Central Weekly Update – February 6 – 10, 2023

Central Families,

Although we appreciate families sending foods in for celebrations/ class parties please ensure that you check with your child’s teacher well in advance before sending in with your child. We have several allergies, food restrictions and food guidelines that must be followed  (no homemade goods – all items must  be in the store purchased package and nut free). Food not permitted will be returned to the parent. We ask that teachers inform families about snack, sweet goods, food items being sent in and that if you would not like your child to eat them you respond to the teacher. Any foods sent in that contains ingredients causing allergies will be returned to you. Thank you.

Please be advised that the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board communications department will send messages directly to families if the weather results in schools closing early and students needing to be picked up. Please be sure to update our school office at 905 522 9690 and your child’s teacher if any of your contact information (phone numbers, emails or addresses) has changed or if you would like to add a contact to your emergency pick up list.  This way we can ensure the safety and supervision  of all of our students. Thank you.

A reminder that if you need to come to the school please be sure to ring the door bell at the entrance and the office staff will assist you. We ask that parents not enter the building without informing the office. Students and staff have been informed that they are not to allow anyone to enter and as our students from the portables come and go through this entrance we want to ensure  the safety of all and secure access to the school at all times.

As we return to colder and snowy weather we will be closing the play structure. To ensure the safety of all students and to avoid injuries we ask that you also support us by not allowing your children to play on the structure before or after school as well. A reminder that if any of your contact information has changed (phone, address, email, etc.) it is necessary for you to let our office staff know by calling us at 905 522-9690. Thank you!

Central Upcoming Events

Monday, February 6 – Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-24 school year opens

Friday, February 17 – Term 1 Report Cards sent home with students

Monday, February 20 – Family Day Holiday – No School

Please be mindful of the ice and snow on the school grounds. We do our best to clear all walkways and entrances but there are often flash freezes that occur unexpectedly and areas that freeze over.  Be mindful of snow falling from the school rooftop as although we have had heaters installed there could be large chunks of snow or ice that fall in the area by the entrance that is sectioned off, along the South Side of the school and in the Kindergarten area. Please let the office know if there are areas that need to be cleared or sanded. The sidewalks surrounding the school must be cleared by the City Of Hamilton so if there are any concerns about sidewalks please call 905 546 2489  Thank you. Depending on weather conditions our play structure may be closed. Stay tuned for updates.

A reminder to check out our Fundraising Events as these will continue into 2023. Thank you to our school council team for organizing these fundraisers! See below.

Please contact the school using SafeArrival   (click for more details) to report student absences or if you need to pick up your child from school early for an appointment

1. Go to the website go.schoolmessenger.ca or
2. Call the toll-free, interactive telephone system at 1-844-506-4350.
3. Download and install the free SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at go.schoolmessenger.ca).

Please be sure to check your child’s backpack and agenda  for important letters regarding school events, field trips, documents needed etc..  Also look daily for memos sent home and read emails sent to you from the school to keep updated. Register on our school website at www.hwdsb.on.ca/central/ to ensure that you stay up-to-date and aware of upcoming events.

The office has become very busy at the end of the day with last minute requests to pick up students early. This requires a lot of interruptions to classes and is demanding on the 2 of us in the office taking us away from our other responsibilities. We ask that families avoid picking up students early unless it is absolutely  necessary or you have entered properly in the safe school arrival app or phone system and informed teachers so that students can be sent to the office to wait for pick up. 

Thank you to our office staff for their ongoing support with monitoring student attendance and calling families to ensure the safety of all of our students on a daily basis. This is a big job and takes up a lot of time in the morning and at the end of the day. Our school day begins at 8:45 am and our staff are supervising their students at this time and do need to get in to their classrooms to start teaching. Those arriving late must check in at the entrance and report to the office. A reminder that students are to be picked up at 3:05. We do have supervision on the playground until 3:20pm but please be sure to make arrangements to have your children picked up by this time.

Please support us to ensure student safety by exercising caution in our parking lot which becomes a very busy area during arrival and departure. As we have families that need to park in our Accessible Parking spots to drop off students please be sure to not park in these designated parking spots and do not block other vehicles in. If you are dropping off or picking up students please do not block the driveway (either park in a spot or drop off and then exit as soon as possible. Please drive in from Bay St. and make an immediate right turn and follow a circle around the parking lot as it is one way traffic only. Drop/pick up students, make sure that they get to the playground/to your vehicle safely and then circle around the parking lot to exit on Bay St..  Please avoid backing up as this creates a lot of congestion and can be unsafe as many students enter the school through the Bay St entrance. Dismissal is at 3:05pm so please be sure to be at the school to pick up your child or children on time. The alternate is to park on Park St. as there is a 10min drop off zone.

Students in grades 4 or 5 that have permission to walk home must have a letter signed by their parent/guardian indicating that they are able to walk home.

We also invite families to keep up with communications from HWDSB by subscribing to email updates by going to our school website at [email protected] or following HWDSB on social media. Please reach out to our school at 905 522-9690 if you have any questions.

Students and families with classroom concerns are encouraged to contact their student’s classroom teacher. School-wide concerns can be addressed by the principal. Addressing a Concern (PDF).

Sincerely,

Mr. G. Carey, Principal – Central Elementary School