Upcoming Events

Diwali October 31

Fall Celebrations October 31

Progress Reports Go Home November 19

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences November 21&22

Previous Updates

WALKTOBER – Active School Travel

October is a month when students around the globe participate in Walk and Roll to School events and celebrate being active on the way to school.  You can participate by walking or rolling to school daily.

Spirit Wear

SWL Spirit wear is available once again.  Orders will be open until November 1^st for families interested in ordering.  Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of November.  See link below.

https://westendsportshamilton.ca/store/

Food & Beverage Compliance Nutrition Exemption Days

(Draft Plan 2024-2025)

Nutrition Exempt Days at SWL 2024-2025 (new days may be added, not exceeding 10 days)

Fundraising support initiatives for Student Hands on Materials (DPA equipment, technology, Art/Science supplies, Physical Educational materials/equipment)

Fall Celebrations

We appreciate that some of our student community will want to celebrate Halloween or fall festivities at school on Thursday, October 31st.  We appreciate that some students may not wish to participate in these activities.  The choice will be respected, and activities planned in class will not interfere with your child’s schooling.   Diwali is also celebrated on this day this year as well.

Thursday, October 31

Students wishing to celebrate fall festivities or Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 31 at school are welcome to wear costumes.  Students can wear costumes to school as per prior years practice (e.g., no cultural appropriation, no offensive and insensitive costumes, no weapons, no costume masks that might impede vision, no inappropriate images, etc.).

Costumes that are based on people’s culture are offensive, harmful and insensitive. The following are suggested questions, to reflect on when choosing a costume to avoid being disrespectful or offensive.

• Is my costume making fun of a group of people, their culture, religion and/or belief systems?
• Does my costume reinforce jokes and stereotypes about certain groups, cultures, religions and/or belief systems?
• Am I altering my skin colour, facial/body features to make it like a particular race, ethnicity, or cultural group?
• Am I dressing up as a culture or borrowing from a religion that is not my own or is not part of my background?

No Food Items Please

We ask families do not send in food items on this day due to many allergy conditions in our building.  There are alternative items (e.g., pencils, fun erasers, stickers) should you feel the need to share a Halloween treat with your child’s class.  Classrooms may be planning celebrations in which students can bring their own treat items.  Your child’s homeroom teacher will communicate this information.