Jean Vanier Catholic Elementary School
120 Ninth Avenue
Brantford, Ontario
N3S 1E7
Phone: (519) 753 - 5283
August 16, 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to Jean Vanier Elementary School and another exciting year of Catholic Education.
Our monthly newsletter will be sent home later this week however I thought it was important to
introduce your new Administration Team and to review some important drop off / pickup information.
My name is Mr. Terry Dunnigan and I am thrilled to continue as your Principal. I am looking forward to
the implementation of a new sports intramural program as well as building on the many initiatives in
Self-Regulation that was begun last year.
Your new Vice Principal is Mrs. Jennifer McLaren Gibbons, who has moved to this position from the role
of Special Education Resource Teacher at both the System level and school level for the BHNCDSB. Her
career has also been exclusively in the Elementary Panel.
Together we have many talents and ideas to contribute to the learning successes of past years. We are
committed to making Jean Vanier a destination school that reflects the mission statement of this School
Board “Excellence in Learning ~ Living in Christ”! We look forward to reconnecting with all of you
throughout the coming school year. Please call the school office to arrange any meetings with ourselves
or the teaching staff.
To ensure a safe and orderly arrival and dismissal process we ask you to honour the following routines
within the parking lots and the school building:
Arrival (Morning Bell is 8:40am):
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Please do not drop off students prior to 8:25am as there is no supervision available on the
school yard prior to this time (exception is the YMCA Before/After School program).
The laneway in front of the school and through the Teacher/Visitor parking lot is One Way
only to facilitate the delivery of students by school bus or taxis. Please do not kiss-drop in this
laneway in the morning as it impedes bus flow and places students at risk.
Kiss-Drop can be done in the adjoining parking lot (see attached diagram) in the 2 way lane by
the crosswalk in front of the school. Temporary parking will take place in this lot as well.
Grades 1-8 students are to enter the main school yard and enter the school at their respective
student entrances (not the front doors)
Only students and staff should be on the main school yard to ensure Safe Schools Practices.
Kindergarten students are to be dropped off at the Kindergarten playground directly to the
jurisdiction of the ELKP staff.
All students arriving after the morning bell are to enter at the front door (door will be locked
after 8:45am so ring bell for entrance) and report to the office for a late slip.
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All visitors are to enter the school at the front door (use bell if locked) and report to the main
office for information/signing in/dropping off items.
Dismissal (Afternoon Bell is 3:00pm):
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Grades 1-8 students will be dismissed from the student exit doors on the main school yard.
Parents are asked to gather at the main school yard gates (see attached diagram) to
meet/pickup their children (please respect our Safe Schools Practices by not entering the main
school yard or the student entrances/exits).
Parents are encouraged to use the side parking lot for temporary parking (ie picking up
children). If you are coming into the school for a meeting or visit then parking is available
within the staff parking lot (see attached diagram)
Buses will line up along the laneway opposite the main crosswalk for receiving departing
students. Please avoid blocking this area and take care when passing these parked buses.
Mini buses and taxis will pick up their respective students in the laneway in front of the
school. Please remember that this is a One Way flow of traffic out of the staff parking lot.
Kindergarten children will be picked up in the Kindergarten school yard. Our policy is that
they are delivered to you Hand-to-Hand to ensure their safety.
Kindergarten children travelling by bus will be escorted by senior students through the front
door of the school directly to their respective buses.
Please do not congregate in the main lobby of the school prior to bell time to reduce
congestion and provide a safe flow for our kindergarten students.
All students whose pickup is not on time are asked to sit on the bench outside the office to
ensure their safety prior to the arrival of their ride.
Student Pickup throughout the school day:
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If you need to pick up your child throughout the day then please call or send a note to the
office to ensure that we have your child ready at the correct time. Texting your child to then
advise the office is not acceptable authorization to ensure the safety of your child.
Please come into the school via the front door to sign out and receive your child.
Parent Family Learning Centre Program:
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Please ensure that all visitors to this fabulous program sign in at the front office prior to
entering this classroom space. The classroom is now located in Kindergarten 4 (room 109).
Please refrain from visiting other classrooms to ensure Safe Schools Practices are maintained.
Your cooperation in respecting and following these routines will ensure a safe and orderly
entrance/dismissal practice for your children.
We take your children’s safety very seriously! Please accept our sincere appreciation in helping us to
keep your child safe.
Yours in Christ,
Mr. Terry Dunnigan, Principal
Mrs. Jennifer McLaren Gibbons, Vice Principal