Q: What about kids and cold weather?
A: It is not uncommon for Alberta winter temperatures to become very cold. Safety is our number one priority and so we assess the weather conditions based on a number of factors when making a decision to have an indoor recess. Temperatures around -20 may be “pleasant” on a sunny day with no wind and students will benefit from the time spent getting exercise and fresh air. At other times, wind can make -20 unbearable. We do not have a set temperature but assess the conditions before each “questionable” recess and then make a decision.
Parents should ensure that their children have appropriate clothing for outside conditions. Snow pants, dry boots, gloves, a warm cap and scarf should all be part of their daily winter gear. Students should not expect to stay inside unless they have a note from a doctor indicating the health reason and the time duration.
Q: What is our Snow Day Policy?
A: We rely on the Parkland Transportation Department to make the bussing decisions affected by hazardous weather conditions. If buses are not running due to hazardous weather or driving conditions, there will be no school at Living Waters. This message will be broadcast on the radio and be posted on the front page of our website. You may also check Parkland Transportation website (a link is provided on Parkland school division webpage).
Once we get the call (usually at 5:30 in the morning), we will also send an email through RenWeb to all the school families. There is a person at the school by 8:30am in case a student does not get the message and is dropped off or walks. This is for safety reasons.
Factors that initiate a snow day: wind-chill of approximately 2200 watts per square meter, visibility of less than 1 kilometer, reports from bus drivers and County Road Foremen that many rural roads are, or will soon be, impassable, and/or temperature of -40.
When Parkland Transportation cancels bussing, those same hazards apply to non-bussed families and school staff.
Q: Should my sick child come to school?
A: We encourage parents to keep your children home if they are showing symptoms of a communicable disease. Healthy children should be at school. Please do not keep your healthy children home as they miss important instruction.
Students are instructed not to share food or drink at school at any time and to wash their hands regularly. Children who contract the strep virus should be put on antibiotics immediately.
Q: Does LWCA offer the HPV vaccine through the school for grade 5 students?
A: Living Waters Christian Academy is not allowing the vaccination for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to be offered at the school. However, the grade 5 students will receive their Hepatitis B vaccine as scheduled. Parent consent is required for the Hep B vaccine and those consent forms will be coming home after the health nurse has completed their Hep B education presentation to the grade 5 students.
The board has determined that discussion with young children regarding vaccination for sexually transmitted diseases is the responsibility of parents. If parents wish to have their daughter vaccinated, it should be at their initiative, rather than part of a program promoted by the school. For those who wish to have their daughter vaccinated, the vaccinations (3 in the series) are available at no cost from the health unit or from their family physician (possibly with a fee).
Q: How does Living Waters handle Halloween?
A: The time leading up to Halloween can be very exciting for many kids as they anticipate dressing up and getting bags of treats. For other families who have decided that the ghosts, witches, and skeletons that are so central in the commercial promotion of this holiday are disturbing, this holiday is uncomfortable. Other families feel that a holiday, which promotes or at least trivializes the devil, witches, and other evil, must be avoided completely by all Christians.
The position of the school is simple and clear. We do not promote Halloween within the school. Obviously, excited students will talk about their plans and costumes and, on the sugared day following, they will recount their exploits, but the school does not promote or participate in Halloween activities.
During the glorious months of autumn we will discuss the blessings of harvest, the changing of the seasons, even Pilgrims and Thanksgiving. At the older grades, teachers may discuss the history and present day context of this holiday if it is raised within the appropriate class.
There will always be a range of views regarding how Christians should engage their culture, their community, and their neighbours, being salt and light in a dark world. If you have any questions please speak with your child’s teacher or call the office.
