Dear Coventry Hills School Families,

We are excited to start a new school year tomorrow morning! It is a pleasure welcoming all our students back to school and seeing the excitement, energy, and enthusiasm throughout our learning community. Grades 1 to 5 students will all be on the school compound this year and class lists are posted on grade doors. Additional staff will be on the compound with student master lists to assist you in locating your child’s teacher.  As we begin the year together, I would like to share some important reminders and information to help ensure a safe and successful start for all students.

Nut and Sesame-Free School

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority. Coventry Hills School is a nut and sesame-free school because we have several students and staff members who experience severe, life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. We ask that families do not send any products containing peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame to school. Examples include:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts
• Pistachios
• Brazil nuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Sesame seeds and sesame-containing products

If a student brings a nut or sesame product to school, the first occurrence will result in the student being asked to eat in a separate area, and a reminder letter will be sent home. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe environment for everyone in our school community. Thank you in advance for ensuring the safety of our entire school community.

Street and Parking Safety

Student safety extends beyond our school building and includes the areas surrounding the school. Please help us keep students safe by following these important guidelines:

• Park only in designated parking areas. Be kind to our neighbours and do not block driveways.  Do not park too close to corners as our students cannot cross safely. The school parking lot is designated for our staff to come and go freely.
• The area on the west side of the school is a loading zone. We ask parents to use this area for a maximum of 10 minutes.
• Please do not make U-turns at crosswalk intersections.
• The front of our school is a bussing zone.
• Follow all posted traffic signs and be mindful of students, staff, and crossing pedestrians.

Thank you for Counsellor Andrew Yule who worked to install the speed bump on Coventry Hills Way to slow down traffic in front of our school. In addition, thank you to our Traffic Committee. By working together, we can create a safe arrival and dismissal experience for all students. Enjoy the beautiful weather and take the opportunity to walk to school.

End-of-Day Dismissal Procedures

During dismissal, Grade 1 and 2 students require additional support in connecting safely with their parents or caregivers. For student safety, please do not take your child from the dismissal area before the teacher has seen and confirmed that the child has connected with their parent or caregiver. Creating space around the exits helps teachers efficiently and safely connect every child with the appropriate adult. We ask parents stand back at the edge of the compound so our other students can move through easily.

We ask families to:

• Allow space near dismissal doors for students to exit the building.
• Stand in a designated location where both your child and their teacher can easily identify you.

As we begin the school year, teachers will escort their classes to their designated dismissal doors to help students learn routines and ensure a smooth transition at the end of the day. Once students are familiar with dismissal procedures, we will gradually move toward a system where students are dismissed independently and meet their families at a pre-arranged location outside the school.

While there will be fewer staff members supervising outside this year, there will still be adults available to support students and families. If you are unable to locate your child, please speak with any staff member who is outside.

We are also teaching students an important safety routine: if their parent or caregiver is not present at dismissal time, they should immediately find a teacher. Staff will then escort the students to the office, where they can safely wait to be picked up.

Because teachers are not on supervision after dismissal, we ask families to:

• Arrive on time for pick-up at 3:25 pm
• Call the school at 403-777-6350 if you know you will be delayed and will not be able to meet your child.
• Ensure children understand their after-school plan and do not make any changes without your permission.

It is important that families make appropriate arrangements for student pick-up. Please remember that students attending Nose Creek School or North Trail High School cannot be expected to pick up younger siblings from Coventry Hills School, as their dismissal times occur later in the day.Thank you for taking the time to create a clear plan that ensures your child's safety at the end of each school day.

As routines become established, we will continue to update families regarding dismissal procedures and supervision expectations. Please look for additional information on upcoming Principal Messages.

Thank you for your partnership, patience, and support as we begin another exciting year of learning together. We look forward to a wonderful school year filled with growth, learning, and success for all students.

Sincerely,

Benita Dalton
Principal
Coventry Hills School