June 25 - June 30, 2010

The off campus rule during exams is fully active.  Junior students dropped off early in the morning at WIC are not to descend the hill prior to exams; likewise they are not to do so after an exam is complete, and prior to being picked up by parents. Once they are dropped off, the assumption of both parties – school and home – is that the kids are safe; should they leave campus at any time, the assumption fails. The rule of thumb therefore reads thus: If I am dropping my child off at WIC fully expecting to pick them when the exam is done, the child is not to leave campus.

On the other hand, if you wish your child to have breakfast down the hill and make their own way to school for their exam, this is different, but once here the child should remain on campus.  Likewise, if you expect your child to make his or her own way home after an exam (walk, take the bus etc.), this is fine, but they should not then be returning to WIC (they might well wish to go for lunch prior to heading home, but they should then be going home from the lunch venue). June 2010 exams have all junior students finishing exams by 11:30 am; therefore, students will either remain at school until picked up, or they will leave campus once completed to go home – there are no afternoon exams scheduled for junior students. If they are to be in our care, and if you believe them to so be, then you must realize we cannot exercise such care when they are allowed to come and go at will. Please note that there is no cafeteria service after June 21, though microwaves and the like are fully accessible to all. If a child is to remain at school for a later pick up, then a bag lunch should be considered.

Exam time is when many students believe they can come and go as they wish.  This is not our view.  I ask that you please discuss with your child(ren) the off campus policy.  As a side, when large numbers of students group in a small venue such as Wendy’s, Tim Horton’s, or the like, some inconvenience arises for other patrons: it is not that teenagers go out of their way to make noise or minor disturbance, but often large numbers, youthful exuberance, and the long anticipated pleasures of summer (which can only come from the release of academic responsibility) sometimes combined to make it so.  Such, historically, and on occasion, has been the patient suffering and diplomatic proffering of our neighbors down the hill.  Again, if allowing this privilege, then perhaps a careful word about social awareness and responsibility is in order.  After all, the uniforms they wear often bring the complaints, rightly or wrongly, to our door, not yours.

Sincerely,

Boyd Belisle