Welcome Back to ELSS …
Summer is such a great time to be rejuvenated. You may travel, work at a new job, relax at the beach, visit family and friends, or seek out some great adventure. Whatever you do I hope you had a good rest or a real change because my mama always says that “a change is as good as a rest!”
Now it’s time to get down to the serious business of school:
Secondary school graduates earn about $300,000 more over their lifetime than secondary school drop-outs.
(The Costs and Benefits of an Excellent Education for all of America’s Children; H. Levin, C. Belfield, P. Muennig, C. Rousse, January 2007, Columbia University)
If you take 5 years to complete secondary school you are earning $60,000 or more or each year that you are in school, in “deferred” earnings. If you expect to graduate and receive those earnings you should accept the responsibility of getting to school on time and doing a good job, just as is expected in the workplace.
At ELSS we take student preparation for the workplace very seriously. This is reflected in our Student Code of Conduct:
· Attendance and punctuality is critical to gainful employment. If you can’t demonstrate good attendance and be on time for school it is difficult for an employer to take a chance on you. ELSS is incorporating a new Attendance Policy to make students more accountable and to help parents participate in their child’s success.
· Meeting due dates is critical in the world of work. Our Work Completion Policy (Club 210) is in place to help our students develop strong work completion habits. “G’it ‘er Done!”
· Good manners never go out of style! In a typical business setting proper dress and etiquette are required. Swearing and profane language have no place in business or in school. All members of the ELSS family are expected to treat each other with respect and good manners. Encouraging good manners and appropriate language will be a focus at ELSS this year.
· Going to work or to school is much easier when the atmosphere is positive, cheerful, and colleagues support each other through difficult times and work to create a fun spirit for all. The ELSS Family asks everyone to contribute to a happy, caring and vital educational community.
CLUB 210
Returning students are familiar with CLUB 210 and our procedure to ensure that school work is completed. If a student has incomplete work for any class, they will be expected to attend CLUB 210 at lunch or after school to complete the work that day. If the work is not completed by 8:30 the next morning the student will be referred to the Vice Principal. Mr. Juuti will contact the parent or guardian to make arrangements to ensure that the work is completed.
ATTENDANCE
Our new Attendance Policy is an extension of our CLUB 210 policy. When a student returns from an absence they are required to make arrangements to see their teachers during the lunch period or at the end of the school day. These meetings are required to ensure that missed work is completed, arrangements are made for missed notes and to clarify the teachings that were missed by the student.
Students who have been absent will be required to complete assigned work, tests, quizzes, and notes at lunch or after school in CLUB 210 or with their teacher. A deadline for completing missed work will be established that corresponds to the duration of the absence.
Students who fail to meet with their teacher and/or fail to complete missed notes, assignments and assessments within the timeframe arranged with the teacher, will be referred to the Vice-Principal.
HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS
The staff and administration at ELSS recognize community concerns when they arise and we do our best to respond to them. We are creating a partnership with agencies such as the Family Life Centre, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Algoma Health Unit, the Family Health Team as well as parents to see how we can contribute to a coordinated effort to reduce drug and alcohol use and abuse in the community. If you are interested in learning more about these concerns and how you can become part of the solution please feel free to contact me at ELSS. We are planning public information sessions in the fall.
LATE START DAYS
On Late Start Days, teachers start early and attend discussion groups, workshops, and presentations focused on student achievement. Students will start late. Students should arrive at school by 9:30 a.m. at the latest, to be in class for morning announcements at 9:40 a.m. Classes will be one hour in length on Late Start Days. Lunch will be from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. and class dismissal will be at 3:00 p.m. Travel time between classes is 5 minutes on Late Start days, rather than the usual 8 minutes as on regular school days.
On Late Start Days Shuttle #5 will pick up all ELSS students in the Esten Subdivision starting at 9:15 a.m. The South Bay Shuttle will pick up ELSS students at its regular time. The Cutler Shuttle will begin its pick up at 8:20 a.m.
Club 210, extra-curricular activities, remedial learning opportunities, and detentions will still operate after classes on Late Start Days.
Late Start Days occur every second Wednesday throughout the school year. The first Late Start Day is Wednesday, September 15th 2010. Late Starts have been indicated on the ELSS School Calendar.
NEW WEBSITE www.elss.ca
Check it out! It’s not complete but it is up and running. We hope to improve our communications to you with the advent of this new, easy to remember website.
EARLY REGISTRATION
Please join us for Early Registration on Thursday, September 2nd. Our Student Services Staff work very hard to ensure that you get a viable timetable.