School Handbook for Families

1. Welcome Message 

Welcome to Sayward Elementary School! We are excited to have you as part of our Sayward Elementary family. This handbook is designed to provide you with important information about our school's policies, procedures, and resources. We believe that by working together, we can create a nurturing and effective learning environment for our students. 

2. School Mission and Vision 

Mission: Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment where every child can achieve their full potential. 

Vision: We envision a school where students are engaged, motivated, and prepared for the challenges of the future. 

We base our mission and our vision on the Circle of Courage© and have created a West Coast version of this concept. Please see the Appendix for more information. 

3. Staff Directory 

4. School Information: 

SD72 School Calendar for 2024 - 2025 

~ Bell Schedule (See supervision schedule below): 

~ Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for student success. Please call the school if your child is going to be away so that the school is aware. 250.282.3314 

~ Code of Conduct: All staff and students are expected to adhere to the school's code of conduct, promoting a positive and respectful environment. Please ensure you review this document with your child/ren. The full Code of Conduct is in the appendix.  

Please note that SD 72 is currently working on a “Visitor/Parent/Caregiver Code of Conduct” we hope will be completed and implemented this fall. Please see Appendix #2 for the full SD72 Elementary School Code of Conduct. 

Highlights from the Code of Conduct:  

~ Personal Devices: Cell phones, tablets and other personal devices are not allowed to be used while on school property or on field trips. This includes before, during, or after school. If students have one, it must be kept in their backpack or the office. At times, teachers may give permission to use a device for educational purposes.  

~ Bus: The Code of Conduct is always in effect while in a bus line-up and on the bus. Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. 

~ Emergency Procedures – All schools have several drills per year. Dates will be determined as the year progresses and notices will be sent home. Teachers also do pre-teaching for each drill so that students know what to expect and why we do drills. 

The drills are as follows: 

~ Report Cards – Three formal reporting periods with three informal reports as follows: 

5. School Based Team (SBT): this team is a group of professionals who are committed to attending to students' needs both academically and socially/emotionally. Referrals come from teachers and/or the school’s administrator (principal/vice principal) as well as the Learning Support Teacher) 

6. Food Program: We are fortunate in BC to have the Ministry of Education and Childcare provide funding for all schools to have a food subsidy program; Feeding Futures. We attempt to stretch this funding as far as we can to provide breakfast for any student who needs/wants breakfast in the morning. The Breakfast cart is available for any student from 8:30 until 8:45. 

In addition to this we have a lunch program available for students who need it. Please connect with our Feeding Futures Coordinator, Catherine Clinton, if you would like your child to participate in the lunch program. We may look at possibly have a sliding scale payment program for those who would like their children to have a school lunch for a very low cost. More information will come about this as we settle into the new school year so, please watch for notices and information in the newsletters. 

7. Clothing and Wheels: 

Clothing – Every year there is an immense amount of lost and found clothing items left at the school. Often the staff pick up an average of 5 to 10 items per recess break per day! Sometimes we can find the owners but often we don’t have time to do this. Please talk to your children about being responsible for their belongings while outside. Our teachers do their best to remind students to bring in their sweaters, jackets, etc. but an extra reminder from you would be appreciated. We hope to install some outside hooks this year to help with this issue. 

Wheels – If your child rides something to school – a bike, scooter, skateboard, etc. – please ensure they have a helmet as well. We also recommend other protective gear such as elbow and knee pads, particularly for those who ride scooters and skateboards. Please let us know if you need assistance in obtaining a helmet. 

8. Appendices 

1. West Coast Circle of Courage© 

At Sayward Elementary School, we value safety, belonging, education, and physical and social/emotional health. To further create a culture in which all students can open their minds and hearts to being a part of our school as well as develop the skills to learn and engage in school activities and events, we will be implementing the Circle of Courage© as our school philosophy.  

While this is originally from American Culture, it is relevant to children from anywhere. The Circle of Courage is based on traditional values from cultures who, like us, cherish children and treat them with respect. Current research in education and youth development shows that these practices align with what children need to do well and feel confident. 

As part of my educational journey, I created a journal for students to use as they explore the different areas of the circle. I have adapted this journal to suit the needs of our students. The Circle of Courage provides the philosophical foundation for Sayward School’s approach to working with children, families, and the community. 

From the creators of the Circle of Courage: 

The Circle of Courage is a model of positive youth development that integrates the wisdom of indigenous Native American philosophies of child-rearing with research in resilience science and positive youth development. It is based on the principle that children have four universal growth needs: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity and that when these needs are met, children can flourish. Recognizing that the Circle of Courage “transcend[s] cultural boundaries” and that “all children have the same growth needs” the Circle of Courage is an offering for all youth across cultures and contexts.1 When children have supportive environments where they can build strengths, their life pathways can change.2  

1. Belonging: The universal longing for human bonds is nurtured relationships of trust so that the child can say, “I am loved.”  

2. Mastery: The child’s inborn thirst for learning is nurtured; learning to cope with the world, the child can say, “I can succeed.”  

3. Independence: The child’s free will is nurtured by increased responsibility so that the child can say, “I am in charge of my life.”  

4. 4. Generosity: The child’s character is nurtured by concern for others so that the child can say, “I have a purpose for my life.” 3