If you require this information in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
Huntsville High School
58 Brunel Road, Huntsville, ON P1H 2A2
Enrolment: 979
I will show respect for myself, others and my environment.
I will be kind to the others in my school community.
I will be in class, prepared to work, at the bell.
I will only use my cell phone in the halls and cafeteria, or during class time, with the permission of my teacher, for curriculum related activities.
I will use appropriate language at HHS.
Please see the Welcome to Huntsville High School Slide Deck for more information about Huntsville High School.
Students are to attend school until they are 18 or have received their diploma. The school is required by law to monitor attendance. If you are absent from school, your parent/guardian must inform the school. Please have a parent/guardian call the attendance line by noon on the day of your absence at 705-789-5597 and include the following information:
Please note, leave only one message, either by phone or email. It is not necessary to do both.
Acceptable absences include:
If you are signed out by a parent/guardian, you must leave the school property. (For example, you can not be signed out to work in the library or to attend a sporting event.)
Vacations – Try to schedule vacations so that they do not conflict with school time. If you are going to be away for a vacation, there is a Vacation Form that must be completed before you leave. You can obtain and return this form from the office.
Truancy – absent without an approved reason
Important notes:
Away for sports or music or club activities? If you are on a school team, you should talk with your teachers at the beginning of the season to discuss your team schedule and how you will stay caught up throughout the season. On game days and for other trips and activities, be sure to talk to your teachers as soon as you know you will be away to make a plan for what you will miss.
All HHS students will conduct themselves in an honest and trustworthy manner in all aspects of academics. Use of part/all of any other person’s book, essay, magazine article, chart, drawing, diagram, or other piece of work in an assignment, without proper acknowledgement, is plagiarizing. Submitting an assignment written by anyone else or presenting information taken from the internet as one’s own is plagiarizing. Submitting an assignment that you have written and have already received credit for, is academic dishonesty. If a student facilitates plagiarism by providing work to others, this constitutes academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism will result in consequences, increasing in severity if the behaviour continues.
The Academic Resource Room is located in Room 324 on the third floor by the stairs. This room is a supportive space for additional help with academic courses, problem–solving skills, OSSLT support, and meeting graduation requirements. In Room 324 you will find printers, computers, and a microwave available for your use. Students may drop in over the lunch hour and after school until 4 p.m., for support. Breakfast Club food and lunches from community members is usually available in Room 324 during the day.
Announcements are at the beginning of the first period of each day. The announcements are for you! This is how you find out what is going on at HHS. Please stop and listen, wherever you are in the school.
Our goal is to make HHS a place where everyone feels welcome and safe. Please help by reporting incidents of bullying to an adult in the building. You can also report bullying anonymously through the school website. Remember, being a by-stander is contributing to the problem!
Bathrooms are located on all three floors of the school. There are two multi-gender bathrooms at HHS. A single stall is across from the main office and a multi-stall is on the second floor by the gym. Bathrooms are to be used for their intended purpose, not as a place to congregate or hang out. There is no vaping allowed in the bathrooms – vaping in the school results in a suspension and may result in a fine by the health unit.
First bell: 8:40
Second bell: 8:45 – music plays
Period 1: 8:50 – 10:05
Break: 10:05 – 10:15
Period 2: 10:15 – 11:30
Lunch: 11:30-12:30
Warning bell: 12:20
Second bell: 12:25 – music plays
Period 3: 12:30 – 1:45
Break: 1:45 – 1:55
Period 4: 1:55 – 3:10
When you hear the music, it’s time to get to class!
Breakfast food is available at the start of each day. A table is set up on the second floor in front of the hydration station. Everyone is welcome! If you would like to help out with the breakfast club, let your guidance counsellor know and they can help you get started!
Many students rely on the buses to get to HHS. This is a privilege and you are expected to be respectful to the bus driver and the other students on the bus. Follow the bus regulations as posted at the front of the bus and obey the instructions of the bus driver. If you are non-compliant, you will be given a bus slip from your bus driver which you must bring into the office to give to the secretary. Your vice-principal will meet with you. If you receive a third bus slip or are a safety concern on the bus, suspension of bus privileges will be considered. You are not permitted to ride a bus other than your own.
The cafeteria is open throughout the day. You can use the cafeteria before and after school, and at lunch. If you have a spare, you can use the cafeteria to study or relax. The servery will be serving food at various times throughout the year, but is not open every day.
Cell phones are only permitted in the hallways and cafeteria before and after school, during scheduled breaks and during the lunch hour. Cell phones are to be “off and away” before entering the classroom. If you use your cell phone during class time, unrelated to instruction, you will be asked to bring it to the office and the phone will be given to your vice-principal. You will then be given an admit slip to get back into your classroom. At 3:10 p.m. you can come to the office and speak to your vice-principal to have your cell phone returned to you. If this happens more than twice, your parent/guardian will have to come in and pick up your cell phone.
The Clothes Closet is full of new and gently used clothing for anyone who wants a new item for their own closet! It is usually open a couple of lunch hours each week. Listen to the announcement or you can also see the teachers in the Academic Resource Room for assistance or ask a teacher to get you an appointment.
Everyone will have a chromebook assigned to them. Bring your chromebook to school everyday! Updates happen at night, so be sure to shut it down and charge it every night. You are responsible for your chromebook and the charger. If you lose it or break it, you will be expected to pay for it. If there is a problem with your chromebook, ask your teacher or come to the library for help.
Clothing worn at HHS should be respectful of others and the school rules. Slogans, pictures, and writing on clothing cannot have messages that are, for example, racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexually suggestive, sexist, illegal, promoting violence. Clothing worn should not have pictures or words about alcohol or drugs. Be kind to the others in your community.
Exams are held at the end of each semester. Your teachers will help you prepare as you get closer to the exam dates. It does help to stay on top of your work throughout the semester. You will have less stress leading up to exams, if you stay caught up on homework and assignments.
Exam dates for this year:
January 26 – February 1, 2024
June 20 – 26, 2024
Students should avoid scheduling any vacations, activities and appointments during exam times. If this is unavoidable, students and parents must work with Ms. Picken to arrange alternative times.
There will be a $10 student fee for all students. This helps to cover the cost of school events like Pancake Days, assemblies, dances, bus trips, and graduation. You have to pay your fee before you participate in school events. You can pay at the office with a debit card. There are also fees for other school activities – sports teams, band, field trips, etc. If you need financial support, please the activity leader, coach, your vice-principal or principal. We can help support students who want to participate in an activity but need help with the fees.
A continuous sounding alarm is the signal that all students must leave the building, calmly and quickly, without running. Posted in each classroom is the exit required to be used in case of fire. Once outside you are expected to follow teacher directions and move well away from the exits and fire routes. Note: pulling a false fire alarm is a serious offence and will result in severe consequences, including a financial cost to the individual as well as police involvement.
Here at HHS, we have the 20/20 rule. Students should not be in the hallways during the first and last 20 minutes of class. You should only be in the hallway with permission from your teacher. Usually, there will only be one person allowed out of the classroom at a time – be respectful of your classmates and return to class promptly. A reminder that respectful behaviour is expected throughout the school, including the hallways – avoid running, shouting, pushing, and swearing. At the end of class, you should stay in your seat until the bell goes. Students are expected to stop and listen during O’Canada and announcements.
HHS is a hand-holding school only.
Homework Club is in Room 334 every day after school from 3:10 – 4 p.m. You can attend voluntarily on any day. You may be assigned to Homework Club by your vice-principal in consultation with your teachers and parents/guardians, if you get too far behind in your assignments.
The HLC is our student parliament at HHS. This group of students organizes and facilitates many of the school-wide activities (dances, theme days, Amazing Race, etc.). Applications for the HLC come out in June for the next year.
In order to maintain safety, it is important that students identify themselves using their proper name to school and Summit Centre staff, when asked to do so. Non-compliance can result in suspension.
If you become ill during the school day, please inform your teacher who will contact the office. Even if you have texted your parent/guardian, please go to the main office. You will have to be signed out – one of the secretaries in the office will contact a parent/guardian. Please stay in the office until someone is able to come to pick you up.
Students who fail to submit assignments on the due date will negotiate a second deadline with their teacher. Teachers may assign up to a 10 percent penalty after the first missed deadline for Grade 11 and 12 students. Students who fail to submit their assignment after the second deadline will be referred to Student Success. In addition, students may receive a zero for missed deadlines, or not submitting an assignment.
If you arrive late to school or are late for class, report to the office where you will be given a late slip to take to class. Unexcused lates will be tracked and will be dealt with by an admin in conjunction with the caregivers and students. Consequences could include detentions, in-school suspensions, and other measures. If you have an excused late (e.g. an appointment), please have a parent/guardian call the attendance line: 705- 789-5597.
The library is open most days, before and after school and during the lunch hour, for you to use to study or meet with classmates and friends. If you have a spare, you can use the library during this time. Please be respectful of others and clean up after yourself.
The office will ring the bell and then announce “EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY. INITIATE LOCKDOWN.” At this time, students are expected to listen to the instructions of their teacher. We will review the procedures during the first semester.
Each student will be assigned a locker for the school year. You are responsible for bringing a combination lock. Please do not bring locks with keys. Teachers will record your locker number and combination and the office will receive this information. Locker changes can only be done through your vice-principal. Remember the locker is school property and should be treated as such – do not graffiti or vandalize the locker. Do not store things that are not allowed at school in your locker.
Students can have lunch in the cafeteria, the library, open classrooms, or on the picnic tables at the front of the school or in the courtyard. You can also leave school property and go to town or Oliver’s or the canteen at the Summit Centre. You will not be allowed anywhere else in the Summit Centre during the school day.
There are many places you can go for support at HHS. You can talk to your teacher or another adult you trust. They may point you to your guidance counsellor, who will help you and also direct you to other supports in the community for mental health and addiction challenges.
HHS has a mental health counsellor available that students can access by requesting an appointment in the Student Services office. Your vice-principal or principal can also help answer questions, help with concerns, or support you. The Academic Resource Room is available to support your academic needs. There are many activities offered at HHS that will help you to meet friends and get involved.
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a compulsory, standardized test completed by students in Grade 10. Passing the literacy test is a graduation requirement. There are two test days during the year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Dates are to be determined.
Staff and students share the busy parking lot with the Summit Centre and the buses. Please be respectful of others and remember to drive safely. (i.e. slowly and with an awareness of other cars and pedestrians). The speed limit in the parking lot is 40 km/hr.
You must be photographed to receive your student ID card and for the yearbook (even if you are not buying pictures). Grade 12s must have a grad photo taken to be on the grad composite (even if you are not buying grad photos). The dates for school photos and Grad photos are yet to be determined.
There are two quiet days before each exam period. The intention of the quiet days is to give you time to prepare for your examinations. You should attend all of your regular classes. Expectations for quiet days:
HHS staff have participated in Restorative Practices Training. Whenever possible, staff and administration will try to respond to conflicts in a restorative manner – helping to restore relationships, correct mistakes made, and repair any damage done. In doing so, students will recognize the impact their behaviour has on others and be held responsible for their actions.
For safety reasons, skateboards are not to be used on school property, including the parking lots, ramps, and hallways.
Vaping, smoking, and tobacco products are not to be displayed or used in the school building or anywhere on the school grounds including the parking lots. It is illegal to smoke or vape within 20 metres of the school or town property. Violations may result in suspension and monetary fines imposed by the health unit.
Any technology used for communication purposes must be used appropriately. Threatening, harassing, or demeaning comments or pictures during school hours or outside of school will not be tolerated and will result in consequences.
Student cards are distributed once you have paid your student fee of $10. This fee goes to help pay for many of the activities that HHS offers (for example: dances, clubs, sports, the library, music programs, computer use, grad and prom).
Students with spares in your timetables can be in the library or the cafeteria or you may leave the building. Please do not sit in the hallways or the bathrooms.
Please look at the HHS website for information on the many student services offered at HHS. In the Student Services Office, the counsellors: Ms Taylor, Mr. Byl, and Ms Myers, are here to help students navigate their way through their high school years. Students are assigned by last name to a counsellor:
Ms Taylor – A to C
Mr. Byl – D to Mc
Ms Myers – Me to Z
Students and/or parents/guardians wishing to meet with a counsellor can make an appointment by visiting our website or drop by the Student Services office on the second floor by the gym. You can also call: 705-789-5594 x35021.
Please report any loss of property to the main office. Administration will try to recover lost or stolen property but will not be responsible for replacing it. Theft is a serious offence and will be met with appropriate consequences. Remember to always have a functioning lock on your locker!
At HHS, everyone should feel safe, welcome, and able to do their best. Students are expected to act in a respectful, safe, and kind manner towards fellow students, staff, and community members. Rules at school are made to meet these expectations. Any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with by your teacher and/or the school administration. Breaking of the rules results in progressive discipline procedures. This includes talking to your teacher, referral to vice-principal/principal, parent/guardian calls/meetings, detentions, in-school suspensions, suspensions from school and expulsions.
The Trillium Lakelands Board Policy on Code of Conduct clearly specifies potential consequences for certain behaviours.
Suspension
A principal may suspend a pupil for a fixed period of 1-20 days from his or her school, and from engaging in all school-related activities, if the pupil commits any of the following infractions:
Expulsion
The following behaviours may lead to suspension and possible expulsion of 21 days or greater:
Visitors to the school should check in at the office upon arrival.
Completing 40 hours of volunteer work is a graduation requirement. Remember that volunteer hours cannot be for a business. Submit your hours online.
You may also use a volunteer card, which can be picked up and dropped off in the main office. Your hours must be completed by the end of May in your graduating year—don’t leave it until the last minute!
This can be confusing until you get the hang of it as each week your classes will change order – they will tumble! You will notice that A and B are always together and C and D are always together.
Week 1—The order will be A, B, C, D
Week 2 – D, C, B, A
Week 3 – B, A, D, C (bad c)
Week 4 – C, D, A, B (c dab)
You can check the sign hanging outside the office doors as you enter the building!
At Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), we want to provide a safe and caring learning environment in each of our schools and buildings. There are many supports/resources available to our school communities to ensure all students can embrace learning as part of our commitment to high levels of student achievement. This handbook provides important information about the journey through the elementary and secondary school systems.
TLDSB is committed to supporting school environments where all individuals feel safe, accepted, and supported, and where students are provided with equitable access to healthy educational, physical, and social opportunities.
All members of our school community must:
TLDSB believes that a safe, caring, and inclusive, working and learning environment is essential for all members of the school community. We believe that an approach that respects the dignity and diversity of all peoples and groups, will help build and foster a school culture and climate that is safe, conducive to learning, and free from discrimination, physical and/or psychological abuse. This Code of Conduct procedure provides the guiding principles, standards of behaviour, mitigating factors, preventative measures, and consequences related to generating and maintaining a positive, safe, caring and inclusive environment.
Promoting positive student behaviour and the use of progressive discipline
The promotion of positive student behaviour is a primary goal of educators. It is the responsibility of all staff to build a supportive learning environment through appropriate interaction between all members of the school community. The emphasis on the development of positive student behaviour aligns with the learning outcome goals set out by the Ministry of Education, as well as Board initiatives for character development, restorative practices, and student success.
TLDSB is committed to working with parents/guardians, students, and staff to develop and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all students and to support students who require assistance with medical and/or mental health needs in order to attend school.
TLDSB commits to providing a safe environment for individuals with life-threatening allergies. While we recognize that it is not possible to guarantee a nut-free environment or reduce risk completely to zero, careful planning and communication can assist in creating an allergen-safe environment where students, staff and community members with allergies feel safe and supported.
We have had a number of queries in our schools about the use of imitation peanut/ nut spreads which are soy-based and have the consistency and visual appearance of peanut butter.
Please note the following regarding the use of these imitation peanut/nut spreads in schools:
TLDSB does NOT support the use of imitation peanut/nut spreads as an alternative to peanut butter or other nut-spreads in TLDSB schools;
In order to most effectively reduce the element of risk to students with allergies, and to continue to try to create an allergen-safe environment, we are asking that schools do not promote the use of imitation peanut/nut spreads and request that students who are bringing imitation spreads to school choose different lunch alternatives.
If your child has a medical condition or a prevalent medical condition (diabetes, anaphylaxis, asthma or epilepsy), we ask that you immediately contact the main office at your school to provide information about your child’s needs. With your collaboration, we will create an appropriate Plan of Care to support your child at school.
Should your child require medication stored and administered at the school during the school day, please contact the school principal to discuss next steps.
As a best practice and to support your child, please let the school know if your child is diagnosed with any type of medical condition or if their medical needs change throughout the school year so that the school is aware and can keep this information on file.
Please see TLDSB Policy OP 6602 Medical and Health Management in Schools Policy for further information about support in schools for student medical and health needs.
“Mental health is a desirable state of well-being or flourishing. Just like our physical health, our mental health changes – we all have times when we don’t feel mentally well.” – School Mental Health Ontario
When parents/caregivers have concerns about the mental health of their student, they can incorporate intervention strategies by working with their teacher or principal. If further intervention or linkages to community resources are needed, the principal and the parent/caregiver can discuss whether or not a referral to a mental health counsellor would be beneficial. At TLDSB, we work closely with School Mental Health Ontario and incorporate the Right Time, Right Care approach.
You can learn more about mental health in TLDSB by visiting the Mental Health and Well-Being page.
School attendance is critical to a student’s academic success. The best choice a student can make for their future is to show up to school every day. School absenteeism from a young age has significant negative consequences that can last a lifetime. Ontario elementary schools have 194 days of instruction. A student who misses 15 days of school is deemed persistently absent. School absenteeism rates in elementary years can predict secondary dropout rates.
Parents/guardians can improve school attendance rates by helping their children arrive at school on time every day, following school timetables, locating sources of school anxiety that may make their children want to miss school and planning ahead to minimize absences. If your child is having difficulty getting to school every day, please contact your school’s principal to work on a solution together. If further support is necessary, your school principal may involve a mental health counsellors.
Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is committed to protecting privacy and developing technology that provides a safe online experience for students and staff.
Policy BD-2120 Privacy, Information Management and Access to Information
TLDSB collects, uses, retains, and discloses personal information in the course of meeting its statutory duties and responsibilities. The Board recognizes and acknowledges its responsibility regarding access to records and information and the protection of privacy, and complies with all applicable regulations in the Education Act, and Regulations, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), The Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and any other applicable legislation.
Included in the MFIPPA are specific provisions of how personal information may be collected, used, retained, disclosed and disposed of. Personal information is to be used or disclosed only for the purpose for which it was collected, and for which the individual might reasonably expect it to be disclosed.
Under the MFIPPA, personal information may be used or disclosed by TLDSB:
Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) is committed to the success of each student and building strong relationships with parents and the community. School-to-home communication is key to the overall success of a child, ensuring that parents stay informed about activities, news, and events that enhance their child’s life.
Information about events taking place in our communities may be found on your school website, the Board website.
SchoolMessenger is a parent notification service that lets us communicate easily with you about the things that matter most. Things like school news, events, and important or urgent news from our Board you can receive through a phone call, email, text message, and/or app notifications – the choice is yours! To learn more or set your preferences, visit the Stay Informed page.
In TLDSB, we recognize every student is unique and each student must have opportunities to achieve personal success according to interests, abilities, and goals. Our priority is to provide the best possible learning opportunities and support for all students. We are committed to ensuring high-quality programs and services are in place for all students with special education needs.
For more information about the Special Education Program, visit the Special Education page to access the Board’s Special Education Plan and the TLDSB Parent/Guardian Guide to Special Education.
Progressive discipline is a whole-school approach that utilizes a continuum of prevention programs, interventions, supports, and consequences to address inappropriate student behaviour and to build upon strategies that promote and foster positive behaviours. When inappropriate behaviour occurs, disciplinary measures should be applied within a framework that shifts the focus from one that is solely punitive to one that is both corrective and supportive.
Consequences will focus on helping students to develop appropriate social skills, self-discipline, and learn to accept responsibility for personal actions. School staff will provide a fair process in establishing the credibility of information. The age and grade level, the previous record of conduct, and where the student is in a progressive discipline process will be considered when assessing appropriate disciplinary consequences. The range of consequences may include but is not limited to:
TLDSB is committed to building safe and caring school communities through the use of restorative practices. Restorative practice seeks to foster healthy behaviours and strengthen relationships. This is best achieved when teachers, students, and parents/guardians learn to engage with one another in restorative ways. Restorative practice has two main goals:
1. To strengthen and build relationships
This can be achieved through regular classroom circles that teach students to share feelings and opinions and empower students to self-advocate and ensure their voice is heard.
2. Manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm as a way of building community
Restorative practice puts a premium on fair process through the use of the restorative questions to resolve conflicts:
Restorative questions that help to guide discussion include:
What is bullying?
Bullying is a relationship problem in which a person or group repeatedly uses power to cause fear, distress, or harm to another. Bullying can be verbal, physical or electronic. Sometimes it focuses on racial, ethnic or religious differences, sexual issues or disabilities.
TLDSB is committed to the development of positive school climates in all schools to ensure environments where students and staff can feel happy, comfortable, welcome, and safe. Schools work to build capacity on an ongoing basis to help students deal with difficult situations.
One of the strategies to assist students in learning how to deal with difficult situations includes helping students to understand the difference between bullying, teasing, and aggression.
Teasing:
Aggression:
Bullying:
Whenever a student feels they are in any type of difficult situation, they should tell an adult in their school, their parent/guardian, a friend, or report the incident using the online reporting tool. It is important for the student to tell someone so that school personnel can take steps to assist all individuals involved to repair the harm and restore the relationship.
All schools have a formal Bullying Prevention, Intervention, and Response Plan in place. The school’s response to bullying will typically involve the TLDSB five-step framework for responding to reporting of bullying behaviour: reporting, investigation, communication, intervention, and monitoring.
Principals may consider suspension for the following:
Suspensions pending expulsion
Suspension pending expulsion must be considered in the following cases:
Suspension/expulsion process, appeals, hearings
Further detail about suspensions, the suspension pending expulsion process, expulsion hearings, and about appeals to suspension or expulsion decisions can be found in TLDSB Code of Conduct Procedure.
Mitigating factors
Mitigating factors will be considered in reaching a decision regarding consequences for student behaviours. Mitigating factors include:
You may be concerned about the impact the legalization of recreational cannabis may have on our schools. The following information and resources will help you to understand how TLDSB is addressing the recreational cannabis legislation.
Recreational cannabis is not to be used, possessed, bought, or cultivated by individuals under 19.
All existing rules about recreational cannabis use by students remain in effect:
Recreational cannabis is not to be used by members of the public on or near school property
The Ontario government prohibits recreational cannabis consumption at schools and places where students gather.
Resources for parents/guardians:
Ministry of Education – information and helpful links related to the legalization of recreational cannabis
Government of Ontario – information and rules around legalization of cannabis
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – information on the health impacts of cannabis use
Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit – information about cannabis
Trillium Lakelands District School Board respects the parent/guardian role in their child’s learning and understands families may choose to approach or teach topics related to Human Development and Sexual Health in a manner or at an age that differs from what is outlined in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. Parents/guardians are therefore provided with the choice to exempt their child from participation in all instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations for their grade.
Families will receive notice from their child’s school at least 20 days in advance of the instruction start date advising when the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations will be taught in their child’s class and next steps should a parent/guardian wish to exempt their child. Please note this exemption option applies only to the entire Human Development and Sexual Health expectations of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Grades 1-8, Strand D: Healthy Living-Human Development and Sexual Health and not for instruction related to a group of expectations, a single expectation or a specific topic. The key topics for each grade related to Human Development and Sexual Health include:
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TLDSB is committed to providing a safe environment for all members of our school community and the possibility of a major threatening incident in our school must be considered. The level of preparedness to deal with such an incident by the school staff, students, police, and parents/guardians will have a major impact on the outcome of the incident. Our goal is to ensure the safety of all of our community members in a coordinated, effective, and expedient way.
What is a lockdown?
A lockdown will be initiated when a major threatening incident or threat of school violence within the school, or in relation to the school has occurred. During a lockdown, all classrooms will be locked so that staff and students are safe in their location.
What is a hold and secure?
A hold and secure is initiated when it is desirable to secure the school due to an ongoing situation outside and not necessarily related to the school (example, a bank robbery occurs near a school but not on school property). During a hold and secure, the school continues to function normally, with the exterior doors being locked until such time as the administrator/manager of the site becomes aware that the situation has been resolved.
What is a shelter in place?
A shelter in place is initiated when an environmental or weather-related situation occurs and has required all occupants within the school to shelter in place in the building to protect them from an external situation (example: chemical spill or explosion in the community, tornado, flood, blackouts, hurricane, ice storm, etc.). During a shelter in place, staff and students remain in the school and classes proceed as normal.
How does my child’s school handle emergency situations?
TLDSB procedures require that every school has an Emergency Response Plan. Each school has a set of unique circumstances which necessitates specific items to be included. A copy of each school’s Emergency Response Plan is located in the school office and accessible by Board staff at the central office.
How does my child know what to do in an emergency situation?
Much the same way that schools practice fire drills, lockdown drills are also practiced in an age appropriate manner. As part of the TLDSB Emergency Response Plan–Lockdown Procedure, lockdown drills are required to be held a minimum of three times per school year.
How do I get information in emergency situations?
During a lockdown, hold and secure, or shelter in place situation, students are discouraged from using electronic devices, such as cellular phones, as their use may impede the ability of the police and school staff to respond to the situation at hand. It may also result in the dissemination of inaccurate information. In the event of an emergency at a TLDSB school, the Board will inform parents/guardians by using a number of communication formats including, but not limited to:
Am I allowed to pick up my child if there is an emergency situation in or around the school?
In the case of an emergency, the school’s intent is to ensure students remain in a safe location until there is no longer a threat to their safety. Although some parents/guardians may wish to pick up their child during an emergency, allowing anyone to enter or exit the building during an emergency situation could expose the students, staff, and visitors inside the school to further danger. The school board and emergency services personnel will determine when it is safe to pick up students, and parents/guardians will be informed of this information.
What is the plan to reunite parents/guardians and children?
In the case that the students are still in our building following the conclusion of an emergency response, students will be reunited with parents/guardians in alignment with a Reunification Plan. If public safety officials require a school to be evacuated as part of an emergency situation, students, staff, and visitors will be safely directed to the designated evacuation site. Parents/guardians will be informed of the evacuation/reunification location(s) using a number of communication formats, including, but not limited to:
Who (else) can pick up my child(ren)?
Child(ren) will only be released to individuals who are authorized to pick the student up which is listed in the student’s emergency contact information. Parents/guardians are asked to ensure that all contact information, including emergency contact information, on file at the school is accurate and up to date at all times.
What if my child is on a field trip at the time of an emergency situation?
School administration will communicate with any staff supervising classes that may be off-site at the time of an emergency situation. Staff and students will not return to the school until it has been determined by administration and emergency services personnel as safe to do so.
What about my child’s medication?
In the event of an emergency situation, staff and students have an obligation to follow emergency procedures. Schools will plan for continuity of care in emergency situations and emergency services personnel will be notified of any individuals with specific medical needs as outlined under a Plan of Care or on an Authorization for Storage and Administration of Medication form. Student medical or health needs will be responded to as soon as it is safe to do so.
Reunification Plan
Reunification is an organized process that ensures students are safely reunited with parents/ guardians following an event.
An emergency incident that may require a reunification process may include:
In a Reunification Plan, the objective is that:
Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) recognizes all members of the school community have the right to be safe and feel safe in the school community.
Under certain conditions, students may undergo a “Threat Risk Assessment.” This assessment determines the level of risk to others and themselves.
*All Trillium Lakelands District School Board policies and procedures align with the Safe Schools Act.
*The model presented in this document reflects the work of Kevin Cameron, Director for the Canadian Centre for Threat and Risk Assessment.
Immediate risk situations: These situations included armed (e.g. gun, knife, explosives or other device/weapon capable of causing serious injury or death) intruders inside the building or on the periphery, who may pose a significant risk. When immediate risk is identified, a lockdown plan will be activated immediately, followed by a call to 911. In these cases, a threat is unfolding, and the matter is one of immediate police intervention and protective site-specific response, TLDSB will refer to the Police-Board Protocol.
A student threat risk assessment may be initiated when behaviours include, but are not limited to:
To keep our school communities safe, all stakeholders must report all threat related behaviours. In Trillium Lakelands District School Board, we have an expectation staff will report any acts of violence or threats they are privy to, to their school administrator.
Each school has a multi-disciplinary team. The team consists of an administrator, a police officer, a school support person (psychologist, mental heath counsellor, guidance counsellor) and additional people that may include community resources.
Users of technology, content, and technology services will follow the Appropriate Use of Digital Technology and Technology Services procedure.
Users will access school board technology and technology services for educational purposes by:
Whenever a student feels they are in any type of difficult situation online (e.g. cyberbullying), they should tell an adult in their school, their parent/guardian, a friend, or report the incident using the online reporting tool. It is important for the student to tell someone so school personnel can take steps to assist all individuals involved to repair the harm and restore the relationship.
No user may disrupt other users or compromise the functionality of the school board network by:
TLDSB technology including, but not limited to, desktops, laptops, chromebooks and iPads, may only be used by those with a TLDSB account. To maintain security and safety, personal accounts may not be used. Content filters are in place to protect students from unacceptable material, and security filters are running in the background of applications to ensure protection from known internet threats.
Student guidelines for the use of 1:1 devices (where issued):
While TLDSB endeavours to maintain the efficient operation of the district digital network and resources, outages, and equipment, failures may occur.
Cooperation and consideration are the keys that make travel on the school bus safe and comfortable. The following conduct is required:
The school bus is considered to be an extension of the classroom and students are responsible to their school principal for conduct on the bus. The first time any rules are broken, the bus driver warns the student and contacts the principal. For a second infraction, the principal is notified, discipline is undertaken, and the student’s parents will be notified. For a third infraction, the principal will be notified, the student’s bus riding service may be suspended and the student’s parents will be notified. Parents/guardians are fully responsible for getting students safely to and from bus pick-up and drop-off locations.
In case of unsafe road conditions, cancellations are reported on the Board website, or www.mybustoschool.ca, social media, and repeated on local radio stations. The decision to cancel buses is made in conjunction with bus operators as soon as road conditions are known in the morning. Decisions are made for each area of the school board independently, as weather conditions vary. If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not run in the afternoon. Therefore, if you drive your child to school on a bus cancellation day, you must also pick up your child. You may view transportation arrangements and subscribe to receive email notifications for delays more than 15 minutes and cancellations due to inclement weather by using the parent login on www.mybustoschool.ca.
Video surveillance systems are sometimes placed on buses and are used to complement other means to promote and foster a safe and secure environment. These systems are used to provide for the safety of students and protect property against vandalism and theft.
A video surveillance system may be a video, physical or other mechanical, electronic, wireless or digital surveillance system or device that enables continuous or periodic video recording or monitoring on school buses transporting TLDSB students.
Education is a shared experience involving the home and the school and it can be strengthened by open communications between the two. Follow these steps if you have a concern about your child’s education:
First: Contact the classroom teacher and discuss the situation.
Then – if the situation has not been resolved:
Contact the principal or vice-principal and request help in dealing with the matter.
Then – if necessary:
Contact the superintendent of your child’s school. Call 1-888-526-5552 and ask for the name of the superintendent for your child’s school.
Then – if necessary:
Contact the director of education through the school board office at 1-888-526-5552.
Then – if necessary, and if the situation has not been resolved:
Contact your local trustee. Contact numbers can be found on our website.
Concerns pertaining to things other than your child’s education may be directed to [email protected] or 1-888-526-5552.
If you require this information in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].
School calendar
Report form
School registration
Services
Transportation info.
| School Schedule | |
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Period 1 |
8:50 - 10:05 a.m. |
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Period 2 |
10:15 - 11:30 a.m. |
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Lunch |
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
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Period 3 |
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. |
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Period 4 |
1:55 - 3:10 p.m. |
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Period 2 |
Period 3 |
Period 4 |
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1 |
Block A |
Block B |
Block C |
Block D |
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2 |
Block D |
Block C |
Block B |
Block A |
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3 |
Block B |
Block A |
Block D |
Block C |
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4 |
Block C |
Block D |
Block A |
Block B |
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