Welcome Back Students
Greetings Parents/Guardians and Students:
Welcome back to the promise of a fantastic year at Glendale Secondary School! My name is Barry Smith and I am excited to be your Principal. As one of new staff to attend Glendale this year, I look forward to meeting you! I hope that you are having a terrific summer and are ready to come back to school on Tuesday, September 3rd for timetable pick-up at 8:00am and class start at 8:30 a.m.
Our administrative team has changed this year! I am very fortunate to be working alongside two amazing Vice-Principals–Mrs. Baillie and, also new/returning, Mr. Vacca.
Timetable: Your timetable will be available for pick up in the Cafeteria beginning at 8am on Tuesday, September 3. Come EARLY to get it in time for first period! Please review and ensure that it is correct for the year and you have the appropriate classes necessary. If you have a SEEGUID code, took a summer school course or failed a course last year, please see a Guidance Counsellor. Due to limited course offerings, full classes and timetable restrictions, timetable changes may not necessarily be fulfilled as requested. Please note that the drop and add time period for course changes ends on Friday, September 13th. You must have a parent permission form completed and signed in order for this change to occur (providing there is room in the class). Any questions can be forwarded to the appropriate guidance counsellor (assigned by last name).
A-L–Mr. Ireland [email protected]
M-Z–Ms. Miminas [email protected]
ELL students–Ms. Hewitt [email protected]
Textbooks Owing: If you have books owing, please bring your textbook/s or replacement cost with you on the first day of school (or earlier) in order to get your iPad.
Digital Tools and Media Consent: Parents/Guardians, please ensure that both of these forms are completed, signed and submitted to your student’s homeroom teacher by Friday, September 6th. iPads will be issued to students once their forms have been submitted.
Current Health and Emergency Information: Parents/Guardians, please be sure and let us know of any of your child’s health concerns or special needs of which we should be aware. We also need to be kept informed of changes in address, phone numbers (home, work, cell), and emergency contacts as these change. A copy of your student’s Information Verification Form is enclosed with their timetable. Please make any revisions and have this form returned to the school by Friday, September 6th. Please have your student return these forms to the main office.
Calendar: Please visit our website: www.hwdsb.on.ca/glendale to access our Calendar and find out about all the wonderful opportunities offered to your student. Clubs, sports, volunteer opportunities and staff lists are all on this site!
ABPA students: Welcome (or welcome back) to HWDSB’s Audition-Based Program of the Arts at Glendale! Any new Grade 10-12 students to the program are asked to see Mr. Borsc at lunch in the auditorium on the first day of school. Keep in mind the location may change as the school may still be under construction in certain areas–an announcement will be made on the first day of school in the event the location changes. You can also email Mr. P. Borsc with any questions at [email protected].
Glendale’s Policies and Procedures: There are many policies both Board and Ministry that govern the operation of a secondary school. Glendale’s policies and procedures will be available on our website prior to the start of our school year. These policies and procedures will also be reviewed and explained to each student during our assemblies during the first week of school.
At Glendale we are aligned to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board’s strategic direction to support all of our student’s well-being and to support high academic achievement for all students. Our goal is to have all grade 10 students earn sixteen credits; Grade 11’s earn 23+ credits and Grade 12’s earn 30 credits by the end of their school year. Regular attendance at school and getting involved in all aspects of school life will help support reaching this goal.
Safe Arrival: With SafeArrival, families report a student absence in one of three ways:
- Use the SafeArrival website, go.schoolmessenger.ca. The first time you use the website, select:
- Sign Up to create your account.
- Select Attendance then;
- Report an Absence.
- Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple AppStore or Google Play Store (or from links at go.schoolmessenger.ca). The first time you use the app, select:
- Sign Up to create your account
- Select Attendance then;
- Report an Absence.
- Call toll-free 1-844-506-4350 to report an absence using the automated phone system. Using this method does not require setting up an account. These options are available 24 hours/day, seven days a week. You can report a future absence any time.
Please note: As always, parents are expected to report absences as soon as possible – and then you will not receive notification about unexplained absences. Calls for unexplained absences will be made home after 6 pm. If you have questions, please speak with our office staff. You can find more resources on SafeArrival at bit.ly/safearrivalHWDSB.
If you are moving into the senior grades, we will work with you to support not only earning credits but to also provide you with opportunities to explore all options you have available after you graduate from secondary school. Together we will help you reach your goals – you’re not alone!
If you have any questions or concerns around the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at Glendale. Guidance Counsellors and School Administration will be in the school during the last week of August. Moreover, we post all information related to our school on our website. Glendale’s website is: http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/glendale.
From time to time, we communicate through a telephone messaging system called School Messenger. Our goal is to keep you informed of all activities and events occurring at Glendale.
Our first School Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday Sept 17 @ 7pm. The location of this meeting will be posted on our website during the first week of school. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
On behalf of all of us at Glendale, we hope you have an enjoyable few weeks prior to the start of a great school year. See you on September 3rd!
Sincerely,
Barry Smith
Principal
Updated on Monday, August 19, 2019.