Principal Update Sept 7

It was great to have students back in the building for a new school year. Their energy and enthusiasm is contagious. It really is great to come to work everyday and have a change to interact with such wonderful young people.

Our staff have done a great job to get classes up and running. It is amazing to walk into classrooms and see how quickly learning routines are developing.

In addition to classroom routines, Several sports teams are already starting. Both girls and boys slo-pitch have tournaments next week. Our Phys Ed department is hosting our annual Mum flower fundraiser. Mum order forms are due Mon Sept 10 and flower pickup is Thurs Sept 13. The annual Terry Fox run will be Friday Sept 28th.

Our first School Council (6:30pm) and Home & School (7:30pm) meetings will be held on Tues Sept 19th in the Library. The Meet the Teacher evening will be Thursday Oct 4 from 5-7pm.

The first week always brings some operational challenges, especially at a large school such as Ancaster Meadow. The main office has been busy registering families new to the area. I am reviewing the enrolment numbers in each grade and class. Our final enrolment and guidelines for class sizes at each grade will determine any potential class reorganization later in month (this is why we have a later Meet the Teacher night). Though the formal Meet the Teacher night is a couple of weeks away, parents are encourage to connect with the classroom teacher if you have any questions.

Unfortunately Ancaster Meadow is being impacted by the ongoing bus driver shortage. I can assure families that I share your frustration with the situation. Parents can check information about bus delays at www.hamiltonschoolbus.ca Myself and the vice-principal are in regular communication with both the Transportation department and our superintendent’s office to try and improve the situation.

Unless a family received a letter from the Hamilton-Wentworth Student Transportation Services in the summer indicating that a student is assigned to a bus, a student is not eligible to be currently riding  bus. Depending on the grade of a student, some students may have qualified last year for busing and no longer qualify. Courtesy busing permission from last year does not automatically move forward to this year. If a family would like courtesy transportation they need to submit a form to the main office. These courtesy request cannot be approved until the beginning of October and depend on space on the bus. While all requests are considered if possible, a courtesy request is not guaranteed.

The year is just starting and many adventures await!

Have a great weekend.

Simon Goodacre, Principal