Banbury Crossroads
Independent School

Operation

This section is to delineate specifics regarding the school day, and its daily operation procedures. These may change from time to time on some items; however, the following descriptions are general policy.

Procedures:

1. School Hours:
   The following staggered times were implemented to allow for ease of short term parking and use of the lunch room.

   Grade	Start	Break/ Recess	Lunch	End	Friday
   Pre.K-Gr.6	9:00am	10:40 - 10.55am	12:00 - 12:55pm	3:30pm	2:30pm
   Gr.7-12	9:00am	10:30 - 10:40am	12:00 - 12:52pm (except Fridays)	3:35pm	*1:45

   Students should not arrive more than 15 minutes early to school, or leave more than 15 minutes after dismissal, unless they are participating in school-sponsored activities.
   Parents of young children who are unable to drop-off and pick-up at school designated times can access babysitting services before and afterschool. A number of our older students are happy to provide this service.
   The only reason acceptable for older students to arrive early or stay late at school would be if transportation issues necessitated it. In these cases, the older students are expected to quietly and tidily occupy themselves. It is recommended that this time be used for homework.
   Appropriate behavior that respects the persons, school and community property, and belongings of others at the school is necessary at these times. Any behavior that compromises these expectations within our school environment will be dealt with on an individual basis.

2. Attendance:
   Students are expected to be in attendance at school during school hours, and at appropriate school functions. They are not to leave the school before the recognized time and dates without permission. Classes begin promptly and attendance is taken at the beginning of classes in the morning and again after lunch every day.
   Junior and High School students must sign in at the office by writing in the time in the attendance book and initialing it. Teachers will notify the office is a student is not present. Students not signed in by 9:30 will receive a phone call home.
   All pre-school children need to be signed in and out each day with their teachers.
   If a student is going to be away for the day, he/she or a member of the family should telephone the school at 403-270-7787 to inform the staff, between 8:00 and 9:00 am at the latest on that day. If we have not been notified and the student is absent at attendance time, we will phone the parents or guardian. The school requests as much advance notice as possible for absences other than illness. Some high school students may find it beneficial to work at home from time to time for reasons such as studying for exams, writing term papers, or needing temporary solitude. These arrangements would require sufficient communication between teachers, students and parents.

3. Parking:
   Parents may use the loading zone immediately beside the doors to the building as a drop-off and pick-up area only. Maximum time is 15 minutes; therefore, if you are entering the school and plan to engage in discussion, please use the parking lot kiddy-corner to the school. Building management has a right to ticket any cars left in the loading zone for longer than the specified time.
   Students, who drive, can park in the free parking lot kiddy corner to the school, but, in accordance with building management, must obtain a pass from the front office and hang it on their rear view mirror.

4. Breaks:
   Elementary children have scheduled breaks during the day (see above chart) and are expected to go outside to obtain some fresh air and exercise. This time is considered a very important part of the school day. There are countless studies done on the benefits of outside play and exercise on academic success and emotional well-being. Teachers may on occasion keep students in at recess times to provide remedial one-to-one assistance, or to participate in extracurricular activities and special events. Teachers may also take students out for unscheduled breaks or outside activities at their discretion. Any students who request to stay indoors during these times are dealt with on an individual basis and are subject to available supervision. Any child who is not healthy enough to partake in the entire school day should probably be at home recuperating.

   Secondary students take a 10 minute break in the morning when suitable. They are not to leave the school at that time. At noon, students may leave the school to obtain lunch or get some exercise and fresh air. There are no breaks in the afternoon.

   Any junior high student who wishes to leave the school during the lunch hour must obtain a letter of permission from their parents and provide it to the front office. Both Junior and Senior High students need to inform a teacher on the secondary side, as well as the front office prior to exiting. Students must use the front door when leaving on a break during school hours. The backdoors are off limits. This is for safety and insurance purposes. Elementary children do not leave the school without adult supervision.

5. Lunches:
   There is no cafeteria at Banbury Crossroads School; however, there is a kitchen, which contains several microwaves, a refrigerator and oven, all of which can be used in the preparation and storage of bagged lunches. All students are to bring their own lunches from home each day. If food needs to be heated, appropriate microwavable dishes and cutlery should be included. We encourage parents and students to pack healthy, nutritional lunches and snacks. Overuse of carbonated beverages or junk food is discouraged.
   Lunches and snacks are to be eaten in the lunch room, or areas with tile flooring, not carpet, such as the kitchen or hallways. Elementary children have only a few minutes in the morning to eat a quick snack, so we suggest sending items such as fruit, veggies, cheese and crackers, or granola bars.There is no cafeteria at Banbury Crossroads School; however, there is a kitchen, which contains several microwaves, a refrigerator and oven, all of which can be used in the preparation and storage of bagged lunches. All students are to bring their own lunches from home each day. If food needs to be heated, appropriate microwavable dishes and cutlery should be included. We encourage parents and students to pack healthy, nutritional lunches and snacks. Overuse of carbonated beverages or junk food is discouraged.
   Lunches and snacks are to be eaten in the lunch room, or areas with tile flooring, not carpet, such as the kitchen or hallways. Elementary children have only a few minutes in the morning to eat a quick snack, so we suggest sending items such as fruit, veggies, cheese and crackers, or granola bars.
   We expect everyone to clean up the area they eat in and wash any dishes or utensils they may borrow from the kitchen.

6. Out-of-School Care
   Currently, the School does not run an official Before and After School Program for elementary children. However, for any parents who, on occasion or even regularly, need care out of school hours, we can accommodate a babysitting service. Parents can have a babysitter of their choice come to the school or they can utilize one of our high school students who are willing to do so. Arrangements are made between the parents and the babysitter as to times and payment. The School will ensure the building is available and deal with opening and locking of doors. Participants of these services will limit their activities to the lunch room and multipurpose areas. Use of classrooms will be under the direct permission of the teachers who reside in them. All areas used are to be tidied and left in the manner they were found.

7. Clothing:
   We wish to encourage individual expression and development at our school. Therefore, there is no uniform for students at Banbury. Children can easily choose their own clothing, and doing so is a particularly suitable means of satisfying our quest of providing meaningful choices for children. Clothing should simply be neat, clean and appropriate for a multi-aged learning environment. Suitable sportswear, particularly shoes appropriate to the activity, shall be worn in all Physical Education classes.
   Recess, physical education activities, and field trips can occur outside all year round, so appropriate clothing such as hats, mitts, snow pants, sweatpants/sweatshirts, sunscreen, etc. may be required from time to time. Items can be stored in individual lockers or in classroom closets where available.

8. Care of Personal Property:
   Respect must be shown for the other people in this building, in order to ensure a peaceful environment for the businesses and professional practices in B1. As well, we all have a responsibility to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning within the school. Thus, we must observe a reasonable quietness within the public lobbies, hallways, classrooms and library. Care of persons is maintained through respectful communication and negotiation of differences. We believe that all people have a right and a responsibility to problem solve when disagreements occur, and to seek assistance from a teacher if necessary. See our Conflict Resolution Policy Section 10 in the policy manual for a detailed description of procedures.
   It is expected that students will only touch property belonging to the school or to others if they have requested and received permission to do so first. Lockers and study desks are for the primary use of the occupiers, and their privacy must be respected. Accidents do happen, but if they do, the person causing the damage should make amends by replacing the broken or lost item. If the perpetrator of the lost or damaged cannot be ascertained, the school declines responsibility for replacing the lost or damaged item.
   Audio-visual equipment may only be used under teacher direction or supervision, or under the supervision of the person who owns the equipment. Students must take responsibility for their own tidiness within the facilities, by placing rubbish in available garbage cans and recyclable containers in bins (after emptying them out), as well as by generally cleaning up after themselves. Food is not to be eaten in carpeted areas of the school.
   Any dishes used from our kitchen need to be washed by each user. Lockers should be cleaned regularly to prevent molding food or other health hazards. On days of inclement weather, all visitors, parents, teachers and students must leave wet or dirty footwear at the door. It is a good idea for all teachers and students to have a pair of inside shoes, which should remain at the school, and weather appropriate outdoor footwear. Slippers are fine for indoors and should have some kind of grip on them for safety reasons.

9. Libraries:
   The libraries within the school and classrooms are places for quiet reading, study and research. Library materials, magazines and reference books are not to be removed from the school. Classroom teachers who want to lend library materials to students for work at home may arrange such loans, providing the materials are returned. Our selection of books is continually increasing, with both purchases and donations.
   Public libraries are used as another source of reading material for our students. These libraries provide a variety of resources that would not otherwise be available within our small school. Besides the advantage of a revolving selection, public libraries offer us the opportunity for instruction in effective library use for pleasure and research. All students must provide their own library cards, so they may take books out on their own responsibility. If parents of young children wish, they may give their child’s library card to a staff member, who can then supervise the taking out of books from the public library each time.

10. Computer Use:
    Our school has designed its computer network so that each classroom has a number of computers for teacher/student use within it. Our Computer Tech sets up and maintains this system. In accordance with our policy, all users must agree to the following care instructions:
    
    • To handle all equipment with the same care accorded to personal equipment.
    • To replace any components that break due to negligence or willful damage.
    • To use only installed software on all units.
    • To not tamper with other user’s files.
    • To not rearrange computer peripherals.
    • To not tamper with software or hardware settings.
    • To not use the computers for recreational use during school instructional hours.
    • To refrain from assessing Internet sites where content may be considered morally questionable.
    
    For more details on technology use, see our Technology Policy in the policy manual. Personal laptops may be brought to school for appropriate student use. The same expectations that we hold for school computers is in effect. The school will not be responsible for lost or damaged equipment.

11. Substance Use:
    As per law, the building the School is housed in is deemed smoke free. Students and staff are also not allow smoking near school premises or on any School sponsored event or activity. The use of alcohol or street drugs is not permitted on or near school premises nor is attending classes under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
    Any students that are suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be confronted and if deemed accurately so, or if repeated incidents occur, parents will be informed. Suspension or expulsion, according to Student Suspension and Expulsion Policy; Section 11 of the policy manual, will result if the safety of our staff and other students is in jeopardy by the persistent drug use of certain students, if there is perceived danger of role-modeling and influence to participate, and/or if remedial measures are unsuccessful.

12. Communication with Parents:
    Parents should obtain information regarding special events, classroom calendars, test dates, excursions, supplies and equipment needs, and current issues by the following means:
    • Monthly newsletters
    • Notices and consent forms sent home with student or mailed
    • School’s web-site: www.banburycrossroads.com
    • Telephone calls
    • Notice Boards within the School
    • Yearly calendar
    • Personal conversations
    
    Parents need to keep themselves abreast of the variety of activities that are constantly occurring here. We make every attempt to inform parents effectively about what’s happening on the school level. Nevertheless, message sent is not always message received. Parents need to complete the communication process on their end.

13. Privacy:
    Care will be taken to ensure the privacy of the personal information of students, parents and teachers at Banbury, as per government legislation.

14. Academic Concerns:
    a) Our Methods
    Projects, Modules, Units, Textbooks:
    In order to cover curriculum requirements, students use textbooks, audio/visual media, workbooks, computers, modules, magazines and other printed matter on an individually-appropriate basis. Therefore, academic subjects are both integrated in the student’s projects and enrichment activities, following a Constructivist and Inquiry-based model of learning. Choices are built into coursework. In addition, some leeway is possible to create and adjust assignments according to student interest and need. Decision making is a dual affair between teachers and students, and in some cases, parental communication is sought.
    
    
15. Lectures:
    Discussions are common practice within each classroom. In addition, teachers also plan the delivery of oral lectures on selected topics, subject by subject, grade by grade, and person by person. These teaching moments may come in the format of mini-lectures, demonstrations, seminars, debates and discussions. Informal, spontaneous talks may occur upon request by student or by teachers.
    
    
16. Choice Time:
    Each day, all students in our school have time and opportunities to choose the work they engage in. On the elementary side, within each classroom, students have certain times of the day when they make choices. They choose which subjects to work on, where in the room they will pursue this work, with what materials, with whom they will collaborate, and for how long. This decision making process is facilitated and guided by the teachers, who are observing the student’s progress and understanding their particular needs and abilities and motivations. The duality of decision making between teacher and learner ensure an effective match between student needs and curricular requirements.
    On the secondary side, students construct their own timetable based on their own preferences for when, where, and how long they work on a subject. These times are limited by minimum hours devoted to particular subjects, part-time teacher’s schedules or set courses (such as physical education) but are generally up to them. Each student will consult with their mentor teacher when setting up or when changing their schedule. Flexibility is built in to allow students to alter their timetables when more time is needed in a specific subject, when a field trip occurs, or when studying for a test. The difference with this age category is that, rather than remaining within one classroom, students move from classroom to classroom at their own discretion, or by prior arrangement with individual teachers. All subjects are covered at the student’s individual rate. (See Section b: Time Requirements for Course Completion.) The guidance we give them is to remind them about the time constraints for finishing coursework within the time each student has set for their goal of completion. If students wish to study in a different place from their scheduled class, they may do so, as long as they respect the rights of other students to get their work done, and as long as they communicate their decision to their teacher.
    
    
17. Individualized, Tutorial Instruction:
    Instruction is often given on a one-to-one basis. Any student and teacher may initiate spontaneous teaching of particular concepts and skills, according to the unique needs of the student and specific courses. It is important for students to learn to ask for instruction and for assistance with their time management. They need to speak regularly with their teachers, to receive instruction, to plan progress and to keep the lines of communication open. Regular mentoring sessions for secondary students will be conducted between all students and a staff member chosen by each student, in order to ensure that students receive the assistance they need to progress both academically and socially.
    
    
18. Cooperative Learning:
    Because our approach emphasizes the growth of each individual to achieve their potential and chosen goals, we recognize the need to create and foster opportunities for our students to gather in groups for the purpose of collaborating with their peers on learning activities. Students themselves often form such cooperative groups and partnerships in natural ways. Great endeavours in our society always require the need for individuals to be able to gather non-competitively and work together as a team. Ensuring such collaboration during the school years prepares our students for such challenges. These cooperative learning opportunities occur through writing plays and stories, conducting experiments, preparing projects and art exhibits, solving class issues, forming study-buddies, having multi-aged buddy reading/learning, experiencing field trips, participating in student councils, and planning and hosting special events such as Graduation, Ethnic Weeks, Nutritional Month, Christmas concerts, Spring presentations, etc. In addition, our new initiative for personal explorations and educational internships takes students into the broader community where they can participate in and contribute to adult work and service ventures.

    b) Time Requirements for Course Completion:
    Academic work is achieved by all students at a pace appropriate for them. Therefore, the curriculum is covered as quickly or as slowly as each individual student requires. The goal is to ensure that progress is competency-based, and that the various aspects of a course of study are mastered to an appropriately satisfactory level before the student is encouraged to advance to a more difficult level. It is important to recognize that the amount of time taken by individual students to complete courses will vary according to the motivation, abilities, attitude, effort, work habits, English competency, prior knowledge and needs of these students. Most courses are designed to be completed within a year. However, courses may be completed in less time if the students are able to demonstrate competency within a shorter time frame. On the other hand, students struggling with the skills and knowledge required by certain courses, particularly if they enter the School with knowledge gaps, may find that it takes them longer than a year to adequately cover these course requirements. The teacher plays a key role by knowing students thoroughly, by assisting in the development of their organizational and study skills, and by guiding their growth as complex and unique individuals.

    c) Dropping Courses:
    Secondary students who wish to add, change or delete a complementary course mid-year must obtain approval from their parents and with the recognition of the school administration. The basic, core subjects, English, Math, Sciences, Health/C.A.L.M., Social Studies and Physical Education (Grade 7 through 10), cannot be dropped in this manner, as progress is continuous until complete.

    d) Books and Stationery Supplies:
    Elementary students pay a book fee that covers the cost of some classroom materials, photocopying and consumable workbooks. Junior and Senior High School students must pay $300.00 deposit in anticipation of their ordering the inevitable books. These books are owned by the students, and they will have a choice at the end of the term of selling them to other students or the school (if we need them), or else keeping them. The school does not provide stationery supplies to students. Every student receives a list at the beginning of the year, detailing materials needed for the entire year. Almost everything on this list has a significant and specific purpose. It is helpful if all pieces of a student’s belongings are labeled with a permanent marker. Failure to obtain all of the supplies listed will result in students most likely running out of supplies, and needing to replenish these throughout the year. All students have a locker or classroom closet and storage space to maintain their supplies. Extra supplies can be kept in a storage bin brought from home for access through-out the year. For those using a locker, we recommend using a combination lock as there have been many lost keys over the years. Any lock left on the lockers after the final day of school in June will be removed with bolt cutters.

    e) Homework
    We do not enforce assigned homework. We encourage children to have extra curricular endeavors and expand their educational experiences outside of school. Homework is a decision that is made between the student, their parents and/or teacher and based on need. Students generally just continue to work through the course material at their own pace; therefore, there is always something that can be taken home. See the Homework Policy in the policy manual for more information on this philosophy.

    f) Field Trips
    Field trips are an important element of the School’s program. They allow for direct learning (as opposed to a picture in a book), they appeal to multiple learning modalities and learning strengths, and they often cover numerous curricular outcomes from multiple subjects Student’s conduct when off campus should reflect a concern for safety, consideration for docents, and respect for the reputation of the school. Staff and supervisor-given instructions must be followed.
    For safety, liability and insurance reasons, pupils must be under the direct supervision of a teacher or other named supervisor. If a secondary student wishes to go home directly after an event that ends at 3:00 or thereafter, prior approval by parents must be communicated to the front office.
    For further details, see the Off-Campus Excursions Policy, Section 13 of the policy manual.

    g)Off-Campus Education
    For a detailed outline see sections 12 & 13 Off-Campus Excursions and Off-Campus Education Policies of the policy manual. All students at Banbury will have off-campus education opportunities. In the elementary grades, these endeavors will likely be done as a group or a whole class (although individual student projects are encouraged as well). These projects would address student interests, would have a direct connection with an organization in the community and would have the idea of helping, of giving back/paying forward or of solving a problem at the forefront of its creation.
    Examples might be:

    • class volunteerism
    • fundraising or raising items for a charity
    • working with an organization on a specific project/campaign
    • developing new ideas for an organization
    • appealing to organizations for help or for change, etc.
    
    In the secondary grades these endeavors are generally based on an individual’s interest and are carried out by that individual. At this level they are considered an internship and involve a major time commitment (minimum 75 hours for high school credit) working with a community mentor to obtain valuable real world skills. While in the internship, students are to design and carry out a project that benefits the organization that they are working for. The internships are only limited by the imagination of the individual and of the local resources. Examples of internship projects might be: assisting in an office and helping to design a new waiting room volunteer at the SPCA and making a photograph album of successful adoptions assisting mechanics in a garage and implementing new computer software.
    All projects should contain the following elements:
    • some research/investigation
    • some application with curriculum outcomes
    • on-going documentation of learning
    • a cumulative exhibition of learning

19. Safety Policy:
    Provisions are followed for safety and liability as outlined in our Off-Campus Excursions Policy, Section 13 of the policy manual. An Annual Authorization for Field Trips Form for low risk activities must be signed by a parent at the beginning of each year. An Advised Consent Form for moderate to high risk activities must be signed by parents prior to any excursions and the Internship Agreement must be signed by parents, supervising teachers and community mentors before internships can take place.
    The school has purchased a blanket Accident Insurance Policy, which covers all students and staff for physical injuries incurred through accidents that occur during school activities. Parents may contact the Office for more information, if necessary. Helmets are to be worn by all students and teachers for the following activities: all types of skating, skiing and bicycling, riding scooters, skateboarding, tobogganing, and any other activities deemed applicable.

20. Transportation:
    Students are transported to and from their excursions by the school van, driven by a volunteer teacher or parent drivers or by city transit. For volunteer drivers it is recommended that you check with your insurance companies to ensure you are covered for such use. All volunteer drivers must have no more passengers in their car than seat belts, must follow restrictions on front seat use with air bags as outlined in their vehicles manual and must not operate cell phones while driving with students in the vehicle. All children less than 40 pounds must be secured in a properly fastened, 5 point harness car seat. All children 40-80 pounds should ride on a booster seat unless parents give permission for them not to.
    Any high school students who have an Alberta Operator’s License may drive themselves on field trips, but they may not carry other students unless specific parental permission is provided by both sets of parents. We recommend this policy for any excursions during school hours, even at lunch hour, to prevent liability and safety problems for the student driver and the passengers. Many accidents involving young drivers occur while their cars are occupied by friends.

21. Extra-Curricular Activities:
    Through the course of the year, a variety of extra-curricular activities and clubs may be offered to students in all grades. Examples are: ski trips, camping trips, out-of-province travel, chess club, arts and crafts clubs, student council, music lessons and clubs, cooking classes, sports, games, or outdoor education. These programs will run outside of school hours, or through the lunch hours. Fees may be applied for materials and off-campus costs.