Conestogo Public School:  General School Information

Attendance

The attendance phone number is 519-664-3773, ext. 1 – or by email at con-attendance@wrdsb.ca.

Parents should call the school before 9:20 am when their child is not attending school.  Parents may call the school 24 hours a day and leave a detailed message in the attendance mailbox.  The school has a safe arrival program so the school will attempt to contact a parent when a student is not in school and the school has not received information regarding his/her whereabouts.  If any contact information changes please inform the office. Please contact the school if you need to remove your child from class for more than 5 days.  A form is required if your child will be away from school for a specified amount of time.

Regular attendance is an important factor in a student’s academic success and in feeling connected to their classroom community. It is a student’s job to come to school. Students will get sick from time to time and we thank you for keeping your child home when they are sick. It would be appreciated if appointments and vacations could be scheduled in such a way as to minimize the amount of time students are out of school as absences can quickly accumulate. Sometimes attendance can be a warning sign that something else is going on. We believe that it takes a village to raise a child so please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have concerns so that we can work as a team to support your child.

 

Arriving Late / Leaving Early

Students arriving late (after 9:20 am) need to come to the front door to be let in, and will be expected to provide a reason for their lateness.  All students will need to visit the office when leaving early.

Please let the school know by phone or email if a student needs to leave early, so the classroom teacher can have the student ready at the correct time.  Parents will need to come to the front door and buzz the ringer to pick up their child.


Student Before School Drop-Off / After School Pick-Up

Student Drop-Off / Pick-Up: Please do not drop off or pick up students in the staff parking lot during before or after school. There is additional parking on Flax Mill Drive, Glasgow Str., Weberlyn Cres., Musselman Cres., Ferland Avenue or Country Spring Walk and you can walk your child to school entry or have a meeting spot for after school.  Please do not block bus areas or entrances/exits, and please do not park on the grass.


Walking to School

Students who walk or bike to school are asked to follow all basic safety rules.  Students crossing Sawmill Road or Northfield Drive should cross at the lights and/or the crosswalk. They should walk their bikes, scooter etc. on school property and lock them on the bike racks. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property.


Before and After School Programs

Conestogo Public School is pleased to offer quality programs both before and after school for students grades JK-2, through the WRDSB.  The program runs from 7:00 – 9:20 am and from 3:40 – 6:00 pm.  More details are available at https://www.wrdsb.ca/beforeafter/.


School Bus Information

Student Transportation Services of the Waterloo Region (STSWR) www.stswr.ca has information about busing, and parents can sign up for email notifications. Students should be at their bus stop 5-10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick up time.  Kindergarten parents should wait with their child at the bus stop and meet the bus when they return.  Bus students get on or off at their designated pick up or drop off.  It is important that students follow a few basic expectations while riding the bus in order for the bus ride to be safe and respectful for all.

  • Listen to the bus driver, and respect any safety requests made by the bus patrols.
  • Stay seated in your assigned seat and do not eat or drink on the bus.
  • The aisle needs to be clear. No backpacks or feet in the aisle.
  • Talk with a quiet voice. No inappropriate language or putdowns.
  • Keep hands and feet to yourself.
  • Get on the bus quickly at the end of the day.

Riding the bus is a privilege.  While school staff try to problem-solve issues as they arise, students unable to consistently follow the expectations may be removed from the bus for a period of time.


Inclement Weather

Occasionally it is necessary for the School Board to temporarily close schools; this is done to ensure the safety of students during severe weather.  During severe weather check the WRDSB website www.wrdsb.ca or listen to local radio stations for announcements regarding school closures.  The school may be open if buses are cancelled.  Please exercise discretion when deciding whether or not to drive your child to school on days when the buses are not running as students need to be picked up by 3:40 pm.


Volunteers / Visitors

Essential visitors are permitted access to the school (contractors, board personnel, occasional teachers, approved volunteers, parents attending to a health emergency for their child).  All visitors must sign in at the office, and provide information on the nature of their visit and sign out before leaving.  Parents generally are asked to wait outside for their children and they will come out to meet you when they are ready.


Nutrition / Activity Breaks

We have two nutrition breaks:  11:20 – 12:00, and 2:00 – 2:40.  Students are not permitted to leave school property during breaks.  Half of each break will be outside, and half inside.  All students Grades 1-8 go outside for the first 20 mintues and have lunch the last 20 minutes of each nutrition break.