News & Updates

September is proving to be a wonderful start to the school year with students and staff.
We are happy to share that we are a school community of 587 students and our school organization will not change in terms of classes or staff.  Please take a few moments and read the news about upcoming happenings and opportunities at our amazing school!

Meet the Staff – September 26th, 2017 – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Looking forward to seeing everyone and sharing in an evening of meet and greet while enjoying a BBQ together on the playground.

BBQ Menu   $5.00 Combo :  hot dog or veggie dog + chips or apple + pop
                          $3.00:   hot dog or veggie dog
                          $1.00 each for chips / apple / pop

Staff will be taking turns at the BBQ table! Teachers will share in advance to parents & students where they can meet and greet them!

School Cash Online
Please join the thousands of parents who have already registered and are enjoying the convenience of paying online. It takes less than five minutes to register. Please follow these step-by-step instructions to begin receiving email notifications regarding upcoming events involving your child(ren).  Need to know how to register?  Please refer to the SCO Parent Registration Flyer 2017-18.

Terry Fox Walk/Run September 28, 2017 – JK to Grade 8 Students           Rain Date: October 2, 2017
9:30 am – 10:30 am – All JK to Grade 8 students will participate and either walk or run  for Terry and fight the battle against cancer. Parents are welcome to join us in the run/walk as helpers, spectators or participants. Read this post for all the details.  Questions?  Please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Getting Acquainted Day!    September 28, 2017                                                  Rain Date: October 2, 2017
Grade 1 to 8 Students will be spending time  together in blended groups getting to know each other and having fun! Team activities are scheduled during Periods 3, 4 and 5.
Interested in a HOT DOG, JUICE BOX & APPLE COMBO during 1st Nutrition Break on September 28th?
Pre-order forms were sent home on Tuesday September 19th and are due back by Thursday September 21 to your child’s homeroom teacher with payment OR School Cash Online is available for payment until September 24, 2017.
Option 1:  Hot Dog Combo for $4.00  Option 2:   Freezie for $1.00.  Both options may be chosen.
The pre-order form must be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher to communicate the choice of a Beef Hot Dog or a Veggie Dog.  

School Council
First School Council Meeting:  Wednesday October 4, 2017        6:30 pm – 7:30 pm in the Learning Commons
If you are interested in participating in the SWO 2017 – 2018  School Council, please complete this nomination form:  SC Nomination Form 2017 .    NOTE:  Completed nomination forms are to be returned to main office or via e-mail to Ms Neale, Principal at [email protected]  on or before September 29, 2017.

Volunteer Orientation – October 16, 2017 at 9:00 am in the Learning Commons
All new and returning volunteers are welcome  to join us on October 16 at 9:00 am for orientation or to sign offence declarations. If you are unable to attend, please e-mail, Mme Kurtz, Vice-Principal to set up another time at [email protected].

All volunteers require a volunteer orientation and a Criminal Reference Check to volunteer in our school, or to accompany us on school trips (supervisor or driver). Police checks must be presented to the school for verification and must be no more than 6 months from date of search. Police checks are valid for 3 years. Within the 3 years, an offence declaration must be signed each year.  

SWO Music Notes
Sign up has begun to participate in Glee Club and Bands. So far, we have over 100 students signed up!
Grade 7 band on Thursday mornings at 8:05 am to 9:05 am and one nutrition break per week.
Grade 8 band will be Tuesday mornings at 8:05-9:05 and one nutrition break per week each week all year.
Glee club will be during school time during nutrition breaks.  Listen for announcements!
Grade 8 Jazz band will be Wednesday mornings at 8:05 am – 9:05 am.
Questions?  Please reach out to Mrs. Kortmann.

Healthy Action Team (HAT)
Grade 3 to 8 students are invited to the Learning Commons at first break each Wednesday.  At the first meeting, Mrs. Kott and Mrs. Greenway will introduce the group to the goals of the HAT team. A presentation will be shared about the accomplishments from last year.  Then the planning begins along with surveying many students in the school to help identify this year’s priority health topic.  We have signed up for OPHEA’s Healthy School Certification too (and are obviously going for GOLD again)!  

Go Girls
Go Girls is up and running!!  We are looking forward to another great fun-filled year!  Our first meeting was last Friday and we had 52 girls show up.  This is fantastic!  It’s a great way to meet new friends, have fun and develop leadership skills.  The girls organize events that support both the school community and local organizations.

To start off the year we are going to be having a shoe drive, collecting shoes for Dr. Davey School, an HWDSB school. They are in  desperate need of running shoes for students in Grades 6-8 but will happily accept all shoes. Drop off boxes for shoe donations will be located in the front foyer.  Drop off boxes for shoe donations will be located in the front foyer during our Meet the Staff Night. The Go Girls will also be selling freezies at Get Acquainted Day.  Freezies will be sold for $1.00.  

Student Leadership Council
Grade 6, 7 and 8 students are invited to join the Leadership Council with Mrs. Ligas on Thursday September 21st in room 217 at 2nd Nutrition Break at 1:10 pm.  Students will have the opportunity to take part in planning events and initiatives that help and improve our SWO community and Global communities in need. The Student Leadership Council features open members to all grade 6, 7 and 8 students.  Students are encouraged to share their voice and choose initiatives they feel strongly about sharing their input, feedback and ideas.

Sr. Boys 3 Pitch Team Outstanding at Annual Tournament
Grade 7 and 8 boys took part in the annual HWDSB 3 Pitch tournament on September 18th at Memorial Park in Waterdown. The SWO Eagles proved themselves to be excellent ball players who demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship. Congratulations to team members for the outstanding ability to play as a team and support one another on and off the field. Go Eagles! A special thanks to Coach O’Neil

HWDSB Shows Improvement Towards Achievement  —> posted from HWDSB website
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released the 2016-17 assessment results in the areas of Primary and Junior Reading, Writing and Mathematics, as well as the results of the Grade 9 Mathematics assessment and the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

• For school-based information, please visit EQAO
• SWO school-based information, please visit:  Sir William Osler Elementary School

Subscribe to the SWO website using your e-mail address – www.hwdsb.on.ca/sirwiliamosler/subscribe
You will then receive a notification via e-mail with a link that a news item has been posted.

Staff Directory 2017 – 2018
The staff directory is now up to date and shares our staff list, phone extensions and homeroom teachers.

Communication between the Teacher and Home
Individual teachers share with parents and caregivers on the preferred ways of communication between home and school.  

REMINDER:  Photo Day – September 29th, 2017 – Bring your smile!  Retake Day: November 8th, 2017