Holbrook Weekly Memo – September 29 – October 3, 2025

Holbrook Families,

I will send a Holbrook Weekly Memo out each Sunday with details of the upcoming events and the week ahead so be sure to check your emails to stay updated.  A reminder to keep in mind that the first few messages in the weekly memo are current updates and events however, there will be messages later in the memo titled Ongoing Information that are repeated weekly that you will not need to review each week unless you are new to the school.

NEW UPDATES:

We welcome Ms. Hehenkamp who will be taking on teaching some French to our Gr 4-6 students Day 3 & 4 in the afternoons.  Welcome to Mr. Dunmore who many of us already know. He will be teaching Day 3 in our Gr 4/5 class and Day 5 doing teacher release periods. Thanks to Ms. Yavorska,  our Gr 2/3 teacher, for taking on Day 1 in the gr 2/3 class. We are thankful and happy to have all of you on the Holbrook staff!

1. students should all be wearing helmets when on bikes or scooters

2. students may park bikes and scooters at the bike rack (we encourage a bike lock as we cannot be responsible for stolen or damaged items) students will park bikes/scooters and then go around to the playground to enter with their class. At the end of the day students will be dismissed out the back and then come around the front to get their bikes/scooters – students are not to come through the school to get their bikes or scooters please.

3. We ask families to avoid bringing dogs to the playground (there are signs and some of our students have fears and allergies )

4. We will be introducing a Chill Zone with low activity out on the playground where students can sit and read, play games or with toys, talk with others etc. during recess – it will be in the nook where the stairs are in the back of the school.

UPCOMING HOLBROOK EVENTS: 

Friday, October 3rd – Popcorn Day – $2.5o / bag – cash or cash online – Flavours are White Cheddar, Butter & Salt and Dill Pickle –

Tuesday, October 7th – Pizza Day – 2nd Nutrition Break -orders due Fri Sept 26th cash or cash online & Cross Country Team Meet at Christie Conservation Area – All day

Wednesday, October 8th – TCBY – Frozen Yogurt for sale – $4.00 each 1st Nutrition Break – flavours to be announced closer to this date & Hamilton Public Library Presentation for Kindergarten and Gr 1 – 9:30-10:30 am

Monday, October 13th – Thanksgiving Holiday – No school 

Tuesday, October 14th – Photo Day for all students / Pizza Day – 2nd Nutrition Break -orders due Fri Sept 26th cash or cash online

Friday, October 17th – Popcorn Day – $2.5o / bag – cash or cash online – Flavours are White Cheddar, Butter & Salt and Dill Pickle –

Tuesday, October 21st – Pizza Day – 2nd Nutrition Break -orders due Fri Sept 26th cash or cash online

Wednesday, October 22nd – TCBY – Frozen Yogurt for sale – $4.00 each 1st Nutrition Break – flavours to be announced closer to this date

Tuesday, October 28th –  Pizza Day – 2nd Nutrition Break -orders due Fri Sept 26th cash or cash online

Wednesday, November 5th – TCBY – Frozen Yogurt for sale – $4.00 each 1st Nutrition Break

Important Updates: 

1. We are excited to relaunch our Holbrook Spirit Wear Store from West End Sports & Apparel. Contact the store at Phone: 905-525-7575 with any questions. Or visit the website at – WEST END SPORTS Thank you.
2.  Holbrook School Photo Day for all students will be on Tuesday, October 14th. There will be a retake day scheduled later for those students that are absent that day
3. Reminder – Holbrook is a scent friendly/ free building due to a variety of student and staff allergies  – please no perfumes or colognes, body sprays or cosmetics of any kind. Thank you! 
4. Student Plan of Care and Contact Information – If your child has a medical condition (life threatening or non life threatening) – please speak with your teacher or the office to get the appropriate paperwork. This information is kept confidential with the teacher and office in case of an emergency. Thank you to the parents who have already updated/ submitted.  A reminder if any information regarding your child’s medical information or contact information (Email, Phone, Address, Emergency Contact etc. )  you must update the office immediately. To ensure student safety students will not be permitted to be picked up or leave with anyone that is not officially recorded in our system.  Thank you.
5. A reminder to ensure students have the proper footwear (closed toes shoes) preferably running shoes for Physical Education.  Please have students dress appropriately for the weather (sunscreen, hats, water bottles etc.) as the forecast looks warm this week.

FROM HOLBROOK SCHOOL COUNCIL:

Please see the below for the weekly memo on behalf of the School Council 🙂 it has been reviewed by a few members before sharing and we chose to shorten it a bit vs. last year and add in the high-level month plan as that was feedback from parents — with a disclaimer of course. Any questions let us know.

Holbrook School Council Fundraisers:

We have year-round fundraisers that make a big impact at Holbrook—check them out below and online (https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/holbrook/holbrook-fundraising-page/)

1. Mabel’s Labels: visit mabelslabels.ca/en-CA/fundraising/support and search Holbrook School (Hamilton) before you shop

2. Factory Shoe Warehouse: shopping in-store download this card (

   Factory Shoe Warehouse – 2025 Holbrook Card PDF.pdf

   ). When shopping online use code 0350011 0137 at factoryshoe.ca checkout
3. FlipGive: join our team at: https://www.flipgive.com/teams/454353-holbrook-elementary-school-council and when you shop your online Holbrook earns cash back

• October: Holbrook Spirit Wear
• November: Krispy Kreme Fundraiser, Mitten Tree Donations, and Neighbour to Neighbour Food Donations
• December: Winter Break Store Fundraiser
• January: Unplugged at Holbrook Games Night and Fundraiser!
• February: Joy Breakfast (for students during school hours)
• April: Cinnabon Gift Certificates Fundraiser
• May: Open House Carnival
• June: Butterfly Kit Fundraiser

Have a fundraiser or event idea? Contact the School Council at [email protected]. Thanks for supporting Holbrook!

ONGOING INFORMATION:
Please be mindful that our school parking lot has no parking or stopping so we will ask parents that are driving to enter the city park lot west of the school and walk your children over to the playground to meet their new teacher . For safety reasons we will not be allowing vehicles in the school parking lot unless they are staff.  A reminder that the parking closest to the school along the fence is reserved for staff so please park on the very west side.

Our school day begins at 8:45 am but we will have supervision on the playground from 8:30-8:45 am if you need to drop off and leave. Students arriving after the bell must enter at the front doors and report to the office where they will be recorded as Late.  Students are not permitted at the park during the school day and must have parent permission or be supervised by a parent/guardian if they are playing at the park before or after school.

If you are the parent/guardian of a new student in grades JK-6 2nd please contact our school office at 905 385 5369 for registration information and to set up an intake meeting. Thank you.

We also ask that parents please avoid entering the school from the playground or side entrances. If you need to enter please ring the buzzer at the front of the school and myself or Ms. Miles, our office administrator, will be happy to assist you and escort your child to their class. We ask this of parents and guardians to avoid interruptions to our staff while they are instructing and supervising large numbers of students. If you need to speak to your child’s teacher please email them or put a note in your child’s agenda. If you wish to speak with the office or your child’s teacher at another time please email our office at  [email protected] or call us at 905 385 5369 and we can set up an appointment. Thank you.

From HWDSB: Hamilton Wentworth District School Board

We also invite families to keep up with communications from HWDSB by subscribing to email updates or following HWDSB on social media.

For information about HWDSB’s Code of Conduct and Reducing Distractions in classrooms, please click here: Reducing Distractions in Classrooms and Schools | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board  

To see the 2025-2026 school year calendar, please visit School Year Calendar | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board  

Please find 2025-2026 Transportation information here: Hamilton Wentworth Student Transportation Services  

We know students can feel a range of feelings leading up to the start of the school year, but we are here to support their back-to-school experience. If you would like to connect with me in more detail to discuss your child(ren)’s return to classrooms and learning spaces, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

If you have school-specific questions, please reach out at 905.385.5369 or email us at : [email protected]

Thank you and have a wonderful week everyone!

Mr. G. Carey

Principal

Holbrook Elementary School

905.385.5369 or [email protected]