Administrative Procedures

Template 244A: Letter to Concerned Parents

Instruction & Assessment

FORMAT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Date

Dear ______________ [add name],

Thank you for our conversation on ____________ [add date] where you shared with me your concerns regarding the arrival of a Service Dog into our school.

The student’s right to have a certified Service dog is protected under Alberta’s Human Rights legislation and the Service Dog Act and, therefore, the Service Dog can be with the handler in all aspects of his/her education. While the school jurisdiction is required to accommodate all of its students to the point of undue hardship, it also has a duty to provide a safe learning environment to its employees, students and volunteers.

Given that you have identified that your child is allergic to dogs, as part of our duty to accommodate, we would like to understand any medical requirements you may need as part of an accommodation. Please speak with your doctor about your allergies and provide us with a letter from your doctor confirming that you are allergic to dogs.

This letter would also require the following information:

Whether or not you may attend the School but not be in the same classroom with a Service Dog;
Whether or not you may attend the School and be in the same classroom as a Service Dog;
The accommodation steps the School would be reasonably required to take from a medical point of view if a Service Dog were in the same classroom or if the dog was in the School, whichever scenario is relevant to you.

After I have received this information, I will review the documents with the Director of Learning Services and we will invite you to another meeting to establish an appropriate accommodation plan.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

______________ [add name]
Principal

FORMAT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Date

This letter is to inform you that effective _____________ [add date], there will be a Service Dog in ___________ school [add name] assisting one of our students.

This certified Service Dog is highly trained and recognized by an accredited Canadian training facility. The Service Dog will be used and under the care and control of “the handler” (in most cases, the student) while attending school and school events.

The student will utilize the Service Dog for the purposes of securing a safe environment and/or effectively meeting that student’s education needs.

An upcoming information session for parents/guardians at our next School Council Meeting [add date] will offer more information on how the Service Dog will be integrated into the school setting.

There will also be an information assembly at the school to help students identify the Service Dog and to learn how the Service Dog will fit into daily school routines. During this assembly, all students will be informed as to proper procedures around the Service Dog, as the Service Dog is not a pet, but a certified working service animal while at school.

If your child has any dog allergies, or if you feel the attendance and use of the Service Dog creates an undue hardship on you or your child within the school community, please contact me by __________________ [add date].

We anticipate the Service Dog to be a benefit to the student’s learning and we look forward to this new addition to our school community. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

______________ [add name]
Principal

FORMAT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Date

This letter is to inform you that effective _____________ [add date], there will be a Service Dog in ___________ school [add name] assisting one of our students.

The student will utilize the Service Dog for the purposes of securing a safe environment and/or effectively meeting that student’s education needs.

An upcoming information session for parents/guardians at our next School Council Meeting [add date] will offer more information on how the Service Dog will be integrated into the school setting.

We anticipate the Service Dog to be a benefit to the student’s learning and we look forward to this new addition to our school community. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

______________ [add name]
Principal

FORMAT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Date

Dear Staff and Volunteers,

This letter is to inform you that a request has been made by a student’s parents for a Service dog to attend _________ school [add name] to support the student as follows: ___________________ [add times/regularity with which dog will be in the school/classroom].

This letter is intended to provide initial notice of the plan to include a Service Dog in school, in the event that you have any allergies related to animals. In that regard, please note that school personnel will remain vigilant to ensure that all school buildings continue to be adequately cleaned and ventilated.

This certified Service Dog is highly trained and recognized by an accredited Canadian training facility. This dog is a trained companion for the student and is able to assist him/her in many of the daily routines while learning at school.

The student’s right to have a certified Service dog is protected under Alberta’s Human Rights legislation and the Service Dog Act and, therefore, can be with the handler in all aspects of his/her education. While the school jurisdiction is required to accommodate all of its students to the point of undue hardship, it also has a duty to provide a safe learning environment to its employees, students and volunteers.

If you are allergic to dogs, as part of our duty to accommodate, we would like to understand any medical requirements you may need as part of an accommodation. Please speak with your doctor about your allergies and provide us with a letter from your doctor confirming that you are allergic to dogs.

This letter would also require the following information:

Whether or not you may attend the School but not be in the same classroom with a Service Dog;
Whether or not you may attend the School and be in the same classroom as a Service Dog;
The accommodation steps the School would be reasonably required to take from a medical point of view if a Service Dog were in the same classroom or if the dog was in the School, whichever scenario is relevant to you.

The School will provide additional information to answer questions and to advise all members of the school community as to the involvement and goals of the Service Dog in the School.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at _________________ [add phone number] by _______________ [add date].

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Principal ______________ [add name]

FORMAT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Date

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This letter is to inform you that a student on your child’s bus has a Service Dog. The Dog will be sharing transportation with your student daily to and from school.

Should you have any specific concerns or questions regarding the presence of the Service Dog while on route to and from the school, please contact me at _________________ [add phone number] by _______________ [add date].

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

______________ [add name]
Director of Transportation