor to fill out stating any on-going medications your child takes. Without this form signed by your doctor, we are unable to dispense these medications. All medications of this kind are kept in the office under lock and key. No other medication (cough drops, aspirin, etc.) can be administered by the office staff.
LATE ARRIVALS
If your child arrives late for school, he/she must stop by the office for a late slip. Failure to do this could result in the office not realizing your child has arrived and gone to class. Seeing that your child was marked absent at 8:35 a.m., the office staff or parent volunteer will place a call to your home or business causing unnecessary alarm for both the parents as well as the Watson staff. More than 3 lates in any given 6 week period is considered excessive and could result in an administrative attendance review followed by the development of a formal attendance intervention plan.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Unacceptable behaviors are brought directly to the school administration by the staff, and parents are immediately informed. Inappropriate behaviors are dealt with by the classroom teacher. Parents are asked to assist the school if these behaviors interfere with classroom learning.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Children are not to bring irreplaceable personal items to school, especially the current popular fad toys. These include skateboards, personal CD players, trading cards, valuables, etc. We have found that inevitably, something goes missing, accusations are made and bad feelings ensue. These items are better left at home in the interest of continuing friendships.
MONEY
There are occasions when a child will need to bring money to school to pay for a field trip, or to purchase school supplies. It is important that your child give this money to his/her teacher immediately upon arriving to prevent loss. It is requested that if the need arises to send money with your child, that the exact amount is sent. This prevents the child having to carry the change with him or her for the rest of the school day.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are issued three times a year: November, March and June. Parent conferences are scheduled for the November and March reporting periods.
SUPERVISION
The teachers share the responsibility of playground supervision in the morning from 8:15 until the first bell rings, at recess and after school until 2:30. Again, we request you not send your child until 8:15 or after. We have four Noon-Hour Supervisors who work with the students over the lunch hour. Unless your child is being detained after school, we ask the students to clear the building by 2:30 as there is no designated supervision after that time.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Our school telephones are extremely busy, therefore, students are only allowed to call home in case of an emergency. This would include: not feeling well and having to go home or an accident to their clothing. Students calling home after school to ask if they can go over to a friend s house is strictly prohibited. The school asks that you arrange these social occasions with your child the evening before at home. It is also requested that your child knows ahead of time who is picking him/her up after school or how he/she is getting home.
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
You are more than welcome to visit the school on a pre-arranged basis. We ask you to come to the office, sign in and receive a visitor badge before going to your destination. Please note: For the protection of your children, people not known to the office staff will be screened before a visitor badge is given - and in some cases, a telephone call will be made to determine if this person is allowed to be in the school.
PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (P.A.C.)
Watson School has an active and effective Parent Advisory Council which works closely with the school administration and staff, assisting in the development and monitoring of school policy, programs and activities. Through monthly meetings, parents can assist the school in providing opportunities for student growth and benefits.
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Our Public Health Nurse attends to the health needs of Watson Elementary as well as three other schools. The PHN arranges for our Grade 6 students to receive their Hepatitis C vaccinations during the school year. The school Nurse is also available to assist teachers with any Health Curriculum planning. Hearing and Vision Screening is also arranged by the Chilliwack Public Health Department. The school Nurse is available to instruct staff if students with specific medical situations may possibly need special attention.
REGISTERING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS
Parents may pre-register Kindergarten students any time during regular business hours from September until the end of the first week in July of any school year for a September start. At the time of registration, parents must present the child s birth certificate and their record of immunizations.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Many opportunities exist for parents and community members to become involved in the educational process. Some of these opportunities are: Tutors; Library or Computer Helpers; Presenters; Classroom Reading Buddies, Material Preparation Assistants, Safe Arrival Telephone Assistants, to name a few. A form indicating your preference will be sent home in September by our P.A.C. for you to fill in and return to the school.
Please note:
*All volunteers are required by School District #33 to fill in a Criminal Record Search form to submit to the local R.C.M.P. *
