School Philosophy
Mount Pleasant School aspires to be a capable, connected, committed school community where students work to achieve academic excellence and foster leadership skills. In partnership with parents, we strive to provide a structured environment of consistently high expectations for learning and conduct where students demonstrate diligence and self-discipline as they achieve excellent results in all their pursuits.
Homework Expectations
An important component of the Cogito Program is its emphasis on homework. Homework is assigned in various subjects according to curricular expectations and the teacher's professional judgment. Homework should be meaningful and measured, but time will often vary depending upon each child's individual skill level and ability to complete daily work in class. It is marked and students are expected to make appropriate corrections.
Teachers in the Cogito Program will provide parents with a homework information sheet that describes the homework practice for the student's specific grade level.
Regular homework, central to the Cogito Program, has three major purposes:
- Teaches personal responsibility and time management skills;
- Provides additional opportunities for enhanced academic growth and development; and
- Involves parents in the learning process and keeps them informed.
Parent responsibilities concerning homework are as follows:
- Provide a time and a place, free from distraction, for the work to occur;
- Sign the daily homework book, after examining the child's work;
- Provide encouragement with respect to daily work as well as homework; and
- Work closely with the teacher if a problem occurs.
Homework greatly enhances student potential for success. In the Cogito Program, it is a daily expectation from Monday to Thursday. Long-term assignments, missed daily work, or review for tests may also be done on the weekend.
Homework reinforces concepts covered during class time. Students may expect to review, practise skills, catch up, and prepare for tests. Students often require help in developing their study skills, and in organizing their time so as to balance homework, extra-curricular activities, and free time. Long-term projects or assignments that are to be completed over an extended period of time build on previous knowledge and skills and expand the student's knowledge and skills of research, organization, and time management. The requirements and scheduling of all assignments will be shared with students and parents. All students will have a home reading program in addition to their daily homework to encourage a life-long reading habit.
Goal Setting
In mid-October, students, parents and teachers meet to set individualized goals for continuous improvement. The goals are accompanied by strategies with which to reach the goals which are monitored throughout the year. Learning Conversations provide an opportunity for teachers, administrators and parents to meet with students to discuss the goals.
Every year, the principal meets with all students to discuss their goals and progress toward the goals.
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance at school is a vital factor in the successful completion of the program at each grade level. Extended absences due to family excursions or other reasons should be discussed with your child(ren)'s teacher in advance. Formal notification of the absence by letter is required.
The safety of students at Mount Pleasant School is of the utmost importance. If your child is driven home from school, it is vital that he or she is picked up promptly at dismissal time of 3:23 p.m. every school day except Thursday when dismissal time is 2:35 p.m. Parent support in ensuring the continued safety of our students is invaluable.