First Day Packages

In an effort to save paper, decrease costs and improve efficiencies, we ask that to visit the following webpage to view information that is found in the September First Day Packages.

Meet the Staff Night

A message will be sent out on School Day outlining the details of the Meet the Staff Night. This School Council event is a great way to meet the staff who work with your child(ren), tour classrooms and meet fellow families.

Safe Welcome

All visitors to Mary Johnston Public School will be required to press the intercom by our main entry door by the office (NOT the parking lot doors) in order to gain entry into the school. Students and staff will use access cards to enter and exit the building throughout the day.  If you are picking your child up at the office between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, please call ahead as there may not be anyone available to assist you.  We will do our best to keep the wait time to a minimum but please give yourself lots of time if you have an appointment.  Please be respectful of this protocol and do not request or expect students to allow you entry to the school as this puts them in a difficult situation. Students will not be allowed to open the entry doors for anyone wanting entrance. Please follow the proper protocol and request entry through the intercom at the front entrance.

Kiss ‘n’ drop

We will be continuing with our “Kiss ‘N’ Drop” program.  The “Kiss ‘N’ Drop” program has been developed to address two concerns from the school’s perspective.  First, the program assists to foster independence for our students.  This independence can be demonstrated by teaching students to keep their coat racks neat and tidy on their own as they enter or leave the school.  The “Kiss ‘N’ Drop” program is designed for the students to take pride in and responsibility for their school.  Second, it is designed for parents to alleviate the separation anxiety that sometimes occurs with children.  Parents can give their child a hug and kiss outside the entrance doors, thereby alleviating the temptation to walk their child to the classroom and hang up their clothing or take things out of the child’s knapsack.  The teacher on duty will let the students into the school.

Ultimately, with this program, we want the students to foster respect and responsibility for their school.  We understand that there may be times where parents may want to talk to the teacher before or after school.  However, we encourage parents to write a note or leave a voice mail message at school.  The teacher will respond to you at a time where s/he is not so distracted at the beginning or end of the school day.  The program will also reduce (and hopefully eliminate) the number of parents who enter the school and reduce the congestion particularly at the beginning and end of the school day.  If we want to teach our students to arrive and be on time, then, we, as adults, need to model this for our children.  We thank you in advance for your support.

School Supplies

We would ask that parents hold off on purchasing any school supplies until your child receives the information from their classroom teacher.  Each teacher may have a different expectation regarding the supplies your child will need.

Student Accident Insurance

During the course of the school year, our students have many opportunities to engage in various learning activities. Specific courses such as our science and technology classes, that involve the use of tools, chemicals and machinery, and our physical education classes, that involve movement with equipment, carry a risk of injury. In addition, students participating in the interscholastic athletics program or field trips should be aware that there is a risk of injury when engaging in those activities.

Sometimes, accidents result from the nature of the activity and can occur without any fault of the student, or the School Board or its employees or agents, or the facility where the activity is taking place.  The Waterloo Region District School Board does not provide any accidental disability, dismemberment, dental, death, or medical expenses or insurance on behalf of the participating students.

Please see the start up information and scroll down to the section on student insurance.  While participation in the program is voluntary, we want to clearly communicate the importance of acquiring student accident insurance to the parents/guardians within our school community. The insurance being offered will provide students with excellent medical and dental coverage at a reasonable cost.