Registration & Forms

Schools and Districts are authorized to collect, use, and share student personal information that is directly related to and necessary for their educational functions. For other school or education-related purposes, parental or student consent is required.

The Board of Education of School District 46 is seeking your consent to collect, keep, use and share photographs, videos, images, and/or names of students in a variety of publications (yearbooks, newsletters, brochures and reports) and on the school or District’s website(s) or social media for education related purposes, such as recognizing and encouraging student achievement, building the school community and informing others about school and District programs and activities.

Dear Parent / Guardian:

Your son / daughter may be involved in a variety of activities, which involve students leaving the
school grounds on foot. School District 46 – Sunshine Coast policy requires the school to
have the consent of parents each time a student leaves the school grounds. Some examples of
activities that involve a “walking field trip” in support of the curriculum could include:

• Jogging in the neighbourhood on a Terry Fox Run or for PE on a designated route.
• Walking to a nearby park.
• Walking to a nearby beach.
• Walks to gather leaves, pine cones and other materials for art projects.
• Pitch-in or annual neighbourhood litter clean-up.
• Walking to a nearby creek to observe salmon spawning and to study stream ecology.
• Outings to look for signs of spring or other seasonal changes.
• Walks to study environmental print and shapes in the neighbourhood – e.g. street signs.
• Nature walks along local trails for exploration in support of science topics.

For all of these activities, proper footwear and clothing are needed and following the instructions
of the adult supervisor(s) would be expected behaviour. The school’s Code of Conduct applies
on all field trips. Please discuss behavioural expectations with your child, as it is important that
students hear the same message both at home and at school.

Rather than send home a permission slip for each small venture, we are asking your
cooperation in reviewing this annual permission form, which will cover all neighbourhood
activities that do not require transportation by vehicle. There will be sufficient adult supervision for every walking field trip.

In accordance with board regulation #1130 governing same-day travel/day hikes by students held off the school property, parents would be informed of any such activities by advance written communication. We will make every effort to give parents as much notice for walking field trips as possible.

By allowing your son/daughter to participate in walking field trips similar to those described above, you are accepting the risk of any accident, if one should occur. Your signature on the following page indicates that you support your child in participating in day trips.

British Columbia’s Ministry of Education has implemented a new curriculum for BC. It is designed to help students achieve their personal goals and become competent, successful and contributing members of society.

This curriculum encourages all of us to think differently about effective communication of student learning. FreshGrade is a Canadian-based app that helps teachers capture evidence of learning and share announcements with families. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 9 also document their learning and experiences using photographs, videos, comments and other educational artifacts in an electronic portfolio. FreshGrade is accessible via the web or a mobile device. Terms of Reference for FreshGrade can be found at http://tech.sd46.bc.ca/FreshGrade.pdf.

FreshGrade creates a confidential three-way dialogue between your child, the teacher and you. We have taken the steps necessary to ensure that your child’s information is kept safe, secure and private. Photographs/videos of your child engaged in partner/group work may appear on another child’s portfolio which may then be shared with another child’s family. Anything posted to the shared portfolios must never be copied or shared. We are committed to being respectful with what we choose to post. This data belongs to you and your child and you may request to have it removed at any time.

As for all technology, students are responsible for demonstrating digital citizenship through the appropriate use of technology, as outlined in Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1170 and each School’s code of conduct.

Your written consent to your child’s use of FreshGrade is required by BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). If you opt not to sign the consent, we will ensure you continue to receive information on your child’s progress. Please speak to your child’s teacher or principal if you have any concerns.