Information for Families
Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year
All the staff here at Brant Ave PS are so excited to welcome back our returning students and to meet our new Brant Bears!
We hope you find this information helpful as you plan your return to our wonderful school.
See you soon,
Kelley Jones, Principal
READ FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Occupational Therapy
Digital Tools Notice Statement
FIRST DAY PROCEDURES
Morning (drop off at 8:45)
→ All families should receive an email on the evening of Friday, September 4th informing you who your child’s teacher is for a smooth start to the school year!
→ Kindergarten students head to the Kindergarten yard to be greeted by their educators. If needed, students will be met off the bus and brought to the yard
→ Grade 1-6 students meet on the tarmac at the back of the school at 8:45 am. Brant Ave Staff will be wearing bright vests and name tags so they are easy to find. Please make your way to your teacher and get organized into classes.
→ Other staff will be outside to answer any questions and help students find their way
→ We hope it will be sunny, but if there is rain, students will meet in the gym
Late Arrivals and Absences
→ Come through the front door and check in at the office to sign your child in
→ If your child is going to be late or absent, please call the office (519-824-2671 ext. 100). There is voicemail that can be accessed 24 hours a day.
→ Your child’s safety is our priority! If we are not informed by an adult of the reason for a child’s absence, we will call parents (home, cell, work). If we still cannot get a hold of someone, we call emergency contacts and/or have police do a wellness check
End of Day (3:15)
→ Pick up your Kindergarten student in the Kindergarten yard (or they are brought to the bus or the after care program by an adult or trained bus patroller)
→ Students in Grade 1-6 are dismissed out the back doors (Grade 1s in Ms. Garvey’s class are dismissed from the Kindergarten yard)
→ Please do not plan to meet your child at the front of the school or in the office. Bus students will be waiting there so it is a crowded and busy space
DATES TO NOTE - SEPTEMBER 2026
Tuesday, September 8th - First day of school for students
Tuesday, September 15th - School Council Meeting (6:30 pm)
Wednesday, September 23rd - Meet the Teacher Night (5:00-6:30 pm)
ARRIVE ON TIME, STAY ALL DAY! SCHOOL BELL TIMES
Drop-off: 8:45 am
Break #1: 10:30-11:15 am
Break #2: 12:55-1:35 pm
Pick up: 3:15 pm
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
All students, Kindergarten through Grade 6, should have the following labelled items:
backpack for personal belongings
lunch pail and reusable food containers
reusable water bottle
indoor running shoes suitable for gym class
outdoor footwear (shoes, rainboots, snow boots) depending on the season
We provide all students with supplies such as pencils, erasers, paper and notebooks. It is not necessary for parents to purchase these. Other supplies such as scissors, glue sticks, rulers, markers and crayons are in all classrooms to be shared among students.
Some children prefer to have their own supplies to keep in their desks. If you choose to purchase items for your child, we recommend the following:
Kindergarten: all supplies are shared; donations welcome
Primary: pencil case, pencils, erasers, glue stick, scissors, washable markers, crayons, inexpensive wired headphones or earbuds
Junior: pencil case, pencils, erasers, glue stick, scissors, pencil crayons,
washable markers, highlighters, blue/black/red pens, 3-hole punched lined paper, calculator, ruler, protractor, inexpensive wired headphones/earbuds
MEDICATION AND PLANS OF CARE
1) In order to take medication at school, a consent form must be given to the Office.
2) 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, including the possibility of creating a Plan of Care (i.e., Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes) to share with school staff who might interact with your child.
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
1) Visit stwdsts.ca/parentportal for your child’s busing times, location and bus route.
2) Is your child’s bus late or cancelled?
ON YOUR PHONE - BusPlanner Delays App for both iOS and Android
• Delay and cancellation notices for specific routes or runs
• School closure announcements for weather-related shutdowns
• General notices for all subscribers.
CLASS PLACEMENTS
Staff have spent a great deal of time developing classes based on a detailed set of criteria, focused on student learning and success. We take this process seriously and do our best to plan for the success of all students. Please understand that your child’s class placement is considered tentative and will not be changed at this time.
HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Each Friday, the ‘Brant Family Weekly’ update is sent by email, posted on the school website at ugdsb.ca/brantave and made available via the UGConnect app.
Please consider downloading UGConnect from the App Store/Google Play as it comes with many benefits, including up-to-date information about school news, event calendars, and school closures. Push notifications will alert parents to new information in real time. You can also access and manage your SchoolCashOnline account through the app in a fully secure environment.
Our regular package of information will come home in the first week of school. Two forms (Student Information Verification Form and the Consent to Share Personal Information) need to be returned to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
Please make sure to update your email address and phone numbers on the Verification Form to receive email communications and any important calls.
Classroom teachers often use Google Classroom to support home and school communication. Teachers will be providing specific details on this with you, as well as the best way to reach them. We look forward to connecting with you this year!
CELL PHONES AND STUDENTS
Cell phones, smartwatches and wireless headphones must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day, except when an educator has given permission for their use, during a specific class on a particular day. Appropriate uses include: research, planner, calculator, music for work periods.
Texting during the school day is not permitted at any time, even responding to a parent. All home-school communication must be from the school office. Earphones must not be worn outside of the classroom, and may only be worn in the classroom with the teacher’s permission. Absolutely no cell phones or cameras in washrooms.
SCHOOLYARD SAFETY
PARKING LOT - The parking lot cannot be used for student pick up or drop off.
WALK YOUR WHEELS - If students are riding bicycles or scooters to school, they must be walked on the property and locked at the bike racks.
DOGS OFF PROPERTY - Families might choose to walk their dogs when they bring their children to/from school. We ask that the dog be on a leash and that they stay on the sidewalk when you arrive at school. Please do not bring your dog onto the school playground or tarmac where the students are gathering; we have a number of students and staff who have allergies and some who are timid of dogs.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
We are a group of parents and caregivers who work with the admin and school staff to support our staff, to advocate for our students, and to enhance our children’s school experience. All are welcome! Join us virtually or in the school library for executive elections on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 at 6:30 pm. More dates to follow.
Why Join?
stay connected with what’s happening in the school
help address issues that are important to parents and school administrators
contribute to a positive and caring atmosphere in the school
contribute your skills and knowledge - any amount of time is appreciated
meet others and build relationships with other families and teachers in your school community!
STUDENT FEES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
From time to time, there is a student cost for a field trip, special program, or participation in a team or club. Please note that there are funds available to help when the cost of a program or activity may be a barrier. Connect with the office for private, confidential assistance with covering student fees at any time.
REPORT BULLYING OR IDENTITY-BASED HARM
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.
Is conflict the same as bullying? People may sometimes confuse conflict with bullying, although they are different. Conflict occurs when two or more people have a disagreement, a difference of opinion or different views. Conflict between students does not always mean it is bullying. Children learn at a young age to understand that others can have a different perspective than their own, and developing the ability to gain perspective takes time and the process continues into early adulthood.
In conflict, each person feels comfortable expressing his or her views, and there is no power imbalance. Each person feels able to state his or her viewpoint. How people deal with conflict can make it positive or negative. Conflict becomes negative when an individual behaves aggressively by saying or doing hurtful things. Then the conflict is an aggressive interaction.
Conflict becomes bullying when it is repeated over and over again and there is a power imbalance. Over time, a pattern of behaviour may emerge where the person who behaves aggressively in the conflict may continue or even make it worse. The person who is the recipient of the aggressive conflict may feel less and less able to express his or her point of view and feel more and more powerless. That is when negative conflict may turn into bullying. A school will respond to bullying and conflict differently. For example, in the case of a conflict, a school staff member may try to have the students come together to tell their side of the story and help them resolve the situation together. In the case of bullying, a principal will consider discipline, which may include suspension or expulsion.
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORTS & TRANSLATION SERVICES
Everyone is welcome at our school. If you or a family member need accessibility supports (preferred seating, large print) or an interpreter please contact the office.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING AND ANNUAL DRILLS
I am writing to provide you with some information regarding emergency drills that we will be conducting this school year. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. Although we hope that an incident that requires response from emergency personnel will never occur in our school, we must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively in case it does.
Each year our school must conduct drills to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of a real emergency.
The following number of drills are required each school year:
Three (3) fire drills in the fall and three (3) fire drills in the spring
Two (2) lockdown drills
One (1) tornado drill
One (1) bomb threat drill
For each of these drills, there is an education component to explain why they are necessary. All drills are conducted in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of our students. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Jones.
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. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Jones.
ANNUAL REMINDER: VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
As an added security measure, our school facility is monitored by 24 hour video surveillance. Security cameras are in operation for the safety of the students, staff and the school community and for the protection of Upper Grand District School Board property. Information is collected under the authority of the Education Act in compliance with MFIPPA. For additional information please refer to the UGDSB Video Surveillance Policy 203 or contact the Principal of this site or contact the Board Office at 519-822-4420.
September 1, 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Re: Class Re-Organization – Effective September 21, 2026
As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality education while meeting provincial requirements, we would like to inform you about upcoming class re-organizations scheduled to occur by September 21, 2026 and that current class assignments are tentative to start the school year.
The Government of Ontario mandates the following:
Ontario Ministry of Education Requirements
Kindergarten average at 26 students
90% of kindergarten classes 29 or fewer students
10% of 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 to a maximum of 23 students
Grade 3/4 classes have a cap of 23 students
Junior/Intermediate classes have a Board average of 24.5 students
Our staff have worked diligently to structure classrooms in a way that supports student learning and complies with these class size regulations. However, due to moves over the summer, the numbers from class to class and school to school may have shifted. Please be aware that adjustments may still occur, as we finalize our enrollment data and staffing allocations.
Should any changes affect your child’s class placement, your school principal will communicate directly with you in the coming weeks.
For more information about Ontario’s Class Size strategy, we encourage you to visit the Ministry of Education’s website at www.edu.gov.on.ca and search for “Class Size.”
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a smooth transition for all students. Our priority remains creating a positive and supportive learning environment across all Upper Grand schools.
Sincerely,
Brent McDonald
Associate Director & COO
Upper Grand District School Board