SEPTEMBER Calendar

September Calendar

I would like to officially welcome you all back to Earl Kitchener.  In addition, please find attached a copy of the September calendar with all pertinent dates located at the bottom of the page.

September 2013

Safe Welcome Program

As you may know, HWDSB is initiating a Safe Welcome Program.  We are not the first board to do so, but believe that this will continue our work on school safety.  The program supports a welcoming learning environment by ensuring that parents and other authorized visitors can access elementary schools while keeping students and staff safe.  Effective September 23rd, exterior school doors will be locked during the instructional day, and visitors will access the school during school hours via the main entrance.  You will notice that our main entrance is now equipped with a video / intercom access system and signage.  The access system allows staff to see and talk with any visitors requesting entry into the school.  The system also allows school office staff to electronically release the lock on the door.  Please note that we will continue to ask visitors to report to the office for sign-in.  Principals maintain ultimate authority for visitors admitted into their school, and we see this as one piece of a much larger initiative.  We expect to activate this system in late September, after we have settled into our regular back-to-school routines.  Expect more details to arrive in a letter home and on our school website in the days ahead.  If you have any questions about the program or the system, please contact the office.

Earl Kitchener Home and School

To all parents and guardians of Earl Kitchener children:  Earl Kitchener Home and School would like to extend a welcome back to all families!  We hope the first few days have gone well for you and your children.  This year, the Earl Kitchener Home and School will be co-chaired by me (Cathy Koop) and Kerry Turcotte. We look forward to working with a great team of volunteer parents to raise funds and run programs that help to make our school even better.  Like our page on Facebook to be kept in the loop. https://www.facebook.com/pages/École-Earl-Kitchener-School-Home-School-Association/599477083430353  We hope that all parents will feel welcome to be involved in volunteer opportunities at the school.  Our first Home and School Meeting will be Tuesday, September 10th at 7pm in the school Library.  Childcare is provided.  If you need transportation to the meeting, please see below for details.  The main discussion of the meeting will be our Annual Fright Night Fundraiser which will be held on Saturday, October 26th.  Please come to the meeting and get involved!  Here’s to a great new school year! We look forward to working with you to support our kids and staff! 

Best regards, Cathy Koop and Kerry Turcotte

Volunteers Needed

Volunteer(s) needed ASAP but only for short term to assist with photocopying reading recovery programme to assist in getting it up and running in several areas of the school.  If you are interested, please speak to Mme Prevec or email her at [email protected].

Birthday Cupcakes

A long-standing tradition at Earl Kitchener School is a birthday cupcake day with the Principal.  Children with birthdays within each month are invited to enjoy cupcakes with the Principal, Ms. Buck, usually on the last Monday of each month.  This is a wonderful way for our principal to get to know the children better, and for each child to get to know her as well.  If you would like to volunteer to bake two (2) dozen white cupcakes or two (2) dozen chocolate cupcakes, iced and simply decorated (please remember – no nuts!), please contact Carol Nicholson at [email protected] or call (905) 536-0325.

Parking Prohibited

Despite signage and several attempts to discourage parents and visitors from parking at 318 Dundurn Street South (off Homewood) in Hamilton, the property manager has firmly requested that parents and staff not use their lot as a parent parking / drop off area as this is affecting their businesses.  This school year, if it persists, they will have no other choice but to call the police and have violators ticketed and towed.  As a result, we respectfully request that you please do not use their parking lot.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.