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Sea to Sky school district briefs

Student registration. Cell phones in class?
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PEXELS.COM

Student registration

A policy regarding school enrolment is going back before the School District 48 policy committee after parents raised objections to it.

"There was some misunderstanding. The policy was just putting in what's already been practiced for years and years," assistant superintendent Chris Nicholson said after the April 10 board meeting.

Policy 502, which covers student registration, enrolment, and placement, drew comments from some parents over how it states kindergarten students can be held back by request of parents/guardians.

The policy under review reads: "Upon returning to school following a deferred entry year, the child will be placed in Grade 1 with their age group peers. In the event that the parent/guardian would like a kindergarten placement considered for their child, it is required that the parent/guardian meet with their catchment area school principal and the Director of Instruction: Learning Services."

It also adds a section about age-appropriate placements for students entering SD48 schools, but states parents/guardians are to be consulted if another placement is chosen for their child.

"The policy is going back to committee to be talked about and to provide opportunities for the community to provide feedback so we can do a better job of being clear," Nicholson said. "We don't want anybody misconstruing what these things mean or anybody to feel we're forcing kids into any grade.

"We're not going to pass anything without feedback from the community because we understand it's an important topic."

Cell phones in class?

After Ontario banned cell phones in classrooms, trustees at the SD48 board meeting discussed the Sea to Sky's policy. While the school district has a general policy about the respectful and appropriate use of technology, Nicholson said the creation of specific rules is left up to the staff and students at each school.

"We don't want to dictate to teachers and schools what they can and can't do with technology beyond general parameters. Those are school-based discussions involving kids," he said.

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