• All students must be advised of the reason for the dismissal (e.g., impending severe weather).
  
• Depending on the situation, secondary students may be dismissed on their own with the offer of assistance if needed. The school’s administrative team is available for support. For example, if the weather is very cold and students who drive to school cannot start their vehicles, they should be advised to return to the school until a parent or guardian can be contacted. Students should not attempt to walk home unless a member of the school staff determines it is safe to do so.
  
• In the case of secondary students who take city transit to school, the school division's manager of transportation works with the City of Saskatoon to arrange for earlier access to city buses.
  
• Elementary students who are not bused to school are not allowed to leave the school until a parent or guardian has been contacted and comes to the school to pick them up. Adequate staff coverage will be provided at the school until all children have been picked up by a parent or guardian. If a student is picked up by someone other than the parent (after permission has been given by the parent) the student must be signed out. It is very important for families to ensure their emergency contact information is up to date so school staff can contact parents/caregivers quickly and efficiently. Please provide a telephone number at which you can be reached immediately.
  
• In the case of elementary students who are bused to school, the school division's manager of transportation works with transportation providers to arrange for early bus pick-up, if school buses are still running. If school buses are not running, students are not dismissed until a parent or guardian picks them up and signs them out of school.
  
• In the case of students who are transported to school by taxi, the school division's manager of transportation works closely with the taxicab companies to arrange for early cab pickup.
  
• The school’s principal is responsible for providing, or arranging for, safe accommodation of students who cannot get home. In extreme circumstances, students and staff may have to remain at the school overnight. 
  

Cancellation of Classes or School Closures

What Parents/Caregivers Need to Do

• Have alternate arrangements in place for your children in case classes are cancelled.
  
• Ensure children know where to go if you will not be at home and how to contact you.
  
• Ensure your emergency contact information is kept up to date at your child's school. If emergency phone numbers change, inform school staff in the front office. Please provide a phone number at which you can be reached immediately.
  
• Ensure children are dressed appropriately for cold weather. No one can predict when a school might have to be evacuated due to fire or another emergency.
  
• Decide what is best for your children. The option to keep children at home when weather conditions are extreme is at your discretion. As a school division, we have a responsibility to educate children and we work to minimize any interruptions to education. Classes are interrupted only on rare occasions.