Principal's Message

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to Lumsden Academy

for the 2008-2009 school year. Here at Lumsden Academy we have a staff that is dedicated to providing every child with the best educational opportunity possible. Every child has the right to an education that focuses on Academic, Social, Emotional, and Physical development.

Schools are about learning. Many students think that a high level of achievement is due only to natural ability, that it is only the smart ones who get top grades. In fact, research has suggested over and over again that it is hard work, self-discipline, and a focus on a goal that can make the difference in a child's achievement

Children learn better when parents are interested and involved. I encourage you to be active participants in your child's education and in our school. As parents you can take an interest in the daily work of your children, read regularly to and with them, meet with the teachers, and be an active participant in our School Council. Again, research into factors contributing to student success consistently conclude that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.

Communication between the school and home is also very important. We are enhancing communication to the home this year by publishing monthly newsletters and by providing an automated message system to inform you of important events by telephone and email. If you have concerns, or suggestions we encourage you to please bring them to our attention. If you wish to speak with me you can call me at 530 2310.

Please take some time to read through this handbook. It is intended to provide families

with information on our school's organization, policies, procedures, and services that

may be of use to you throughout the year and which reflect and support policies of Nova

Central School District . During the school year we will also be adding this handbook to

If we work together with your child’s best interest as our top priority I feel confident that we will have a productive and rewarding year where your child will learn and grow successfully.

Please note: The position of Guidance Counselor is shared with Lester Pearson Memorial, Memorial Academy , and Heritage Academy . The schedule may change, at times, depending on the need at each school.

Jeannie Stokes ......................................................................... Chairperson – Lumsden

Donna Gray ................................................................... Vice – Chairperson – Lumsden

Joanne Goodyear ............................................................................... Parent – Lumsden

Jeannette Gibbons .............................................................................. Parent – Lumsden

Danny Gibbons ................................................ Community Representative – Lumsden

Ruth Gibbons ............................................................................................... Administrator

Janice Humphries ..................................................................... Teacher Rep. /Secretary

Janice Goodyear ............................................. Community Representative – Lumsden

Above is a list of School Council members for 2007-2008. As you can see from the

list, we do not currently have any representation from Cape Freels or Deadman’s

involved with the School Council to ensure that concerns specific to your communities get brought to our attention.

We are now accepting nominations for community and parent representatives on our School Council. If you would like to nominate someone to serve on our

'Something magical happens when you bring together a group of people from different disciplines with a common purpose.'

Mr. Bill Goodyear................................................................................................... Monday

Mrs. Christine Goodyear...................................................................................... Tuesday

Mrs. Dena Gibbons......................................................................................... Wednesday

Mrs. Jeannette Gibbons ..................................................................................... Thursday

Mrs. Kathy Stagg ..................................................................................................... Friday

We are looking for alternate monitors who can fill in on days when our regular monitors are not available. If you wish to volunteer, please call the school at 530-2310.

Code of conduct forms must be completed by all parents/guardians who wish to come

INTO the school as volunteers to work with children/students under the age of 18.

'We can whenever and wherever we choose, successfully teach all children... we already know more than we need to know in order to do that.'

K	=	7
I	=	15
II	=	5
III	=	9
IV	=	8
V	=	5
VI	=	8
VII	=	7
VIII	=	10
IX	=	11

'It is our dream that students will ...experience their classrooms as invigorating, even inspiring environments - places they look forward to going to and places they hate to leave. It is our dream that they will come to know themselves as masters of various crafts...It is our dreams that ...they will come to love the process of learning itself... by making it their own.'

The assessment and evaluation of students at Lumsden Academy follows the Nova Central School District ‘Student Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting Policy” and the prescribed curriculum outcomes outlined by the Department of Education.

· It is a process of encompassing the entire range of student activity and experience.

· It is a process of collecting and interpreting information which can be used to inform students and parents about the progress the student is making toward obtaining knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors.

1. Students will receive a minimum of three days notice of any pending tests. This notice will be given by the classroom teacher verbally or by writing a reminder on the homeroom whiteboard. Normally, in our school, students are given about one week’s notice regarding tests.

2. All students in a class are required to take a test on the date that it is scheduled by the classroom teacher. If a student is absent for any legitimate reason ( ie. sickness, doctor/dentist appointment, death in family) on the day of the test, an opportunity to take the test will be provided. This opportunity will be during the first period of the particular course that the student is back in school. For example, if a Health test is scheduled for Monday and your child is out sick on that day, he/she will be expected to write the test during the next Health period. If that period is on Tuesday the student will write it then. If it is on Wednesday he/she will write it on Wednesday and so on. All students were given a copy of their schedule in September so they should know when the next scheduled class will take place. If they are unsure of when the next class is they are responsible to get the information from a classmate or by calling the school.

3. Parents/guardians are required to contact the school to inform us if a child is unable to be in school on the day of a scheduled test. Anytime a student is not in school we require contact (by note or phone) to inform us of the reason he/she is not here. Whenever your child is not in school you should make arrangements to get homework including information and/or notes for upcoming tests.

· In Grade 4 no more than 20% of the total evaluation shall include tests, quizzes or reviews. Other data sources such as projects, journals, portfolios and observations shall form the basis for determining whether students have achieved the program requirements.

· In Grade 5 no more than 30% of the total evaluation shall include tests, quizzes or reviews. Other data sources such as projects, journals, portfolios and observations shall form the basis for determining whether students have achieved the program requirements.

· In Grade 6 no more than 40% of the total evaluation shall include tests, quizzes or reviews. Other data sources such as projects, journals, portfolios and observations shall form the basis for determining whether students have achieved the program requirements.

· In Grades 7 – 8, no more than 50% of the total evaluation shall include tests or quizzes. Other data sources such as projects, journals, portfolios and observations shall form the basis for determining whether students have achieved the program requirements.

· In Grades 9 – 12, no more than 70% of the total evaluation shall include tests or quizzes. Other data sources such as projects, journals, portfolios and observations shall form the basis for determining whether students have achieved the program requirements.

· Intermediate students will not be required to write more than two unit tests per day. In the case of final exams, intermediate students will be required to write one exam per day.

· All unit tests and other evaluations shall be provided to students after correction.

· Feedback on unit tests and other evaluations should be provided to students within 5 instructional days, where possible.

Final examinations will be administered in core curriculum subjects. Evaluation at the Intermediate Level will be in accordance with the following guidelines/procedures:

· Final examinations will have a value of 25% in grade 9 and 20% in grades 7 and 8.

· The earliest time that schools may begin school-based final examinations for intermediate school students is Monday of the second last week of classes.

· In grades 7 and 8 final examinations will be based upon half the year’s work (e.g., late January to June); however, in grade 9 final examinations will be based on the entire school year’s work. Note: there may be specific exceptions to this identified by the school (and approved by the district) based on the nature of specific curriculum.

· Plus any two other subjects ( Religion, Health, Physical Education, Technology)

Research indicates that with parental involvement, there tends to be an increase in children’s academic achievement. The family provides a significant learning environment for all children and as partners in the educational process has a shared responsibility with educators in their learning.

The need for a close relationship between the home and the school is important at all levels. Societal changes, which have greatly affected the family, have made the need for involvement all the more critical and at the same time more difficult. As partners in the educational process, parents/guardians can build positive home conditions that reinforce, support and extend the work at school. Together, educators and parents/guardians can work to provide a nurturing environment in which respect, understanding, acceptance and caring are encouraged.

· being involved in educational governance and shared decision making as members of school councils;

· acting as support people for the school, being a school volunteer, and supporting and becoming involved in school activities;

· participating in and contributing to workshops on parent/family and educational issues: and;

· fostering communication between home and school, seeking information on the school and expecting the school to provide it.

Attending school on a regular basis is the key to students doing well at school and helps establish good habits for later in life and the working world. More specifically, increased attendance at school will result in increased student achievement. Attendance provisions require students to attend school regularly and punctually unless there is illness or some other reasons are presented in accordance with Sections 4 or 5 of the schools act.

Provided it is communicated in writing or orally by the parent/guardian, acceptable absences are:

· Any other explanation deemed acceptable by the Principal after considering prior absenteeism

· Other experiences of significant educational and social value approved by the director.

· Parents are asked to communicate to the school either by written note or telephone call if they know that their child will be absent.

· No student is to leave the school building during class time without first getting permission and signing out at the office.

In September, all students were given a school agenda book to help them organize their day. These day planners are a perfect tool to record homework, tests and assignments or other reminders.

At the end of the school year, we make special recognition of students who have attained high achievement in sports, citizenship and academics by presenting awards at our annual graduation. These awards range from a Certificate of Recognition up to a monetary award of $100.00. Included in these awards are the following:


Highest Average Academics - Grade 7,8 and 9 Awarded to the student in each of the junior high grades who has obtained the highest academic average in their particular grade. The award consists of a certificate plus a gift card.
Most Improved Academics – Grade 7, 8 and 9 Awarded to the student in each of the junior high grades who has demonstrated the most improved academics over the course of the year in their particular grade. The award consists of a certificate plus a gift card.
Junior High French Award Awarded to a student in grade 9 who is recognized for the highest marks in French over the three years in junior high. The award consists of a certificate plus a gift card.

Arts Council Scholarship Given to the student who has participated in a positive way in performing Arts in various ways around the school. The scholarship is valued at $100.00.

Scotia Bank Junior High Science Award Awarded, annually, to a student in grade 9. This student should: Show satisfactory completion of the year’s science course (80%+). Bring to class an enthusiasm for the science course, as well as other scientific issues of interest to the class, by being a regular contributor. Maintain a polite, respectable nature toward staff and students. The Award is valued at $50.00.

Kean’s Pharmacy Technology Awards Presented annually to a student in Grade 7, 8 and 9 who: Shows initiative and enthusiasm Is pleasant to work with and helps fellow classmates Completes all assigned work This award consists of a $25.00 cheque for each winner.

Shoppers Drug Mart Math Award Awarded to the student who has achieved the highest marks in Math in the three year junior high Math Program. The award is valued at $50.00.

Notre Dame Agencies Language Arts Award Given to the student who has achieved the highest marks in Language Arts in the three year junior high Language Arts Program. The award is valued at $50.00.

School Council Social Studies Award Presented to a student of the Junior High Social Studies program who, after three years of study, has shown a significant gain in the knowledge of the geography, history and culture of our global community as measured by quizzes, assignments, class participation, and who has demonstrated a general enthusiasm in the course and has achieved a composite grade of eighty percent (80%) or higher. Certificate Plus Gift Card

Barbour’s Country Inn and Cottages Award Presented to a student in Lumsden Academy who is highly motivated, shows respect for others, demonstrates good leadership qualities , who is looked up to and admired by his/her classmates. This award is valued at $50.00. Accelerated Reader Awards Given to the student in each grade participating in the AR Program who accumulated the most AR points during the school year through reading. Each winner receives an AR gift.

Please Note: These awards may change from year to year depending on available sponsorship.

1. All students and staff are required to change footwear when entering and leaving the building.

2. Students are to refrain from running, shouting, and/or using profane language.

3. Within the school building, students and staff are the main traffic. Therefore, it is expected that you walk to the right, especially on the stairways.

4. Students should stay in their own area of the school, i.e. Primary/Elementary students must remain in their own wing of the school and Junior High students are to remain in their wing. Students may visit classrooms in their area of the school but will be sent to their own classroom if problems arise.

5. On the first bell in the morning, after recess, and in the afternoon, all students are to proceed to classrooms without delay.

6. Students are reminded that the secretary, janitor, and bus drivers are to be treated with the same respect as the teachers.

7. Any student who damages school property will be levied a fine. On second occurrence, student may be suspended and parents must sign a form before student returns.

8. Students are asked not to wear caps, hats, or any type of headwear within the school.

9. Students are asked not to wear heavy clothing within class (e.g. parkas and snow pants).

10. No student is to wear or carry a walkman, mp3 player or any such device in school or class. Also, cell phones and cameras are not to be used in the school and must be turned off upon entering the building.

11. Students should be environmentally friendly and so are asked not to throw any type of garbage around the school or its grounds. Place all garbage in containers provided.

12. Students in the Junior High are asked to stay in the seat assigned or chosen. Movement to another seat must be approved by classroom teacher.

13. All students will use the main entrance to the school, located near the gym, to enter and exit the building. Other exits are to be used only in the case of an emergency.

14. No smoking permitted on school grounds. If anyone is caught breaking this rule, a call will be made home to report the incident to the parent/guardian.

All staff members want Lumsden Academy to be the very best place for students to attend school and are committed to providing a safe and orderly environment for all students. We feel that a reasonable set of rules and consequences is necessary to create and maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Our discipline policy and procedures are built upon the belief that each student has the right to learn, and each teacher has the right to teach. We intend to implement our discipline policy in a manner that is fair, firm and consistent.

As a staff, we have decided to implement a detention system at our school as consequences to behaviors that we feel are interfering with the delivery of the learning process and/or compromising the safety or well being of others. This system will be directly related to the school rules listed in the Code of Conduct which is on page 14. The main points of this system are:

Ÿ If a student breaks any of the school rules, he/she will be given detention, which means that the student will be required to stay after regular school hours for a period of one hour. The parent of the student will then be responsible to make arrangements to pick their child up from school.

Ÿ If detentions are required, they will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00p.m .to 4:00p.m.

Ÿ If a student does not show up for detention, it will result in an automatic one day suspension.

Ÿ If a student gets more that three detentions within a one month period, the fourth incident will result in an automatic one day suspension.

Ÿ Any student who is given detention will also be taken out of extra curricular activities (ie. after school sports, choir, etc.) for a one week period.

Ÿ Any student who is given detention will not be permitted to special activities such as school dances for the week of the detention.

Ÿ Parents will be informed of any detentions involving their child, and a detention form will be completed and kept on file at school to track student behavior.

Some examples of behavior choices that could result in detention are, but not limited to, failure to complete assigned classroom work, classroom disruption, disrespect towards a staff member or another student, wearing outside footwear

or headgear inside the classroom, defiance, breaking a classroom rule, bullying or using foul language.

*** Depending on the severity of the incident, suspension (either in-school or out-of-school) may take place immediately.***

*** Students who choose to ignore rules and fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner will be subject to further disciplinary action.***

Bullying can be defined as intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words or other behavior committed by one or more children against another. For such acts to be defined as bullying, an imbalance in real or perceived power must exist between the bully and the victim. Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional or sexual in nature. For example:

Bullying and harassment often interfere with learning. Acts of bullying usually occur away from the eyes of teachers or other responsible adults. Consequently, if perpetrators go unpunished, a climate of fear envelopes the victims. The sooner the bullying is stopped, the better the long-term outcomes are for victims.

All children, including bystanders, are negatively affected when bullying occurs. The learning environment is poisoned by bullying, particularly when there are not effective interventions in the bullying situation. Children who observe violent behavior and see that it has no negative consequences for the bully will be more likely to use aggression in the future.

Bullies are also at risk for long-term negative outcomes. Elementary students who perpetrated acts of bullying attended school less frequently and were more likely to drop out of school than other students.

Once a bullying incident has been identified, the teacher will complete an incident report. This incident report will be passed to the administrator who decides if any further action needs to be taken at this time. Each incident report will be placed in a school binder/folder.

Step 3. Parents would be contacted based on severity/urgency (teacher or administration)

Step 5. Decision would be made on suspension/expulsion depending on the situation

Note Under ordinary circumstances, further action would be taken (to the next

step) by the administration with each subsequent incident. The administration, however, may decide to skip earlier steps, (or combine them) depending on the frequency/severity of the incidents. For example, the administration may decide, after the first bullying infraction, that suspension/expulsion of the student(s) may take place if the seriousness of the behavior so warrants. In serious cases of bullying-harassment, the RCMP may be contacted for investigation of assault and/or harassment.

The school binder/folder will be reviewed by administration every three months during the school year. Increase or decrease of bullying incidents will be noted and compared.

Periodic bullying surveys will be administered throughout the school year (fall and spring).

We are looking forward to a productive and exciting new school year. It is the District’s goal to provide safe school transportation to eligible children. Although we make every effort to ensure the safety of the students on the bus and at the bus stop, there are situations that require your assistance and participation in order to improve safety.

Sometimes children can be exposed to a dangerous situation because of their own or other’s behavior. In order to provide this service, we ask parents to review with children the following bus rules

· Look both ways before crossing the street by using the “look left, right and left again” approach

· Stay on the sidewalk (show your children where to walk and where to stand. It may be necessary to explain to your younger children what the sidewalk, curb and street are).

· Stand in a line to board the bus. No pushing or shoving while waiting in line.

We encourage you to talk with your children about safe walking practices and traffic rules as well as school bus rules. If you need information to teach your children, please contact us and we will give you the information you need. If you find there is a problem, let us try and resolve it right away. We hope you will get to know the bus driver and your child’s route, and we encourage you to have an open line of communication with them. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact Paul Matheson at 256-3571.

If the need arises to alert you of behavior problems, the following is our driver procedure:

With your assistance and cooperation, we can make every effort to ensure the safety of your children while they ride the bus and as they walk to and from the bus stop.

Students will require a bus pass to travel on a bus other than the one to which they are assigned. Before a bus pass is issued, we must receive a request (written or by phone) from the student’s parent/guardian.

As you pick up children at the school at lunch time and after classes in the afternoon please remember the following procedure:

· All cars heading down the road as they leave the parking lot (towards Deadman’s Bay) are asked to park on the left.

· All cars heading up the road as they leave the parking lot (towards Cape Freels ) are asked to park on the right.

· The first person to park has to park across from the garbage room. This will ensure that others who come behind will have room to line up correctly.

· Please do not line up behind the buses. Stay in your designated line as described above.

· Drivers are asked to stay parked until all students are safely in their cars. Do not attempt to pass a car ahead of you when they are still waiting for a student.

When driving in the area around our school buildings, please remember that our students are small and often difficult to see.

Under the school book loan program all students are provided with all required textbooks before classes begin in September. As per government policy all textbooks are the property of the school district and must be returned at the end of the school year. Students and parents are informed that according to the provincial book loan program that lost, non-returned and damaged textbooks will be the responsibility of parents. Where it becomes necessary to provide a student with a second set of books, the replacement books will have to be purchased at full market price. This can be up to $70 per book.

As in previous years, Math Tutorials will be offered after school, at the request of students.

Any student experiencing difficulties with the Math Program is encouraged to contact

We are currently in the process of setting up an interactive communication tool,

called SchoolConnects which will be used to deliver messages to parents, students

and staff including such things as school cancellations due to weather, professional

development days, student attendance issues and various special events which will

telephone numbers and email addresses for all families to ensure that everyone will

We require students to wear clothing that is appropriately modest and respects personal hygiene, the student, other students and teachers. Please do not wear clothing that is inappropriate or offensive to others. More specifically:

· Hats and outdoor footwear are to be removed and stored in lockers when students come into the building

· Shirts need to cover shoulders ( no spaghetti straps), chest and torsos so that the hem of the shirt meets the waist of the pants when seated (no visible underwear).

· Graphics and language on clothes need to be in good taste and support our Code of Conduct. Students are not to wear clothing or emblems that depict racism, prejudice, vulgarity or illegal substances. This includes the obvious/blatant depiction of alcohol on clothing.

All students of Lumsden Academy will be covered by Student Insurance provided by AXA Assurances Inc. This insurance policy covers accidental breakage of glasses, dentures and contact lenses. The insurance covers accidents that require medical and or dental treatment and it also covers all major bodily injuries. In addition, all reasonable transportation costs will be reimbursed by the insurance company. More details of this insurance policy are included in the pamphlet which is sent to all families at the beginning of the school year. Extra copies of the pamphlet are at the school if you did not receive one.

The practice of administering drugs, medicines or medications to students in school

Is fraught with many inherent dangers. Nevertheless, Nova Central School District

recognizes the fact that, in extreme or exceptional situations, this responsibility

must be accepted. Because of such dangers and legal implications, schools should

administer only medication prescribed by a medical doctor, and only if it is

regular school hours. If this is the case, the parent/guardian must contact the

The Public Health Nurse, Ms. Michelle Burry, will be visiting Lumsden Academy every second Thursday, commencing September 20, 2007 .

We have a couple of students in our school this year who have severe allergies to nuts and a student who is allergic to mushrooms. Even exposure to a tiny amount of these items could be potentially life threatening to the safety of these children.

We also have a number of students and staff members who experience reactions to scented products. Therefore; we are asking your assistance in the following manner:

All Board-owned buildings, facilities and grounds are designated ‘smoke-free’ environments. This designation applies to all users and at all times.

Smoking is prohibited on school grounds. Students have been informed of the provincial “No Smoking “policy.

The Principal will enforce this policy, in a manner consistent with present existing regulations regarding breaches of other school rules.

There will be no ‘junk food’ sold in our canteen. Healthier snacks are available, and we encourage parents to provide students with healthier snacks rather than junk food, if they don’t want to use the school canteen services. A canteen price list is included.

'Every parent's deepest wish is that their children are self sufficient, happy, and able to live a full life.'

The doors of the school will be open by 8:30 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. Students who return to the school grounds before that time (sometimes as early as 12:20 ) are unsupervised and teachers are not responsible for their safety. We suggest that students remain at home until the door is opened, so as to avoid any problems that could occur while they are unsupervised.

School Pictures .............................................................. October 24, 2008

Curriculum Night ............................................................ October 9, 2008

1^st. Term Reports ...................................................... November 26, 2008

Parent-Teacher Interviews ........................................ November 27, 2008

Christmas Concert ..................................................... December 17, 2008

Education Week ............................................................ March 1 – 7, 2008

2^nd Term Student Reports ................................................ March 25, 2008

Parent-Teacher Interviews .............................................. March 26, 2008

Graduation K – 9 ................................................................. June 25, 2008