Community Weekly Update Feb. 21-24

Community Weekly Time Lion Hear us Roar February 21– February 24
Monday, February 20	Day 0	Happy Family Day!  Enjoy time with family and friends.
Tuesday, February 21	Day 1
Wednesday, February 22	Day 2	·      PINK SHIRT or WEAR PINK TODAY Lift Each Other UP!
Thursday, February 23	Day 3	·       6PM School Council in Learning Commons
Friday, February 24	Day 4	·       Sub Day ·       1:30PM Gifted Program in Learning Commons ·       Grade 8s to Secondary School Transition Visit (Subs will be available upon return at 2PM)

 

Please click on the attachment for your weekly reports as well.

Community Weekly Time Lion Feb. 21-24

 

SWL New Updates

Vice-Principal Announcement

We want to congratulate Ms. Gillian Stafford who will be moving on to a new position as the Acting Principal role at Yorkview Elementary School starting March 20.  Ms. Stafford has supported the integration of Elizabeth Bagshaw and Sir Wilfrid Laurier and has been a strong leader in our building at Sir Wilfrid Laurier over the past few years.  We will truly miss Ms. Stafford and wish her all the best on her new journey.

Black History Month

SWL will continue to recognize Black History Month this February through classroom lessons and announcement sharing.  Below is a link of some resources HWDSB is sharing for families as well.  Please feel free to share with your child the importance of this month and recognition.

 

https://www.hbhc.ca/database

Pink Shirt Day – Wednesday, February 22

Pink Shirt or Anti-Bullying Day is recognized annually in communities across Canada. Individuals in schools and workplaces come together by wearing pink shirts to show they are against bullying. The focus for Pink Shirt Day 2023 is “Lift Each Other Up”. “Today our diversity is becoming more visible than ever as people continue to embrace their cultures, identities, and true selves in more open and direct ways; making the need to Lift Each Other Up and have greater acceptance, respect, and inclusion for everyone so important. There are many ways we can help and connect with people who have been impacted by bullying. Let’s Lift Each Other Up this Pink Shirt Day and all year round!” pinkshirtday.ca

 

Food and Nutrition Policies and Procedures – Celebrations

 

We understand some families have sent in treats to their child’s class on special occasions.  We ask families choosing to celebrate an event for their child with the class, not send any food items.  We need to be mindful of student medical allergies and also parent permission.  We suggest alternatives such as perhaps some fun school supplies (e.g. pencil, fun eraser, card).  We appreciate your understanding.  We have nutrition-free school days where the school may sell specific items (e.g., School Dance, Winter Wonderland), however these are special nutrition approved days through HWDSB and ingredients are monitored carefully.  Thank you for your understanding and support here.

Safe School Procedures – School Code of Conduct

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).

 

HWDSB Equity Action Plan & Human Rights Plan

HWDSB’s Equity and Inclusion Policy is committed to the principles of equity through inclusive programming, services, and operations, in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Education Act and Ministry of Education PPM 119 areas of focus found below.

The Human Rights Policy will serve as an anchor to related policies and further HWDSB’s commitment to foster and maintain a culture of respect for human rights that permeates all HWDSB learning and work environments, so that:

 

• Everyone is treated with dignity and respect
• Everyone is supported and accepted
• Everyone is free from discrimination and harassment
• HWDSB learning and work spaces are welcoming, respectful, accessible and free from systemic discrimination, harassment and different forms of oppression

This is important, ambitious work that touches every corner of our organization that intends to:

• Identify and address biases, barriers and discriminatory actions.
• Support positive learning and workplace environments where all students and staff feel safe, support and accepted.
• Support inclusive community partnership, engagement and communicating ongoing progress.

 

All HWDSB schools have a duty to respond, according to Ministry Safe School Policies, if students are not following the HWDSB Code of Conduct.   Engaging in behaviour/actions that are based in bias, prejudice, or hate will result in the school requiring action to follow appropriate safe school procedural steps.  Please see attached our equity work, duty to respond.

 

Resources:

https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Code-of-Conduct-policy-revisedAug2019.pdf

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-code-conduct-education-sector-parents-guide

 

Parking Lot – Entry and Dismissal

 

This message is a friendly reminder for families that are unable to walk to school and must (special circumstances only) drive their child to school.

 

Students that are not assigned to a cab or bus should be walking to school.  We understand there may be other special circumstances, however majority of our population is within walking distance and we will continue to promote walking to school to decrease vehicle congestion in the area at entry and dismissal.

 

Please make sure vehicles are not parked in undesignated parking spots.  Our parking lot is mainly full by entry and dismissal times.  Families needing to drive should park on adjacent streets or drop off quickly and safely (drivers not leaving their vehicle) at the front entrance while following the flow of traffic.  Pylons will remain in the non-parking, no-stop areas to protect our fire route and follow by-law.

Let’s all work together to limit the congestion and support student safety travelling to and from school.