Abby Zaitley – 2024-2025 End of School Year Update
Hello Ward 4 Families, 
As this school year draws to a close, we take this opportunity to reflect with gratitude on the growth, resilience, and accomplishments of our students, staff, and community. I hope this has been a year filled with learning, connection, and meaningful progress for your child(ren).
Before we head into summer break, I’m thrilled to connect with Ward 4 families through my very first newsletter as your elected Trustee. It’s an honour to serve this community, and I’m excited to share a few reflections and updates as we wrap up the school year.
Since being elected in January, I’ve had the opportunity to visit every school in Ward 4 multiple times. These visits allowed me to get to know the unique communities, dedicated staff, and incredible students that make up our ward. I’ve also connected with nearly all Home and School Associations and School Councils to better understand the diverse ways our families are engaging in school life.
This spring, I co-hosted a Ward 4 Community Connections event alongside our City Councillor and in collaboration with The Boys and Girls Club. It was a wonderful evening of conversation and collaboration, and I look forward to hosting another one in the fall.
I’m pleased to share that the year-end edition of NOW@HWDSB—our newsletter for HWDSB families—will be distributed this week. The upcoming edition includes helpful information from the Board, as well as details about City of Hamilton programs and summer services available at local Hamilton Public Library branches. I encourage you to take a moment to explore it—there are some excellent resources for the months ahead.
To stay connected over the summer, consider subscribing to your child’s school website and following the Board on Instagram and Facebook. A list of all elementary schools can be found here, and all secondary can be found here.
In support of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, teams have been working at schools across HWDSB to provide important facilities updates. These updates include gym, accessible washroom and elevator renovations at A.M. Cunningham, as well as renovations to the gym, main entrance, elevator and accessible washroom at Parkdale. Projects at Rosedale commenced with the gym addition and will include the renovation of the existing gym into a learning common, with front entrance and ramp, as well as manufacturing and shop renovations happening at Sir Winston Churchill. W.H. Ballard will also see washroom renovations take place at their school. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about these or other renovation projects in Ward 4.
With warmer weather approaching, I also want to ensure you know where to find key information about heat-related warnings and supports. The City of Hamilton provides up-to-date resources on managing heat, and you can find more on how HWDSB will respond to any heat incidents that may occur in the final weeks of the school year here.
Looking ahead, our final Board Meeting of the school year will be held on Monday, June 16. You’re welcome to tune in via our livestream, here. Routine Board Meetings will resume at HWDSB in September.
There continues to be a lot happening in the world – both locally and globally. These events can impact your child. Please know that HWDSB has resources and support available for families, and some of these may be useful over the summer months while your child(ren) are away from HWDSB classrooms and learning spaces. Click here for more information.
As we wrap up the school year, I want to wish all families a safe, restful, and joyful summer. A reminder that the first day of school for the 2025–2026 year is Tuesday, September 2.
I look forward to connecting with many of you in the Ward 4 community over the summer—and I’ll be back with another message once the new school year is underway.
Until then, take care and enjoy the summer break!
Sincerely,
Abby Zaitley
Updated on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.