Welcome Back 2025-2026

To: Kanétskare Lightning Families, 

As the 2025-2026 school year quickly approaches, we are excited to welcome students back to class on Tuesday, September 2^nd, 2025. Our entire staff is to be commended for all their hard work preparing their classrooms and school for your children. 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 Kanétskare 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 Kanétskare families prepare for their child(ren)’s return to the classroom, we would like to share the following information:

 KANÉTSKARE’S 2025-2026 INSTRUCTIONAL DAY

 

Instruction day begins at 8:40 am (Blacktop is supervised from 8:25 – 8:40 am)
Period 1	8:40 – 9:20		40 minutes
Period 2	9:20 – 10:00		40 minutes
Period 3	10:00 – 10:40		40 minutes
Nutrition Break #1	10:40 – 11:20		40 minutes
Period 4	11:20 – 11:50		30 minutes
Period 5	11:50 – 12:20		30 minutes
Period 6	12:20 – 1:00		40 minutes
Nutrition Break #2	1:00 – 1:40		40 minutes
Period 7	1:40 – 2:20		40 minutes
Period 8	2:20 – 3:00		40 minutes
Dismissal at 3:00 pm Blacktop is supervised from 3:00 – 3:15 pm)

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 2, 2025, as changes can occur.

COURTESY TRANSORTATION – There is no courtesy transportation for the first month of school. Each year, courtesy seats may be granted, if there is space on an existing bus run. They are administered through an application process. Requests for courtesy transportation must be submitted to the school, by the parent/guardian each year using the Courtesy Transportation Request Form. Requests are assessed in October, once all eligible students are assigned and operational issues are resolved.

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 for more information.

There is an important section in HWDSB’s Code of Conduct that outlines the use of mobile devices (including cell phones).

“Students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 must have their devices stored out of view and powered off (or on silent mode) throughout the full instructional day (school day), including nutrition breaks unless permitted by the educator.”  

Please note that at Kanétskare students have access to lockers. We highly recommend getting a lock for your child/children’s locker as mobile devices will be stored here for the full instructional day, including nutrition breaks. Families and caregivers can reach their child at any time by calling the main office.

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.

SCHOOL MESSENGER – Kanétskare and all HWDSB schools use School Messenger to notify families about unexplained absences, as well as other important announcements. Families can use the free School Messenger app or website to choose how they wish to receive these messages. Please contact the office to provide current – or to change – your information.

AGENDAS – This year all students and staff will be using agendas. Agendas are a valuable tool to help students stay organized and manage their assignments, projects, and important dates since all classes will have some rotary. They also serve as a two-way communication tool between families and teachers, allowing us to share information and keep everyone informed. We are asking for a $5.00 donation to offset the cost.  Payment can be made through School Cash Online.  

 ADDRESSING CONCERNS – For any classroom-related concerns, students and families are encouraged to reach out to their respective classroom teachers. School-wide matters can be directed to the principal.

 STUDENT DRESS GUIDELINES – In September 2024, HWDSB updated the 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 wellbeing for every student. They can express themselves freely, without fear of bias or discrimination. Visit hwdsb.info/student–dress to learn more.

STUDENT ENTRY AND EXIT – Upon arrival, students are to proceed directly to the designated pavement area, as staff supervision is concentrated there from 8:25 to 8:40 am. The field and surrounding green spaces are unsupervised. When the bell goes, students will gradually enter through their designated doors. On the first day of school, staff will be outside with signs that will have their last names and class numbers so that students are familiar with their designated door location. Students are dismissed at 3:00 pm and are expected to leave school premises as supervision of the pavement area is available only from 3:00 to 3:15 pm.

LATE ARRIVAL PROTOCOL – Students arriving late should ring the buzzer located at the front of the school for entry and proceed directly to the office for check-in.

PIZZA DAYS – We will be offering weekly pizza days starting in the coming weeks. Families can purchase pizza for the month through School Cash Online. Information will be available shortly.

STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL PROPERTY DURING SECOND NUTRITION BREAK – Student safety is a priority at Kanétskare. Grade 6 students will not be permitted to leave school property during any nutrition break.  Grade 7 and 8 students can leave Kanétskare property at second nutrition but must have permission which can be granted via the Parent Portal for the school year. Parents can approve certain days or the entire week. Please note when you are granting permission via the Parent Portal you are allowing them to walk home for lunch and/or visit local establishments in our surrounding neighbourhood. It is important to note that when out in the community our students are unsupervised.

For those going home or out into the community for lunch the following procedure is used:

• Just before the end of period 6, the classroom teacher will hand out lunch passes for students who have permission to go out in grades 7 and 8.
• The lunch pass has on it, the students’ name along with the days they are able to go out. If there are no days on the pass, this means they have permission to go out every day.
• When the bell goes, students who have a pass must come to the front foyer and place their pass into the grade level bin and exit using the front doors only. No other doors are to be used for exiting.
• At 1:20 pm, when we go outside students who go out for lunch are allowed to join us back on the field and blacktop, however, no food or drinks should be brought back onto property. Students are not to be coming back before 1:20 pm.
• On rainy days when we do not go outside, students are to enter back into the school through the front doors no earlier than 1:30 pm.

FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, WE ASK THAT ALL STUDENTS REMAIN FOR 2ND NUTRTION BREAK SO THAT WE CAN GET LISTS AND PASSES CREATED. STUDENTS CAN START GOING OUT FOR LUNCH ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8^TH.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – Kanétskare 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 Kanétskare please contact the office for information about nominations and elections. Please see HWDSB’s Volunteers in Schools page for more information.

SCHOOL COUNCIL – The First School Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 18^th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm in the library. Your voice matters, HWDSB School Council Information

SAVE THE DATE – Please save the date for our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Fall Open House, which will take place on Thursday, October 16, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

SUMMER CONSTRUCTION – Over the summer, our school had some renovations happening. The flooring in the hallways was replaced, the entrance to the gym and the divider door between the school and the recreation centre were modified to enhance safety, and all lockers were freshly painted. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to a refreshed and improved space.

FIELD CONSTRUCTION – The City of Hamilton is expected to start the construction on the HAAA grounds sometime in late October, which means we will lose access to the field area once it starts. More information will be shared once the City finalizes the details with the contractors and how it will impact the school.  Since we do not own the field, permission forms will be sent home in the first few days, to allow students to access the field during physical education class, daily physical activity and outside break time.

At Kanétskare, 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 children(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 905-527-7975 and/or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Mrs. Joanne Hall

Principal