Welcome back!  We hope you enjoyed time reconnecting with friends and family over the summer.  Summer is a wonderful time to recharge and relax so you can come back to school refreshed and ready.  We are very much looking forward to welcoming back you and your children to school next week.  Get your summer stories ready to share with us!

On Tuesday, September 5^th (next week!), students entering grade 1-7 will attend from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. We will meet as a school on our big grass field. Returning students will be placed with their division from last year. New students will meet with a Resource teacher and be brought to their new group. We have many new teachers this year. Each one will have a sign indicating which old division they are welcoming. Our teachers will bring their students into the school for opening day activities. At 10:00 a.m., our teachers will bring the students back to the field for dismissal. They will inform you about the regular entry and exit doors your child will use for the rest of the week.

Wednesday, September 6^th will be the first full day for students in grade 1-7. Students can enter through their regular entry doors. Please ensure your children come to school dressed for the weather and with a water bottle, snack, and lunch. Students will be welcomed to their classes at 8:40 a.m. (instructional time begins at 8:45 a.m.). Students are dismissed at 2:45 p.m.

The purpose of our first week is to help students transition back into the school setting and to begin cultivating safe and caring relationships with their peers and teachers.

We encourage our families to walk or ride their bikes to school when possible. If you must drive to Whiteside, please remember to drive through our parking lot carefully. Please do not park in our drop off lane. There will be much more family parking available for you throughout the park this year.

Please note that Kindergarten students are on their own gradual entry schedule, and for more information about these schedules please refer to our school website. An email will be sent to Kindergarten families soon.

We have a new bell schedule for our 2023-2024 school year:

8:40 a.m.          Students welcomed.

8:45 a.m.          Instructional time begins.

10:10 a.m.        Recess

11:50 p.m.        Lunch begins (students eat first)

12:10 p.m.        Students dismissed for supervised play outside.

12:42 p.m.        Afternoon instructional time begins.

2:45 p.m.          Dismissal

The school calendar is attached to this email. Mark your calendars!

• Sept. 15 – Terry Fox Run
• Sept. 22 – Non-Instructional Day (school closed)
• Sept. 26 – Meet the Teacher Night
• Sept. 29 – Orange Shirt Day Assembly
• Oct. 2  – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (school closed)
• Oct. 9 – Thanksgiving (school closed)
• Oct. 13 – Individual photos
• Oct. 18 – Early Dismissal (students dismissed at 1:45)
• Oct. 19 – Early Dismissal (students dismissed at 1:45)
• Oct. 20 – Provincial Pro-D (school closed)