Woodbine Middle School

2900 Don Mills Road East

Toronto, Ontario
M2J 3B6

Telephone: 416-395-3110

Parent/Guardian & Student Information

2022-2023

Mission Statement
Woodbine Middle School fosters a commitment to excellence in a positive, supportive, caring
and accepting environment. We believe that at Woodbine, ALL students belong and matter.
We strive to meet the needs of our students by challenging them to expand their knowledge
and skills in areas of:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Environmental Awareness
• Social Responsibility
• Problem Solving
• Mental Health and Well-Being

Michelle Fraser Neel Vohra

Principal Vice Principal

This package belongs to: _______________________________________________________

Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________________ Room#: ______________

School Website: www.schools.tdsb.on.ca/woodbine

September 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians;

The importance of organization is paramount to the success of our students. This information
was formerly placed in an Agenda for students. Woodbine will no longer be using Agenda’s,
instead, each teacher will have an ONLINE PLATFORM – GOOGLE CLASSROOM OR
BRIGHTSPACE. School work and classroom information will be posted daily for students and
parents to access to informed and organized.

If your child would benefit from an Agenda to keep them organized, please purchase one and
discuss monitoring with your child’s teachers. In Middle School, students will need to develop
skills of planning, time management and organization. Further, it is expected that they
record/be aware of homework assignments, due dates, and test dates as they occur during the
year. The main form of communication between parents/guardians and school staff will be
email. Please also refer to the Woodbine website for further current information about the
school. Our website is www.schools.tdsb.on.ca/woodbine.

Included in these pages are many areas of particular importance, including the Code of
Conduct. In all cases it is expected that students follow the rules, policies, procedures and
routines of our school. In so doing, students begin to take ownership for ensuring that our
school is a safe and productive environment for all. In the event that the Code is not adhered
to there will be appropriate consequences. The process for this will go through the classroom
teacher with a phone call to the parents.

This package also has the school phone numbers and website, schedules, and important dates
and information. This information is contained in the beginning section. We would like you
to review these pages with your child and take time to discuss this information. Once you
have done so, please sign below in the indicated spaces.

Thank you for your support. Through a solid partnership our students will experience
success.

The Woodbine Staff

Student Signature: ____________________________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________________________
Homeroom Teacher Signature: _________________________________
 WOODBINE MIDDLE SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT

OUR COMMITMENT
Woodbine MS is committed to providing a positive learning and working environment by
promoting our motto “Respect for All” in an environment characterized by respect,
acceptance, civility, safety, responsible citizenship and academic excellence. A positive school
climate is inclusive and accepting, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic
origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age,
family status or disability.

Equity, inclusion and respect are critical components embedded in the learning environment.

The Woodbine MS Code of Conduct is developed in accordance with the Education Act, the
Toronto District School Board’s Code of Conduct and all other TDSB operational procedures. It
reflects the values and expectations of our Woodbine community.

Consequently, the standards of behaviour outlined in the Woodbine MS Code of Conduct shall
apply to all members of the school community, including students, parents and guardians,
teachers and other school and Board staff, volunteers and visitors, while they are:

• on school property
• traveling to or from school-sponsored activities
• participating in school activities
• engaged in off-site school-sponsored activities
• in the community during school hours
• engaged in an activity which will have an impact on the school climate
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Students are to be treated with respect and dignity. In return, they shall demonstrate respect
for themselves, for others, and for their civic and social responsibilities.

All students will:

• come to school prepared, on time, and ready to learn
• use their online platform or an organization tool regularly
• take care of the device loaned to them by the school
• use technology in a responsible and appropriate way
• participate in the learning process to the best of their ability
• show respect for themselves, for others, and for those in authority
• be courteous and respectful to fellow students and towards teachers and staff
• follow the rules, expectations and routines of their classrooms
• be accountable and take responsibility for their own actions and behaviours
• refrain from bringing anything to school that may compromise the safety of others

Student Signature: __________________________________ Date: __________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Parents and Guardians play an important role in the education of their children and have a
responsibility to support the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe and respectful
learning environment for all students.

In order to fulfill their role, parents and guardians should:

• check their child’s Google Classroom every day
• show an active interest in their child’s schoolwork and progress, by attending School
Council meetings, parent-teacher interviews, and school events in which their children
are involved
• ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time
• help their child to be prepared for school
• show respect for the administration and all school staff
• communicate regularly with teachers and other school staff – email is the best way
• promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival
• assist and support school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child
• show that they are familiar with the Code of Conduct, including the School
Expectations
• encourage and assist their child in following the Code of Conduct, including the School
Expectations

Parent Signature: __________________________________ Date: __________________

SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS
In order to ensure a safe and nurturing learning environment there are certain practices and
rules that need to be observed. These rules will be reviewed at the beginning of the year in
your HR class and during Assemblies. All students are responsible for reviewing and
following these rules.

The following rules and expectations are based on Toronto District School Board policies and
are applicable to all Woodbine MS students:

BULLYING
Bullying is any repetitive, on-going physical, verbal, electronic (posts, texts), written or other
behaviour that causes harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical,
psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the
individual’s property, or behaviour that creates a negative environment at a school for another
individual.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• cultural, racist, homophobic jokes or slurs, stereotyping
• exclusion
• verbal threats, abuse or intimidation
• any negative verbal or physical expression, symbol or drawing which directs
disparagement towards a person or a group’s race, skin colour, sexual orientation or
cultural heritage
• offensive jokes, name-calling, pictures, cartoons, graffiti or anything that disparages
others
• inappropriate texts, posting of videos or demeaning comments

Any expressions of racial, cultural or gender bias, or incidences of bullying and other forms of
harassment, are against school expectations, Board policy and Provincial legislation, and are
strictly prohibited. All incidences of bullying will lead to disciplinary action!
CELL PHONES AND PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

WOODBINE’S CELL PHONE POLICY

• Students are NOT allowed to have their cell phones in the classroom
• As a school, our staff have discovered that cell phones are a hinderance to the students’
learning
• They can use them on school property and in the breakfast program from 8:00-8:30 and
during the lunch hour
• Students can bring their cell phones to school, however, they must be left in their
lockers before they go to their class

TECHNOLOGY/DEVICES
• Our goal is to ensure that every Woodbine student will have a Device to use in the
classroom
• Most TDSB Grade 6 students will already have a device that they received in grade 5
• Students will not be allowed to use their cell phones in class in replace of a device
• Students are asked to treat the loaned device with care and respect
• Students/families could be asked to pay for damages caused by student carelessness

• YES - they may be used for music, phone calls or texting outside of instructional school
hours
• YES - they may be used in the cafeteria before school and during lunch in the caf and
outside
• NO - cell phones must NOT be used for picture-taking or video anywhere in the school
• NO - cell phones cannot be used in the halls
• NO – headphones, earphones and earbuds may not be worn in the halls

Students bring their Cell Phones to school at their own risk, just like any other personal item.
The school is not responsible for any loss, theft, misuse, damage, recovery, repair or
replacement of any device brought to school or on school excursions.

• 1st infraction - warning from the teacher

• 2nd infraction - teachers may confiscate cellphone until the end of the class or day
• 2nd infraction – teachers may ask the student to put the phone in their locker
• 3rd infraction – teachers may confiscate cellphone and send it to the office

Parents or guardians will be contacted and must come to the school to retrieve them
School staff have the ability to take a student’s cellphone if they continue to ignore the
school rule
SCHOOL UNIFORMS/DRESS CODE
Monday to Thursday – School Uniform Physical Education Uniform:
Friday – Casual Day • Red Woodbine T-shirt
• Black Woodbine shorts
Regular School Uniform: • Students MUST change into the
• Green t-shirt Woodbine Phys. Ed. uniform for
• Green polo shirt (short/long sleeve) Phys. Ed. classes
• Black school vest
• Black fleece zipped sweater
• All uniform Bottoms (pants, shorts and skorts) are to be purchased from McCarthy’s
• Outside Jackets or sweaters are not to be worn over the uniform in class
• Headgear: including sports headbands, hats, hoods or bandanas are not worn inside the
school

LUNCH TIME ROUTINES

Presently, we do not have enough cafeteria benches to seat all the students at the same time
during lunch.
This schedule will be for a couple of months until they arrive.

*Students are expected to clean up their eating area using the bins provided! Responsibility
and Respect are important during the lunch hour!*

REGULAR DAY SCHEDULE

LUNCH 1st Half 11:24 – 11:50 2nd Half 11:50 – 12:14

11:24 - 12:22 Gr. 6 eat in classrooms
All students are outside
Entry Bell Gr. 7 & 8 eat in the
Caf/Courtyard/Outside
12:14

SHORTENED PERIOD DAY SCHEDULE

LUNCH 1st Half 11:49 – 12:17 2nd Half 12:17 – 12:41

11:49 - 12:49 Gr. 6 eat in classrooms
All students are
Entry Bell Gr. 7 & 8 eat in the outside
Caf/Courtyard/Outside
12:41
 • Grade 8 students may be permitted to leave school property at lunch with a signed
lunchtime permission form/followed by a confirmation email to Mrs. Fraser
• Grade 6 & 7 students are NOT ALLOWED to leave school property TO GO TO THE
PEANUT PLAZA OR ORIOLE during lunch
• WRITTEN PARENT PERMISSION is required for students to go home at lunch
• After 20 minutes, students must either go outside or be involved in one of the many
lunchtime programs - students remaining inside to participate in a program must wait
in the Cafeteria to be picked up by the supervising staff member
• Students may not return to their lockers until the entry bell at the end of the lunch hour.
Students should take their lunch bags with them outside or to their activity area
• While outside, students are to be in the supervised areas behind the school or in front of
the school
• Students are NOT allowed to play on the City Playground during lunch

LOCKER VISITS
In order to minimize disruptions in the hallway and to ensure that students have enough time
to travel between classes, locker access is restricted to specific times:

• ENTRY - Before Period 1

• The end of Period 3 (at the beginning of lunch)
• LUNCH ENTRY - Before Period 4
• After School
• When putting away a device before Physed Class

For security purposes, students are expected to use only the locker which has been assigned to
them and to ensure that they are using a combination lock which is closed at all times when
they are away from their lockers. Locker combinations should not be shared with other
students. Lockers are the property of the school. Each student will use only 1 locker.

VALUABLES
Students are advised not to leave cash, phones or valuables in the Phys. Ed. change rooms, and
not to bring large amounts of money or items of great value to school. The school does not
accept responsibility for student belongings lost or stolen from lockers or change rooms.

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR
According to the Education Act, the purpose of the Provincial Code of Conduct and each
school’s Code of Conduct is to ensure that all members of the school community are treated
with respect and dignity and to promote the safety of all people in schools. Under the
Provincial Code of Conduct, all members of the school community must:
• demonstrate honesty and integrity
• respect the rights of others
• respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and
teaching
 • respect differences in people, their ideas, and their opinions
• not swear at a teacher or at another person in a position of authority
• show proper care and regard for school property and the property of others
• take appropriate measures to help those in need
• seek assistance from a member of the school staff, if necessary, to resolve conflict
peacefully
• respect and comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws

PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE
When students breach the Code of Conduct, consequences will be consistent with progressive
discipline strategies. Progressive discipline is a whole-school approach that utilizes a
continuum of interventions, supports, and consequences to address inappropriate student
behaviour and to build on strategies that promote positive behaviours. When inappropriate
behaviour occurs, disciplinary measures will be applied within a framework that is corrective
and supportive rather than solely punitive. Staff at Woodbine MS applies progressive
discipline to reinforce positive behaviour while helping students to make good choices.

Interventions may include, but are not limited to:

• discussion with a teacher, member of the support staff or Principal
• attendance / performance / behaviour contracts or tracking sheets
• parental contact and involvement in applying an appropriate remedy
• loss of privilege to participate in specified school activities/teams/clubs
• individual or group discussion
• written or oral apology
• detention
• restitution for damage or stolen property
• community/school service
• restorative justice meeting

Student breaches of the Code of Conduct may also be dealt with in accordance with the TDSB
Consequences of Inappropriate Student Behaviour.
 SCHOOL ROUTINES

HOMEWORK POLICY
We believe that homework should be a regular part of every student's day. It is important for
each student to take time daily to review the work learned that day and to complete any
homework assignments given.

Every student is expected to use a paper agenda or online to record all assignments given.

We recommend the following as a guideline for the amount of daily reading/homework each
day:

Grade 6: 40 - 50 minutes
Grade 7: 50 - 60 minutes
Grade 8: 50 - 60 minutes

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL TIMES

• Regular entry to the school is at 8:40am. Students may enter prior to this time when
participating in a supervised school activity or attending the Breakfast Program
• When the 8:40am bell rings students should go directly to their own locker area and then to
their period 1 class for attendance
• Students are late for school after 8:50am and 12:22pm
• Students arriving after 8:50am and 12:24pm must sign in at the office with a note
explaining their late arrival
• At the end of the school day students are to leave the school by 3:10pm unless they are
involved in a supervised school activity
ROUTINES & PROCEDURES FOR ABSENCE
If a student must be absent, we ask the parent/guardian to inform the school before 9:00 a.m.
on that day. Please call the 24 hour answering machine at (416) 395-3110 – then press 1 - stating
the student name, name of parent/guardian calling and the reason for the absence. A note,
signed by the parent/guardian, must be presented to the HR teacher upon return to school,
unless the absence has been confirmed.

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

Students who have permission from their parent/guardian to leave school early must sign out
at the office with a signed note from the parent/guardian before leaving the building. In case
of illness or injury, parents will be informed before the student is allowed to leave. Please
ensure the school has current and accurate phone numbers and email addresses where
parents can be reached during the day.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students must be prepared to participate in every Physical Education class. Students must be
dressed in the Woodbine physical education uniform, available for purchase at the school.
Students are expected to arrive in uniform prepared to participate for each Phys. Ed. class.

TEXTBOOKS / CHROMEBOOKS / SCHOOL MATERIALS

Numbered textbooks are provided by the Toronto District School Board for all students. The
number of each book the student receives will be recorded by the teacher. At the end of the
school year students must return the same books they were issued. These books are the sole
responsibility of the student to whom they were issued. Fees for damaged or lost books will
be charged. All Laptops and Chromebooks loaned to the students will be tracked. students
are to be responsible for the device they are loaned. Students could be asked to pay for
damages based on the circumstances.
CO-CURRICULAR POLICY

Woodbine Middle School offers a wide range of opportunities for students to become involved
in co-curricular activities. School involvement enhances the student’s sense of belonging, self-
concept, school spirit, social interaction and attention to academic standards.

All students are encouraged to participate in the rich co-curricular life of our school. To be
eligible for such involvement, each student must meet the criteria of the Woodbine MS Co-
Curricular Policy.

Academic success is the primary goal at Woodbine MS. Students are expected to strive to
achieve success in all subjects and to meet all course requirements. To achieve academic
eligibility a student must meet the following criteria:

• Students must be achieving at least level 1 (50 - 59) or above in more than half their
courses. The November Progress Report Card will be the first indicator of academic
progress for the new school year and must show Progressing Well (PW) or Progressing
Very Well PVW) in more than half of the subjects

• Students MUST be responsible for all work covered and assignments missed during any
absences due to co-curricular activities

• As a good role model and ambassador for Woodbine, students must be respectful and
demonstrate appropriate behaviour to staff and students at all times

• Regular attendance and punctuality in class are imperative. Absences from class for
other than school-related activities that have not been excused by a parent/guardian
will put a student’s co-curricular eligibility at risk

• Attendance at school the day of the event is mandatory

• Students suspended from school may not be eligible to participate in a co-curricular

activity for the term which the suspension took place