In order to follow our motto “Excellence By Choice” for all of our
350 plus population, some regulations are necessary to ensure individual
rights while allowing efficient operation of the school and its members.
Student conduct at school or while involved in extra-curricular activities
must always honour the rights, dignity, and safety of others. Students
are expected to respect the rights of classmates to learn and exercise
self discipline and common sense in their behaviour.
During non-instructional times, students may have access to supervised
areas of the school. Please note school doors open at 8:20 a.m. unless
a supervised activity has been scheduled. The Cafeteria is not available.
Monday through Friday students will be reading for the first half of
the period and will be starting on their homework during the second half
of the period.
Every third Friday students will be involved in a planned activity which
they will have earned through positive behaviour in the prior three weeks.
In recognizing the needs for adolescence to build peer relationships,
develop tolerance and acceptance of each other and contribute to the climate
of D.A. Ferguson through being a part of a team, every third Friday, students
will be involved in a planned activity which encourages all students to
participate.
A reasonable amount of after school homework (up to one hour) may be
assigned for Monday through Thursday. Weekend homework is not usually assigned.
All assignments are due on their due date.
An assignment that is one day late may be deducted 25%.
Students will be expected to complete assignments within a reasonable
length of time. Students with incomplete and missed assignments may
be retained at noon and after school to complete those assignments.
It is important to complete these assignments as most material builds upon
previously learned material.
Parents will be contacted when a student has not completed three assignments
in a subject within a reporting period.
It is recognized, that, on occasion, circumstances arise that make it
difficult for a student to complete his/her homework. In these instances,
it is necessary that the student speaks to the teacher before the class
begins.
Student placement shall be determined after careful consideration of
many factors and a decision arrived at with the long range welfare of the
student as the main priority. Consultation will take place with student
and parents with the ultimate decision being made by the principal and
the staff.
a) Class Absence: If a student is to miss a classroom period for any reason, he/she
must report to the main office first, and obtain permission. Mr.
Collins or Mrs. Wilk, only, may excuse from school, students who have become
ill, and who, in the teacher’s opinion should be sent home. At all
other times, students must have a written request from a parent or guardian
before being granted permission to leave school during instructional time.
b) Absence From School Please note: a telephone call (223-8971) is required when a student
is absent. Please call on the day of absence before classes start.
Secretaries are available at 8:00 a.m. with 24 hour voice mail available.
Should we not hear about an absent student, a phone call will be placed
to your residence or place of work to clarify the student’s absence.
Please note: Missing 20 school days in a year constitutes lack
of instructional time to complete the course of studies.
c) Truancy/ Unexcused Absence: 1st Truancy Letter sent to parents to be acknowledged
and returned to administration. Subsequent truancies will require parent contact and may result
in an in-school suspension, denial of school privileges or suspension from
school. The student will be required to complete all missed assignments.
Each student is leased a locker. His/her books and all personal
belongings are to be kept in his/her locker. Lockers are to be locked
at all times using combination locks only. Homeroom teachers will
keep combinations in case of an emergency; otherwise combinations should
not be given out to others. Lockers are to be kept in neat order
at all times and are subject to periodic inspection and student cleaning.
In particular, students are never to leave valuables in the gymnasium change
rooms. Teachers are not to be asked to care for students’ valuables.
Students who bring their bicycles to school must ensure that they are locked
to the bike racks.
Students are to respect the use of school property and materials.
Anyone guilty of wilful damage or abuse maybe subject to full repayment
for damages caused and possible legal action. The students of D.A. Ferguson are not to be on the property of W.R.
Myers High School. This area is strictly out of bounds. For
those students who have classes in this building, they are to leave the
premises when classes are over. Any student requested by a parent
or teacher to be in this building for a legitimate reason, will report
to the office of W.R. Myers relaying their request.
With a 30 minute lunch break, it is necessary for many students to remain
at school during this time. Students doing so must eat, under supervision,
in the designated area (homerooms or the cafeteria on a rotating basis).
Lunches are not to be eaten in the hall. We also request that drinks
(slurpees, pop, etc.) not be consumed in the hallways or the gymnasium.
Students are allowed access to W.R. Myers Cafeteria between 12:00 – 12:15
Monday – Thursday to purchase lunch. A D.A. Ferguson staff member
will supervise the cafeteria during this time.
Parents: If students wish to leave the school during lunch
break, the school is to be made aware of these arrangements. If your child is going home
for lunch on a daily basis, please complete and return the lunch time permission
slip at the back of the calendar.
Students are reminded that all school functions held other than instructional
times, both in and beyond the confines of the school (i.e. Field trips,
sports events, and music festivals, etc.) are governed by all school regulations.
Participants should be aware that all activities are an earned privilege.
Regular attendance, acceptable behaviour and academic standards are required.
D.A. Ferguson Dress Code Guidelines: The students of D.A. Ferguson Middle School are encouraged to dress
in accordance with the dress code in this school because good social judgment
includes knowing what is appropriate to wear. Dress should be clean, neat
and modest and will not include profane gestures, inappropriate language
or advertising of alcohol or illegal substances.
If tank tops are worn, the shoulders must be wide enough to cover the
brassiere straps.
Spaghetti straps are not acceptable unless worn with a cover-up.
The cover-up is to be worn at all times.
Halter tops or any backless tops are unacceptable.
Tops must be long enough to cover the midriff.
Shorts should be an appropriate length not showing the upper thigh.
Muscle shirts are unacceptable.
We are very proud of the positive dress standards that the students
of D.A. Ferguson exhibit and encourage them to continue this practise.
The Province of Alberta SCHOOL ACT states the following expectations
with respect to student conduct: A student shall conduct himself so as to reasonably comply with
the following code of conduct: Be diligent in pursuing his/her studies; Attend school regularly and punctually; Co-operate fully with everyone authorized by
the board to provide education programs and other services; Comply with the rules of the school; Account to his teachers for his/her conduct; Respect the rights of others.
Respect for others, using common sense, following school regulations
and compliance with the code of conduct should result in limited discipline
concerns. However, on occasion, students will make inappropriate
choices, and procedures involving the student(s), teachers, parents, administrators
and counsellors will be implemented to resolve the problem.
A serious breach of student conduct may result in school suspension
by the principal. Suspensions may range from class periods up to
five days. The Board shall deal with all matters of suspension for
more than five days and with recommendation for expulsion.
The possession and/or use of weapons or acts of violence are serious
breaches of student conduct and shall not be tolerated. Should there be
an occurrence, immediate, appropriate action( in harmony with School Board
Policies) will result.
There will be no smoking in the school or on school property.
Smoking materials will be confiscated with appropriate discipline procedures
to follow. The possession and/or use of/or being under the influence of
alcohol/drugs is a serious breach of school conduct. Should any of
these inappropriate behaviours occur, parents will be notified, criminal
charges may be laid and immediate suspension will result.
To ensure personal safety and prevent damage to property, throwing
snowballs or other dangerous objects are not permitted. Laser pens can
cause severe eye injury and must not be brought to school.
Announcement/Class
Telephones
Please listen quietly to intercom announcements. Classroom telephones
may be used or answered only by teachers or assistants.
It is the requirement of Alberta Learning that schools and school boards
in this Province will take the necessary steps to ensure that schools are
safe and caring places. Such schools are “physically, emotionally
and psychologically safe” and provide “an environment wherein all are accorded
respect and dignity and their safety and well being are paramount considerations”.
Horizon School Division #67 and D.A. Ferguson Middle School are committed
to providing an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect
and dignity. If students feel that they are being harassed we strongly
encourage them to communicate their concerns to their teachers, school
counsellor or the administration. Incidents will be investigated and appropriate
actions will be taken. See: Horizon
School Division Policy IFAA - Student Harassment
