SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 - D.P. Todd

Dedication, Perseverance, and
Thought Obtain Desired Dreams.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
2013
MESSAGE FROM THE ADMIN TEAM
I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable summer.
With all the new additions to our teaching staff I am looking forward to the excitement that they will be
bringing to an already exceptional teaching staff. Last year we experimented with having our parent teacher
interviews at the first interim time and not after the first report card. The feedback to this change and the
participation by parents in the interviews was very positive. As a result, we will be having our first parent
interview on October 25 th with interims being sent home on October 11 th .
As students, the key to your success at DP Todd will be your willingness to try new things and to continue to
strive to be the best that you can be. It is essential that you keep up with your work and to seek help as
needed from your teachers.
As parents, you are in a unique position to support your child’s learning and are your child’s strongest
advocate. I encourage you to continue to take a role in your child’s education and if you have any questions
or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at the school directly. If your child is new to DP Todd
please feel free to drop into the office and introduce yourself to me and our Vice Principal, Sid Jawanda. We
would welcome the opportunity to meet.
I am looking forward to an exciting year.
Richard Dougherty Sid Jawanda Susan Hager
Principal Vice Principal Business Manager
IMPORTANT: included with this Newsletter is a Student Information Verification form that we
ask parents to review, update, sign and return to the school office.
September 4 - School Starts - 8:45 - 10:40 am
September 11 - Grade 8 Burger Bash (5:30 – 6:45 pm) and Grade 8 Parent Night (7:00 pm)
September 13 - School Photo Day
September 27 - Non-Instruction Day
September 30 - Parent Advisory Council Meeting - 7:00 pm – in the Library
October 9 - School Photo Retakes
October 14 - Thanksgiving Day – no school
October 25 - Non-Instruction Day
D.P. Todd Secondary School Student Handbook 2013-2014
All students will receive a Student Handbook on their first day of school. These books contain
information about D.P. Todd including the regular daily bell schedule, block order, behaviour
expectations, rules about Honour Roll and much more. Students are encouraged to take these
books home and share this information with parents. The Student Handbook can be viewed on
the D.P. Todd website or a copy can be picked up at the school office.
4444 Hill Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2M 5V9
Ph: (250)562‐9525 Fax: (250)564‐4875 Website: www.dpts.sd57.bc.ca

Wednesday, September 4 th is the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. We welcome you and remind you
that this is a day in session for all students.
Before 8:45 am – Locate your name on the Homeroom lists posted on the windows at the entrances
(these will be posted by 3:00 pm, Friday, August 31 st )
8:45 - 9:40 am – Proceed to your Homeroom – Block A class. During this time attendance will be
taken, timetables will be issued and reviewed and lockers will be assigned.
9:45 - 10:00 am – Block B class
10:05 - 10:20 am – Block C class
10:25 - 10:40 am – Block D class
10:40 am – Students dismissed for the day
For this first day of classes all students should have pen and paper. Subject teachers will discuss
supplies and materials needed for each course.
STANDARD SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2013-2014
Non-instructional days - School District No. 57 dates are as follows:
Tuesday, September 3 Friday, November 29
Friday, September 27 Friday, January 31
Friday, October 25 Friday, April 4
School Opening Day September 4, 2013 Spring Vacation March 17-28, 2014
Thanksgiving Day October 14, 2013 Good Friday April 18, 2014
Remembrance Day November 11, 2013 Easter Monday April 21, 2014
Winter Vacation Dec 23/13 - Jan 3/14 Victoria Day May 19, 2014
School re-opens January 6, 2014 Last Day of School June 26, 2014
Family Day February 10, 2014 Administrative Day June 27, 2014
D.P. Todd Secondary School Time Schedule for 2013-2014
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Period
Time
1 08:45 – 09:50 am
2 09:55 – 11:00 am
Morning Break 11:00 – 11:10 am
3 11:10 – 12:05 pm
Lunch Break 12:05 – 12:50 pm
3 12:50 – 01:55 pm
4 02:00 – 03:07 pm
Friday – 5 day weeks*
Period
Time
A
08:45 – 10:05 am
B
10:10 – 11:30 am
Lunch Break
11:30 – 12:15 am
C
12:15 – 01:35 pm
D
01:40 – 02:57 pm
*Friday schedule will rotate – term one and three the block order will
be ABCD, term two and four the block order will be BADC.
Scent Sensitive School: Due to an increasing sensitivity of allergies and respiratory
concerns with staff and students, D.P. Todd is asking that staff, students, and visitors
focus on being “scent sensitive.” Scent sensitive involves:
• Using scent free personal care products
• Not applying scented fragrances in the school (i.e. at lockers or in change
rooms) or prior to arriving at school
• Being considerate of those around you who may be sensitive to the effect of
scented products
Scan DP Todd’s website
to your smartphone.
4444 Hill Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2M 5V9
Ph: (250)562‐9525 Fax: (250)564‐4875 Website: www.dpts.sd57.bc.ca

DETENTION HALL
Detention Hall occurs each school day from 3:10 - 3:40 pm and may be assigned to a student for a variety of
misdemeanours such as tardiness, incomplete homework, inappropriate behaviour in class, etc. Students are to let their
parents know during the day if they have a detention hall. Should a student not be able to attend a detention hall on a
certain day, the student MUST speak to the teacher who assigned the detention to have the day changed. The teacher
may then make the change in the detention hall book. Excuses such as “I forgot” will not be accepted. Extenuating
circumstances will require a note from the student’s parent or guardian on the next school day. Failure to serve a
detention may result in the Vice Principal assigning the student to the next available Friday School. The Vice Principal
will monitor the number of detentions received by a student. A student receiving more than five detentions in a term will
result in a student/parent/administration meeting and development of a behaviour plan.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Should you have any questions or concerns, please telephone Mr.
Jawanda at 250-562-9525.
GRADE 8 PARENT NIGHT
On Wednesday, September 11 th we will be welcoming the parents of our grade 8 students to the school for the Burger
Bash starting at 5:30 – 6:45 pm followed by the Parent Information Meeting from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The meeting will
begin in the library and then quickly move to the various classrooms. Parents will be able to meet all four of their child’s
teachers and hear about the educational program that will be carried out in each class. Grade 8 students are more than
welcome to come along.
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHS
Student photographs will be taken on Friday, September 13 th starting at 9:00 am. More
information on packages and costs will follow.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
At D.P. Todd, the staff is concerned with student attendance, and the impact of student absences on academic
performance. Regular student attendance strongly correlates with academic achievement. Both excused and
unexcused absences impact a student's potential success in a course. Simply put, if students are to learn, they need to
be in all of their classes regularly. Parents and students should be aware that the learning and the work that occurs in a
class cannot always be made up outside of the classroom. As a result, absences from class can be detrimental to the
student’s grades and some marks and assignments may be excused, deducted, or forfeited.
When parents are aware in advance of a student absence, they are encouraged to request through their child, a
PLANNED ABSENCE FORM (available in the school office). This will assist the teacher, where possible, to plan student
work in advance of the absences. We request that parents assist in ensuring regular attendance in making holiday plans
and medical/dental/other appointments outside of the school day whenever possible.
As a part of the school's effort to promote regular attendance, parents/guardians will be contacted regularly by phone,
letter, or meeting. Parents are requested to call DP Todd at 250-562-9525 when their children are away from school.
This action will inform us of the legitimacy of the absence. Should parents prefer to write a note of explanation, please
have your child bring the note to the office on the day of their return to school. Failure by a student to improve
attendance will result in progressive discipline which may lead to withdrawal from the course.
Through staff and parents working together to strongly encourage regular student attendance, we are promoting higher
achievement at D.P. Todd Secondary School.
Newsletters via Email
Detach and Return to Office @ D.P. Todd Secondary School
Please clearly print your email address below to receive bi‐monthly newsletters via email
Student Name: ___________________________________ Grade: _________________
Parent/Guardian Email Address: _____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________________________________
4444 Hill Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2M 5V9
Ph: (250)562‐9525 Fax: (250)564‐4875 Website: www.dpts.sd57.bc.ca

OFFICE TELEPHONE USAGE
The office provides a student courtesy telephone to be used by students for emergency situations only,
such as a call home because of illness. The school has two payphones available in the foyer. One of them
is equipped to take Telus phone cards.
PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
The first meeting of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) will be held on Monday, September 24 th at 7:00 pm in the library.
All parents are welcome. School information updates and presentations on school programs will be a regular part of
each monthly meeting. Your input on a wide variety of issues is valued.
LOCKERS
All lockers and locks will be assigned to students in their Homeroom class on the first day of school. School locks must
be used except with prior administration permission.
VALEDICTORY CEREMONY
Eligibility Criteria for participation in the ceremony are as follows:
1. Students must have the potential to meet Ministry of Education graduation requirements by June of the current
school year.
2. Students’ progress will be evaluated at the end of Term Three (April 17, 2014). At that time:
Grad Transitions requirements must be complete.
Any correspondence courses required for graduation must be 2/3 complete and passing.
At the time of the evaluation, exceptions to the above requirements will be considered by the Principal on a
student-by-student basis.
3. Students receiving a School Leaving Certificate as a result of successful completion of their I.E.P. are eligible.
"COURTESY" BUS SERVICE STOP REQUESTS FOR 2013‐2014
School busing is designed to serve children residing along specific routes. Students may register on
ONE bus route only, their RESIDENT route. Parents wishing their children to use the service as a
COURTESY to or from a CHILD CARE stop or a 2 N D ALTERNATE FAMILY address must complete a
"COURTESY" transportation request form and submit it to the Transportation Department on an
ANNUAL basis for approval. COURTESY request forms may be obtained from the students' school
office.
For further information please call the Transportation Department at 250‐561‐6800, Ext. 249
MEALS PROGRAM
The D.P. Todd School Meals Program will continue in September. The guideline for enrollment
remains the same. Only students who are identified as requiring this plan will be signed up.
Additionally, we still need your contributions to continue this worthwhile effort. Letters will be going
out to parents whose child is presently on the list. Any new students who are interested in the meals
program please come and talk to Ms. Nelson.
4444 Hill Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2M 5V9
Ph: (250)562‐9525 Fax: (250)564‐4875 Website: www.dpts.sd57.bc.ca