Arrival and Dismissal
The safe arrival and dismissal of our students is of utmost importance to us.
Kindergarten
Junior and Senior Kindergarten students begin their day at 8:30 a.m. and may be dropped off at school between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Children are brought directly to their classroom by their parents or care-giver by way of the Kindergarten entrance at the front of the school. A staff member is there to greet and welcome children as they arrive. Children are dismissed directly to their parents' care at 3:30 p.m. to ensure a prompt and safe collection routine.
Grades 1 to 6
Students may arrive between 8:15 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. and proceed to the rear of the school where they may gather and visit with their friends on the playground. A duty teacher is present on the playground at this time. When the bell rings at 8:30 A.M., students assemble in their class lines and proceed into the school with their teachers.
Attendance
Attendance is recorded and reported to the office every morning. The receptionist follows up every unaccounted-for absence with a telephone call to ensure that each child is safe. Parents are asked to provide written notes in advance of absences for appointments. In the event of illness, parents are asked to send a note to school when the child returns.
If you decided to keep your child at home due to illness, please call the office and report it to the receptionist. The office is open to receive calls at 8:00 A.M.
Daily Transportation
Some students arrive at Albert College daily on the school van which is offered for an additional fee. The school van picks up Junior and Senior School students on three different routes; Prince Edward County, Napanee and Kingston. Please enquire about daily transportation during registration.
The majority of our students are dropped off and collected by parents or caregivers. Parents communicate arrangements with their child's teacher and the office to ensure a safe routine at arrival and departure times.
Collection procedures and times are important to ensure the safety and security of all students. Students are collected promptly at the end of the day unless they are participating in an activity or are registered in the After-School Care program.
After-School Care Programme
An after school care program is available for families from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee subject to availability. Students participate in arts and crafts, fun games, a weekly “movie day” and supervised outdoor play. A light snack is also provided during this time. Please contact our Junior School office to arrange for this service.
Nursing Services
The Junior School is supported by a full-time nursing staff from Monday to Friday. A registered nurse visits the school intermittently and responds when any child becomes ill during the day. The college is equipped with a complete infirmary and medical records are kept on each student. In addition, Epi-pens are located in all classrooms and common areas in the event of allergic reactions. The majority of teachers have first-aid certification.
Should your child become ill during the school day, we will consult the nurse and notify you immediately. Please ensure a back-up plan for collecting your child in case of illness. It is never fun to be sick at school! We also want to minimize each student and teacher's contact with communicable illnesses like colds and flu. The main office is equipped with a supervised infirmary room where your child can be comfortable until his or her ride comes.
Emergency Closure
Should it become necessary to close the school for any reason (e.g., snowstorm, power failure, sewer back-up), the school will telephone parents or emergency contacts to arrange for children to be collected.
In the event of a morning snowstorm, please tune in to any of Belleville's local FM radio stations to listen for cancellations, or call the main office. Parents traveling from rural areas are advised to keep their children at home during major snowstorms.
Field Trip Policy
Students participate in various excursions to complement their classroom learning. Primary students normally do not venture outside of the local area. Junior students may travel as far as Toronto on special trips. There is usually a limited number of spaces available for parents to accompany students on class outings. Interested individuals are encouraged to speak directly to the classroom teacher. Every effort is made to give all interested parents a chance to chaperone at some point during the year.
Under certain circumstances, it may be possible for younger siblings under school age to accompany a class on a local field trip. However, a sibling from another grade in the school may not be withdrawn to join the field trip of another class.
Special Events
A number of special events are held in the Junior School each year. Picnics, barbecues, the arts festival, dramatic productions, open houses, talent shows, to name a few! You are most welcome to bring a friend and enjoy any of our family events! If you would like to help organize, we would be happy to have your help, too! Parents are always welcome as special guests in the classroom if volunteering to assist in an activity or share a special talent with children. The Volunteer Handbook is distributed each year and includes specific information on how to help or get involved. We would love to see you!