September Communication to Families
Bonjour and welcome to another school year!
We are having a wonderful first day of school! Staff and students are excited to see old friends and to meet new ones. The staff at F.A. Hamilton are beginning to build connections with our students as we prepare for a rewarding year of learning. If you are new to the F.A. Hamilton community, bienvenue chez nous! Welcome!
Ongoing and open communication between home and school is very important for student success. Together, we can provide students with the best education possible. Our school community is extremely fortunate to have a very caring and committed staff who work together and who strive to provide quality programs and activities to meet the educational needs of all students.
School Council Executive is looking forward to meeting again on Thursday, September 14th from 6:30-7:30 in the school library! We welcome all FAH parents and guardians to join us. There are positions available on School Council Executive for the 2023-2024 school year. The School Council is composed of both executive and general members – there is an opportunity to be involved as much as your schedule allows. Families are welcome to join in-person in the school library or via Google Meet. The May meeting minutes and September agenda are available on the School Council page of the school website.
First Day Forms
Students brought home a package of First Day of School information and forms yesterday. Please complete and return these forms by Friday, September 8th. Merci beaucoup.
Morning arrival for students:
Please note that staff are on duty at 8:30 a.m. to receive students in the school yard and to greet the buses. In order to ensure student safety, students should not be dropped and left unattended prior to 8:30 a.m. To ensure the safety of students and their families, please use the sidewalks and do not cross through the bus loop or walk between buses. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our students safe.
School Organization
Please note the current school organization outlined below. Please be aware that this school organization is still tentative. Should the number of students registered at the school have changed compared to the June enrolment prediction, 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 by Monday, September 18th. 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
| Principal | Mme Labelle |
| Office Coordinator | Mme Wozniak |
| Kindergarten | Mme Zadro and Mme Lemieux
Mme Brown and Mme Kieswetter Mme O’Gorman |
| Grade 1 | Mme Poldre |
| Grade 1/2 | Mme Saylany (0.8) and Mme Yakabuskie (0.2) |
| Grade 2 | Mme Smith |
| Grade 3 | Mme Hodges (0.8) and Mme Yakabuskie (0.2) |
| Grade 3/4 | Mme Mansfield |
| Grade 4/5 | M. Devenny |
| Grade 5/6 | Mme McIntyre |
| Grade 6 | Mme Mui |
| Library | Mme Woodward |
| Resource | Mme Hartmans |
| Planning | Mme Burkhard, Mme Woodward, Mme Yakabuskie, Mme Hartmans |
| Educational Assistant | Mme Muzzy |
| Child and Youth Counsellor | Mme Longtin |
| Custodians | M. Williams and M. Russell |
| Lunch Hour Supervisors | Mme Nancy, Mme Lisa, Mme Mihari |
University of Guelph Students
We are pleased to welcome four University of Guelph students to École Fred A. Hamilton this fall. Mme Jessica, Mme Ashley, Mme Reanna and Mme Kayla will be supporting students in developing their reading and writing skills during the Fall placements at our school. Welcome also Mme Emilie who will be volunteering in some of our Junior classrooms.
School Superintendent
As part of the Board’s restructuring to a K-12 model with alignment for French Immersion centers in Guelph, our new Superintendent of Education is Mr. McCutcheon.
Absences/Early Dismissal/Late Arrival
Please continue to call the school’s attendance reporting line for absences, late arrivals and early dismissals. Please provide us with your student’s name, homeroom teacher and bus number, if applicable, so we can sign them off the bus. Please also let us know who will be picking up your student and at what time. The office will ensure that your student is ready at the specified time. The school attendance line is available 24 hours a day by calling (519) 836-0080, extension 100.
School Cash Online
School Cash Online is an online parent portal that offers a safe, fast and convenient way to pay for school activity fees. The portal is customized to meet your school’s needs and allows parents to add students, make payments, check current balance/account history and print or view receipts.
Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions
We have children in our school with potential life-threatening allergies (i.e., called anaphylaxis) to various foods and other materials. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that can cause death within minutes. Some of these allergies in our school include nuts, tree nuts and soy. Our school has procedures in place for the prevention and management of anaphylactic reactions. If your child has health concerns of any kind, please tell your child’s teacher or the office and we will take the necessary health protection steps. Thank you for your understanding in ensuring an allergy-safe environment for all of our students.
UGDSB Policy 518: Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions, outlines the roles and responsibilities for all in the educational community to support students with possible life-threatening medical conditions. The prevalent medical conditions covered under this policy are Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders. If your child has one of these, or any other life-threatening medical condition, please visit: www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy (and look for Policy 518) or contact the school as soon as possible. We will work with you to develop a Plan of Care to support your child.
Video Surveillance
This is a reminder that École Fred A. Hamilton, similar to all schools in the UGDSB, is outfitted with video surveillance cameras, both inside and outside the building. The purpose of the video surveillance cameras is to ensure student/staff safety, and to help reduce vandalism at UGDSB schools. School administration must follow the UGDSB’s video surveillance policy, which can be viewed here. Signage is posted on the outside of the school noting that video cameras are active.
Report Bullying
We take all incidents of bullying seriously. If your child(ren) is the victim of bullying and/or identity-based harm, please encourage them to speak with someone at school or use the board’s online reporting tool. The Report Identity-Based Harm and/or Bullying tool gives students and parents 24/7 access for reporting. You don’t have to identify yourself – just your school – and your message gets sent directly to the school principal for follow-up. You’ll find the Report button on our school’s website.
Smoke and Vape-Free Environment
The Upper Grand DSB provides a smoke and vape-free environment for its students, staff and others while on Board property, in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Board Policy 208. This policy refers to all forms of tobacco, and any processed form of tobacco that may be smoked, inhaled or chewed, including e-cigarettes.
Smudging is the tradition of using sacred smoke from sacred medicines (e.g., tobacco and sage) that forms part of the Indigenous culture and spirituality. Smudging is allowed in schools under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Parents will be informed using the school’s usual forms of communication, when smudging is going to occur in our school. Participation by staff and students is optional in a smudging ceremony.
Fresh From the Farm
Have you heard the buzz about Fresh from the Farm? It’s a healthy fundraiser for Ontario schools! We are so pleased to once again offer this exciting, educational and fundraising opportunity for École Fred A. Hamilton families. Further details will follow in the next few weeks but important dates include:
September 13 – Orders open on SchoolCash Online
October 9 – Orders close on SchoolCash Online
November 6-December 7 – Delivery window (the exact date will be shared with families in late October)
Important Dates
The École Fred A. Hamilton school calendar can be accessed from our school website. The UGDSB school year calendar and cycle day calendars are located on the UGDSB website. Please see below some important dates for September.
September 13 – Fresh from the Farm orders open
September 14 – School Council Meeting in the library from 6:30-7:30 (with a virtual link option)
September 18 – PD Day (please note that this is a Monday)
September 21 – School Open House from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
September 22 – Terry Fox Walk/Run
September 25-29 – Truth and Reconciliation Week
September 27 – Rowan’s Law Day
September 29 – Orange Shirt Day
Fall Reading Rocks Program
See the flyer for information on the free Fall English Reading Rocks Program.
Volunteering in the School
As per Policy 205 – School Volunteers, volunteers in classrooms, on field trips, community walks, etc. will need a Police Vulnerable Sector Check. This policy applies to all schools in the UGDSB. If you wish to volunteer in your student’s classroom, including on field trips, please complete a Police Vulnerable Sector Check if you have not previously submitted one to the school last school year. Visit the Guelph Police Services website or the OPP Police Record Checks website for further details. If required, please email the office ([email protected]) to request a volunteer letter from the school. Please print, sign and send a copy of the volunteer agreement form along with a copy of your Police Vulnerable Sector Check to the school.
Please note: If you submitted a Police Vulnerable Check to the school during the 2023-2024 school year, you do not need to obtain a new one. As per Policy 205, a Vulnerable Sector Check is valid for five years. If there is a vulnerable sector check on file at the school, you will be required to complete and sign the UGDSB’s Annual Offence Declaration for School Volunteers prior to volunteering in your student’s classroom this year. These forms can be obtained from the school office or accessed online.
Message from the City of Guelph Bylaw Department
Welcome back to school!
City of Guelph Bylaw Officers continue to see challenges around some schools.
We would like to remind all new and returning parents of the rules about parking to make the back-to-school experience safe and easy for everyone.
If you need to drive, one way to ensure that your children make it to school safely is to park a distance away from all the traffic and walk your students to the school.
Together, parents, school Councils and the City put time and consideration into parking areas and enforcement around schools. We use no parking and no stopping zones to relieve traffic and encourage parking and drop offs in areas that are safe to do so.
No parking
A “No Parking” sign means just that – no parking. Parents are encouraged to find an area near the school where they can park if they need to leave their vehicles to drop off students. You may use these areas to pull over and let a student out safely, however, you should not exit your vehicle at any time. Be mindful that you can still receive a ticket if you’re near your car or in your car waiting; blocking other parents from using a quick drop off space still means you’re parked.
No stopping
“No Stopping” signs means you may not use that space to stop and drop off a student, no matter how quick you are. When you stop in a “No Stopping” zone, you impact the safety of others. Instead, find a place where you can park safely, or use designated Kiss and Ride zones for quick drop offs.
Be a good neighbour
Please be mindful of other neighbours in the area. Be courteous and don’t block driveways. The convenience to park closely for you, no matter how quick you are, is not worth the inconvenience of someone else not being able to leave their home.
If you have to drive a student to school and park, ask around to see if other parents would allow you to park in a driveway nearby to walk.
For more information
David Wiedrick, Manager
Bylaw Compliance, Security and Licensing, Operations City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 3475
Categories: Newsletters