Welcome Back – September 2024!

Good afternoon Gordon Price Families,

As the 2024-25 school year quickly approaches, we are excited to welcome students back to class on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. A friendly reminder that the first day of school will be Tuesday, September 3, 2024, for grades 1-8 only. The first day of classes for Kindergarten students (JK/SK) is Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Beginning the new school year can be a time of excitement, nervousness and energy for students, staff and families alike.

But the start of the school year at Gordon Price is also a time of new beginnings filled with opportunities for all students to experience a sense of belonging, engage in dynamic learning and reach their full potential.

To help Gordon Price families prepare for their child(ren)’s return to the classroom, we would like to share the following information:

Arrival and Dismissal Routines

School starts promptly at 8:30 am and the playground opens for students at 8:15 am – students should not arrive to school prior to 8:15 am. On the first day of school students will gather on the back playground, where staff will help students find their class entry line. Parents may escort their child to their new teacher, if needed. Additional staff will be available to assist. Please look for staff with safety vests on for support. Gordon Price staff are on duty to supervise safe dismissal of students on the school hardtop area at 2:50 pm.

First Days of Kindergarten

All children new to kindergarten and/or the school will be invited for a short visit with a caregiver on Tuesday, September 3. We will contact families to arrange visit times and share details. Kindergarten families should have received an email once their Parent Portal account was created. If you have not received your email with your visit invite time, please contact us at Gordon Price.

All Kindergarten students will begin their first full day on Wednesday, September 4. Click here for more information about Kindergarten

Transportation

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) provides students with safe and secure transportation for eligible students by HWSTS. This may take the form of traditional school buses, school purpose vans or Hamilton Street Railway transit.  For more information, visit HWDSB’s Transportation webpage. If your child qualifies for transportation, please remember to re-check information prior to sending your child(ren) to their assigned pickup location on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, as changes can occur.

Code of Conduct

HWDSB is committed to making each one of its schools a caring place that is safe for learning. Every student deserves to feel and be safe in a school, on the school grounds, on the school bus and at school events and activities. Visit HWDSB’s Code of Conduct webpage to learn about these changes.

Family Communication

Staying connected with your child(ren)’s schools, the Board and services matters.  HWDSB offers many ways for parents and caregivers to stay connected.  To learn how you can access the most up-to-date information, visit HWDSB’s Parent page. We also invite families to keep up with HWDSB by subscribing to email updates or following HWDSB on social media.

SchoolMessenger

Gordon Price and all HWDSB schools use SchoolMessenger to notify families about unexplained absences, as well as other important announcements. Families can use the free SchoolMessenger app or website to choose how they wish to receive these messages. Please contact your child(ren)’s school to provide current – or to change – your information.

Student Dress Guidelines

Starting in September 2024, HWDSB is sharing updated Student Dress Guidelines to help foster positive and inclusive learning environments. Developed with extensive student input and community consultation, these guidelines focus on equity, dignity, and well-being for every student. They can express themselves freely, without fear of bias or discrimination. Visit hwdsb.info/student-dress to learn more.

Volunteer Opportunities

Gordon Price and HWDSB values and appreciates dedicated volunteers who share their time and talents in support of healthy, positive and flourishing school communities.  If you are interested in exploring volunteer opportunities like School Council at Gordon Price please connect with the school office for information about nominations and elections. Please see HWDSB’s Volunteers in Schools page for more information.

Addressing a Concern

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).

Right to Disconnect

Healthy work-life boundaries, including the ability for all employees to disconnect from work after hours, is an important part of maintaining one’s health and well-being. HWDSB has implemented a Right to Disconnect Procedure to support educators, administrators and other HWDSB staff. While all urgent communication will continue to be shared after hours, please note that families communicating with educators and administrators may receive a delay in response to all non-emergency inquiries received after hours.

At Gordon Price we are committed to partnering with our families to ensure that your child(ren)’s school experience reflects HWDSB’s values – dignity, trust, compassion and joy. We are committed to ensuring your child(ren) are celebrated for who they are, experience safe and caring school environments and are supported to achieve their own academic success and positive learning outcomes.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out at (905) 574-6336 or  [email protected].

Sincerely,

Vera Prpa

Principal