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Letter from IPS Board - February 2008

Letter to Prospective Parents from the Head of School (November 2007)

School Closure Procedures

School Closures
(Power, Snow/Weather, Major Ferry Disruption)

From time to time, the school may have to close, delay opening, or decide upon early dismissal because of heavy snow, power outages, or others factors. The decision to close the school or delay opening will be made by the head of school and assistant head of school. The general rule of thumb is as follows: if the West Vancouver School District closes its schools (including Bowen Island Community School), then IPS will be closed.

Closure Procedures - Communications Outside of School Hours

Telephone	Voicemail	The school's voice mail message will be updated by 7:45 am advising if a closure is to occur (unless there is a power outage – which affects our voicemail capabilities).
Telephone	Phone Tree	If we are unable to update the school’s voicemail, the phone tree will be initiated to all families to advise of the closure.
Internet	Email	An email notification will also be sent out to all parents (unless there is a power outage).
Internet	Website	A notice will be posted to the website as early as possible (unless there is a power outage).
Radio	CBC (AM 690) CKWX (AM 1130)	The school will notify the radio stations and inform them of the closure.

Unless the road conditions are too dangerous, someone from the school staff will be at the school in the morning and will remain until 10:00 am in the event a student does arrive for school.

Off - Island Students (Late Start Schedule):
If the weather and road conditions appear questionable in the morning on the North Shore, families with students traveling from the North Shore are asked to wait until 7:45 am to find out if IPS will be closed. Check the school’s voicemail, your email, the school’s website, or await phone call from the phone tree by 8:00 am. If the decision is made to open the school, students from the North Shore should take the 9:00 am ferry sailing.

Closure Procedures - Communications During School Hours
The following will take place should it be necessary to dismiss students early:

Internet	Email	An email notification will be sent out to all parents (unless there is a power outage).
	Website	A notice will be posted to the website as early as possible (unless there is a power outage).
Telephone	Phone Tree	The phone tree will be initiated to all families to advise of the early dismissal.
Off-Island Students		Students who have to travel home on the ferry will be dismissed at an appropriate time so that they can take either the 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm or 3:00 pm sailing.

All families should have two plans in place for students in the event of a school closure, or early dismissal BEFORE such events arise. Students need to be aware of their family’s ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B’ BEFORE such events arise.

Off-island students should also have a Bowen family emergency contact, possibly part of the family’s ‘Plan B’ in the event that both the ferry or water taxi are unable to operate and the student has to remain on Bowen.

Island Pacific School 671 Carter Road Bowen Island BC V0N 1G0 604.947.9311