Guidelines

Lifes Challenges

The parent/student handbook is intended to serve as an introduction to the rules of the school. Please read it thoroughly and ensure your child fully understands their responsibilities. If you have any questions regarding any of the information contained in this booklet, feel free to contact the school for assistance.

Drugs and Alcohol
All prescription and non-prescription medication must be given to school staff and be administered by same. No alcohol or drugs of any kind are allowed in school property. The ban includes drug paraphernalia and empty beer and liquor bottles. Any student caught with drugs, alcohol or related paraphernalia risks expulsion and criminal charges.

Smoking
Under the laws of the province of Ontario, smoking is prohibited on school property. Students are not permitted to smoke or possess tobacco. Any student caught smoking on school property will be subject to the following consequences.

100 demerit points
4 quarters (1 quarter = 15 minutes of exercise.)

Students caught supplying tobacco to minors will face expulsion.

Personal Hygiene
Each student must:

Shower daily, using soap and shampoo.
Use deodorant.
Brush their teeth twice daily.
Wear clean clothes daily. Male students must be clean; no beards, moustaches or sideburns.

Students do their own laundry once each week, according to a schedule posted in the dorm. All students must change their bed linen weekly.

Sickness and Injury
Medical treatment for students is available from the school physician in Barrie. We are also served by the After Hours Clinic and in emergencies, the Royal Victoria Hospital. Dental and orthodontic appointments can be arranged as required.

Dorm Rules

Rooms must be kept clean and tidy. Failure to do so will result in the loss of points.
Students are responsible for cleaning common areas on a rotating basis.
No student may leave the dorm between lights out and the morning wake-up call.
Students must use sheets; sleeping bags are not allowed.
Each student must provide his or her own pillows and blankets.
Students may not enter rooms other than their own, without permission.
Food is not allowed in the dorm.
No dangerous items may be kept in the dorm.
Students may play radios and stereos at reasonable levels.
Pictures and reading material deemed pornographic by the housemaster will be confiscated.

The Dress Code

Number 1 Dress:

Single breasted navy blazer emblazoned with the school crest
Sold white shirt or blouse
School tie
Washable grey dress pants/skirt
Grey knee socks (girls) , Grey dress socks (boys)
Black dress shoes

Number 1 Dress is worn at dinner, Sunday through Thursday, on academic schools outings and when travelling to and from the school on weekends and holidays.

Please note: For those students who possess an insufficient number of shirts, or whose formal uniform fails to meet the dress code, the school will purchase the necessary articles and charge the student's personal account.

Number 2 Dress

Grey school cardigan,
v-neck sweater or school blazer
Solid white dress shirt
Washable grey dress pants or skirt
School tie
Topsiders or loafers (running shoes and boots are not permitted)
Grey socks

Students are permitted to wear Number 2 Dress while attending classes and for homework make-up on weekdays and weekends.

Number 3 Dress Casual Dress

Casual dress may be worn during study hall and on weekends. Clothing must be neat and in good condition. Duty staff will determine appropriateness of casual wear.

Number 4 Dress - Physical Education

Physical Education uniforms may be purchased from the school and consist of sweatshirts, sweatpants, shorts and T-shirts. Running shoes are also required.

Hair and Jewelry
Male students must keep their hair neat and tidy. Haircuts must be above the collar and ears, in an appropriate style and natural colour. Male students may not wear any jewelry except for a watch.

Female students must have clean and tidy hair and may wear a discreet amount of jewelry.

Improper attire may result in the loss of points and/or privileges.

Official Clothing List

Required Clothing

1 Wine Blazer
2 Grey Washable Flannel Pants
1 School Tie (to purchase at school)
2 V-neck sweaters (cardigan or crewneck, navy or grey)
6 White Shirts
10 Pair underwear
1 Pair pajamas
12 Pair grey dress socks (knee socks for girls)
1 Black Belt
1 Pair Black Dress Shoes (top siders may be worn during the school day)
1 Pair casual shoes
1 Dressing gown
1 Tote-Bag (Gym Bag/Book Bag)
1 Laundry Bag
1 Phys-ed uniform (to be purchased from the school)

Recommended Additional Items

1 Ski Jacket
1 Pair Ski Pants
1 Bathing Suit
4 Towels
2 Face Cloths
1 Toilet Kit: comb, hairbrush, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, shoe polish and brush
Stamped (not addressed) envelopes

Please Note: All merchandise must have nametapes

Official Sheila Morrison School Jackets are available from:
Beatties Men's and Boys' Clothiers
430 Eglinton Avenue West (just west of Avenue Rd)
Toronto, Ontario
Telephone: 481-4459

Personal Property
Students are not permitted to have money at school. Any money in the student's possession will be deposited into their student account. Students are discouraged from bringing valuable items to school such as walkmans; expensive stereo equipment or expensive sports equipment as the school accepts no liability for theft, loss or damage to student property.

Meals
Attendance is mandatory for all students. Students must be neat, tidy and have clean hands when presenting themselves for meals. Students sit at assigned places and are expected to practice proper table manners. Those who refuse to do so will be asked to excuse themselves. All meals meet the nutritional requirements as laid out by the Simcoe County District Health Unit.

Students with special needs, such as vegetarian and those with food allergies can also be accommodated.

Junk food is not permitted at the school. Any junk food (unopened or opened) discovered by the staff will be confiscated. Food is not allowed in dorm rooms.

Classes
Students will attend all assigned classes daily, unless excused by the Headmaster. They are expected to be punctual and to arrive equipped with all necessary notebooks, texts, pencils and erasers as required. All stationery supplies may be purchased from the school.

Students feeling ill may be excused from class, with the Headmaster's permission.

The classroom complex is out of bounds unless there is a staff member present.

School Vehicles
School vehicles are out of bounds unless there is a staff member present.

Tuck Shop
The school maintains a supply of soap, toothpaste and other toiletries that may be purchased by the students. The Headmaster may purchase items not available in the shop for the student upon approval.

Student Account
Money from this account is used to pay for haircuts, trips, school supplies and additional toiletries. A full accounting is available at any time upon request.

Mail
Our address:
The Sheila Morrison School
RR #2 Utopia,
ON L0M 1T0

Our email: student mail@sheilamorrisonschool.com

Our fax number: (705) 424-7068

Students spend one night each week writing letters to parents. Letters are in lieu of other homework and are proofed by a teacher. As postage is not available from the school, parents wishing to receive letters, should ensure their child has an adequate supply of stamps.

Telephone Calls
Each student may make one call each week between 4PM Friday and 4PM Sunday to their parents. (If the parents are separated, one call to each parent is permitted). Parents wishing to speak to their children during the week are requested to call before the start of Study Hall at 7PM.

Our telephone numbers:
General Line (705) 424-1110
Student Line (705) 424-1125

Study Hall
Study Hall takes place each weeknight from 7:00 PM 9:00 PM. All homework assigned each day is completed during this time. At least one teacher is always available to assist students. Study Hall attendance is mandatory for all students, without exception.

Lights Out
Lights out is 9:30 PM for juniors and 10:00 PM for seniors

The Privilege System
The school operates on a point system to encourage good behaviour. Students begin each week with 100 points and must maintain that number to be eligible to participate in the weekend activities. Extra points may be earned by doing extra chores, helping other students or staff, or reviewing news articles at lunchtime. Points are lost through inappropriate behaviour, such as swearing, spitting, smoking, stealing, fighting or for failing to complete assigned chores.

The Privilege List
Each Friday, points accumulated throughout the week are tallied and the list is read after lunch in order, from highest to lowest. Students possessing at least 100 points may take part in all weekend activities. Planned weekend activities generally include movies, mini-golf, bowling, skiing, skating, hiking, horseback riding, squash and other outings.

Non-Privileged Students
Students with less than 100 points on Friday afternoon may not participate in planned weekend activities. A non-privileged student is not permitted to leave the campus and may not receive any visitors. Instead they are assigned tasks such as scrubbing and mopping the kitchen and cleaning the dormitories.

Weekly Assigned Chores
Each student is assigned one chore weekly. Chores include washing dishes, cleaning the classroom complex, cleaning dormitories, helping in the kitchen and acting as a waiter. Although students do not receive points for completing their chores on time, they may volunteer to complete additional tasks in order to earn additional points. Any points earned up until 4:20 PM Thursday count towards the Privilege List for the week.

Weekend Leave
Students must earn additional points to qualify for weekend leave. Juniors require 140 points and seniors need 180 points to qualify.

Travel
Students with weekend leave privileges may be collected after 3:40 PM on Friday. Those students taking the bus will be driven to the Barrie Bus Terminal and their fare deducted from their student account. Parents must ensure that students are back at the school by 6:00 PM on Sunday evening as Study Hall commences at 7:00 PM. We regret that we are unable to pick up students from the bus terminal on Sunday evenings. SMCS receives a flat rate from Deluxe Taxi for trips to the school from the Barrie Bus Terminal. If your child will be taking the bus back to school on Sunday, please inform the school in advance. The Deluxe Taxi telephone number is (705) 728-4444. Any child returning to SMCS before 6:00 PM will receive the discounted rate. After 6:00 PM, the discount no longer applies and students will be charged $25.00. Students must wear Number 1 dress when travelling to and from the school on scheduled weekends or school holidays.

No weekend passes are issued in the first five weeks of the fall term. Similarly, the weekend prior to exams is also closed. The Headmaster reserves the right to refuse weekend leaves regardless of points.

Top Five
The first five students on the Privilege List each week are called the "Top Five" and are rewarded for their special effort. They enjoy a special event or outing, separate from the rest of the student body, such as a movie or being taken out to dinner.

Student of the Week
Each week, the SMCS staff chooses one student to be recognized for their exceptional behaviour and academic work. The Student of the Week is chosen based on academic effort, points earned, behaviour, attitude and general contribution to the life and positive atmosphere of the school. The Student of the Week is rewarded by having no assigned chore the following week and by being allowed one other special outing.

Academics
Formal parent-teacher interviews take place in the spring. Other interviews may be scheduled upon request. From time to time the Headmaster may request an interview to discuss a student's behaviour or academic deficiencies.

Homework Make-up
The Sheila Morrison School believes that a student's success is directly linked to the completion of their homework. Parents are asked to encourage their child to do all assigned work neatly and conscientiously. Students who do not complete homework to the satisfaction of their teacher will be placed on homework make-up for that evening. The student will then be required to complete an extra 45 minutes of homework, from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM.

Weekend Homework Make-up Hours:

Friday 7:00 PM 9:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM 12: 00 PM 1:00 PM 4:00 PM Weekend plus Sunday Homework Make-up As above plus Sunday 9:00 AM 12: 00 PM 1:00 PM 4:00 PM Students who are on Weekend Make-up are officially free to take part in weekend activities at 4:00 PM Saturday, provided they have been working diligently, however, these students are still gated and may not receive visitors.

Students on Homework Make-up for the entire weekend may not leave the campus nor receive visitors. They may be permitted to partake in activities at the discretion of the Duty Staff if they have worked diligently.

Extra-Curricular Activities
Students are asked to choose at least two clubs, one physical and one non-physical. Some clubs require fees that will be paid at the beginning of the fall term.

Available Physical Clubs include: downhill skiing, cross country skiing, riding, weightlifting, swimming, squash, tennis, archery, hiking and hockey. Available Non-Physical Clubs include cooking, music, arts and crafts, yearbook staff, chess, games and the debating club.

Financial Obligations
To plan its operating budget, The Sheila Morrison School must assure its annual income from fees well in advance of each academic year. When a student is enrolled in the school, it is understood that their place is reserved for the entire year and that parent, guardian or fee payer agrees to accept liability for payment of the entire year's tuition regardless of whether or not the student completes the full year.

If, however, the school receives written notification of withdrawal on or before July 31 of the forthcoming academic year, the parent, guardian or fee payer will no longer be liable for the full annual fees.

After the 31st of July of the forthcoming academic year, no portion of any fees paid or outstanding will be refunded in the event of the student's withdrawal, absence or suspension for any reason whatsoever, nor shall there be any reduction of fees for boarding students who, for any reason, become day students during the academic year.

Personal Expenses
The annual tuition fee covers the cost of tuition, room and board. The fee does not cover incidental expenses such as pocket money, dry cleaning, travel expense, medical expense and special events. Parents are advised that costs for incidentals can be significant and an additional amount per year should be included in their financial planning.

Income Tax Information
The Sheila Morrison School is registered as a charitable non-profit organization. Charitable license number is 0480608-20-63. The school has a special dispensation under the income tax act that tuition is deductible under medical expenses.

Weekday Schedule

7:00 - Wake-up
7:45 - Room Check
8:00 - Breakfast (Number 2 Dress)
8:20 - Morning Announcements
8:45 9:00 - Penmanship
9:00 9:40 - Period 1
9:40 10:20 - Period 2
10:20 11:00 - Period 3
11:00 11:40 - Period 4
11:40 12:00 - Kumon Math
12:00 1:00 - LUNCH
1:00 1:40 - Period 5
1:40 2:20 - Period 6
2:20 3:00 - Period 7
3:00 3:40 - Period 8
3:40 4:20 - Physical Education
4:30 - After School Chores
5:00 - Dinner (Number 1 Dress)
6:00 - Room Check
6:15 6:45 - Recreational activity/Homework Make-up
7:00 9:00 - Junior Study Hall Sunday to Thursday
7:00 9:30 - Senior Study Hall Sunday to Thursday
9:00 - Junior snack and volunteer chores
9:30 - Junior lights out - Senior snack and volunteer chores
10:00 - Senior lights out Summer Schedule

Summer Schedule

7:45 - Room Check
8:00 - Breakfast (Summer Uniform)
8:20 - Morning Announcements
8:45 9:00 - Penmanship
9:00 10:20 - Period 1
10:20 10:40 - Recess
10:40 12:30 - Period 2
12:30 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 4:30 - Recreational Activities
5:00 5:30 - Dinner (Summer Uniform)
5:30 7:00 - Free Time
7:00 9:00 - Junior Study Hall Sunday to Thursday
7:00 9:30 - Senior Study Hall Sunday to Thursday
9:00 - Junior Snack and volunteer chores
9:30 - Junior Lights out - Senior Snack and volunteer chores
10:00 - Senior Lights Out