Central Weekly Update – Dec 4 – Dec 8 ,2023
Central Families,
A reminder that we will be hosting a Coffee Drop In at Central on Wed Dec 6th from 9-10 am in the library. We will be assisting families with using office lens (to scan and translate), the parent portal, safe arrival, cash online, accessing our school website and answering any questions families have. We will have interpreters available along with some of our staff and light refreshments. If you wish to have some support using these tools please be sure to join us as all are welcome. Thank you!
A reminder to be sure to sign up for cash online as we are hoping to shift to all online purchases for school activities in January 2024. If you require assistance with this please contact the school office at 905 522 9690. We will have one more pizza day this month on Friday, December 15.
The students and staff will be putting on a Winter Concert that will take place on Thursday, December 21st. Our kindergarten classes will perform first from 8:50-9:20 am and then the other classes, grades 1-5 will perform from 9:30-10:25am. Families are welcome to attend but there will be limited seating so we ask that only 2 people per student attend due to seating capacity in our gymnasium. Those with students in Kindergarten and another grade will be welcome to stay for both productions.. Students will attend the Winter Concert during the day on Wednesday, Dec 20th from 1:35-2:45pm during the rehearsal.
We also ask that those driving to the school be mindful of the congestion in our parking lot. Our school buses must be able to enter and depart from the parking lot in a timely manner so please drop and leave as quickly and safely as possible. We encourage walking where possible and if in the parking lot please park in a spot (not an accessible spot unless you have a permit) if you are escorting your child to the playground so that buses and those dropping and leaving can do so easily and safely. Please be patient and avoid honking horns and driving around vehicles where possible for safety. Thank you.
Upcoming Events at Central:
Tuesdays in Dec (5th, 12th & 19 th) Just Dance 1st NB in Gym – Healthy Action Team
Wednesdays in Dec ( 6th, 13th, 20th) – Crochet Club – 1st NB – Ms. Beckley – Library
Wednesday, Dec 6 – School Council Parent/Family Drop In in the Library (all invited – light refreshments will be available) – & 9-10am & School Bus Safety Assemblies for all grades
Friday, Dec 8 – Photo Retake Day & Gr 3-5 Orchestra Trip
Wednesday, Dec 13 Engineering Challenge – Mr. Sinke
Friday, Dec 15 – Pizza Day (Cheese only for $1.00 per slice).
Wednesday, Dec 20th – Winter Concert Rehearsal for Students and Staff – 1:35 pm
Thursday, Dec 21 – Winter Concert for Parents/Guardians – 8:50am – Kindergarten classes & 9:30 am for Gr 1-5 students.
Friday, Dec 22 – Last day of school for the Winter Break – Students return on Monday, January 8th, 2024
As we enter the colder months please ensure students are dressed appropriately for the weather (hats, mittens, winter boots etc.).
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.
- Go to the website go.schoolmessenger.ca or
- Call the toll-free, interactive telephone system at 1-844-506-4350.
- 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 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 students are not to be on the play structure during morning entry and must have an adult supervising them at the end of the day. Our day begins at 8:45 am so please support us by coming on time to prevent disruptions in the office and classrooms. We do have supervision on the playground and in the Kindergarten area from 8:30-8:45 am and from 3:05-3:20 pm and we ask that parents be sure to arrive on time at dismissal as we have very limited supervision after 3:20pm. Thank you.
As per our school board Health & Safety policy we will need to practice a number of lockdown, fire and bomb threat drills over the next few weeks so please let your child’s teacher know if there are any sensitivity issues or concerns and like our teachers and staff pleas discuss the importance of practicing these drills with your children to ease any anxiety or stress. Thank you.
Unfortunately the garden at the front of the school is still off limits due to ongoing safety concerns. We are continuing to work towards opening up access to the garden as soon as possible. Stay tuned for updates.
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. As we have school buses that need to enter the lot and 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). A reminder that there is 10 minute parking on Park St and parking on Bold St. as well.
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.
We invite families to keep up with communications from HWDSB by subscribing to email updates on our website: https://[email protected] . Check out the HWDSB Back-to-School page for general information about the start of school at: https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/back-to-school/ If you have school-specific questions, please reach out by calling us at 905 522-9690 or emailing us at [email protected].
Transportation If your child qualifies for transportation, please follow the steps listed to access your child(ren)’s information via the online portal. Please keep in mind that last minute changes sometimes do occur and that it is important to re-check the information prior to sending your child(ren) to their assigned pickup location on Wednesday, September 6, 2022. Go to: ww.hamiltonschoolbus.ca and click on the “Parent’s Portal” on the Home page, OR “Bus Stop Finder” on the landing page. Learn more here: https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/blog/new-student-transportation-portal/
School-wide concerns can be addressed by the principal. Addressing a Concern : click here – Addressing-Concerns-HWDSB .
Please be sure to subscribe to our school website for update and notifications. You will automatically receive emails though our school messenger account if you have provided our office staff with your email address. Please be sure to keep updated by checking your emails for messages from the school. For assistance using the parent portal or the website please contact our school office at 905 522-9690.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. G. Carey – Principal, Central Elementary
Updated on Sunday, December 03, 2023.