Welcome to École St.Eustache School
-a nurturing learning environment…
École St. Eustache is a K-6 French Immersion milieu, located approximately 40 minutes west of Winnipeg in the rural community of
St. Eustache. Our school's mission is to provide a nurturing and engaging French
Immersion environment that believes all children are "CAPABLE".
At St.Eustache school, we recognize that we all shape the social and physical environment of our school together! We are committed to working as a team to provide an environment that reflects thoughtfulness and excellence, while at the same time becoming bilingual.
8:50
8:55
9:00
Our school motto is...
Always do your best never less.
Toujours faire de son mieux et jamais moins.
Hours
First bell
Oh Canada
Morning announcements
Classes begin
10:15 – 10:30 Recess
11:45 – 12:10 Lunch
12:10 – 12:40 Recess
12:45 Afternoon classes begin
2:15-2:30 Recess
3:30 Dismissal
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Arrival
At 8:15am, we have an educational assistant on duty to supervise children as they arrive for school. Our first bus arrival is 8:15am. As supervision is limited in the morning, if dropping students off, please do so after
8:30am. Children are usually supervised outside, however, in inclement weather, they will be supervised in the lunchroom until the first bell.
Dismissal
Our first two buses arrive shortly after 3:20pm. Students on these buses will be dismissed at this time. Other students will remain in their classroom until the
3:30pm dismissal bell. After being dismissed from class, students go downstairs to collect their things, and if they would like, enjoy an after school snack provided from home. They are then usually supervised outdoors; weather permitting, by an Educational Assistant. In case of bad weather, students remain indoors, and will be supervised in the lunchroom.
Student safety is a primary concern of our staff. Therefore, we always send children home on their regular buses. If for some reason there is a change in your family's schedule, please send a note or call the school in advance. Written or verbal notification from a parent or guardian is required.
Our last bus pick-up is usually at 4:00pm.
Note: On early dismissal days, classes are dismissed at 2:00pm and the first buses arrive at this time. The last bus will be dismissed at approximately
2:30pm. Students who walk home will be dismissed at approximately 2:10pm on these days.
Attendance
Attendance at school is compulsory for all children. Regular daily attendance at school by all students is essential to support student achievement.
Absences
If your child is going to be absent from school, please inform your child's teacher or contact the office at 204-353-2869.
The school secretary will attempt to call home if we do not hear from you. If reporting an absence, you can leave a phone
message - messages are checked in the morning (before
9:00am). School absences can also be reported by sending an
email to steuoff@prsdmb.ca
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Office Hours
The Secretary’s hours are from 8:30am to 12:00pm. If attempting to contact the school before or after these hours please leave a message. Messages will be checked daily before 3:00pm. The secretary can also be contacted by email at steuoff@prsdmb.ca
or gdyck@prsdmb.ca
. Emails are checked regularly throughout the day.
During the lunch hour, the office has student secretaries assisting us. Our student secretaries will cordially answer the phone and take messages.
Registration
École St.Eustache is a French Immersion Milieu. Entry into the French
Immersion program is preferably done in Kindergarten and Grade 1, however,
École St.Eustache school has accepted entries at various grade levels.
Registration for next year’s fall Kindergarten classes, begins in January or
February.
Directory Information
To register your child you will need:
 a birth certificate or passport
 a Manitoba health card
 Proof of address
It is critical that the school have your current address, phone number, the phone number of your work place, and the number of an alternate contact. If there is any change please inform the school immediately.
Health/Medical Concerns
École St.Eustache is a NUT and FISH AWARE School.
If your child has a medical condition or there are activity restrictions placed on him/her please inform the school office and your child's teacher. This is critical if your child has allergies or other medical conditions that may place your child at risk during school hours. Students with the following conditions: diabetes, seizure disorder, asthma, life threatening allergy, cardiac condition, bleeding disorder, etc will be required to complete a URIS form so that health plan/interventions
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can be established.
If your child has any of the following medical concerns:
1.
Life threatening allergy
2.
Prescribed an Epipen
3.
Asthma
4.
Bleeding disorder
5.
Diabetes
6.
Heart Condition
7.
Seizure Disorder
8. Other significant conditions
Please complete the medical questionnaire on the application form. Students with any of the above conditions will be asked to complete a URIS form so that a health plan/interventions can be established. Prairie Rose school division partners with Southern Health to help complete individual health plans and provide training to staff. Usually standard health care plans are in place for students with severe allergies and asthma.
And…
Advise the office if your child wears a medic-alert bracelet. At present, the division is on a waiting list to participate in the “No child without program”. This is a wonderful program that provides medic-alert bracelets free of charge for students requiring them. To learn more about this program please visit: http://www.nochildwithout.ca
Medication
We understand that at times, a medical practitioner will prescribe medication to a child that must be administered during the school day. If this occurs, parents are responsible for completing the
"Administration of Medication" form and supplying the medication in its original container.
Medication should be brought to the office to be stored safely during the day. For your convenience, this form can be printed from home. It is located on the school website under the heading “ Forms”.
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School Fees and Supplies
In our efforts to be sustainable and equitable, we have implemented a fee for school supplies for all students. At the beginning of each school year, we collect a school fee of $30.00. This fee covers the cost of most school supplies. Please pay by cheque or
cash. You will be issued a receipt upon receiving your payment.
Additional items that your child will need will be listed on a “Supply
List” sent home with the last report card. This supply list will also be
posted on our school website under the “
Field Trips
Parents ” section.
Field trips are an integral component of your child’s education. These experiences enhance learning and are a wonderful opportunity for students to explore, interact and engage with concepts beyond the classroom walls.
Cost of field trips is supported in part by the division, the school, possible grants, and the Parent Advisory Council. At times, it may be necessary to charge a fee for field trips. If at any time, this fee creates unnecessary hardship to families, please contact the school to discuss. http://www.prsdmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/PolicyIGH_002.pdf
Busing Information
Most of our students are bused to school. The division provides transportation free of charge. Information provided on your registration forms will indicate important details concerning your busing request.
Bus safety is everyone’s responsibility. We ask that families review bus safety with their children prior to the start of each school year. Please refer to the bus ridership handbook for more information. http://www.prsdmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Riding-the-School-Bus-
2014-update-with-maps.pdf
As well, twice yearly, the school participates in bus evacuation procedures.
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Bus ridership is a privilege and can be lost if it is felt that students
actions aren’t deemed safe.
When riding the bus, it is important that:
1. We remain seated at all times.
2. Aisles are kept clear.
3. Safety zones are respected.
4. We demonstrate respect for our bus community by: o keeping our voices at a reasonable level o using appropriate language o respecting the bus driver o not eating on the bus
Bus Cancellations
In the event of bad weather, buses will be cancelled.
Please listen to CJOB radio station and consult the
Prairie Rose School Division’s website for cancellation alerts.
For more information on cancellations please refer to the divisional website: http://www.prsdmb.ca/studentsparents/class-cancellations/
If buses are cancelled during the school day, the school will contact all parents to alert them of this matter. Parents will then inform the school of pick up plans/arrangements for their children. We ask that all adults sign out the
children they are picking up at the office before leaving the school. Staff will remain with students until everyone is dismissed.
Walking/Biking to school
If children are walking to school we encourage them to use the sidewalk and cross only at intersections. Children walking to school will be dismissed at 3:35pm.
Biking to school is a parental decision. P arents should assess the route and determine if their child has the skills to walk or bicycle on his or her own.
Please assure that if your child bikes to school, he/she is wearing a helmet.
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Recess
All children go outside for recess. Recess is a crucial part of a child's mental and social development. It's valued as an important part of a child's school experience! Even on days when the weather isn't the best, we believe that outdoor recess is fundamental. We ask parents to dress their child appropriately for the weather conditions.
During the winter months when the cold weather is upon us, it is important to dress your child in layers and make sure they have the essentials: scarf, boots, ski pants, tuque, mittens, etc.
During our spring months, it is important to send your child with extra dry clothing, raincoat and rubber boots. Sunshine, wind, snow, and a little rain will not keep us indoors. This will be at the discretion of the supervisors.
To help keep our school clean, we ask that students have one pair of shoes to wear indoors and one pair of shoes to wear outdoors. Outdoor shoes should be appropriate for the weather.
When the temperature falls below -27 C, students will remain
indoors. During indoor recess, students remain in their classroom.
Lost and Found
There is a lost and found area located in our lunchroom. We ask that parents and children check the lost and found area regularly. At the end of the school year, unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
Communication
Website:
To receive current information about events and other news please visit the school’s website: http://www.ecolesteustache.ca
ESE updates:
ESE updates will be emailed to our parent community only if there has
been a change …an addition, cancellation or modification of a school event.
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Monthly Calendar:
A monthly calendar of the school’s activities/events will go home with the oldest child. Please keep the calendar for reference. These activities/events are also listed on our school website, under the heading, “Important Dates”.
Newsletters:
Newsletters will be posted on the website each month. Newsletters are usually posted the last Friday of each month and are entitled: Current Month highlights/next month news. To be ecologically sustainable, paper copies aren’t sent home. However, if you require a paper copy, please inform the office.
Brown Envelope:
École St.Eustache traditionally sends brown envelopes home with the oldest child at the end of the week. The brown envelope can contain field trip information/permission slips, monthly calendars, fund raising information, etc. At times, it might also contain community news (sporting events/registrations, community celebrations, etc).
To be ecologically responsible and help reduce costs, community news will be sent as attachments. The email subject title will be – “ESE Community News”.
Some weeks, it will not be necessary to send the brown envelope home. When brown envelopes are sent home, we will stamp them only when a return
response is required. The oldest child should return the envelope back to school on Monday.
Class communication:
Communicating with parents is an important task for teachers and can be done in a variety of formats. At the beginning of the year, teachers will discuss this with parents.
“Every communication exchange, regardless of format, should reflect a thoughtful, planned approach and should be viewed as an opportunity for teachers to promote parent partnerships and, ultimately, to support student learning.”
At any time throughout the year, parents are encouraged to share any questions or concerns they have about their child with their classroom teacher.
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Healthy Snacks and Lunches
Our school continues to focus on sustainability-living for today with the future in mind. Lessening and ideally eliminating the production of garbage from our snacks and lunches is an important step in becoming more responsible ecological citizens. We are working toward a “litter-light” or litterless lunch for everyone at
École St.Eustache.
A “litter-light” lunch is one packed using reusable containers rather than disposable wrapping, packaging and single serving items. All containers, water bottles, cutlery and thermoses, are reusable. Please consider using these items when packing your child’s lunch.
We appreciate your co-operation as we all strive to reduce our ecological footprint!
Serving healthy snacks and lunches to children is important to providing good nutrition and supporting lifelong healthy eating habits.
Children are provided with a nutritional snack break every day. Please provide a healthy snack choice for your child. Most of the snacks served to children should be fruits and vegetables, since most kids do not eat the recommended five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables each day. o Nutritious o Kind to the environment
Pack lunches in reusable containers so that garbage can be kept to a minimum.
Please provide a spoon or fork if needed.
Do not send soda pop in your child’s lunch.
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Milk Program
The school has a milk program that is organized by the students in grades 5 & 6. The proceeds from milk sales helps to support their yearly camp trip. There is usually a parent that helps to co-ordinate this
program by:
-making sure that forms are available
-purchasing the milk
Students in grades 5 & 6 are responsible for distributing the milk, keeping forms up-to-date in milk binder, and alerting our secretary when the milk supply is low.
The secretary then informs the parent co-ordinator who will purchase the milk.
This parent is usually a parent of a student in grades 5 or 6.
When a student’s milk card is almost complete, students give them a form alerting parents of this.
Milk is available for purchase.
_____ 10 servings of milk @$7.50
_____ 20 servings of milk@$14.00
Milk forms can be found on the school’s website or requested from the office.
Nut and Fish Allergy Alert
Several students at our school have severe allergies to peanuts, other nuts and fish. If any of these students come into contact with products that contain nuts or fish the consequences could be most severe.
Please do not send snack or lunch items containing peanuts, other nuts
or fish. Please check labels on packages carefully.
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Hot Lunch
The Parent Advisory Council supports a hot lunch program at the school. There is a hot lunch coordinator who organizes menus, hot lunch forms, and parent volunteers that assist during hot lunch days. Information about hot lunch days is usually provided at the beginning of each year. Lunches typically consist of a main course, salad/vegetable dish and dessert. Volunteers are needed to assure the continuation and success of this program. If you would like to volunteer with hot lunch, please contact the school.
Volunteers
The following are a few points in defining your role as a volunteer, and in making your experience as a volunteer with us a success.
1. Confidentiality is of the highest priority. Volunteers may come to know sensitive information regarding a student’s academic ability, relationships with others, behaviour etc. We ask that this information remain confidential, and not discussed with the community at any time.
2. Please remember that any evaluation of school personnel, students or programs is the responsibility of the teachers and/or the school administration only.
3. As a volunteer you may be involved in a variety of activities in our school.
Please be aware that you are ultimately responsible to the school principal and will work at all times under the direction of a designated staff member.
Remember also that the school principal and/or staff members are always there to respond to any questions or concerns that you may have.
4. Safety is always of paramount importance. Please be prepared for a staff member to ask you to identify yourself.
Your support is greatly valued as it adds to the development of student growth and school programming.
We hope that you enjoy helping our students!
Thank you for your support!
Further information regarding volunteers can be found in the following divisional policies: http://www.prsdmb.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2013/12/PolicyIHD.pdf
http://www.prsdmb.ca/wpcontent/uploads/2013/12/PolicyGAB.pdf
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Visitors
All Visitors Must Report to the Office
Between 8:30am and 3:30pm, parents and visitors must enter the building using the main school entrance (front door entrance). All other doors are locked during the school day. They should then report to the office. For an extended visit, we ask that visitors/volunteers sign in and request a visitor/volunteer badge.
Private Music Lessons
As per divisional policy, private music lessons
(piano) are held in our school. The instructor is Ms. Cathy Arnal. Mme. Arnal has been teaching private piano lessons at school for over 25 years! Music lessons are usually held from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Mondays and
Tuesdays.
If you would like more information about this program you can email Ms. Arnal at catarnal@mymts.net
http://www.prsdmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/PolicyIGP.pdf
Mini-Fran
Mini-Fran nursery school is located at École St.Eustache school. It is a licensed, non-profit, educational program for pre-school children from ages three to six.
The mini-fran program offers an introduction to the French Language. Children are exposed to basic French vocabulary such as colours, numbers and songs.
For more information about this program, please contact the director Diane
Legault. She can be contacted at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and by email: tiresntoys@hotmail.com
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Declaration of the Rights of the Child
Plain Language Version
Source: http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/reso urces/plainchild.asp
1 All children have the right to what follows, no matter what their race, colour sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, or where they were born or who they were born to.
2 You have the special right to grow up and to develop physically and spiritually in a healthy and normal way, free and with dignity.
3 You have a right to a name and to be a member of a country.
4 You have a right to special care and protection and to good food, housing and medical services.
5 You have the right to special care if handicapped in any way.
6 You have the right to love and understanding, preferably from parents and family, but from the government where these cannot help.
7 You have the right to go to school for free, to play, and to have an equal chance to develop yourself and to learn to be responsible and useful.
Your parents have special responsibilities for your education and guidance.
8 You have the right always to be among the first to get help.
9 You have the right to be protected against cruel acts or exploitation, e.g. you shall not be obliged to do work which hinders your development both physically and mentally.
You should not work before a minimum age and never when that would hinder your health, and your moral and physical development.
10 You should be taught peace, understanding, tolerance and friendship among all people.
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School Code of Conduct
Safe Schools Policy
Purpose: The purpose of the School Code of Conduct is to assure that all individuals, staff and students, benefit from an environment that demonstrates respect and care for one another. We all share in the responsibility of providing a safe and welcoming environment that takes care of everyone’s physical and emotional well-being: safe hearts, safe bodies and safe minds.
At École St.Eustache, staff use a simple code of conduct: “Take care of yourself, Take care of each other, Take care of our space” to teach children to be considerate, get along with others and be the best they can be.
It is the daily work of every staff member to teach children how to be caring, respectful and responsible citizens. Students are taught to manage their behaviors in ways that help rather than hurt others. We can do this by direct intervention, instruction, modeling, community building activities, and having high expectations for all. Staff members will offer guidance that is considerate of the age of students, the context of their behavior and patterns of behavior, if any.
At École St.Eustache School, students understand that the following behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated: o any form of physical, sexual, or psychological bullying of any person –whether it be done orally, in writing, electronically or otherwise o behavior that discriminates on the basis of any characteristic set out in subsection 9(2) of The Human Rights code o being under the influence of, or using or possessing alcohol or illicit drugs at school o involvement in gangs on school property o possession of a weapon, as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code of Canada o inappropriate use of information technology, electronic mail and the Internet, including social media, text messaging, instant messaging, websites, and e-mail
(as per File IHB and the divisional’s “technology Acceptable use policy: File IHB http://www.prsdmb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/PolicyIHB_005.pdf
o inappropriate use of any and all communication devices, electronic and other, including cameras, cell phones, iPods, iPads, and other.
If students do not comply with the code of conduct, all interventions including disciplinary consequences will be done with the intent to be supportive of all involved, thus preserving the dignity and self-worth of all individuals.
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Interventions/consequences can include some or several of the
following:






Informal Discussion
Parental Involvement
School Counsellor/Resource
Teacher
Formal Interview
Withdrawal from Classroom
Setting
Removal of Privileges
Detention
Restitution/Compensation






Behavioral/Performance
Contract
Student Services
Outside Agency/Community
Involvement
Threat Assessment
Police Notification
Student Suspension
Student Expulsion 


If the principal believes that a student of the school has been harmed as a result of bullying, the principal must, as soon as reasonably possible, notify the student’s parent or guardian.
The principal must provide information on the nature of the unacceptable conduct that resulted in harm to the student, the nature of the harm to the student, and the steps taken to protect the student’s safety, including the nature of any disciplinary measures taken in response to the unacceptable conduct.
Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning – Provincial Code of Conduct
Teaching self-discipline is a shared responsibility between parents and staff. When adults work together, in mutual respect and understanding, our students benefit.
Appeal: If parents/guardians have a concern or disagree over the disciplinary action, they have the option to appeal it. The first step would be to work with the school (administrator and/or teachers). If the result is still deemed unsatisfactory, then parents can communicate their dissatisfaction with the superintendant through phone call, letter, email, meeting or a combination of these.
“The existence of issues between parents and schools is neither good nor bad. When solutions are sought in a fair and respectful way, it is often possible to resolve disagreements in a positive manner. Parents and educators benefit from a strengthened working relationship and a better understanding of others’ interests and needs.”
Working together, 2004 MB Education
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Circle of Courage
Since the beginning of 2012, École St.Eustache has adopted the teachings of the
Circle of Courage. These teachings have been used in the grade 5/6 class for several years and it seemed natural to extend it to the whole school. We have benefitted from the expertise of Kim Mackey (our school social worker) and Kevin
Lamoureux (instructor at the University of Winnipeg) in deepening our knowledge of the Circle of Courage.
Manitoba Education endorses the Circle of Courage model in the following documents: o A Whole School Approach to Safety and Belonging
“The Circle of Courage is a powerful symbol of the needs of all people to live healthy, happy lives and the importance of allowing others the freedom to grow and learn and become independent, lifelong learner without unfair judgement” o Un travail collectif, renseignements aux parents o Inclusive Planning for Safety and Belonging o Working together o Circle of Education Poster – Education and Advanced Learning
The Circle of Courage is an educational model that has been very influential in Manitoba, throughout Canada, and worldwide. Originally created by Dr. Martin Brokenleg this model was published by the Reclaiming Youth International network as part of their ongoing work to support not only schools, but all agencies who work with youth. Particularly youth who have been identified as being 'at-risk,' or marginalized in mainstream systems. Since it's publication this model has grown in it's use and influence as more and more professionals recognize the inherit value of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity for all students, regardless of background. In Manitoba this model is taught in university classrooms and has been adopted as official policies in many schools servicing many different neighbourhoods and social demographics. The beauty of this model is that offers professionals who work in care of children a holistic approach to providing high quality instruction upon a foundation of compassion that models good citizenry and ethical practice.
Kevin Lamoureux – University of Winnipeg
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Source: Manitoba Eduation Poster
The Circle of Courage is a model of positive youth development first described in the book Reclaiming Youth at Risk, co-authored by Larry Brendtro, Martin
Brokenleg, and Steve Van Bockern. The model integrates Native American philosophies of child-rearing, the heritage of early pioneers in education and youth work, and contemporary resilience research. The Circle of Courage is based in four universal growth needs of all children: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.
Anthropologists have long known that Native Americans reared courageous, respectful children without using harsh coercive controls. Nevertheless,
Europeans colonizing North America tried to “civilize” indigenous children in punitive boarding schools, unaware that Natives possessed a sophisticated philosophy that treated children with deep respect. These traditional values are validated by contemporary child research and are consistent with the findings of Stanley Coopersmith who identified four foundations for self-worth: significance, competence, power, and virtue. These are summarized below:
Belonging
In Native American and First Nations cultures, significance was nurtured in communities of belonging. Lakota anthropologist Ella Deloria describedthe core value of belonging in these simple words: “Be related, somehow, to everyone you know.” Treating others as kin forges powerful social bonds that draw all into relationships of respect. Theologian Marty observed that throughout history the tribe, not the nuclear family, always ensured the survival of the culture. Even if parents died or were not responsible, thetribe was always there to nourish the next generation.
The Spirit of Belonging:
The universal longing for human bonds is cultivated by relationships of trust so that the child can say, “ I am loved.”
Mastery
Competence in traditional cultures is ensured by guaranteed opportunity for mastery. Children were taught to carefully observe and listen to those with more experience. A person with greater ability was seen as a model for learning, not as a rival. Each person strives for mastery for personal growth,
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but not to be superior to someone else. Humans have an innate drive to become competent and solve problems. With success in surmounting challenges, the desire to achieve is strengthened.
The Spirit of Mastery:
The inborn thirst for learning is cultivated; by learning to cope with the world, the child can say, “I can succeed.”
Independence
Power in Western culture was based on dominance, but in tribal traditions it meant respecting the right for independence. In contrast to obedience models of discipline, Native teaching was designed to build respect and teach inner discipline.
From earliest childhood, children were encouraged to make decisions, solve problems, and show personal responsibility. Adults modelled, nurtured, taught values, and gave feedback, but children were given abundant opportunities to make choices without coercion.
The Spirit of Independence:
Free will is cultivated by responsibility so that the child can say, “I have the power to make decisions.”
Generosity
Finally, virtue was reflected in the pre- eminent value of generosity. The central goal in Native American child-rearing is to teach the importance of being generous and unselfish. In the words of a Lakota Elder,
“You should be able to give away your most cherished possession without your heart beating faster.” In helping others, youth create their own proof of worthiness: they make a positive contribution to another human life.
The Spirit of Generosity:
Character is cultivated by concern for others so that the child can say, “I have a purpose for my life.”
Source: Reclaiming Youth Network. “The Circle of Courage Philosophy.” 2007.
<www.reclaiming.com/about/index.php?page=philosophy> (13 July 2007).
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