Westwood December Newsletter 2021

As we head into the month of December, I would like to thank the staff, students, and parents/guardians for your continued efforts during the start of the school year to ensure that in-person teaching and learning continued in a safe manner.

I would like to share that Mrs. Flemming was elected and accepted the position of Vice-President of the Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers Local (HWETL). Her last day at Westwood was on November 19th. I would like to thank Mrs. Flemming for her time and work while at Westwood as our junior French teacher and prep coverage teacher. Although her time at Westwood was brief, I know she will be missed by the Westwood community. We wish her all the best in her new position.

I would also like to welcome Mrs. Schmitz  who is our new permanent French/prep coverage teacher. She started her new position last week and brings more than 10 years of teaching experience to Westwood!

On behalf of everyone at Westwood, we would like to thank our families and community for all they do to support our school and wish all of you a very enjoyable winter break!

Upcoming Events

To view upcoming school events, click here: Events for December 2021 – Westwood (hwdsb.on.ca)

Health Action Team Hat and Mitten Tree

The Health Action Team is trying to ensure that our Westwood community stays warm during the winter season!  We are initiating a hat and mitten tree and would gladly accept donations of new and gently used hats and mittens for our tree.  Any items left at the end of the winter months will be donated to Neighbour to Neighbour Centre.  

HWDSB Cold Weather Protocol

Time spent outdoors is an integral part of the school day. There are great benefits when children experience fresh air, exercise and time spent time outside. Outdoor play is also a break from the structure of the classroom.

Depending on the season, preparing for outdoor play in Canada can mean anything from applying sunscreen to wear mittens and a hat. During winter, it’s important that children come to school prepared for the cold. Students should wear winter boots, mittens/gloves and hats and it’s a good idea to pack extra mittens, socks, etc. in case they are needed.

Principals decide whether to send students outside for recess. HWDSB asks Principals to follow the City of Hamilton guideline that people stay inside when it’s at or below -15C, or -20C with wind chill.

School Cash Online 

After the winter break, we are looking to organize some small fundraising events through School Cash Online. DID YOU KNOW, School Cash Online can be translated into more that 150 languages and can be accessed through the parent portal? If you haven’t set up a School Cash Online account yet, please click here: SchoolCashOnline.com: Welcome

Message from Our ESL Teacher, Ms. Ruttan

Roots of Empathy Recruitment