SWL Community Weekly Time Lion

Community Update September 9-13

Upcoming Events

PD Day Sept. 20

Photo Day Sept. 24

Terry Fox Event Sept. 27

Bus Safety Presentations Sept. 30

School Council Meeting Sept. 30

SWL Open House October 9 4:00PM – 5:30PM

Safe School Procedures

SWL will be holding 6 Fire drills this year, 1 Evacuation drill, 1 Shelter in Place drill, 1 Hold and Secure drill, and 2 Lockdown drills.  Some of these drills will be announced prior to the drill occurring and shared with community, while others may be more spontaneous so we can help better prepare our students and staff in the event of an emergency.

An announcement will be made to students the day of the first fire drill and when we initiate other secure procedures for the first time.  The Principal or Vice-Principal will review important safety procedures for students and staff prior to beginning the drill.

You can also learn more about HWDSB’s secure schools’ protocol at https://hwdsb.info/secureschools

Our First Fire Drill is scheduled for September 12 in the morning hours. Educators will prepare our students for the first drill discussing their exit procedures and safe place meeting.  Students will practice this drill by hearing the alarm and learning to exit and respond safely.

Get Active This School Year!

Back to school is a great time to begin a new routine. Have you thought about adding some active travel into your child’s day, or your day? Active travel means using your body to get where you need to go (e.g., walking or rolling). Fewer children are walking, biking, and scootering to school today than in the past. Parents play a key roll in how their children get to school. Being active on the way to school can help your child:

• Perform better at school
• Know their neighbourhood
• Have better physical and mental health and wellbeing
• Be more physically active
• Meet new friends

Start slowly. Being active on the way to school, even one day a week, can be beneficial and is a great way to start helping your child develop healthy life-long habits.

For more information go to ActiveSchoolTravelHamilton.ca or visit http://ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/

Parking Areas Near School

Please continue to park on adjacent streets where permitted parking is available should you choose to drive your child to school.  It has been requested that families do not  park in Albright Court and St. Andrews Court when dropping off/picking up their children. This is private property and vehicles will be tagged/towed.  When able, walking, rolling with your children to school is the safest option.

HWDSB Fall Re-organization

Each fall, HWDSB reviews elementary student enrolment in schools, and reorganizes staffing and impacted classes if actual enrolment differs from spring projections. It is normal for student enrolment to fluctuate from spring projections. This year, our school enrolment is higher than the spring projections.  We will continue to monitor and if additions to classes occur we will communicate with families throughout the process.  At this time enrolment numbers are being monitored closely as new registrations occur and/or student movement out of the school catchment.

Students Requiring a Medical Plan of Care

If your child requires a specific medial plan of care (i.e., Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetic, Epilepsy, Special Medical Conditions) and you have not informed the office, please connect with the school as soon as possible so we can support and provide families with correct forms and processes.

Our office has sent home updated forms for families of students that currently have a medical plan of care at SWL.  Any updates or new information can be included in these forms.  If the plan has not changed a signature is all that is required.

Students requiring an epi-pen, must have one on person at all times and one stored at our main office.  The epi-pen can be handed to the office.   Students that require an inhaler should have on person at all times.  Extra inhalers can also be stored at our main office for support.

Administration of medications require parent/guardian permission and a doctor signature.

Awareness of Student Allergies

We want all children and those with a life-threatening allergy, to feel safe, supported and accepted at school.

Please be aware that there are students in our school that have severe life-threatening food allergies to nuts and eggs in our building.

This life-threatening allergy is likely to result in anaphylaxis, a sudden and severe allergic reaction that can be fatal.

We can all help foster a safe and inclusive environment by preventing such a dangerous and frightening situation at our school.  All staff know about this risk and have been instructed on the correct procedures regarding anaphylactic shock.

To help reduce risk, please help your children understand the seriousness of this allergy and encourage empathy for the child. Please do not send to school any lunches or snacks containing nut products.  In addition, students should not be sharing food and please do not send food for special events (e.g., student birthday, holiday party).  Educators may arrange alternate ways to celebrate while maintaining safety.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

  

Volunteer Opportunities

SWL 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 SWL, please connect with our main office for information about nominations and elections. Please see HWDSB’s Volunteers in Schools page for more information.

 

School Council

Every school in Ontario is required to have a School Council and work collaboratively with the Principal to improve student achievement and enhance accountability of the school with parents.  Information about School Councils can be found here:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/school-councils-guide-members

We welcome all parents/guardians who are willing to volunteer their time to participate on our School Council for the 2024-2025 school year.  School Councils must hold an annual election to identify voting members which will occur at our first meeting.

Our 1^st School Council first meeting and elections is scheduled for Monday, September 30 at 6PM.  School Council forms are attached in this update for parents/guardians interested in joining our council this year.  All families are welcome! Families do not need to be on council to attend our meetings.  We encourage parent/guardian voice.  Meetings will occur in-person and virtually throughout the year to accommodate families’ schedules.  Please see our website, School Council Page, for further details about Council.

School Council Fundraising for Student Initiatives

Order Krispy Kreme Cash Online September

School Council will be fundraising in September to support a variety of student initiatives

(e.g., excursions, hands on instructional materials, inquiry learning).

See Attached Community Update above for further details.