Student Life
ATTENDANCE
Crestwood must insist that regular attendance is imperative for academic success. Moreover, the Ministry’s granting of credits depends upon a student completing 110 hours of successful in-class instruction. Attendance difficulties will be communicated to parents as soon as they become evident.
In the case of an absence, a student’s parent or guardian is required to call the school (416-391-1441 ext. 60) before
Students who need to leave school before the end of the school day must present a note from the parent or guardian to the Office and receive permission to do so. Medical or personal appointments should not be made during school hours. Students who leave school without permission are considered to have “skipped” class, and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken.
Students who miss tests or exams due to illness will be required to provide specific reason for their absence to the teacher involved. In some cases, a doctor’s note may be required
Our holiday schedule is generous. Parents are advised to plan family trips within these periods so that a student’s academic responsibilities are not compromised.
LATES AND LATE POLICY
Classes begin daily at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:12 p.m.. Students should arrive at school in enough time to go to their lockers and make the normal preparations required for morning classes. They should be in their first period class by 8:30. Chronic inability or unwillingness to arrive at school or class on time will be viewed as a serious offence and appropriate remedial measures will be exercised.
Students who arrive at school after 8:35 a.m. must report to the office to check in before attending classes. They should realize that “notes from home” do not and cannot excuse attendance situations that are clearly out of control. Parents will be notified of late irregularities during the school year.
LEAVING THE SCHOOL GROUNDS
Students in grades Seven to Nine may NOT leave the school grounds during school hours.
When students are off school grounds [before and after school, or on a school trip or function,] it is important that they represent themselves and the school in an honourable and appropriate
manner. Complaints about Crestwood student behaviour on these occasions will be followed up in earnest by the administration. Students in grades (10, 11 and 12) must have a waiver form signed by parents/guardians to be able to leave the school property. Students who drive to school are strongly discouraged from taking their cars out at lunch or during spares.
LUNCHES
Hot and cold lunches will be available on a daily basis in the cafeteria should students wish to purchase their lunch. Students may purchase the whole lunch that is being offered or, for example, choose to purchase only the soup and a fruit. Students should bring enough cashless school credit to pay for whatever they purchase on a daily basis. The school will NOT be billing parents for lunch. Students may also choose to bring their lunch from home. Vending machines will be available for drinks and snacks during lunch.
Guidelines for a Nut-Allergy Friendly Environment
Crestwood College’s first priority is the health and safety of our students. Part of that priority and concern involves students at the school who are allergic to nuts and nut products. Some allergies are more severe than others. For the most difficult cases, we strongly encourage parents to ensure that their son or daughter is carrying an Epipen with them at all times. Also, we have individualized Epipens stored in or near the main office. Parents of children with nut allergies are once again strongly encouraged to provide the office with an Epipen, and to ensure that we have a replacement before the expiration date arrives. Some parents have decided that circumstances do not warrant or merit this particular emergency remedy. We can only assume then, that these students would not be seriously affected by any exposure to nuts and nut products.
“Sabrina’s Law” came into effect on January 1, 2006. Essentially, this law permits, and indeed obliges the school to take every reasonable measure to assist a child in a medical emergency, including anaphylactic shock.
We are required to provide as safe an environment as possible at school, and in school related activities, for students with nut allergies.
To that end, we have established the following guidelines:
1. Please do not bring or send nuts or nut products to school or school related activities.
2. If your son or daughter is anaphylactic, please rehearse and review strategies that he/she will require for potentially difficult situations. Have your child carry an Epipen and provide one for the main office. Careful hand washing, for one, is always recommended, and for all contamination possibilities.
3. Teachers have received training on dealing with serious life-threatening situations, including anaphylactic shock.
4. Allergy alert sheets have been compiled and posted and copies given to individual teachers.
5. “Nut Friendly” posters have been posted at the main entrances to the school.
Please be advised that it is impossible to eliminate all risk and danger, and that declaring any space or institution “nut free” will leave some individuals who always need to be extremely careful a false sense of security. As a caring community, however, we must always do what we can to make our school as safe as possible for all our children, and particularly for those more vulnerable than others.
LOCKERS
Each student will be assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year. Lockers are valuable storage areas and certain precautions must be taken to ensure a clean and secure school environment. Students are to keep their lockers clean at all times and make sure not to share combinations with anyone. The school cannot assume responsibility for lost or stolen articles. Students who willfully and maliciously take another student’s property will be dealt with accordingly. The principal or designate may inspect any locker at any time.
For the sake of securing property or finding lost items students should put their names on all their belongings, particularly books and articles of clothing. Students are also encouraged to leave expensive or sentimental items at home.
TELEPHONES
Cellular phones may not be used during class time and should be kept in lockers. The school cannot accept responsibility for the loss or theft of these items. Pay phones are available to students near the cafeteria and the gym office. The telephones in the main office are to be used only for emergencies. Parents should not telephone messages to the main office except in cases of real emergency.
CARS AND PARKING
Parents driving students to school are asked not to pull into the school parking lot to let out students. Please find a safe and accessible spot near the school to do so. Crestwood will do what it can to provide parking for student cars. Students must apply for parking permits in September of each school year and be governed by the standards communicated in the “Student Parking Contract”. Students who demonstrate an unwillingness to abide by these safety regulations will be denied parking privileges.
RESOURCE CENTRE
Crestwood has a well equipped and spacious Resource Centre which includes many computers with Internet access. All students will find the Resource Centre to be an excellent research and study area and must respect the legitimate needs of all people using the centre. Food and beverages must not be consumed in this area.
TEXTBOOKS
Crestwood will supply book lists and supply lists to students and parents in the summer proceeding each school year. A specific book supplier will also be identified. It is the responsibility of the student to purchase all texts and to bring the appropriate texts and materials to class. Students should print their names conspicuously on all their textbooks and notebooks. The school will provide dates when students and parents can purchase used textbooks.
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE
Teachers at Crestwood are available for extra help either upon request, or as specified by a teacher. Students who are having difficulty in a subject are identified early in the year, and receive mandatory help on specified days after school. Students are urged to claim ownership for their education and to alert teachers to any difficulties that may arise.
HOMEWORK
Homework is considered an integral part of the student’s programme and teachers fully expect assignments to be completed on a daily basis. The purpose of homework is three-fold:
a) to consolidate what has been taught in the classroom
b) to provide opportunities to practice and apply learned skills, and
c) to develop independent work habits.
If a student does not meet commitments on a regular basis, the school will notify the parents and a meeting will be scheduled to decide what the best course of action should be.
We prefer that parents [not become involved with the student’s homework] unless, for example, they are quizzing them for upcoming tests. It is important that the student exercise his or her own talents in completing a task. If the student is having difficulty with an assignment, he/she may not have fully understood the concept taught in class. It is very important for the teacher to be aware of this. As difficult as it may be, parents are asked to encourage independent thought and effort in completing all school work.
REPORTS AND PARENT INTERVIEWS
Parents will have at least two formal opportunities each school year to discuss their children’s academic performance with each subject teacher. We believe that success must be shared with parents and that problems can only be remedied with the knowledge and co-operation of parents as well. Parent interviews will be held in November and January of each school year. All parents, of course, can contact teachers when necessary to discuss their son’s or daughter’s progress.
Written reports are sent home four times per year – November, January, April and June. Teachers may request interviews with parents after each distribution.
Parents are advised that teachers and administrators will not be available in the morning for phone calls and/or interviews unless prior arrangements have been made.
Teachers understand the importance of being pro-active and co-operative in addressing student issues, academic or otherwise. Knowing this, Crestwood parents must always approach teachers with the understanding and sensitivities required by all civilized adults.
“HOUSE” AND MENTORING SYSTEM/THE TEACHER ADVISORY PROGRAM
The mentoring program is defined as a scheduled relationship between a group of 10 to 12 students and a teacher that occurs on a regular basis over the course of a school year. The mentors will provide support and guidance to all students in his / her group. Each group will be comprised of students from different grade levels. This will allow both students and teachers the opportunity to interact with fresh faces and participate in different activities throughout the year. Mentoring meetings will occur five times this year - three in the first term and two in the second. These meetings will occur during a “schedule D” day. Additional meetings to address individual needs or group initiatives will be scheduled between the teacher and the student.
If it is necessary to close the school as a result of a winter storm, an announcement will be made on the following places:
Crestwood website www.crestwoodprepco.com
AM STATIONS 1050 CHUM 1010 CFRB 740 CBC
FM STATIONS 98.1 CHFI Q107 104 CHUM
CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM
Crestwood is dedicated to offering students a variety of opportunities to experience team and individual after-school activities in both athletic and non-athletic areas. The following is a list of the teams, clubs and experiences that your son or daughter will be able to enjoy. All participants are reminded that academics must always be given top priority, and that time dedicated to the following activities cannot be used to “excuse” poor work, missing, late and incomplete work, or poor work habits.
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES VARSITY SPORTS
Student Government Softball
Art Club Basketball
Athletic Council Cross Country
School Newspaper Hockey
Chess Soccer
“Reach for the Top” Track & Field
Debating Volleyball
Drama Golf
Community Service Flag Football
Public Speaking Tennis
Yearbook Rugby
Photography Club Ultimate Frisbee
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Swimming
Multi-cultural Club
Environmental Club INTRAMURALS:
Improv Club Flag Football
Rock Band Ultimate Frisbee
Jazz Band Soccer
SOMA (model United Nations) Basketball
Skiing Volleyball
