Head Lice Policy
Emergency Plan
Safety Information
Emergency situations: The most likely serious emergency situation that might arise is a fire within the school itself. There is an evacuation plan for this contingency, and regular fire drills. Clearing the building is crucial, but the difficulty is reduced because of the low numbers of students in the building, and the many exits. The school has taken the 'normal' fire drill procedures one step further because of the extreme temperatures that do occur. The evacuation plan calls for teachers to remove their classes from the school to a designated spot, check to ensure that all students are accounted for, then, in the event of inclement weather, to proceed directly to the community hall. The community hall is large enough to hold the entire school populace in warmth and security - and has the added advantages of being equipped with a telephone and washrooms, and being close to the nursing station.
Other emergencies will call for a somewhat similar response - if there is a serious chlorine leak from the chlorination plant near the school grounds, or if there is a flood etc. the students will take 6th Avenue, cut through the Forestry yard, and then turn north up the Elsa road to high ground, and the Grader Station.
Non-emergency situations: The school (as most Yukon workplaces) is required to have a safety representative. This person has a responsibility to identify any areas of the building that might be considered unsafe, and to report these for repair. Activities in the school are restricted to between 8:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. when there are staff present. Exceptions exist, for example, when there is a special activity scheduled, such as a weekend soccer tournament. In such case, additional arrangements are made to ensure that the building is safe and that supervision is adequate.
An agreement with the Village of Mayo allows for use of the building during non-school times. This permits the use of facilities only under the direct supervision of a designated Village employee, and with the Village of Mayo accepting full legal and moral responsibility. In addition, the village operates the Fitness Room and it is completely independent of the school.
Cold weather - Elementary recess and lunch time: When the temperature outside is colder than -30'C, taking the wind chill into account, elementary students will not be sent outside for recess or after eating their lunches. Instead, they will be kept inside, and will be supervised appropriately.
School maintenance: Maintenance at the local level operates on a system of work requests that allows for a quick response for minor repairs. The YG maintenance staff can go to work as soon as they have the proper school-generated form. They do repairs to the building, but not to equipment eg. lights, but not desks.
Other emergencies will call for a somewhat similar response - if there is a serious chlorine leak from the chlorination plant near the school grounds, or if there is a flood etc. the students will take 6th Avenue, cut through the Forestry yard, and then turn north up the Elsa road to high ground, and the Grader Station.
Non-emergency situations: The school (as most Yukon workplaces) is required to have a safety representative. This person has a responsibility to identify any areas of the building that might be considered unsafe, and to report these for repair. Activities in the school are restricted to between 8:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. when there are staff present. Exceptions exist, for example, when there is a special activity scheduled, such as a weekend soccer tournament. In such case, additional arrangements are made to ensure that the building is safe and that supervision is adequate.
An agreement with the Village of Mayo allows for use of the building during non-school times. This permits the use of facilities only under the direct supervision of a designated Village employee, and with the Village of Mayo accepting full legal and moral responsibility. In addition, the village operates the Fitness Room and it is completely independent of the school.
Cold weather - Elementary recess and lunch time: When the temperature outside is colder than -30'C, taking the wind chill into account, elementary students will not be sent outside for recess or after eating their lunches. Instead, they will be kept inside, and will be supervised appropriately.
School maintenance: Maintenance at the local level operates on a system of work requests that allows for a quick response for minor repairs. The YG maintenance staff can go to work as soon as they have the proper school-generated form. They do repairs to the building, but not to equipment eg. lights, but not desks.
Health & First Aid
Sick room: A child who is suffering from a temporary ailment, such as a headache, can be sent to the sickroom to lie down. The sickroom is immediately adjacent to the office, so the administrative assistant can monitor it. Often it is best to contact the parent and have them come and take the sick student home. In general, a child who is too sick to be in class is too sick to be in school. This guideline extends to elementary students staying in at recess and lunch: a student too sick to go out should probably not be at school.
Administration of drugs: The simplest and best guideline here is "school personnel do not give students drugs of any sort." This includes the range of medications, for example: aspirin, cough syrups, & prescription medications. Of course: students will sometimes bring medications that need to be taken on a regular basis, eg. just before meals, every three hours etc. and often they will need help. There is quite a difference between reminding a student that it is time to take a pill and actually administering the medication. If there are any doubts, teachers have been instructed to err on the side of conservatism: phone the parents, phone the nurse, take (or arrange for the child to be taken) to the clinic, or whatever seems most appropriate.
One exception to this general rule is the administration of medications to those exceptional students who require prescription medications to help them stay focused and on task. Paperwork must be completed in accordance with the Yukon Education Administration of Medication Policy.
If a child is taking any sort of medication and teachers notice a reaction, they should contact the office, parent, or public health nurse. School staff are not medical professionals and should not try to act as such.
First aid: For minor scrapes, cuts, bruises, slivers, etc, the school keeps a supply of first aid materials in the main office. The administrative assistant is able to dispense band aids, etc. as necessary.
Administration of drugs: The simplest and best guideline here is "school personnel do not give students drugs of any sort." This includes the range of medications, for example: aspirin, cough syrups, & prescription medications. Of course: students will sometimes bring medications that need to be taken on a regular basis, eg. just before meals, every three hours etc. and often they will need help. There is quite a difference between reminding a student that it is time to take a pill and actually administering the medication. If there are any doubts, teachers have been instructed to err on the side of conservatism: phone the parents, phone the nurse, take (or arrange for the child to be taken) to the clinic, or whatever seems most appropriate.
One exception to this general rule is the administration of medications to those exceptional students who require prescription medications to help them stay focused and on task. Paperwork must be completed in accordance with the Yukon Education Administration of Medication Policy.
If a child is taking any sort of medication and teachers notice a reaction, they should contact the office, parent, or public health nurse. School staff are not medical professionals and should not try to act as such.
First aid: For minor scrapes, cuts, bruises, slivers, etc, the school keeps a supply of first aid materials in the main office. The administrative assistant is able to dispense band aids, etc. as necessary.
Signing Out
A student may need to leave the school during school hours for any number of reasons. It is necessary that the school know where all students are at all times, so there must be a careful record kept of the comings and goings of all students.
In Grades K-6, the homeroom teacher will ensure that all students leaving the school grounds during school hours have legitimate reason, and parental permission to do so, unless they are under the direct supervision of a staff member. Students should not leave the school grounds at recess as they cannot be supervised.
If a student brings a note from a parent, or there has been a phone call requesting the release of a student at a particular time, the office should be notified ahead of time that the student will be leaving. If there has been no contact from the home, the student will not be released. If necessary, a staff member will phone to verify with the parent.
In Grades 7 - 12, students leaving the building during school are to sign out at the office. This is a record that the student is not skipping, but has left the school with permission. In some cases, a student will ask to leave because of forgotten homework, not feeling well, etc. As a general guideline, teachers will deny such requests unless the student brings a note, or there has been contact with the home.
In Grades K-6, the homeroom teacher will ensure that all students leaving the school grounds during school hours have legitimate reason, and parental permission to do so, unless they are under the direct supervision of a staff member. Students should not leave the school grounds at recess as they cannot be supervised.
If a student brings a note from a parent, or there has been a phone call requesting the release of a student at a particular time, the office should be notified ahead of time that the student will be leaving. If there has been no contact from the home, the student will not be released. If necessary, a staff member will phone to verify with the parent.
In Grades 7 - 12, students leaving the building during school are to sign out at the office. This is a record that the student is not skipping, but has left the school with permission. In some cases, a student will ask to leave because of forgotten homework, not feeling well, etc. As a general guideline, teachers will deny such requests unless the student brings a note, or there has been contact with the home.