Welcome Back Prince of Wales Families!

The beginning of our 2024-2025 school year is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to welcoming our students and school community.  

Class Placements 

As of this week, you will be able to access the Parent Portal where you can view the name of your child’s teacher for the 2024-2025 school year.  The process of class placement is a collaborative effort that takes place over several weeks. A considerable amount of time and thought goes into placement decisions, including current and potential friendships, student success and student achievement.  Please note, changes to class placements are not being considered at this time. Our dedicated and caring staff will work with you to support students in transitioning to their new classrooms. If you have any specific concerns about your child, please reach out to your child’s teacher. 

The First Day of School  

 Grades 1-8 Students 

The first day of school for grades 1-8 is Tuesday, September 3rd.  Students in grades 1 -4/5 (second floor classes) will gather on the North Playground. Students in grades 5-8 (third floor classes) will gather on the South Playground. Teachers will have signs with their names on them, along with class lists to help organize students for 8:30 am entry.

Kindergarten Students 

On Tuesday, September 3rd, all students new to kindergarten will have an opportunity to have a scheduled visit with the kindergarten team to ensure they feel comfortable and supported as they transition to school. Families who are registering new kindergarten children will be provided with a time to visit their new classrooms and educators. All JK (Year 1) and SK (Year 2) students begin full day attendance on Wednesday, September 4th. Educators will be outside their respective classrooms to greet students and families on the enclosed kindergarten playgrounds. 

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.  

Cell Phone Policy

The rules of use for cell phones have been updated by the Ministry of Education and HWDSB. Our updated policy reflects these changes and can be found here. 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, including nutrition breaks.   

Bell Times and Supervision 

Supervision at Prince of Wales begins at 8:15 am and ends at 3:05 pm.  

Outdoor supervision begins at 8:15. When dropping students off, please be mindful of the bus zones, as idling in these areas at any time is prohibited by city by-laws. With written parent/guardian permission, students in grades 7 and 8 may leave for lunch during the second nutrition break. When students leave for lunch, they are expected to return to the playground for class entry when the bell rings at 1:10 pm.  

At Prince of Wales, student safety is our utmost priority. Please let us know when contact information changes so that we can keep our emergency contact information accurate and up to date.  

Nutrition Breaks 

Our school is organized on a Balanced Day schedule, meaning we have two nutrition breaks. Students have 20 minutes to eat and 20 minutes to play at each break. Please be sure to pack enough food for two breaks. Prince of Wales’ Nutrition Program will continue this year. Students will have access to healthy snacks at both Nutrition Breaks. Our Breakfast Program will begin a week or two after school begins. We will update the start date closer to the time. 

Communication 

Staying connected with the school, 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. 

Please visit and subscribe to the Prince of Wales webpage for all school news and coming events. Follow us on Instagram.

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. 

Meet the Teachers 

Our educators are eager to engage with the school community early in the year. We will be hosting a Meet the Teachers early in the year (date yet to be determined). We know that there is always a possibility of class reorganization in early October as student enrolment fluctuates, and your child’s placement could change. In the event this occurs, further introductions will be made possible.  

School Council, Home and School, and Parent Volunteers

Parents are valued partners in education and there are many opportunities for involvement. All parents/guardians of students of Prince of Wales are welcome and encouraged to attend School Council meetings.The Ministry of Education requires all Ontario schools to have School Councils. The role of the School Council is to advise the principal and staff of recommendations for the School Improvement Plan. If a parent/guardian would like to be a voting and serving member on the School Council, they must be elected to the role. Election forms are available here and must returned to the office in advance of our first meeting on September 23rd. Prince of Wales also has an active Home and School partnership, where parents and guardians are willing and active partners in promoting the welfare of children and youth. Home and School associations have their own operating guidelines and have separate financial accounts. To learn more, you are welcome to attend these meetings. They are held immediately following School Council meetings. If you interested in other volunteer opportunities, please contact the school to learn more.

Transportation 

If your child qualifies for transportation, please follow the steps listed to access your child(ren)’s information via the online portal. Please keep in mind that last minute changes sometimes do occur and that it is important to re-check the information prior to sending your child(ren) to their assigned pickup location on September 6, 2023. Go to www.hamiltonschoolbus.ca and click on the “Parent’s Portal” on the Home page, OR “Bus Stop Finder” on the landing page. Families of new JK students should have received information in the mail about transportation.  

Learn more.  

Limited Courtesy Transportation will be available in early October for exceptional circumstances. Courtesy Transportation Request Form 

Plan of Care 

You will be contacted if your child has a Plan of Care currently on file at the school to update if required. If your child is new to the school or has had a change in a medical condition, and requires a new Plan of Care, please complete and return the relevant form(s) to the office as soon as possible. Forms can be found here: Plan of Care Forms

Our Commitment

At Prince of Wales, 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 us at 905-667-5870 during regular school hours.  

 We are looking forward to a great year together. 

Enjoy these last days of summer! 

 M. Panju, Principal