Arrival & Dismissal Procedures 

Whether students arrive by bus, car or foot, all students are to keep their backpacks with them. To maintain safety for all students, it is imperative all students & families follow the details below.

Arrival & Dismissal Details 

Students should not be dropped off earlier than 9:00 AM and picked up no later than 3:45 PM at the end of the day. If you live in a neighborhood with school bus service, please send your child to school on the school bus. Parents/guardians are encouraged to walk to school with their children if they live within walking distance. 

The fire lane in the parking lot on the south side of the building is used for student pick up and drop off. NO DROPPING OFF STUDENTS IN THE PARKING LOT. Students should never walk between cars or walk out into the traffic area to get to a car. You may park and walk your child to the crosswalk to ensure they safely cross onto the sidewalk. When entering the parking lot, drivers should pull ahead as much as possible to drop off students. Students must exit their cars using the door closest to the sidewalk this will ensure no students are in the car lanes. Students being picked up should wait on the sidewalk in front of the school. Drivers must observe the 5 M.P.H. speed limit, STAY IN THEIR CARS, and move forward as space becomes available in the pick up lane. Even if you see your child, please continue to pull forward until the line of cars stops and it is your child’s turn to get into your car. Students must enter their cars using the door closest to the sidewalk this will ensure no students are in the car lanes.

The line of cars waiting to pick up students after school can get lengthy. If the line along the curb is full you will be directed to the line circling around the parking lot. The No Parking zones and traffic directional arrows painted on our parking lot must be followed to facilitate the safe and smooth flow of traffic. There is no parking or driving behind the gym. For the safety of our children and in compliance with state laws, please do not use cell phones while driving in the parking lot.

If you wish to park your vehicle, please use the spaces provided in the parking lot. Do not leave your car parked along the curb. You may meet your children by the office hallway and accompany them to your car using the marked crosswalk. No crossing is permitted between vehicles and children are not allowed to cross into the parking lot without an adult. 

Parents/guardians who walk to school to pick up their children need to meet them at the entrance to school closest to your home. 

Bus Procedures

Students are expected to obey all directions of the driver and follow all bus rules (distributed the first week of school). Failure to do so will result in a “bus ticket” and may lead to forfeitures of bus-riding privileges. Parents/guardians will be notified of infractions of any consequence. The following are basic rules for our bus riders:

1. Arrive at the bus stop no more than 5 minutes prior to scheduled bus arrival. Students should stay off the private properties adjoining the bus stop and well away from the road.

2. Enter the bus and be seated immediately.

3. Be courteous to the bus driver and to each other.

4. Do not put your head or arms out the window or throw anything from or in the bus.

5. Always wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street when meeting or leaving the bus.

6. A quiet and orderly atmosphere is essential to safe driving conditions.

7. Balloons, glass, personal sports equipment and large or breakable items are not allowed on the bus.

Bike Riders

Bicycles are allowed for arrival and dismissal. Students who choose to ride a bike to school can lock bikes in bike racks located at the north and south entrances. Canyon Creek is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes. 

For more information including agreement/consent form please visit: NSD - Riding Bikes to School Information

Dismissal 

• At the end of the day all students are escorted by teachers to their planned dismissal area (bus, car pick up, or walk home)

• Once the day ends at 3:45 (2:15 on Wednesday) students need to leave school grounds and go home to adhere to a “safe at home” protocol.

24-HOUR ATTENDANCE LINE

425-408-5710

Please call or email by 9:50 a.m.

ccattendance@nsd.org

Attendance

School attendance is a major factor when it comes to school success and student behavior. Every day of school is important for your child and we encourage regular attendance. On the other hand, a child should not be sent to school if he or she shows signs of illness. In the case your child had a fever, diarrhea, a contagious rash, or was vomiting, he or she must demonstrate a lack of symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school. All students well enough to come to school will be considered well enough to go outside for recess. If notification is not received, NSD’s automated notification system will send an email and call the home number to inform you that their child is not at school. If communication explaining the absence is not received, it will be considered an unexcused absence.

If your child is going to be absent, late or picked up early we ask that parents/guardians call our attendance line 425-408-5710 or use the attendance email: ccattendance@nsd.org. Please report your name, child’s name, teacher’s name, reason and date of absence or tardiness. 

• Early Pickup/Changing After School Pick Up Plans

For the safety of your child, when there is any deviation from the normal after school dismissal routine, or if any person other than a parent or guardian is taking a student off campus, email ccattendance@nsd.org and include the teacher prior to the start of school. After the start of school, call the office at 425-408-5700. For safety reasons, students without notes will follow their usual dismissal plan. Calling home about last minute changes causes serious schedule delays for departing buses and is not a practice we can accommodate.

• Prearranged/Extended Absences

In the event your student will be absent for five or more days unrelated to an illness, administration at Canyon Creek requires a Pre-Approved Absence Request Form be submitted at least two weeks prior to the absence. Please use this link to submit your absence request. Pre-Approved Absence Request Form Please understand that teachers may not be able to provide lesson materials or homework in advance and should not be expected to provide an alternative assignment for extended vacation absences.

• Tardiness

The school day begins at 9:15 a.m. when the first bell rings. Students who arrive at school at 9:16 or later are considered tardy and will need to check in at the main office with their parent/guardian. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE ON TIME EACH DAY. 

• Unexcused Absences
   
  • If your child has 3 unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires we schedule a conference with you and your child.
  • In elementary school after five excused absences in any month, or ten or more excused absences in the school year, the school district is required to contact you to schedule a conference.  A conference is not required if your child has provided a doctor’s note, or pre-arranged the absence in writing, and plans are in place so your child does not fall behind academically. 
  • If your child has 7 unexcused absences in any month or 10 unexcused absences within the school year, we are required to file a Petition with the Juvenile court, alleging a violation of RCW 28A.225.010, the mandatory attendance laws.  You and your child may need to appear in Juvenile Court.
     
• Withdrawals

Please notify our office in writing if you are planning to move from our service area. Two week’s notice would be greatly appreciated so the staff can prepare for your child’s departure.

Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Electronic Devices 

We understand the importance of family communication and that cell phones/smartwatches may be a part of the plan. However, cell phones and other personal electronic devices (earbuds, headphones, smartwatches, gaming devices, etc.) are discouraged from being brought to school These devices are to be inaudible and remain in the student’s backpack during the school day

If you need to contact your child, please do so through the office at (425) 408-5700. We are happy to pass messages on to children when it is needed. Canyon Creek is not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of these items.

Productive home to school cooperation is based on strong communication. To assist in developing communication, our school newsletter, the Canyon Creek Elementary Newsletter is available weekly online through ParentSquare. Teachers will also send out classroom newsletters via ParentSquare. Details on Parent Square is available through the district website: NSD - Parent Square

Dress Code

At Canyon Creek we strive to create a community that is safe, conducive for teaching and learning, and promotes the dignity of all students. Student dress should be compatible with an educational setting. Any pictures or messaging on clothing should be of content that is appropriate and respectful for students in K-5. We trust that students and parents/guardians will work together to develop a workable and comfortable standard. 

Since recess occurs regardless of weather conditions, it is advisable to wear warm, water resistant clothing and shoes during our long rainy season. It is each student’s responsibility to stay dry on rainy days and to stay out of wet areas. Students who choose to get wet intentionally will not be given dry clothes from the nurse. Close-toed shoes are recommended as they provide additional protection from stubbed toes or other injuries. Tennis shoes should be worn on each P.E. day to provide increased safety during activities and to avoid damage to our gym floor. 

It is helpful to mark clothing with your child’s name such as coats, sweatshirts, hats, etc. 

Emergency Procedures 

In case of inclement weather there are several ways to find out if school will be delayed or closed. The district will call families in the event of a school delay or closure using its telephone notification system. Morning calls will be made before 6 a.m. to ensure that families of high school students are reached. Also, up-to-date information is posted on Northshore’s home page, www.nsd.org, and is kept current as conditions change. You may call Canyon Creek’s number, 425-408-5700, and press 9, or call the district’s 24-hour emergency number, 425-408-6001. Another option is to listen to your radio or TV stations for late start or closure information. These stations will also carry information if deteriorating weather conditions force an early afternoon closure. If you wish to receive an email notification of district-wide schedule changes, you may register for the emergency notification system at SchoolReport.org. 

When schools are closed for the day, or even if they close early in the afternoon, there will be no after school activities on that day, including athletic events. Emergency make-up days will be added to the end of the school year.

• Emergency Closure

In the event of an emergency closure, every precaution will be made for the safe transportation of all children. Bus students will be transported as close to their regular bus stop as possible, and students who walk will be sent home providing it is safe to do so. Each student must know what to do in case parents/guardians are not home or immediately available should power outages, weather conditions, etc. necessitate an early dismissal. Please discuss, and periodically review, your family safety plan so each student knows whether to go home or to a neighbor, and what to do until parents/guardians arrive home. This advance planning will assure safety and peace of mind.

• Earthquake Preparedness

Canyon Creek has a very thorough preparedness plan, which includes student, staff and volunteer accountability, search and assessment teams and rescue first aid. Practice evacuations will occur throughout the year. We also have an emergency container for supplies and walkie-talkies. In the event of an earthquake, the staff will be following very specific dismissal procedures to ensure that students are released to only those adults who are listed as emergency contacts. Please make sure the emergency contact names you have provided for your child are current.

• Safe Inside/ Lockdown

In the event of a potential danger to our staff and students, we practice three types of procedures: Safe Inside, Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place. Safe Inside means that classes will go on as usual, but students are not allowed outside. Reasons might include a dangerous animal on campus or police activity in the neighborhood. A Lockdown means that there is a potential danger in or out of the classroom; therefore, students will be secured in the classroom away from windows, remain silent and wait for further directions from staff. Examples of the need for an emergency lockdown might be an intruder on campus or a person with a weapon at school. Shelter-in-Place is a designation meant to address exterior atmospheric hazards, such as a gas leak in the neighborhood or ash from a nearby fire.

*In event of an actual real emergency Lockdown - Parents/guardians should not arrive at school to pick up their students until contacted by school or district personnel. Parents/guardians arriving on the scene can hinder first responders. Parents/guardians concerned about the safety of their children should first contact the main office.

Gum is not permitted while students are on campus. Exceptions may be considered for standardized testing or based on individual student plans.

Health & Nurse Services 

Our Registered Nurse serves our building during school hours. Their duties are diverse, from administering first aid and necessary medication to monitoring the general health and well-being of our students. Our health room is used for emergency care and for ill students awaiting pick-up. Space and personnel are not available to accommodate extended care or supervision. We require that you, or an emergency contact, pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called. For your child’s safety it is very important to keep your home, cell, work, and emergency contact telephone numbers current. 

• When to keep a child home from school
  • A temperature, taken orally, that is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, is considered a fever. Children should be fever-free, without fever reducing medication, for at least 24 hours before sending them to school.
  • Anytime a child vomits or has diarrhea, he/she needs to be isolated from other children for 24 hours. If your child vomits or has diarrhea in the night, keep him/her home from school the following day.
  • Any rash of unknown cause should be considered contagious. Please have your child examined by a healthcare provider to determine the cause and communicability of the rash before sending him/her to school. The child may not return to school unless there is a letter from the medical professional stating that the rash is not communicable in nature, or unless the rash is no longer present.
  • 24 hours after administration of the first dose of an antibiotic or as directed by the health care provider. 
     
• Accidents

If a child is injured at school, he/she will be given emergency first-aid treatment by the nurse, principal, school secretary, or a first aid-trained health room assistant. The parents/guardians will be called immediately in the event of a serious injury. If you are not at home or work, the person listed as the "First Emergency" contact will be called. If no one is available to come for the child, we will use our best judgment on whether to keep the child in the nurse's office or call 911 for medical assistance.

• Health Screening

Health screening for hearing and vision is done each Fall in grades K-3, 5th. ^.Other students may be screened for hearing or vision upon referral by the teacher or parent. The vision screening does not identify all vision problems and is not intended as a substitute for periodic eye examinations by a healthcare provider. A referral letter will be sent home when a student’s hearing and/or vision screening results do not meet the expectations for their age. 

• Immunization

For the protection of your child, the Washington State immunization law states that every child attending public or private school must show proof of compliance with the law before the student’s first day of attendance. Northshore School District requires healthcare provider verification of student immunizations. Any student not meeting this requirement will be excluded.

• Injuries at School - Parent/Guardian Financial Responsibility:

The health and safety of our students is one of the district’s foremost concerns. Even so, accidents may and do happen and the resulting medical bills (ambulance transport, surgery, etc.) can be very expensive. Please be aware that the district does not carry insurance for student personal injury costs and cannot assume responsibility for them. Parent/Guardian Responsibility: if your child gets hurt during school or a school activity, you as the parent or guardian, are financially responsible for any medical bills. 

• Life Threatening Conditions

In order to provide a safe learning environment, the state of Washington passed a law that requires students with life threatening conditions to have medical orders and a nursing care plan in place BEFORE the first day of school attendance. (Chapter 101, Laws of 2002, amending Chapter 28A.210 RCW)

The law defines life-threatening conditions as “a health condition that will put the child in danger of death during the school day if a medication or treatment order and a nursing plan are not in place.” Children with life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, severe bee sting or food allergies, severe asthma, severe seizures, etc., are required to have a medication or treatment order in place before they start school. Please set up a meeting with the school nurse in order to have all necessary forms and medications in place prior to starting school.

• Medication at school

If your student will be taking ANY medication at school, you must confer with the school nurse. Please do not put any kind of medicine, including aspirin, vitamins, and cough drops in your child's lunch box, backpack or pockets. Unidentified medicine can never be given at school. 

Lost and Found

Articles of clothing or other large items found on the school grounds are put in our Lost and Found. All lunch boxes and articles of clothing should be plainly marked with your child’s name. If your child loses an item, encourage him or her to check our Lost and Found. Parents/guardians are equally welcome to check for missing articles. Several times a year, all unclaimed items are donated to a local charity.

Lunch and Breakfast

Both lunch and breakfast are served each day in the cafeteria at Canyon Creek. Breakfast is available from 9:00 - 9:10 daily. For lunch, students have three choices: Lunch “A”, Lunch “B” (often a vegetarian option) or a third daily option.  Menus are available online along with nutritional information at www.nsd.org/meals. Milk is included with breakfast and lunch. Milk can be purchased separately for $.50. If a child has a food allergy, it must be listed on the child’s school health form and a note sent to our nurse.

Canyon Creek is part of the Northshore Meal program that allows parents/guardians to prepay for breakfast, lunch or milk. Students are issued a card with their name and their unique student number that allows them to access their Student Meal account. The cost of meals is then deducted from the student’s account. 

Cash and checks are accepted. Make checks payable to: Northshore School District and write your child’s name on the check. You may also prepay for school meals with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa and Discover) through LINQconnect. To register with LINQConnect go to LINQconnect. The LINQConnect system charges a convenience fee of $2.60 per payment transaction.  Transactions take 24-48 hours to post to student accounts.  LINQConnect may also be used to check the balance on your child’s lunch account. There is no fee for signing-up or logging in just to check the balance. 

National School Lunch/Breakfast Program forms are available online and in the school office if you feel your family would qualify for free or reduced lunch prices. These forms may be filled out at any time during the school year if your family situation changes.

NSD NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT 

Northshore School District prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, sex, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification, in all its employment procedures, training, programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination: Human Resources: (425) 408-7601.

Parties and Birthday Recognitions in Classrooms

Food treats are not allowed due to food allergies and food restrictions. Please do not send delivered items such as balloons or flowers to the school. Individual classroom teachers will share how they celebrate birthdays/celebrations/classroom parties in their classroom. We do not allow party invitations to be distributed at school, unless every child in the classroom receives one. Check with your student’s classroom teacher if you have questions.

Play Areas, Equipment and Activities

Playground toys are provided by the school for recess use. This includes soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, playground balls, jump ropes, hoola hoops, etc. Students are expected to use the school equipment appropriately and return them to the containers at the end of recess. Help make them last! Personal sports equipment needs to be left at home to prevent issues with loss or misuse during the school day.

• Balls: Touch football and soccer games are to be played on the play field. Other football games (catch, fliers up) may be played in other open, flat areas that won’t interfere with other activities. Students desiring to use a ball during recess may check one out. Any student checking out a ball is accountable for its return. 
• Bars: Hands must remain on parallel bars at all times and be the last part of body to leave.
• Climbing wall: Always stay under the highest bars. Hands are the last things to leave the bars. One student at a time on the twirly rock.           
• Group games: Follow general rules of the game. Students are expected to demonstrate sportsmanship and play under control. Recess teachers will provide support for students who are playing rough or out of control (may include verbal reminders, or sitting out and reviewing expectations).
• Objects Found: Items found on the ground (sticks, rocks, wood chips) are not considered play toys and are to remain on the ground. Snow is to remain on the ground. 
• Slide: Climb up the stairs. Slide down feet first, one student at a time.
• Swings: Swing back and forth only, facing the playground. Students are seated while swinging and must stop the swing before getting off. Stand back out of the way of the swings. All usable swings must be in use before counting for a swing. After a count of 25, students must release the swing to a waiting student and go to another swing.
• Tag: Tag is to only be played on the field. Students may not play tag on play structures. 

Pets/Animals Not Allowed at School 

Children are proud of their pets and want to share them with their classmates. However, due to state regulations, pets are not allowed at Northshore School District schools, including Canyon Creek. 

PTA

The Canyon Creek Elementary PTA provides many valuable services to enrich the education of your child. Plan to join and regularly attend PTA meetings. Canyon Creek PTA meets several times throughout the school year. Your participation in our Canyon Creek PTA will help our school greatly.

Technology Use (WiFi & School Devices) NSD Expectations

Students are provided computer access privileges at school, as well as access to the Internet, email, digital communication and collaboration tools, online learning spaces, and electronic educational resources. These resources, tools, and equipment are essential to teaching and learning. 

The following rules, procedures, and guidelines at Canyon Creek Elementary as well as NSD’s guidelines apply to any computer/technology use.

All students must follow NSD Acceptable Use Procedure (NSD Policy 2022), which provides guidelines for appropriate use of technology, and the Internet in the Northshore School District. The guidelines for responsible use of these tools are outlined in School Board Procedure 2022P, which can be found here: https://goo.gl/mPQ1qD. Given all of these factors, Parents or guardians still do have the right to terminate their student’s access to electronic tools and resources by signing the District Technology Opt-Out form - Questions about the Opt-Out request should be directed to school administration. 

• The use of technology is a privilege. Altering or tampering with any computer equipment, software, student work or operating system is expressly forbidden. “Altering” includes, but is not limited to: installing programs, deleting materials, changing, moving, or renaming existing materials/programs of any NSD equipment, including interference with other student work in Google Docs. 

• Damaging and/or misuse of technology is a serious offense, which may result in school and/or district disciplinary action including loss of computer privileges. 

• No food, drinks, or gum are allowed near computers or other technology. 

• Students may be required to pay restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged technology. 

• Internet access is available to all students at Canyon Creek. Parents are encouraged to review the Acceptable Use Guidelines with their children. The Internet will be used to research assigned class projects, or to complete work directly related to a class project. Northshore School District reserves the right to monitor student use of the Internet or any other student use of technology.

• Students may not visit inappropriate sites on the Internet. “Inappropriate sites” include, but are not limited to, sites that display and or promote racist, violent, pornographic, or vulgar material or access gaming sites. The right to decide whether or not a particular site is inappropriate rests solely with the staff. 

• Students may not download inappropriate materials. “Inappropriate materials” include, but are not limited to games, social networking, hacking software, materials which are pirated, non-educational, objectionable, or copyrighted. If there is any question, please check with a staff member. 

• Students must use their assigned school issued devices, personal devices brought from home are not allowed to be used as a student school device. 

• Failure to follow these guidelines may result in consequences and loss of technology privileges.

Toys

Please do not send toys, cards, stuffed animals, etc. unless your teacher has created a plan for the day. Toys that become a distraction to yourself or others will be confiscated and kept until the end of the day or a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick the toy up at the office. Sensory fidgets are allowed only if approved by your child’s teacher. Trading cards, such as pokemon/sports cards need to be left at home to prevent issues with loss and or unfair trading.

Valuables

Students are not to bring money, personal, or family items of value to school. Items can become lost, stolen or accidentally damaged. The school cannot take the responsibility for lost or damaged items. Arrangements should be made with the teacher for bringing “show and tell” items to school.

Visitors

Parents/guardians are welcome at our school. Anyone not enrolled as a student or working as a contracted employee of the district must first check in through our office. Visitors must sign in and take a visitor’s badge, which must be worn in a visible place during their entire visit. This practice is for the safety and security of everyone. Scheduling visits ahead of time is ALWAYS recommended. We cannot accommodate extra students who are friends or relatives, for example, during the last week of school or just before holidays.

Volunteers

Volunteers are always welcome at our school and there are numerous ways to get involved. It is District Policy that volunteers are required to fill out an online Volunteer Application form to volunteer during the school year. It is important to note that all volunteers need to renew their volunteer application annually.  The online volunteer application can be found at the district website in visitor section.  NSD - Volunteer Resources. All volunteers are required to check in at the office and wear a visitor’s badge (See “Visitors” section). 

Weapons/Hazardous Items

Students are prohibited from bringing items to school that may be hazardous to the safety and health of themselves and/or others. This prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, such items as firearms, fireworks, knives, laser pointers, drugs or any other item that in the judgment of a school authority could be defined as hazardous. A weapons violation constitutes grounds for immediate expulsion from the district subject to due process and the right to appeal. If a student brings a firearm to school, new legislation provides that the student be expelled from state public schools for one year. Objects used as a weapon or that look like weapons, such as toy guns or knives, will be treated in the same manner as real weapons. If a student encounters a dangerous item on our campus, that student is expected to leave it alone and alert an adult immediately.

Together, students, families, teachers, staff and administrators share the responsibility in creating and sustaining an environment that enhances student achievement and well-being in the Northshore School District.

At Canyon Creek, we provide a Student & Family handbook that outlines many key policy, process, and information for student success here at Canyon Creek. Please refer to our website for updated information as items may be adjusted as needed throughout the year. 

Additionally, Northshore School District’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook addresses district wide expectations.  Additional information and the NSD Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook can be found at: NSD Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Click to view the 24-25 Canyon Creek Student Handbook Full Copy