Winter Weather
- During the winter season, the school receives calls from concerned parents as to how we determine when children will or will not be allowed outside for recess. Dufferin‐Peel CDSB Policy uses a Wind Chill factor of ‐20 C (website we use) as the determining temperature. Students will not be sent outside for recess if it is colder than this. We also receive numerous requests to allow children to remain indoors when students have a cold, flu, etc. Please note that we cannot comply, as we neither have the facilities nor the staff to supervise these students. If your child is not feeling well we encourage you to keep them home to avoid the spread of illness. The expectation is that all children will go outdoors for recess and the lunch break.
- Students should come dressed appropriately for the winter weather (hats, mitts, etc.). For health and safety reasons we must insist on indoor shoes. Students cannot walk through the school with wet boots or shoes. For their safety and comfort they need to have indoor shoes. Please note that in the event of an emergency evacuation, students will not have the opportunity to put boots on. Where possible, please put identification on your child’s belongings. Throughout the winter the lost and found box fills up with unidentified clothing.
To be allowed on the field when we there is snow:
- K-6 Grades - MUST wear snow pants, snow boots, gloves and a winter jacket. If they are missing any one of these items they are to remain on the asphalt
- 7-8 Grades - MUST wear snow boots and a winter jacket. If they are missing any one of these items they are to remain on the asphalt.
- Snow season is here. Please ensure that your child is properly dressed for outdoor play in winter. It is a school expectation that all students go outside for recess and outdoor learning for exercise and fresh air. If your child is unable to go outside for recess because of illness, please consider keeping them home until they are feeling better.
- We also ask that your child have a pair of indoor shoes for classroom use, labeled with their name for easy identification (throughout the winter the lost and found box fills up with unidentified clothing). Many students forget to bring a separate pair of shoes, and they track snow and mud from the field into the classrooms, hallways and bathrooms.
- We would appreciate your support in reinforcing the school rule that all snow stays on the ground. For everyone’s safety we do not allow snowballs, kicking snow, or any other snow\ice activity that could lead to potential harm or injury.
As we approach the winter months and the potential of weather-related bus cancellations and school closures, we provide the following information.
Bus Cancellations
If buses are cancelled in zone 1, St. Bernard of Clairvaux will remain open to students and staff.
During the winter months, inclement weather and/or poor road conditions may cause the disruption of bus transportation. There is no distribution of learning devices in anticipation of inclement weather-related bus cancellations.
Students unable to attend in person due to transportation cancellations are not required to access learning materials in the Learning Management System (LMS), they can if they choose to. Learning activities posted in the LMS specifically for inclement weather days provide opportunities for consolidation, curriculum enrichment or practice of skills already taught.
It is acknowledged that teachers will be supporting in-person students and therefore may have limited availability to support students who are not in attendance.
For students unable to attend in person, no remote access to the classroom will take place. Learning for students will be self-directed. Please be assured that teachers have been advised not to introduce new concepts on days on which buses have been cancelled. As always, parents/guardians can contact their child’s teacher if they have any questions or require support using communication methods that have been established by the teacher.