Welcome To MacGregor!

“Mustangs matter!  We are a respectful, caring and committed community striving for academic, artistic and athletic excellence.”  

Welcome to MacGregor Senior Public School! All staff at MacGregor are here to help you grow academically, socially and emotionally. As a member of the MacGregor community, you will quickly realize that life at Mac is fast-paced, exciting, academically challenging, rewarding, and full of opportunities. These are two years you will never forget!

In the next few months you will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of educational experiences. You are encouraged to start the new school year with a positive attitude, put forth a dedicated effort, keep an open mind, and take risks! 

The staff is looking forward to working with you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  Thank you in advance for your co-operation and support. We are looking forward to a terrific year!

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL

Attendance: 

Please email: mcg-attendance@wrdsb.ca  OR call: 519-885-6200 ext. 1  

Please call the office at 519-885-6200 to speak with an administrator or in an emergency situation. 

MacGregor has a voicemail system. It is for non-emergency situations when a parent /guardian needs to contact a teacher. It allows direct communication between parents and teachers.

DAILY SCHEDULE

At MacGregor Public School we operate on a five day cycle.   The entry bell rings at 8:15 a.m.; students may enter the school, socialize with friends, get a breakfast snack, and prepare for the day. Students may enter earlier if participating in a scheduled co-curricular activity.

Students must be organized and prepared for their morning classes and be in their homeroom, seated at 8:30 a.m. for attendance and O Canada. After our two nutrition/activity breaks, students will report directly to their period five and period nine classes.  Students should have all their materials with them for each block of the day – visiting lockers in between classes is not permitted.  

Regular Bell Schedule

Item Time
 Entry Bell  8:15 am
   Five-minute warning bell  8:25 am
   Period 1  8:30-9:00 am
   Period 2  9:00-9:30 am
   Period 3  9:30-10:00 am
   Period 4  10:00-10:30 am
 1st Nutrition Break  10:30-11:10 am
   Period 5  11:10-11:40 am
   Period 6  11:40-12:10 pm
   Period 7  12:10-12:40 pm
   Period 8  12:40-1:10 pm
 2nd Nutrition Break  1:10-1:50 pm
   Period 9  1:50-2:20 pm
   Period 10  2:20-2:50 pm

 

SCHOOL ROUTINES

  1. Attendance

….. when you are absent

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) phone the school prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day a student is absent. You can email mcg-attendance@wrdsb.ca or leave a message by calling (519-885-6200 ext. 1).  A written explanation is required upon your return to school if the absence is not explained by telephone. It is a student’s responsibility to see his/her teachers to get any work missed. 

….. when you are late

When arriving late, all students must report to the office for an admit slip and must sign the late arrival book. Students must  give their admit slip to the teacher upon arrival in class. 

….. when you need to leave early

A note or phone call from a student’s parent/guardian is required. The note is first shown to the teacher then left in the office. All students leaving school early must first go to the office and sign the early dismissal clipboard. 

In the event of illness or injury, students should report to the office and use the office phone to contact a parent/guardian.  An administrator or secretary will talk to the parent in such a situation. Students should not use their cell phone to contact parents directly unless given permission from the office. 

….. when you are withdrawn on a short-term basis

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are required to notify the principal in advance of the withdrawal and complete the “Temporary Student Withdrawal” form, thus assuming responsibility for a student’s absence from school and for any work or tests missed during that period. 

  1. Inclement Weather/ Emergency Closing

In case of inclement weather, please listen to the radio, check the Board website (www.wrdsb.on.ca) or Twitter feed (@wrdsb) for bus cancellations or school closures.  Bus delays may be found on the transportation website (www.stswr.ca).  Please do not call the school because our lines must be free to receive emergency information. 

Please keep the office informed of any changes to personal contact information (e.g. phone numbers, emergency contacts).  We rely on this information to contact parents/guardians in case of emergency.

  1. Off-Campus

Written parent/guardian permission is required for students to participate in all off-campus programs. Permission forms will be sent home or via School Day approximately one to two weeks before off-campus activities take place. Verbal permission and/or handwritten notes will not be accepted.                          

  1. Locks and Lockers 

Lockers are assigned individually or in pairs depending on a student’s homeroom.  Students may provide their own combination lock or a combination lock may be purchased from the school. Lock combinations will be kept on file in the office. Lockers are the property of WRDSB and accessible to administrators at any time. 

  1. Administration of Medication 

A medication form is available in the office and must be completed by a parent or guardian when a physician deems it necessary that prescribed drugs be administered at school.  The medication must be brought to school in a pharmacist’s container and clearly labeled with the name of the student, the name of the drug and administration procedures. The medication will be kept in the office and administered there. Non-prescription medication (e.g. aspirin) is not to be administered by staff. The office should be kept informed if a student has any medical issues or concerns.  

  1. Nutrition Break Procedures 

Students must remain at school during nutrition breaks.  Students are encouraged to eat during both nutrition breaks. Students will eat in their designated area: classroom or the lunchroom. All food must be eaten in these areas. Food may not be consumed outside on the playground, in the hall or in other parts of the school. The parking lot, portables and main entrance area of the school are out of bounds during the two breaks. 

  1. Anaphylaxis/Environmental Sensitivities

Several of our staff and students have life-threatening allergies to nuts and nut products, as well as sensitivities to strong fragrances.   Please do not send nuts or nut products to school with your student, and refrain from wearing strong perfumes or scents when entering our building.  Students must not spray perfume, cologne, etc. in the hallways or other common areas of the school, including on busses. 

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

ASSIGNMENT/HOMEWORK POLICY

The amount of homework that students have will vary from night to night and from week to week. On nights when there is no assigned work, students are encouraged to read a book, review notes, etc. Please contact your child’s teacher if your child is regularly spending more than one hour on homework per night, 

Students can connect with their teachers to determine times during the 5 day cycle where they can complete unfinished work.  

Students are expected to complete all assignments/work on time and to the best of their ability. Students who do not complete work in the allotted time may be expected to come to the teacher’s classroom during breaks or after school to finish, and may also see this reflected in their learning skills on their report card.  

It is important that students develop positive routines early in the year with respect to homework and assignments. We thank each parent for helping his/her child have a quiet study/work area and a consistent time each night for doing homework. 

 

BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS

The Waterloo Region District School Board Code of Conduct and the Education Act create expectations for behaviour for all persons on school property. Pursuant to the Education Act, Principals are required to maintain proper order and discipline in schools, and pupils are responsible to the Principal for their conduct and are required to accept such discipline as would be exercised by a reasonable, kind, firm and judicious parent.

To meet the goal of creating a safe, caring and accepting school environment, the WRDSB and MacGregor P.S. support the use of proactive, positive practices including consequences for inappropriate behaviour, and including progressive discipline, which includes suspension and expulsion where necessary.

At MacGregor we have aligned our Code of Conduct with the Education Act, The WRDSB Code Of Conduct, Bill 212 and Bill 157.  Bill 212, which deals with Progressive discipline and School Safety, is an Act that amends the Education Act with respect to behaviour, discipline and safety.  Bill 157, which deals with a duty to report, requires all Board employees to report to the principal if they become aware that a student may have engaged in activity which could be considered for suspension or expulsion. This Bill also requires Board employees to respond to incidents that may have a negative impact on school climate, which includes but is not limited to bullying and racist or sexist comments.

MacGregor Public School Code of Conduct

Outlined below are the expectations that exist for MacGregor students.  We believe that they are fair and reasonable and will allow all students to be successful and feel safe at school.

Teachers and administration have a responsibility to communicate these expectations and enforce the consequences. This information will be shared with students by staff and should be reviewed by students / parents on a regular basis.  Students are expected to abide by these expectations and to accept the consequences if they do not abide.  

MacGregor students are expected, with parental and staff support, to develop the self-discipline and social skills necessary to act in ways that respect the needs, feelings, heritage and rights of all students, staff and volunteers.  

All McGregor students are expected to:

  • abide by the Mustang Character Attributes
  • be fair, kind to, and honest with others 
  • come to school every day and be on time
  • come to school prepared to learn
  • learn to solve problems through productive methods (e.g. talking through a problem)
  • ask teachers for help and advice when solving a problem
  • act in a way that respects the learning environment of all students 
  • consider the effects of their actions on others
  • use appropriate language with teachers and peers

There are several infractions for which a suspension may be imposed by an administrator. 

The following behaviours will not be tolerated within the Waterloo Region District School Board on school property or in school-sponsored or related activities. 

  • possessing alcohol, illegal and/or illicit drugs or being under the influence of any of these substances
  • uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person
  • swearing at a teacher / person in position of authority
  • committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property
  • bullying behaviour
  • any act considered by the principal to be injurious to the moral tone of the school
  • any act considered by the principal to be injurious to the physical or mental well-being of any member of the school community
  • any act considered by the principal to be contrary to the Board or school Code of Conduct

Suspensions are a minimum of one school day and a maximum of 20 days. Administration will consider mitigating factors before imposing a suspension.

There are also several behaviours for which an administrator may recommend an expulsion.  These include:

  • possessing a weapon 
  • using a weapon to cause or threaten bodily harm
  • committing physical assault that causes bodily harm requiring treatment from a medical practitioner
  • committing sexual assault
  • trafficking in weapons or illegal drugs
  • giving alcohol to a minor
  • committing robbery

For certain behaviours, administrators must contact police under the School Police Protocol. Parents will be advised in any situation where police are involved. If the law is broken an administrator will contact the parent/guardian and police. 

Where weapons or drugs are involved, administrators will confiscate the weapon, drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

The Superintendent of Schools will be consulted regarding other additional actions in these more serious situations.

 

In the interest of health, safety and well-being of staff, students and visitors at MacGregor, the following guidelines apply:

 

  • Students remain on school property upon arrival and until dismissal. Students may only leave school property if a parent/guardian picks them up. 

 

  • We encourage students to use a healthy and active mode of transportation for getting to and from school. Walking is an excellent choice. Students may also use their bikes, scooters, rollerblades or skateboards to get to school. To ensure the safety of all students and pedestrians, bikes, scooters, skateboards and rollerblades are not to be used on the sidewalk in front of the school (including the bus loading zone). Skateboards and scooters are to be carried and bikes are to be walked on school property. Rollerblades are to be taken off and carried on school property. 
  • Eating is not allowed in class, except during Nutrition Breaks or when authorized by the teacher. Students are not to eat in the hallways or the schoolyard.
  • Students are not to go to lockers or washrooms without permission. 
  • To ensure the safety of all students, any game or activity that involves tackling or rough play is not permitted on school grounds – no physical contact is allowed. 
  • Students are asked to leave all jewelry and valuables in their lockers when they have phys. ed. class or intramurals. Students take full responsibility for lost items/valuables if they take them to the change rooms in the gym. 
  • Students are discouraged from bringing large amounts of money to school. 
  • Students are asked not to share their locker combination with their friends. Lockers are to have a lock on them at all times.
  • Lighters, matches, knives, vapes and laser pens are not to be brought to school. Staff or administration will confiscate any inappropriate items and will notify parents.  These items will be returned to parents only.
  • To ensure the safety of all students and staff, the throwing of snowballs, chunks of snow, or chunks of ice is not allowed on school property.

 

 

WIRELESS DEVICES: ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY & PROCEDURES

MacGregor P.S. embraces technology as an essential part of today’s learning. We encourage and guide our students to realize the impact and benefits of technology in today’s educational and workplace communities. Students are are assigned individual chromebooks. They may bring their chromebooks home if their parents have signed a chromebook agreement form. Students are welcome to bring their cellphones to school. Phones can be checked twice daily – once at 10:30 am and once at 1:10 pm. Otherwise, phones must be left in lockers during school hours.

Rules for Technology Use:

  • Due to privacy concerns and to protect students, pictures and/or video can NEVER be taken at school on a device.
  • Students are not allowed to text, instant message or make phone calls etc. during class time.  Students needing to contact parents must come to the office so that we can ensure they are safe and secure at school.
  • Technology must be used for educational purposes only
  • Technology is NOT allowed outside at breaks.

Consequences for Inappropriate Use of Technology

  • Student will be reminded/warned of the rules and consequences listed here.
  • Student will be required to bring their device to the office for the remainder of the day, and call parents to explain their difficulty with following the rules of cell phone use.
  • Repeated infractions will result in the device being kept in the office until parents can come pick it up from the Principal.

YOUTH SUPPORT PHONE NUMBERS

HELP LINES

Kids Help Line 1-800-668-6868

Let’s Talk Line 745-8128

K-W Crisis Clinic 742-3611

Sexual Health Clinic 883-2267

Family & Children Services 576-0504

Waterloo Regional Police 653-7700

 

Mustangs Matter! We are a respectful, caring and committed community striving for academic, artistic and athletic excellence!