Upcoming Events at Central:

As many excursions are planned for the upcoming weeks please ensure that all volunteers have an updated vulnerable sector screening (police check) as per the HWDSB volunteer policy. Please contact the office if you have any questions about this.

A reminder as the weather turns warmer please ensure that students bring water bottles to school to hydrate throughout the day. We are unable to replace water bottles that we gave out earlier this year and are getting lots of disruptions to lessons and in the office looking for cups that we are also running low on. Than you!

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 containing ingredients causing allergies will be returned to you. Thank you.

A reminder that our school day starts at 8:45 am and ends at 3:05 pm.  Supervision is provided 15 min before entry (8:30am) and 15 min after dismissal (3:20pm). All students must be picked up by 3:20pm. 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.

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. We are experiencing a high level of families arriving late and leaving early without using the Safe Arrival system and this is causing a lot of disruption to student learning and in the office and delays for families that are waiting for their children.  A reminder that we are unable to answer the door during announcements at 9am so please support us by having students at school by 8:45 am.   

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 support us to ensure the safety of all by exercising caution in our parking lot which becomes a very busy area during arrival and departure (especially with the amount of snow recently) . 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 where the entry is at the fence near the front door and then exit as soon as possible).

Please drive in to the school 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 off /pick up students, make sure that they get to the playground at entry and 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.

An important safety reminder to families that we have a crossing guard at Bay and Bold Street every morning and afternoon. Please cross where the crossing guard is for everyone’s safety. 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.

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.

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.

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