Regardless of the season, weather can have an impact on the school operation, staff, and students. Whether it is cold and snow or extreme heat, the Brock Elementary School Board has several practices and policies in place to manage the impact of this weather on the school.
At times during the year, in the City of Pickering we experience days of extreme heat that can prompt Environment Canada to issue Heat Advisories. These temperatures can and do have an impact on students and staff.
The City of Pickering issues heat alerts and heat emergencies based on the daily forecast from May to September. Alerts are posted on the BES website. Staff and students should be vigilant about their level of activity and should take frequent breaks for water to remain adequately hydrated.
Students with a particular susceptibility to heat or medical concerns should speak with staff, who will do their best to accommodate.
This decision would put many parents in a challenging position of having to find childcare with truly short notice — something we know will not be possible in every case. It is with that in mind that the School Board does not typically close schools due to heat. As always, parents may also choose to keep their children at home during extreme weather.
Yes, there are. More information on beating the heat, including heat and sun safety tips can be found in the following links.
. Sun Safety – Outdoor Sports and Recreation Fact Sheet
. Sun Safety – Sunscreen Fact Sheet
. Sun Safety – Children Fact Sheet
When temperature and/or windchill factor indicates -28C or lower children will remain indoors due to risk of frostnip and frostbite.
When an extreme cold weather alert is issued or when temperatures and/or windchill factor indicates –20 to –28C, recesses may be shortened to 10 minutes and lunch recess be 20 minutes depending on local conditions. Children should be monitored closely for signs of frostnip, frostbite or difficulty breathing.
From time to time, it is necessary to cancel classes and/or programs due to severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools and administrative offices.
With a grand number of students in our school each day, any decision to cancel classes and/or programs or to close the school can have a significant impact on many families across Durham Region. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/guardians make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose.
Please note that Virtual Schools will not operate, and we will not be providing remote learning on days when schools are closed due to severe weather.
Several factors are considered on days where severe weather is (or could be) an issue. Early in the morning, a team made up of the Director of Education, Associate Board Members, and communications staff look at various pieces of information including current and forecasted weather conditions and road conditions. Should a cancellation or closure be necessary, information will be posted on the BES website and social media by 6:00 a.m.
Early Closure of the school and administrative office, during the school day because of severe weather conditions.
The decision to implement early closure of the school will be made by 11:00 a.m. by the Director of Education in conjunction with the Associate Board Members.
The communication to close schools will be completed by 12:00 noon. All parents and guardians will be notified from the school office, and by announcing the closure through all sources of media.
No student will be sent home until parents have been notified and the principal is assured that suitable arrangements have been made for the child’s supervision.
Teachers and Principal will provide supervision for all students whose parents or guardians have not been contacted and remain in the school until every student have been picked up.
From time to time, it is necessary to hold indoor recess or a shortened recess due to inclement weather (rain, extreme cold or heat, severe icy conditions). This decision is typically made at the school-level depending on local conditions which can vary widely across the city.
Children need an opportunity to get exercise and free play time outdoors, however, weather conditions sometimes warrant that indoor recesses, lunch periods and pre-entry periods be considered necessary for student and staff safety.
The following are the possible conditions warranting indoor recesses:
rain
thunderstorms
lightning
hail
extreme winds
extreme cold
extreme heat
Weather conditions change during the day. When necessary and if the weather is questionable, the school principal will consult the Environment Canada’s www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca or Toronto Public Health Websites for information.