This booklet was made possible by the Parents of the Northlands Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in conjunction with Northlands

Primary School.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be the leading, culturally diverse and family-oriented school. We inspire individuals to develop their intellect, creativity and character to become independent, adapta-ble, socially responsible and internationally minded citizens, by ensuring a dynamic, in-quiry-driven education of the highest standard.

**Some sites will require you to obtain a username and password from

the classroom teacher.

Websites

Educational Sites Web Address

BBC Bitesize (P1-P2)

www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z3g4d2p

BBC Bitesize (P3-P6)

www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/zbr9wmn

Studyladder.com** www.studyladder.com/

Education City** www.educationcity.com

Skoolbo UK Skoolbo UK App

http://www.skoolbo.co.uk/ http://www.skoolbo.co.uk/downloads/

DreamBox Learning** https://play.dreambox.com/login/r69m/msmq

Social Sites Web Address

Northlands Primary Bermuda

www.facebook.com/Northlands-Primary-Bermuda-278505895658939/

Northlands Primary PTA

www.facebook.com/groups/1793938550842880/

Ministry of Education www.moed.bm

Cambridge Primary Curriculum

http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-primary/cambridge-primary/curriculum/

We are seeking volunteers in the following areas: Artists Chaperones: School Sleepovers and Walkathons Classroom volunteers: Reading or assisting teacher Construction workers Electrical workers Fund raisers: Hot lunches, Grub Days, Special Assemblies PTA: Attend meetings, join committees, Masons Mentors for students Musicians and Disc Jockeys (DJs) Sports day helpers School Fair, Picnic, Play Assistance Transportation

Volunteers Principal’s Letter

Dear Parents, It is my pleasure to welcome you and your child/children to Northlands. The teachers and staff join me in saying we are happy to have you as part of the Northlands family. We hope this will be a successful and satisfying year for your child/children. The pages in this handbook are crammed with information that you will find useful about our school. Go through the entire handbook quickly at first. Then go back and read the pages that apply to you now. I suggest that parents and students read it together. Feel free to ask the classroom teacher, or any member of staff for additional information or clarity on the material in this handbook. Our staff believe that it is very important to do all that we can to support the children in our care; however, parents are the first teachers and children follow their lead. Please set the tone and expectation for your child. Let him/her know that doing their best at all times is what you expect! Together, we can make the educational experience first class for all children. Sincerely, Mr. Charles Joynes Principal

After School Activities

Absent From School If your child will be absent from school for any reason , please be sure to call the office at (441) 292-7866. We will then notify their teacher. If your child has a contagious illness, please do not send them to school. Call the school and also report the contagious illnesses to the Hamilton Health Center at (441) 236-0224. Your reporting will allow us to notify other parents of potential symptoms and avoid any wide spread epidemics. In the event your child becomes sick during the day, we will contact you. In order to do so, it is critical that we have up-to-date phone numbers, email address-es and an emergency contact number. Please be sure to inform the office when any changes are made to this information. If you expect your child to be absent from school for reasons other than general illness (such as important sporting or academic events, religious obser-vances, funerals, weddings, graduations, vacations taken within the school term) please contact the principal and your child’s teacher.

Afterschool Activities begin in September and run throughout the school year finishing in June. Most activities begin after school at 3:30pm and finish at 5:45pm. Parents can get applications for the Northlands Young Stars Afterschool Program here at the school, which is run by Northlands Teachers. The cost per week is $35 and siblings are $30 per week. 1. Bermuda Government Youth and Sports After School Program This program is not offered on our premises, however please check with the Ministry to confirm which schools in the surrounding area may have one. 2. Young Stars Afterschool Program. Young Stars is offered by a Northlands

Teacher, Ms. Denise Hill and group. An application along with $35 per week is what’s needed.

Please check with the office for other afterschool activities.

Arrival Students should arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:30. Morning devo-

standardized testing and common summative exams. The Cambridge Curriculum has been mandated from the Ministry of Education to be taught in all Bermuda Public Schools. Parents, please ensure that your child is fully rested the night before and comes to school prepared to take all tests. November

P3-6 Cambridge Progression Tests (Pre-test) P1-2 Gates McGinitie Reading Tests

April P6 Grade Assessment P5 Writing Prompt, Problem Solving P4 Grade Assessment

May P6 Cambridge Checkpoint Exams (Comprehensive) P3-5 Cambridge Progression Tests (Post-test) P4 CSAS Math & English

June P4 CSAS Science All End of Year Internal Exams

We discourage children from bringing toys or electronic gadgets to school. If they bring items to use on the bus, they should leave them with their teacher during the school day. If the classroom teacher ad-

vises students to bring electronic devices to class, then parents will be noti-fied. Cell phones are not to be brought to school. Northlands Primary School can always benefit from Parents and com-munity citizens, who volunteer their time and give back to the school.

Standardized Testing

Technology, Toys, & Cell Phones

Parents or visitors entering campus should proceed to the office first to sign in and obtain a visitor’s pass. If your child is late, or needs to leave the school early, please come to the office and complete the sign in/sign out procedure.

See Code of Conduct and/or Discipline Plan.

School Rules & Regulations

Security Protocol tions/assembly begins at 8:30am. Classes begin at 8:45. If your

child arrives late, your child should come to the office to obtain a “Late Pass” Dismissal Students in Primary 1 and 2 are dismissed at 3:00pm. Students in Primary 3 - 6 are dismissed at 3:27pm. At 3:30pm, students can board buses or wait for Parent-Pickup. Parents should have filled out dismissal information. Please be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher any changes in dismissal rou-tines. In an emergency, and for last minute change of plans, you may call the office (441)292-7866 or (441) 478-3309 and we will inform your child’s teacher. Unless informed in writing or by phone, your child will follow normal procedures. Please also send a note to your child’s teacher if your child is to be picked up by a person other than a parent.

Northlands has a strong commitment to arts education. Certified art specialists teach drama, music and visual arts. The arts curriculum is supplemented by guest artists and educators, as well field trips and mu-seum visits. During the year, the Arts Department produces numerous theatrical, musical, and visual displays.

Arrival and Dismissal

Arts

At assemblies we gather in the Main Hall. We sing songs, cele-brate learning, honor and participate in cultural celebrations and enjoy student performances. We appreciate parent support, especially for our cultural celebrations.

At

Northlands Primary School we believe that: Honesty, integrity and respect are essential for building trusting rela-

tionships. Each person is unique and has equal worth. All people are responsible for their actions. Open-mindedness, empathy and compassion are essential for living

in a diverse community. Leading a healthy and active lifestyle improves the quality of life. Expectations that are challenging lead to higher levels of perfor-

mance and improve results. Commitment, enthusiasm and perseverance lead to success. Education is a shared responsibility of students, family and school. Contributing positively to society and the environment is our shared

responsibility. Our lives and the life of the community are enriched by diversity. Nurturing curiosity and creativity stimulates exploration and discov-

ery throughout life.

The Co-

alition for the Protection of Children has spearheaded efforts to ensure

Assemblies

Beliefs

Breakfast Program

stu- dent achievement. Up-to-date, online access to grades, attendance and assignments makes it easier for parents, teachers and students to accu-rately monitory, identify and accelerate student progress. PowerSchool is available to Parents, Legal Guardians, and/or to required agencies. Custodial Parents/Legal Guardians may also request for other adults to have access to a child’s PowerSchool account (this person will receive a separate username and password and will only be allowed to view the specified child –in case of multiple children). New Users: To request a PowerSchool Username and Password, contact the Nor th-

lands Office.

Returning Users: If you have forgotten your Username/Password, need to have other children added, etc., then contact the Ministry of Education Helpdesk at help@moed.bm (441-278-3395.)

Login: Students and parents/guardians may access the system by going to: https://powerschool.moed.bm

At the be- ginning of the year, parents are given a yearly cal-endar stat- ing these specific dates of major tests. Only students in P4-P6 undergo

PowerSchool

and all of its publications, including web-based publications, without payment or other consideration. The purpose of the physical education pro-gram is to expose students to a wide vari-ety of physical skills in order to experi-ence success in a variety of physical ac-tivities. Students have fun while working to improve their fitness levels, recogniz-

ing

the value of life-long physical activity. PE uniforms and tracksuits can be purchased from Sidekicks. Students should only wear white socks and black, navy, blue, maroon or white sneakers. The PowerSchool Parent Portal is a powerful, easy-to-use, secure communi-cation tool connecting teachers, parents and students through the Ministry of Education's PowerSchool website. Using Pearson’s PowerSchool student

information system, the Parent Portal allows collaboration to improve

Photos

Physical Education (P.E.)

Primary 1 & 2 Tuesdays and Thursdays

Primary 3 & 4 Mondays and Wednesdays

Primary 5 & 6 Tuesdays and Fridays

that underprivileged children in Bermuda start the day ready to learn through its “Breakfast for Every Child” program. A sit down breakfast is served by our staff (and volunteers) beginning at 8:00 each morning. This includes cereal, milk, juice, fruit, and yogurt.

The an-nual school calendar is posted on the Ministry of Education’s Website (www.moed.bm). A calendar of school events will also be provided to

each family at the start of the school year.

Northlands has a defined set of aligned expectations for monitoring and supporting student conduct. The aim of our conduct guidelines is to help students take ownership of any problems and develop responsibil-ity to change any bad behaviors or choices. The core principles that guide our behavior expectations are: Students have a right to learn in a safe and secure environment and the

school’s responsibility is to uphold this right. Students act in good conscience, honestly and with integrity. Students value excellence in the pursuit of knowledge; be it academic,

social or sporting. Students are loyal to the school and supportive of its mission and belief

statements. Students support human diversity and work to build unity within that

diversity to create a harmonious community. At Northlands we follow the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention in Schools) core rules and we expect that all students will: Be respectful. Be ready to learn. Be safe. Be responsible.

Calendars

Code of Conduct

Parent Teacher Assoc (PTA) bers of the school administration to discuss a range of school related topics. PTA Meetings are held monthly in the Assembly Hall at 5:30pm. Parent forums will be offered throughout the school year. The top-ics will include, but are not limited to, an overview of the curriculum, specifics regarding math instruction, literacy instruction, and technolo-gy. The forums will occur at set times throughout the school year and will last about 1.5 hours. They are designed to provide an overview of the learning experiences that occur at school and will offer specific ad-vice for supporting children’s learning at home. Parents must secure regular attendance of children at school. Parents should ensure that their child attends school in the full,

school uniform, is on time and ready to learn. Parents should talk with their child daily regarding their school day. To stay informed, Parents should check PowerSchool to view their

child’s academic grades, attendance, and progress.

Parents should also attend Parent-Teacher Conferences with their child’s teacher at least once throughout the school year.

It is highly recommended that Parents attend regular PTA Meetings. Parents must always be professional and exhibit orderly conduct when on

school premises and/or on a school-related excursion. All Parents must first sign in at the Office and obtain a visitor’s pass, be-

fore proceeding to the child’s class. Research has shown that Parents have the greatest influence on their

child’s career choices. As Parents, you have the best knowledge of your child and should be

their strongest advocate. In the winter, the school arranges for individual and class photos for students with a professional photographer. Parents have the option to purchase these photos. Throughout the year, photographs will be taken of your child. The school will send out photo release forms for permission to use their likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media (“photo”) in any

Parent Responsibilities

Medications

The School Nurse and Office should be notified of all medications that stu-dents bring to school. Staff are not allowed to administer medications. Only a school nurse can administer medications. [Northlands does not have a full-time nurse on site.] Students are allowed to self-administer medications, provided that 1. the parent/guardian of the student provides written authorization for the

self-administration of medication and instructions on how the child is to take the medication,

2. releases liability for the school & its employees for any injury resulting from self-administration, and

3. provides the student’s name on the prescription label on the medication container &/or written consent from the Medical Practitioner.

Those students who self-administer medication must carry and store their own medications. Parents are strongly encouraged to medicate their child before or after school hours, if possible. In cases involving regular needle injections, such as Diabetes, a par-ent must additionally submit a Diabetes medical management plan signed by a Doctor that gives clear instructions on the times and volumes of medi-cine in each self-injection. The student must also be able to practice proper safety precautions for the handling and disposal of such equipment (needles and blood samples), and a specified method of disposal. The school reserves the right to withdraw a pupil's authorization to monitor blood glucose and self-administer diabetes medication if the student does not practice proper safety precautions. The following medications can be self-administered after the above requirements have been met:

Asthma medications: inhalers Anaphylaxis medications: Auto-injectable Epinephrine (Epi-pens) Diabetes medication: tablets, monitoring equipment, needles, Insu-

lin, Glucagon Cystic Fibrosis or Pancreatic Insufficiency: Pancreatic Enzymes General meds: aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cough medicine

The PTA offers monthly opportunities for parents to meet with mem-

Communication Communications from the school to Parents. Open and ongoing communication with parents is one of our top priorities. Please call or contact us by e-mail if any questions or concerns arise. At times, notices will be sent directly to your email with all pertinent school activities. We strive to communicate electronically to reduce paper. Information and celebrations may also be posted on the School’s Facebook page “Northlands Primary Bermuda” the PTA’s Facebook page “Northlands Primary PTA” and on the Ministry‘s Website (www.moed.bm). Communications from Parents to Teachers and/or Principal. If you need to meet with a teacher please contact her/him in advance to schedule a mutually convenient time. The teacher will let you know of the best way to make contact. For student-teacher issues, please make contact with your child’s teacher first before contacting Administration. For issues regarding absence from school refer to “ABSENT FROM SCHOOL”. For all other issues that require interruptions to the normal school day: appointments off campus, emergency pick-ups, hospitaliza-tions, etc, please contact the Office. Formal conferences to discuss your child’s progress are held twice a year, in the fall and in spring. You will receive advanced notice of the time and date for your conferences. Written reports are sent twice a year, in January and at the end of the school year, or when a child leaves the school.

Lost and Found

Parents are encouraged to mark or label all their student’s items so they can easily be identified and returned. Labeled items that are found will be returned to the student. Items not labled (shirts, bags, coats, etc.) are placed in the Lost and Found bins located near the office. Valuable items found are turned in to the school office. Lost items should be reported to the school office and parents should check the bins for any returned items.

Stu-

dents bring a packed lunch from home. All meals should contain any combination of the following:

Water only. Sodas is not permitted, Students are not encour-aged to drink juice boxes, flavored water, or fruit juices in school.

Hot Lunches are available on Mondays and Fr idays. The PTA reserve their right to have Hot Dog Lunches on Wednesdays.

Fresh fruit. Fruit roll ups and Fruit snacks are not fruit. Yoghurt is another healthy snack option. Main meal. The repeated consumption of Lunchables, canned

foods, and microwave meals are not healthy to developing chil-dren. Students also do not have access to a microwave in school and therefore, we request that no microwave meals be sent.

Snack. Candy, chips and chocolates are forbidden from being brought to school. Fresh veggies, a cookie, peanuts and popcorn are healthy snacks.

Lunch

The Learning Support Programme is designed to meet the unique needs of students in a range of educa-tional settings. This pro- gramme also provides sup-

port to school personnel, parents and guardians of students who receive support ser-vices. Via the implementation of the Individualized Education Programme (IEP), students are provided with supports such as specialized instruction, materials and/or equipment that are based on the results of continuous assessment and evaluation based on the individual and unique student needs. The Learning Support Programme provides resources, techniques, instructional strategies and interventions that give students the physical, social, emotional and intellectual support needed to learn.

The School Library is a place for students to read, inquire and share. Our collection contains hundreds of books; fiction (picture books through easy reader, series, chapter books and graphic novels), non-fiction and refer-ence. We also have a wide selection of magazines, newspapers, recorded music and books, and DVDs. The library has many online resources, including databases, e-books and sites to support literacy and grade level inquiries.

Library Services

Learning Support

The school counselor, Mrs. Barbara Hollis, supports students emotion-ally and socially in all aspects of the school environment. She is also available to discuss issues of concern with parents on a private and indi-vidual basis. The counselor invites parents periodically during the year to discuss relevant social/emotional and parenting topics.

\ Our curriculum offers a balanced program of academic studies and extra-curricular activities, which aim at helping all students of all nationalities to develop self-awareness and a love of learning. The philosophy is child-centered and inquiry based, offering a challenging yet supportive learning environment. Students in Primary 1 through Primary 6 follow the Cam-bridge International Examinations (CIE) Primary Curriculum as man-dated by the Bermuda Ministry of Education. http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/

Conferences

Counselors

cambridge-primary/cambridge-primary/curriculum/ Students are tested in English, Maths, and Science and receive a score out of six in each discipline (six being the highest and zero being the lowest). The Ministry of Education deems three out of six as under-standing the curriculum. Additional Re- sources: Brown and Co on Reid Street has the largest sup-ply of student workbooks and Cambridge Text-books. Bermu- da Bookstore (just across the street), also sells textbooks for the Cambridge Curriculum. Students at Northlands wear a uniform to school. There is a Summer and Winter uniform. The Maroon polo shirt (with school logo) and the school tie can be purchased from English Sports Shop. In winter, students may wear a navy blue sweater or non-hooded jacket. School shirts must be tucked into pants or skirts. Students may utilize navy blue belts to prevent clothes from sagging. School shoes must be black or brown shoes. The P.E. Uniform and tracksuit can be purchased from Side-kicks. Only white, maroon, navy blue or

Curriculum

When a child enters school, parents must complete a medical record of their child’s medical background and immunizations. The school nurse maintains these records. The nurse’s office should be notified of any changes in the health of a student, such as allergies or new medical con-ditions. The school should be notified of all medications that the student brings onto the campus. All instances of communicable diseases should be reported to the school nurse. A letter of notification highlighting signs and symptoms of the disease is subsequently sent to parents. Please con-tact the nurse if you have questions regarding the school’s health and safety policies.

Stu-

dents in Northlands are asked to read at home for 20 minutes each day. As students mature, homework involving the extension of class work and the completion of projects becomes a routine part of academic life. Homework is usually assigned by the homeroom teacher. Unfinished class work, memorization tasks or additional reading may be as-signed occasionally. General homework time guidelines:

Primary 1 & 2 - no more than 20 minutes Primary 3 & 4 - no more than 30 minutes Primary 5 & 6 - no more than 45 minutes

Health and Safety

Homework

to-

date telephone number where you can be reached during the day. If we are unable to reach you, we also ask that you provide us with the name and tel-ephone number of a relative, friend, or neighbor who we can contact if we cannot reach you. Please be sure that the school has updated phone num-bers and email addresses. Periodically throughout the school year children take field trips into our surrounding community. These trips range from attending a play to visiting

muse- ums. They are connected to our units of inquiry and offer valuable learning experiences. Some field trips require parent chaperones, which offers an additional opportunity for volunteering. You will be sent a gen-eral field trip permission form that allows the teacher to take the students on supervised trips during the school day within the local environment.

During the school year, Northlands Primary will schedule days in which students can dress in casual clothes (non-school uniform). Some grub days will cost a small fee. Please ensure that students dress appropriately.

Grub Days

Field Trips

Emergency Contact

Discipline Plan

black sneakers are to be worn on P.E. days. All students wear their uni-form three days a week and wear their P.E. kit the other two days. Girls

may wear a pair of stud earring in their ears and either blue or black hair accessories. Makeup should not be worn to school. All students will wear their uniform correctly and with pride. Northlands Primary endorses drinking water throughout the day. Stu-dents are asked to bring water, rather than sweet drinks or juice boxes to school. In

case of emergency events such as an early school closing or hurricane evacu-ation, you will be contacted by email and/or by telephone (call or text message). In case of accident or emergency of any kind, we need an up-

Drinking Water

Dress Code

Summer Uniform Winter Uniform

Boys Maroon polo shirt Khaki shorts

Maroon socks

White shirt and tie Grey pants

Maroon socks

Girls Maroon polo shirt Navy blue skirt Maroon socks

White shirt & tie Navy blue skirt Maroon socks