Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year!

To our Tiffany Hills families,

We’re thrilled to begin the 2025–2026 school year and welcome all students and families to Tiffany Hills Elementary School!

We hope you had a joyful and restful summer. As we begin a new school year, our school team is excited to reconnect with returning families and warmly welcome those who are new to our school community. At Tiffany Hills, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where every child feels valued and supported.

 

Class Placements

Starting Monday, August 25th, you were 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 2nd. Students will be greeted by their new teachers on the playground. Teachers will have signs with their names on them, along with class lists. This is where students can gather to meet with their new classmates and prepare for 9:15 am entry.

To access high level supervision sightlines for the safety of all students, we ask that parents/guardians stay off the main playground at drop off and pick up times. If you require assistance, please look for staff members who will be wearing safety vests, and they will be happy to help.

 

Kindergarten Students

On Tuesday, September 2nd, 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 have registered their children for Kindergarten will be provided with a time to visit their new classrooms and meet the educators. All JK (Year 1) and SK (Year 2) students begin full day attendance on Wednesday, September 3rd. Educators will be outside their respective classrooms to greet students and families on the enclosed kindergarten playgrounds located at the front of the school.

 

Bell Times and Supervision

Supervision at Tiffany Hills begins at 9:00 am and ends at 3:50 pm.

Our bell times are as follows:

Tiffany Hills Elementary School Bell Times 2024-2025
9:00am-9:15am	Morning supervision
9:15-10:15 am	Period 1 (60 min)
10:15-10:55 am	Period 2 (40 min)
10:55-11:35 am	Nutrition Break 1 (40 min)
11:35 am-12:35 pm	Period 3 (60 min)
12:35-1:15 pm	Period 4 (40 min)
1:15-1:55 pm	Nutrition Break 2 (40 min)
1:55-2:35 pm	Period 5 (40 min)
2:35-3:35 pm	Period 6 (60 min)
3:35-3:50 pm	Dismissal Supervision

 

Parking Lot

To help promote an active lifestyle and reduce congestion in our parking lot, we strongly encourage students to walk or ride bicycles/scooters to and from school. Our parking lot will be closed for a time before and after school to permit safe access for school buses and to allow our students and staff safe entry/exit. There are parking spots on many of the side streets, it’s best to park there and walk the short distance. Please do not stop or park in any “Fire Access Routes”, for the safety of all our staff and students. They must always be clear for emergency vehicles.

 

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. Drop-off or delivery of food is strongly discouraged, to minimize interruptions to instruction.

Use of Personal Mobile Devices

Students in grades Kindergarten – 8 are required to have their devices stored out of view and powered off (or on silent mode) throughout the full instructional day, including nutrition breaks unless permitted by the educator see HWDSB Personal Mobile Device Procedure for more information at https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Personal-Mobile-Device-PROCEDURE-002.pdf

Lost & Found

We hope to reduce the number of student items lost. Please write your child’s name on as many items as possible.

 

Dogs

Please note that dogs are not permitted on school property during the school day, including drop-off and pick up. Thank you.

 

PA Day

Friday, September 19th is a Professional Activity Day, there will be no school for students.

 

Meet the Staff

Our educators are eager to engage with the school community early in the year. We will be hosting a Meet the Staff event on Thursday, September 25th from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. We know that there is always a possibility of class reorganization in early October as student enrollment fluctuates, and your child’s placement could change. In the event this occurs, further introductions will be made possible.

 

School Council and Parent Volunteers

Parents are valued partners in education and there are many opportunities for involvement. All parents/guardians/caregivers of students at Tiffany Hills 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 in the school’s main office and must be returned to the office in advance of our first meeting on Tuesday September 23rd, 6:30-7:30pm. If you are interested in other volunteer opportunities, please contact the school to learn more or visit

https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/elementary/get-involved/volunteers-in-schools/

https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Volunteer-Procedure.pdf

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 medical condition, and requires a new Plan of Care, please obtain, complete and return the relevant form(s) to the office as soon as possible.

 

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 2nd. Go to www.hamiltonschoolbus.ca and click on the “Parent’s Portal” on the Home page. Families of new JK students should have received information about transportation. For more information about transportation, you can also see  Learn more.

 

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 https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/student-dress-guidelines/ to learn more.

 

School Cash Online

To pay for school related items, please visit School Cash Online .

 

Communication

Please subscribe to Tiffany Hills’ webpage for all school news and upcoming events: https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/tiffanyhills/ by scrolling to the bottom of the website and clicking on subscribe.

We look forward to a year filled with growth and learning. Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s educational journey. Let’s make 2025–2026 a fantastic year together!

 

Yours sincerely,

R.McNicholls-Ramrattan (Principal)

M. Brandon Rooth (Vice-Principal)