Guidelines for the School Year

Pre School Schedules

Gan Gani Playschool (12 months to 3 years)

Nursery / Junior Kindergarten Schedule (3 to 5 years)

Senior Kindergarten Schedule (5 to 6 years)

Elementary School Schedule

All students begin on Tuesday September 5, 2006. The establishment of expectations and school routines is an important focus during the first weeks of school.

Nursery - Junior Kindergarten - Senior Kindergarten

Parents are asked to bring their child/ren to their classroom. Parents are asked not to remain in the classroom. Our staff is very capable and experienced in taking care of all the needs of your children on the first day of school.

Friday Dismissal

Dismissal for grades 1-8 is 3:45 p.m. on Fridays. Please note that when the clock changes in the fall, until Passover in the spring, Friday dismissals will be at 2:10 p.m.

June Dismissal

Dismissal for grades 6-8 will be at 3:45 p.m. in the month of June.

Safe Arrival and Dismissal

Parents of students in pre-school and the grades are asked to please respect and adhere to the arrival and dismissal times. In particular parents are asked to please note that children should arrive at school no later than 8:45 a.m. so that classes can begin promptly at 8:50 a.m.

In order to ensure the safe arrival and departure of our students, we ask all of our parents to follow these simple but important requests. We have a very good safety record and with your co­operation we can keep it that way.

a) Enter Dow Street from Main Street, ( Consider Dow Street as one-way running from North to South).

b) Park only on the school side.

c) Do not park across the street and have your children walk across the street. Telling a child, “Cross, I am watching”, is unacceptable.

d) Once you have dropped off your child/ren, please continue North along Dow, make a right onto Paul and then turn right onto Cline if you want to reach Main Street again.

e) Children should enter a car only from the sidewalk and not from the street side.

f) Parents are asked not to drive on the school playground any time during the school day, before or after school.

g) Parents are asked not to park on the school playground during the school day or at dismissal time.

• The Church has requested that no parents access the lot at anytime during the day for either dropping off or picking up children.

Pre-School Arrival and Dismissal Procedure

Teachers should be notified of all car pool and pick up arrangements. All parents are asked to drop off their children on time and to leave them in the capable hands of our staff so that our programme can begin promptly at 8:50 a.m. Children will not be allowed to go home with a different driver than the usual ride unless there is a written note or the office is notified in advance. Children should be picked up at the classroom and on time at the end of their school day.

Nursery, Junior Kindergarten, and Senior Kindergarten students who will not be attending Montessori must be promptly picked up at dismissal time from the classroom. To avoid classroom disruption children who have not been picked up on time will wait in the office.

Grades 1-8

Students are asked to remain outside, in the lunchroom, or in the lobby until the 8:45 a.m. bell. Classes begin at 8:50 a.m.

The Academy is not responsible for students who arrive before 8:45 a.m. unless they are participating in a supervised enrichment or physical education programme. However, students arriving before 8:45 a.m. will be allowed to enter the building and remain in the main lobby or lunchroom if it is cold or rainy.

Students should not be waiting on the staircases or landings before 8:45 a.m.

The school is not responsible for students after dismissal. It is imperative that parents pick up their children on a timely basis to ensure their safety and security. The school cannot be responsible for mishaps to children who have not been picked up on time. In the event of an emergency or an unforeseen circumstance please notify the school so that your child could be brought to the office to wait for you. Children waiting for their rides after school may wait in the lunchroom. In addition, supervised care is available for younger students both before and after school hours. Contact the office to arrange for this service.

Students dismissed at 3:45 p.m. should go outside. In the event of rain or cold weather students will be allowed to remain in the lunchroom to wait for their ride.

The school closes daily at 4:30 p.m. except on Fridays. We have included the list of Friday dismissals and they have also been reprinted on a separate sheet for your convenience.

Late Pass

Students arriving after 8:50 a.m. will be considered late. Only those students arriving after 9:05 a.m. must go to the office to get a late pass as the official registers have already been sent to the office by then. Late arrivals are disruptive to the entire class as well as to the individual who misses class work.

Before and After School Care for Pre-school and Students in the Younger Grades

We offer before school supervision in the Nursery/JK room from 8:00-8:45 a.m. each morning for students in pre-school and the younger grades whose parents must drop them off early. Aftercare is available between 4-5 p.m. in the Playschool room. Please note that aftercare ends at 5:30 p.m. sharp. Parents arriving after 5:30 p.m. will be charged an additional fee. Parents should contact the school office to register for the before or after care and should note that there is a fee for the use of this service.

Recess

We have three recesses over the course of the school day, which are intended for exercise, fresh air, and fun. It is important that children come to school properly attired for Canadian weather. Unless children have serious medical conditions that prevent them from being outdoors, they should come dressed in proper attire, prepared to be outdoors along with their peers. In the case of extreme cold or other inclement conditions, a decision is made for safety reasons to keep all the children indoors during recess times.

Absences

If your child is absent, or is going to be absent from school, please call our school office by 9:15 a.m. to let us know. Our number is 905-528-0330.

It is the responsibility of an absent student to get all the assigned homework and to make up any work missed.

Regular attendance in school is basic preparation for a successful student’s scholastic development and progress, and it is important that unnecessary absences from school be avoided. However, we do request that you keep your child home from school if he/she has any of the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, pink eye, undiagnosed rashes, upset stomach or nausea. If your child has a cold, please keep him/her at home until after it has peaked. This may prevent others from catching it, and may also hasten your child’s recovery and prevent a relapse.

In cases of illness where a child is absent two days or more, or in cases of suspected or diagnosed communicable diseases, parents should notify the office immediately.

Appointments

Parents are urged to schedule doctor’s appointments, music lessons, etc. for after school hours. When this is unavoidable parents should not go to the classroom to collect their child. Parents are asked to come to the school office and wait for their child to be called down. Teachers are instructed not to dismiss any student without notification from the office. No student will be dismissed without a written note. Please note that even a relative, ie. a grandparent, will not be allowed to pick up a child without a written note or notification to the office by phone. Verbal instructions from a student are unacceptable.

Student Uniform

The school uniform must be worn by students in grades 1-8. Proper dress is an integral part of the educational process and plays a very important role in the conduct and dignity of students in a school. Please help us by ensuring that your children adhere to our school uniform. Uniforms are available for purchase only through Bombardieri Uniforms, 448 Barton Street East. In addition navy blue T-shirts will be available for purchase through the school office.

Student Uniform

• All students must wear HHA uniform tops and sweatshirts/polar fleeces.
• No other tops will be permitted.
• A uniform sweatshirt/fleece worn on top of a shirt that is not uniform is unacceptable.
• All navy or dark blue (no stripes etc.) track pants, sweatpants or basketball shorts for boys and girls will be permitted for gym wear only. These need not be purchased at Bombardieri.

Boys

• Every boy must wear a kipah at all times. Baseball caps or any other hats are not acceptable attire in the classroom.
• Boys in grades 1-5 may wear uniform walking shorts(not the school gym shorts) purchased through Bombardieri in the hot weather.
• Boys are not permitted to wear earrings.
• Track pants are acceptable gym wear but may not be used as a substitute for school uniform pants

Girls

• Uniform skirts or tunics purchased at Bombardieri.
• Skirt length must reach to mid knee.
• Socks, tights or leggings that fit like tights (in the winter) and are navy blue or white.
• Sweat pants or any other type of pants worn indoors under skirts/tunics are unacceptable except during gym.

Parents should have at least 2 uniforms for their children. Students will not be allowed into class without a proper uniform. Parents will be called to bring in the proper attire.

Gym Dress Code

Gym is an integral part of the curriculum at the HHA. Students are required to wear navy blue or white sleeved t-shirts (no tank tops), navy blue track pants and gym shoes. Navy blue basketball knee length shorts may be worn for gym activities only. Knee length skirts are permitted.

Name Tapes and Labels

It is especially important with our uniforms that name labels be placed on all personal clothing as well as on all textbooks and workbooks. Name tapes or labels allow us to easily identify lost items. It is a shame to see the amount of good clothing that is unclaimed. Lost articles are given to charity every few weeks.

Kipah (Yarmulkah)

It is very costly for the school to provide kipot for boys. It is the responsibility of each boy to wear a kipah at school. Students in pre-school and the grades are required to bring and leave 10 extra labeled kipot, any colour but the black shul type (black suede/velvet/leather are permissible) and several clips. New kipot will be available for purchase when the school office re-opens in August and throughout the year. Each boy’s labeled kipot should be placed in a Ziploc bag with his name on it. Teachers will notify parents should their son’s kipot supply run low. Students who do not have a kipah will not be allowed to stay in class. Baseball caps or any other hat are not acceptable replacements.

Daily School Supplies

A list of school supplies required for each grade appears in this handbook on the coloured pages. It is expected that students have all their supplies with them on the first day of the school year. Please note that Kleenex boxes and a supply of kippot (boys) are essential.

Books

School text books are issued to all students. It is the responsibility of each student to take proper care of the text books and return them in good shape. Please ensure that all text books are properly covered (heavy paper or mac-tac) at the start of the school year. Books that are returned damaged or books that are lost will have to be paid for before a report card is issued in June.

Toys

Students should not bring unnecessary games, toys, card collections, electronic games, water pistols and other such items to school. These items are a distraction during class and often create problems on the playground.

Telephone and Cell Phone

Parents and students are reminded that the school telephone is intended for school business and emergencies only. No student may bring a cell phone or videos games to school.

Visitors to the School

All visitors to the school must first report to the office and be signed in to the school. We ask that all parents follow this request as the safety of our students, and everyone in our building, is paramount.

Inclement Weather

In severe inclement weather, parents are asked to listen to the radio station CHML 900 AM early in the morning. The decision to cancel school is made by 7 a.m. On these bad weather days parents should not leave home before listening to the radio. In the event that inclement weather develops during the school day, the same procedure will be used. The announcement of an early closing will be made on the radio station CHML. Parents will be contacted before a student is sent home. Students will not be allowed to go home with a friend or a neighbour unless the Academy is instructed to do so by the parent.

First Aid

Administering first aid is limited to cleaning and bandaging minor scrapes, bruises, cuts, etc. No aspirin or any drugs will be given to any student. Only office personnel administer first aid. Due to legal ramifications, a student requiring medication must have a written permission slip signed by the parent before medication will be dispensed by the office.

In cases of emergency the parent will be contacted immediately. Please ensure that the office has all of your children's current medical information and that your emergency contact sheet is up to date and correct.

It is the responsibility of each parent to fill out and return this form to the office prior to the commencement of the school year. A copy of this form has been included with this handbook.

Parents are asked to please notify the Academy office if their children have allergies or any other medical conditions. Parents are also asked to give the office instructions as to how to deal with these conditions should it be necessary to deal with them during the school day. It is advisable for parents of students who are asthmatic to leave an inhaler or any other necessary medication in the office for the duration of the school year. All information is kept strictly confidential.

Head Lice

Pediculosis (head lice) is not a health threat. However, it is bothersome, easily passed on to others, and requires immediate treatment. Parents can help to limit the potential problem of head lice by checking their children’s hair regularly. All students will be checked for head lice during the first month of school and after the winter and Passover breaks by a professional service. The parents of students with head lice will be notified. Students are to be kept home until appropriate treatment including removal of all nits has taken place. Parents who discover that their children have head lice during the school year should notify the school office immediately. This will allow the Academy to check if other children have head lice, to notify parents that lice is a concern in the classroom, and help solve the problem before it spreads.

Fire Drill

Fire drills are conducted regularly so that students will be familiar with exit procedures in case the building has to be evacuated

School Outings

The Academy encourages its staff to take classes on trips. Each student must have a signed permission slip. Telephone permissions are not acceptable. All trips that require driving on main highways will use chartered bus companies with bonded drivers.

Breakfast, Snacks and Lunch

It is important that children eat breakfast in the morning, before school. Their bodies need the energy that the food provides in order to optimize their learning potential. Parents are encouraged to supply their children with well balanced nourishing lunches complete with fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks. Junk food does not constitute a healthy and nourishing diet. Each student is required to bring a labeled refillable water bottle daily.

Please note that students are not permitted to bring meat lunches or peanut/nut products to school .There are many kosher soy, dairy and pareve alternatives available.

Parents are encouraged to send lunches that will be eaten by their children. No lunch should be thrown away. The Academy will make every effort to see to it that students do eat their lunch.

Lunch is eaten in the Lunch Room. Ample time is allotted to eat lunch and where necessary students are allowed to complete their lunch after Bircat Hamazon [Blessing after meals]. Students are requested not to eat candy, chew gum or trade lunches and snacks.

Peanut/Nut Sensitivity Policy

The Hamilton Hebrew Academy prides itself on being a school that is safe and accessible. Similar to policies developed by many schools/school boards, we are requesting that both staff and students refrain from bringing peanuts/nuts and/or peanut/nuts products to school. This includes peanut butter sandwiches, all Reese’s peanut butter products, peanut butter crackers, chocolate bars containing peanuts including O’Henry and M & M products, granola bars and other ready made snacks containing peanuts. Students are allowed to bring in products which have the labeling “may contain trace amounts” or “manufactured in a facility which processes peanuts”, etc.

We cannot guarantee a peanut free facility, however we will do our best to ensure the maintenance of this peanut sensitivity policy for the safety and inclusion of all students and staff. Avoidance of the foods noted above will hopefully alleviate the possibility of direct peanut/peanut butter contact.

Parents of children with anaphylaxis must provide all pertinent information and medication to the school office before August 31, 2009 .

Special Lunches

Deli lunches will continue every Thursday. Parents are reminded that only students who order and pay for the special lunches in advance will receive them. Please watch the Friday bulletin for order forms and deadline dates. Grade eight pizza, hot dog, French fries, grilled cheese and pasta lunches were a great success this past year and will also be continued.

Birthday Parties, Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebrations

In order not to disrupt class routine, birthday parties are not held during school time except in the pre-school where parties are integrated into the regular curriculum. Teachers in the pre-school should be notified in advance for the date and supplies needed. All food provided by the parents must be strictly kosher, store bought, and unopened.

The Academy fosters and encourages social interaction both in school and out of school, hence, celebrations held outside of the Academy have the potential to accomplish this goal. It is socially and emotionally damaging to hand out invitations at school and intentionally leave one or a few students out. Parents are asked to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of all of the students in their child's class and assert their authority by insisting that the entire class or all the boys/girls be invited. Parents should note that many students in each class adhere strictly to Kashrut Laws. Parents making parties should take these children into consideration.

The Academy offers each parent the opportunity to use the Academy gym for a party either after school or on Sundays for a nominal fee. This alleviates the problem of squeezing an entire class into a home. Contact the Academy office to book a date.

Parents are urged to please not schedule parties on Shabbat or Jewish Holidays. This runs contrary to what the Academy is intending to accomplish. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and sensitivity in including all our children on these special occasions.

Communication between Parent and School

When a parent has a concern about their child in any class, the parent is asked to first make contact with the teacher. If the situation is not resolved, the parent may request a conference with the principal and/or the teacher. Leaving a message at the school office will result in a prompt return of the call. In the event that further avenues of communication are needed, the education committee or dean may be contacted.

Education & Finance Committee

The education committee is an advisory committee that meets with the administration of the school to be informed on matters that affect the educational operations of the school. The focus of the education committee is school programming, both in the classrooms and in the overall operations of the school that contribute to the learning of the students and to also provide input to the administration in the hiring of staff.

The Education committee meets with the administration to discuss educational matters that pertain to students and student life, including the hiring of teachers.  The Finance Committee meets with the Dean to determine fiscal policies, bursaries, and budgeting.

Agenda

All students in grades SK-8 will be required to purchase an agenda or special planner from the Academy. The planners will be available from the Academy office in August at a cost of $12.00 each. The agendas encourage responsibility and decision making skills via daily and weekly prioritization of homework assignments. They help promote effective study habits, time management and organizational skills. Additionally, the agendas serve as an excellent tool for home-school communication.

Parent - Teacher Conferences

There will be scheduled parent-teacher conferences on the November, 25th and 26th 2009.. The conferences will enable the teacher to provide a written and verbal report on the progress of each child scholastically, emotionally and socially. Please mark these dates on your calendar and make every effort to attend. The conferences take place in the evening in order to enable all parents to attend. Parents who are unable to attend should contact the office to make alternate arrangements.

Report Cards

Formal reports cards are issued twice a year, in March and in June.

Homework

Homework is an integral part of the learning process. It is our policy that each teacher assigns homework in accordance to the specific needs of the student and the class. Teachers are well aware of the double programme carried by our students and assign homework accordingly. It is important to recognize that homework is not busy work. Homework generally takes the form of reinforcement, creative work and investigative work. We believe that learning is an ongoing process that does not only take place at school. Homework or assignments are basic ingredients for a healthy academically-disciplined student.

All homework assigned in Judaic and General Studies is intended to be done with minimal assistance from parents.

Students, who cannot do their homework due to specific difficulties, should consult with their individual teachers. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers if their child is having difficulty completing homework assignments. Communication between the family and school is of the utmost importance. The following tips maybe helpful to parents:

• Take an interest in your child’s homework (even if you are not familiar with the material).
• Encourage your child with his/her homework. Don't do it for them. Children will learn absolutely nothing if the homework is done by the parent. The same pertains to projects.
• It is the parent's responsibility to create the environment in which the homework can be done. This means helping your child find a comfortable place, providing your child with the necessary stationery, and books and not allowing any interruptions during the “homework time" (Answer the phone for your child and explain to his or her friend that your son or daughter will call them back as soon as he or she has finished his or her homework.)
• See to it that your child places the completed homework into his/her school bag. Homework completed at home but not brought to school is considered not done.
• Please encourage your child to check through his or her agenda every afternoon for the next day's homework and any forthcoming homework assignments or projects.
• Homework should not be done late in the evening.

School Bulletin

Check out our Weekly Web Bulletins!

This year will mark our thirty-fifth year of weekly Friday bulletins. The bulletin contains pertinent information. It includes special programmes, activities around the school, class trips, deli lunch, pizza lunch and hot dog lunch information, projects and subjects being discussed in the classroom, last minute announcements, and more. If a child is absent on Friday, parents should make sure it is brought home on Monday. Alternatively, the bulletin is posted on our website and extra bulletins are always available at our school office. In addition parents wishing to receive the bulletin by email should notify the office of their email address. The school email address is school@hamiltonhebrewacademy.ca

Monthly Calendar

A monthly calendar with all pertinent events and information for that month is attached to the Friday bulletin prior to the beginning of the new month.

Ontario School Record

The Hamilton Hebrew Academy makes full use of the Ontario School Record (OSR) administrative system. All pertinent information regarding your child's schooling is maintained in his or her OSR. Each parent has access to his or her child's OSR. If you wish to examineyour child's OSR, please call the office to schedule a convenient time

Achievement Tests

The Hamilton Hebrew Academy administers achievement tests biannually. These tests help us to benchmark our students' achievements and growth across two year intervals against the national Canadian norms. We find that the achievement tests provide a very useful indicator of ability, growth and development. The test results are stored as part of the OSR (see above) and as such, are open to each parent.

Graduation Exercises

In June our grade 8?s formally graduate the HHA. This is an evening event to which our entire school community is invited. It is an opportunity for our students to celebrate their accomplishments and to acknowledge the breadth and depth of their learning experiences over their years at the HHA. Awards are presented for consistent and highest achievement in grade 8 in both Judaic and General Studies. Award recipients are determined by a panel of grade 8 teachers.

Co-Curricular Activities

The Academy offers its students a total, holistic education which includes excellent religious and academic programmes, a school environment that is conducive to learning, opportunities for social and emotional development and the opportunity to develop individual talents. Our co-curricular activities are designed to support the growth of all of our students and are multi-faceted to allow everyone to participate at his or her level of interest and ability. The following is a list of some of our co-curricular activities:

Student Council is one of the vehicles that allow our students the ability to develop leadership talents. Elections for student council executive office and class representatives are held in the fall. Students run their own campaigns, give speeches and learn to interact with their peers. They also learn to accept success and failure graciously. During the school year students on the executive council, along with class representatives, plan a variety of activities for students in grades 1-8.

Assemblies are held throughout the year. Our students have the opportunity to perform before the entire student body and to demonstrate their own particular talents at these assemblies. The assemblies also give the student council members a chance to take leadership roles in our school.

Special Programmes such as Judaic enrichment classes, Rosh Chodesh celebrations, holiday celebrations, Chidon HaTanach, Invention Convention, Science Fair, choir, Rikkudiyah (Israeli folk dance festival) computer club, and Macabia provide other opportunities for our students to come together as a school community.

Yearbooks are created by our grade eight students annually. They organize the design and do all the work. They solicit advertisements, take their own pictures for the collages and caption pages, collect articles and essays, design the layout, and collect all monies.

Intramural Programme under the expert direction of Mr. Albie O’Hanian our students participate in boys’ and girls’ basketball, volleyball, cross country and track and field teams in the Hamilton Wentworth Athletic league.

Community responsibility is emphasized . The Academy believes that we are indeed 'our brother's keeper'. This feeling is not innate. It must be taught and inculcated into the hearts of our Jewish youth. Students at the Academy not only discuss the concepts of community responsibility but are also provided with many opportunities to experience this responsibility first hand. The following is a short list of some of these experiences:

a) Participating weekly in Out of the Cold lunches.

b) Collecting food for the Jewish Food Bank.

c) Performing and assisting at Shalom Village.

d )Participating in the Community Walkathon.

e) Jump Rope for Heart.

Speech Contest

Our students are encouraged to enter the Morris Black Speech Contest annually and they continue to excel at this community speech competition. We are certainly proud of our students and their accomplishments.

Special Days

Our students can always look forward to an exciting mix of special days and activities such as trips to plays and museums, a visit to the Hamilton Philharmonic, our Purim carnival, Macabia, Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebrations, Chanukah menorah lighting at City Hall, and our Lag Ba'Omer picnic just to highlight a few. The list of special days is long indeed and each programme helps enrich our school's learning environment. Please note that on many of the special days including erev Shabbat our celebrations include food treats in keeping with the nature of the occasion.