Absence Reporting

To report a student absence, lates, leave early, parents or guardians are asked to phone the attendance line at 403-777-7980, option 1. Please do not call directly to the main office. Please provide the following information on your message:

• Student Name
• Homeroom
• Date of Absence
• Time of Absence (all day, return at lunch, etc).

Please email your child's classroom directly if you have concerns about missing class or homework. If you have concerns and need to speak with an administrator, please contact the main office to set up an appointment.

If a student is going to be away from school for an extended period (greater than 10 regular school days), prior to the absence, an Extended Leave of Absence Form needs to be completed with the main office.

Please remember that regular and punctual attendance is essential for student success in school.

Bell Times, School Entry, and School Calendar

For your reference, the Bell Schedule and Mount Royal School Year Calendar have been attached in this messenger. We look forward to welcoming students starting at 8:15 a.m. Please note that doors will remain locked until that time to ensure proper student supervision, so we kindly ask families to keep this in mind when planning drop-off times.

Bikes/Scooters/Skateboards

We encourage students to use active transportation options such as bikes, scooters, and skateboards as a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get to school. Please note that the school cannot take responsibility for lost or stolen items, so we encourage students to secure their equipment properly. Bikes and scooters should be locked in the racks provided, and skateboards should be stored in lockers. At this time, we are unable to store bikes or scooters inside the school. For safety, students are asked to walk their bikes, scooters, and skateboards while on school property.

Cell Phones

Our school follows an “Away for the Day” policy, which means students are expected not to use their cell phones while on school property. If students bring a cell phone to school, it must be locked in their locker for the entire day. Phones are also not permitted at afterschool events, such as sporting activities or celebrations. If your student is leaving school grounds during lunch, and after school, they are permitted to use their phones once off of school property.

If a parent needs to reach their child during school hours, please contact the main office. Similarly, if a student needs to reach their parent, they can use one of our school phones.

For students who wish to listen to music during appropriate times in the school day, they must use a device that does not access Wi-Fi, such as an iPod or MP3 player.

This policy aligns with Alberta Education and CBE guidelines and is designed to benefit our students. We aim to ensure that students are “present” and fully engaged in their learning and interactions with those around them.

We encourage parents to read the following article, which shares the benefits of keeping electronics out of the bedroom to support healthy sleep habits—helping students feel rested and ready to learn. You may want to consider this information when determining what works best for your family and your child: Phones in Kids' Bedrooms? No!

Classroom Supplies

For the first day, students will need:

• Pencils
• Pens
• Paper with a binder OR coiled book with a binder
• Backpack with a water bottle

Teachers will let students know what is needed beyond these basic supplies.

Communication from School

Teachers will send a bi-weekly email to families to share what students are working on throughout the year. In addition, a monthly Principal’s Message will be sent to provide updates on important events and highlight school activities.

If you have specific questions, please contact your child’s teacher directly or reach out to the administration (Email addresses are listed on our website).

Computer and Technology Services

Students should review the Computer and Technology Services section on our school website. https://mountroyal.cbe.ab.ca/digital-citizenship

Forms

There are a number of forms that are to be completed every school year. Please visit your MyCBE account to submit them in the first week of September.

Student Demographic Verification Form - Online on Parent/Guardian MyCBE Account

Student Records Regulation requires an annually reviewed and signed Demographic Verification (Even if there are no changes)

Media Release and Use of Student Information Form - Online on Parent/Guardian MyCBE Account

• School District Use of Personal Information: this document outlines how personal information may be used within CBE without consent. This notice is included in the student registration form and is also sent home annually.
• Consent for CBE Use of Student Information: this document outlines instances when we would like to share student information publicly in our day-to-day work. This sharing requires parental consent annually.
• Consent for Use of Student Information

Student Health Plan- Online

If required, student’s can obtain a copy at the main office. A Student Health Plan is required for all students with medical conditions that may impact their access to meaningful education services.

Homerooms/ Option Classes

Students will be provided their timetable on the first day of school with this information. If your child is away on this day, they can come to the main office upon return to receive the timetable.

Lates

In the past, we have had concerns with students consistently arriving late to class, either in the morning or after lunch. While we will continue to consider individual circumstances, we are implementing a policy to help students take responsibility for their choices—such as leaving school property and returning late from lunch.

This policy may include:

• Restricting off-campus lunch privileges (students would need to bring a lunch from home).
• Making up lost learning time with a teacher, either after school or during an alternate lunch period (depending on the situation).

We appreciate your support as we work together to teach students the importance of punctuality—not only to maximize their own learning but also to respect the time and learning of their classmates and teachers.

Lockers

Students will be assigned lockers on the first day of school. Students in grade 7 and 8 will share a locker with another student in their homeroom. Grade 9 students will receive their own locker. Students will be assigned school locks to use for the school year. If the lock is broken or misplaced, they will be charged a replacement fee.

Offsite trips & Volunteers

Once again, our goal is to increase the number of offsite experiences (field trips) that our students can enjoy to enrich their education. Hands-on experiences are a valuable learning tool.

We are working with Parent Council to help subsidize costs and reduce the financial impact on families. However, please plan to budget approximately $200–$250 for the school year to help cover the costs of these trips. We are planning an overnight trip for both Grade 7 and Grade 9 students, as well as a ski trip for Grade 8 students. More details will be shared as the year progresses.

We do not want any student left behind, so please reach out to administration if cost is a concern.

To make these offsite trips possible, we rely on parent volunteers. Each year, you can register to volunteer through your student’s MyCBE account. Please follow this link for more information. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Physical Education

Students will participate and are required to change clothes for Physical Education each day, meaning they should not wear the same outfit to both school and P.E. class. Additionally, students must bring a pair of indoor gym shoes specifically for P.E. Any additional clothing requirements, such as for outdoor activities, will be communicated directly to your students during P.E. class. Students will be provided with a gym locker and should always lock up their valuables during class. The school is not responsible for lost/stolen valuables.

School Photos and Visual ID Cards

All students must have their picture taken, even if a photo package is not purchased. You do not need to bring money for photos during school start up. Our school photo day is September 18 and there will be retakes on October 22. Student photo visual ID cards will be initially issued at no cost to all students. Lost or damaged ID cards will need to be replaced at a charge to the students.

School Store

The Canteen will be open during our lunch break for students who wish to purchase snacks. School Swag is also available for purchase. At this time all purchases must be made using cash. Please see the main office or Ms. Deeks for more information about School Swag.

Student Services

Shannon Teasdale is the Learning Leader of the Student Services department at Mount Royal School.

Along with the entire staff at Mount Royal, she is committed to providing a caring and supportive school environment for all students to feel comfortable and successful.

Ms. Teasdale’s role allows her to interact with students in a variety of ways. She provides “open door” opportunities for student to access support when needed related to:

• Emotional and mental well-being and can work with parents to access community supports
• Peer relationships, peer conflicts and conflict resolution
• Managing feelings of anxiety, whether it is with academics or personal issues
• Academic support, such as organization and time management skills
• Transitions from elementary to junior high, as well as from junior high to high school

Should students wish to meet with Ms. Teasdale, they can connect with her in the following ways:

• Come to the main office and speak to Ms. Risseeuw to see if Ms. Teasdale is available, or to book an appointment for a later time.
• Connect with her in the hallway.
• • Students can speak to their homeroom or classroom teachers. These teachers can touch base with Ms. Teasdale to determine a time to meet.
• Email any time – smteasdale@cbe.ab.ca
• • Ms. Teasdale’s availability is as follows:
  • • Monday & Wednesday: Periods 1, 2 and 6
    • Tuesday & Thursday: Periods 2, 4 and 6

Parents and guardians are also welcome to connect with Ms. Teasdale at any time should you have any questions or concerns.

Transportation

Transportation to school is by Calgary Transit. Please visit the Calgary Transit website to plan your route. If you drive your students to school, ensure that you do not enter our parking lot. Instead, pick up and drop off your student on the street. This helps us ensure accessibility for students who require handicap transportation and for the safety of all of our students.