Welcome to a new school year!
Bienvenue à une nouvelle année scolaire! Welcome to a new school year!
We hope that you enjoyed the lovely weather this summer and we look forward to connecting with returning students and families and meeting new students and families on Tuesday, September 5th as we launch the 2023-2024 school year. Please see below for important start up information from the school.
Our school organization is still “tentative”. Should the number of students registered at the school change significantly, a reorganization of classes may be required. The École F. A. Hamilton staff has built class lists based on our school’s tentative organization. Changes may be necessary in order for our Board to remain compliant with Ministry parameters (see below). Any changes would be implemented before Tuesday, September 19th. Principals do not have the option of changing the school organization that is set by the District Staffing Committee of the Board. If changes affect your child(ren), you will be informed by letter by the school. Ministry of Education Parameters include:
- Full Day Kindergarten Class Size Average for the Board is 26 students
- 90% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with 29 or fewer students
- 10% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with up to 32 students, under certain circumstances
- 90% of the Board’s primary classes with 20 or fewer students
- 10% of the Board’s primary classes up to a maximum of 23 students
- Grade 3/4 classes have a cap of 23 students
- Junior/Intermediate Class Size Average for the Board is 24.5 students
Combined Grade (Split Grade) Classrooms
Combined classes group children from two or more consecutive grades into one classroom. Schools combine classes for a variety of reasons to meet the learning needs of students and to balance class sizes. All classrooms are created with students who have a range of skills and abilities. As in same-grade classrooms, teachers, in combined grades, use a variety of strategies to ensure that the grade appropriate curriculum expectations are covered.
Student placement is carefully considered by school staff every year. Individual student needs, as well as class dynamics, are balanced to create school classrooms. When placing students in classrooms, the principal and all educators take into consideration many different factors which include: the number of students, the number of boys and girls, student learning styles, academic strengths and needs, learning skills, work habits, and social and emotional strengths and needs. Whether the students are in an older or younger grade in a combined classroom, they will be challenged at their own academic level.
Back to school 2023-24: School operations and health and safety information
The Upper Grand District School Board looks forward to welcoming all students, staff and families this September. Please click here to access important UGDSB operations and health and safety information.
Morning Drop Off, After School Pick Up and Buses
The school driveway is only open for buses before and after school. Families may not enter the driveway between 8:30 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. or between 3:00 P.M. and 3:30 P.M. Please see the parking map below on our school website for alternate parking locations. To ensure the safety of students, please use the sidewalks and do not cross through the bus loop. Bus patrols and a school staff member are positioned at the crosswalk in front of the school on Ironwood Road between 8:30 A.M. and 8:45 A.M.
If your student is going to be absent, late, or if you will be picking up your child early, please call the attendance line and leave a message by 8:00 A.M. at 519-836-0080 x 100. Messages can be left 24/7. Our Office Coordinator will sign your students off the bus for the day if they are a bus student.
If your student is eligible for a bus, they will automatically be added onto a bus route. If you wish for your child to be removed from the bus for the year, (i.e., your child will be driven to and from school or will attend the YMCA program), please let the bus company know as soon as possible by telephoning 519-824-4119. The bus company will advise you of any bus delays or cancellations if you sign up at stwdsts.ca and select the Parent Portal icon.
For everyone’s safety, please do not walk between buses in the morning or after school. This is very unsafe and our bus driver partners expressed their concerns last spring. Please use the sidewalks.
First Day of School Morning Procedures, between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. The class line up map can be found here.
Bus students:
- Grade 1-6 students will move to their classroom entry lineups upon arrival at school.
- Kindergarten students will be walked to the Kindergarten gate to the morning greeter at the Kindergarten gate. Students will then join their class lineup.
Students who walk to school or who are dropped off by families:
- Grade 1-6 students will make their way to their classroom entry lineups upon arrival at school. Families will remain on the grass as only staff and students will be on the tarmac. As a reminder, animals are not permitted on school property.
- On the first day of school, Mme Labelle, Mme Woodward,, Mme Burkhart, will be by the grass area, where it borders the tarmac, to direct students to their teacher.
- Kindergarten students will be dropped off at the Kindergarten gate (i.e., on the YMCA daycare side of the building) and will follow the path to meet their classmates and the educator on duty.
- On the first day of school, Mme O’Gorman, Mme Brown and Mme Zadro will be at the Kindergarten gate to meet students.
Students who attend the YMCA Before School Program:
- Students will be dismissed to their classroom lineups at the morning bell.
First Day of School Dismissal Procedures
Educators will dismiss their students at the end of the school day (3:05 p.m.).
Bus students:
- Bus students will be called to their bus lineups at the front of the school.
- Students in Grades 1-6 will make their way around the front of the school.
- Students in Kindergarten will be brought to the bus lineup by one of the classroom educators.
- All bus students will line up in their attendance/bus seating plan order.
Students who walk home after school or who are picked up by families:
- Families will remain on the grass as only staff and students will be on the tarmac.
- At the 3:05 p.m. dismissal bell, students will be dismissed to their families.
- Kindergarten students will be dismissed by one of their educators at the Kindergarten gate (i.e., on the YMCA daycare side of the building).
Students who attend the YMCA After School Program:
- Students will be dismissed to their YMCA lineup at the 3:05 p.m. bell where they will meet YMCA staff.
School Day and Bell Times:
8:45 – Morning entry (please note that supervision on the school yard begins at 8:30 a.m.)
10:25-10:45 – Recess
10:45-11:05 – Nutrition Break
12:45-1:05 – Recess
1:05-1:25 – Nutrition Break
3:05 – Dismissal
Staffing Updates
Welcome Mme Saylany who is joining the Primary team and Mme Kieswetter who is joining the Kindergarten team. Welcome Back Mme Smith who will, once again, be working with the Primary team. Congratulations Mme McIntyre (Mme Smyth) who celebrated her wedding in July. Welcome back Mme Longtin, our Child and Youth Counsellor (CYC) who is returning from Parenting Leave.
What to send to school:
Please only send necessary personal items to school. Grade 1-6 Students are asked to bring the following items clearly labeled with their name:
- Backpack or tote bag for personal belongings
- Personal water bottle
- Seasonal outdoor wear
- Indoor shoes
- Personal school supplies that are necessary for the day (e.g., pencil case, calculator, etc.) – Please note that each classroom educator will ensure families are aware of which personal school items are required.
- Toys and personal items should remain at home.
Kindergarten students are asked to bring the following items clearly labeled with their name:
- Appropriate-sized backpack or tote bag for personal belongings
- Change of clothing in a sealed bag
- Personal water bottle
- Seasonal outdoor wear
- Indoor shoes
- Toys and personal items should remain at home.
Communication
Each teacher will have their own process for communicating with parents. This will be shared with families in the first weeks of school. All students, and their families, will continue to have access to Google Classroom.
We will be sending home our regular package of information and forms on the first day of school. Please complete the forms, and return them to your child’s teacher prior to Friday, September 8th.
At the start of each month, a communication will be emailed to families which includes important information from the school as well as updates from the School Council. You may also wish to stay up to date with school news and events by downloading the UG Connect app and selecting Fred A. Hamilton PS in the Settings or watching our website at https://www.ugdsb.ca/FAHamilton/.
Please note that a “Newsletters” tab has been added to our school website. Families can quickly access any monthly emailed information updates from this tab on our school website.
School Transportation
Transportation to and from school, for students who qualify under school board policy, is provided by Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services/Services de transport de Wellington-Dufferin (STWDSTS). Please note that if you do not wish for your child to take the bus, please opt-out at www.stwdsts.ca. Visit www.stwdsts.ca for information about bus delays or cancellations, transportation policy, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Please subscribe for bus delays and cancellations notifications. Your subscription for bus delays and cancellations does not carry over from the last school year. The annual newsletters is available here: STWDSTS 2023-2024 Newsletter – information on busing
Allergies
Many students suffer from allergies. Reactions to allergic substances vary from relatively mild irritations such as itchy eyes, sneezing, scratchy throat, etc. to potentially fatal conditions where the sufferer experiences breathing problems and/or anaphylactic shock. A student who is allergic to peanuts often falls in this second category. Please be aware that there may be restrictions in your child’s class to protect a student with such an allergy. We ask you to abide by any restriction(s) that may be imposed in these cases and, in the case of nuts or nut products, we ask that you do not send any to school. Parents of students with potentially life threatening allergies are asked to inform the school and complete the required paperwork. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work together to keep our students safe.
Scent Awareness In the School
Please be aware that some staff and students in our school are extremely sensitive to scented products such as perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, body sprays, air fresheners and pot-pourri, etc. The presence of scented products can adversely affect a person’s health, including life threatening reactions. Please do not wear or use scented products at any time in our school. Your participation helps to ensure that UGDSB is a healthy and safe learning and working environment for all.
Reminder for Families: Student Accident Insurance
A letter from the Upper Grand District School Board will be sent home with students next week containing information with respect to two Programs available for the purchase of Student Accident Insurance. The Insuremykids Program is offered through Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada and the Study Insured Program is underwritten by Certain Lloyds’s Underwriters through AON Insurance. Each program offers a variety of options. Purchase is done directly on line or by contacting the Provider:
www.insuremykids.com or call toll free 1-800-463-5437
www.studyinsuredstudentaccident.com or call toll free 1-855-649-4182.
Posting of Professional Activity Day Outlines
As part of “The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023”, which came into effect on July 28, 2023, the Ministry of Education has moved forward with regulatory and policy reforms that will be in place for the start of the 2023-24 school year. One such reform requires Boards to post and distribute detailed outlines for each Professional Activity (PA) Day at least 14 days in advance. They will be posted on the school and board websites, shared with School Council Co-Chairs and a hard copy will be available in the school lobby. To access the September 18th Professional Activity Day plan, please click here to review the post on our school website.
A bientôt,
Mme Labelle
Principal
École Fred A. Hamilton
Categories: News • Newsletters