Elementary School Update

Winter Physical Education (PE) Letters: We’re excited to announce that Winter Elementary PE will begin on November 9th! Please find attached the Winter Physical Education (PE) letters for Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grades 5 & 6. These letters contain important information regarding the winter PE program, including uniform requirements and key dates. We encourage you to read the letter relevant to your child’s year level carefully to ensure they are well prepared for the upcoming winter season. We hope the boys are ready for a fun and active season on the ice and in the gym!

ES Parent Student Teacher Conferences ~ November 19 and November 20:

• Thursday, November 19 will take place in person (8:00am to 8:00pm)

• Friday, November 20 will take place virtually (8:00am to 12:00pm)

• Online booking will be available through Pick-a-time as of Thursday, November 12 (3pm).

• Instructions on how to self-select appointments will be included in next week’s update

• More information to follow

School Photo Retakes: If your son was absent when the photos were taken, he is automatically signed up for Photo Retake Day on Thursday, November 12. If you would like your son’s photo to be redone, please send an email to esadmin@selwyn.ca by Monday, November 9 to register him for Retake Day. More information will be sent to participants as the day approaches.

Label It, Love It, Keep It: Please remember to clearly label your son’s uniform items and all personal items (including shoes, jackets, hats, mitts and sports gear). This helps us return misplaced items quickly and keeps our Lost & Found to a minimum.

No Lunch Deliveries: We kindly ask that families not order or have meals delivered to school for Elementary School students. This helps us keep lunchtime safe, organized, and enjoyable for everyone. Thank you for helping our lunchtime routine run smoothly!

Elementary School Athletics Town Hall: On October 14th, we hosted a Town Hall that focused on our elementary school physical education and athletic programs, including expectations and how we support skill development and sportsmanship at the elementary level. We also shared important information about the transition into Middle School physical education and athletics, helping families understand what to expect as students move into the next stage of their athletic journey. You can find the video recording of the event here, and the accompanying slides here.

Parent Coffee Mixer: The PVA (Parent Volunteer Association) invites all SHS new parents to join them on Friday, November 13 @ 8:15am for a coffee morning meet-up. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet other new parents. The meeting will be at Mouton Noir at Westmount Rec Centre (4675 St- Catherine Street West Westmount H3Z 1S4).

Pedal with the PVA: Selwyn parent bike ride October 23 postponed! Please note we are rescheduling Pedal with the PVA to spring 2027. Stay tuned for more details!

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Hours of the Elementary School (ES) Day: Please take note of the daily schedule for our Elementary School students:

• Kindergarten ~ homeroom begins at 7:50 am; dismissal is at 2:30 pm

• Grades 1 & 2 ~ homeroom begins at 8:05 am; dismissal is at 3:20 pm

• Grades 3 to 6 ~ homeroom begins at 8:20 am; dismissal is at 3:20 pm

We encourage families to plan accordingly and ensure that students arrive on time and are ready to begin their day. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students have a smooth and successful school day!

Student Absences or Lateness: Please notify Marlita Manal by 8:00 a.m. (ext 2235 or manalm@selwyn.ca), should your son miss morning attendance for any reason. If a student must arrive after the start of classes, Grades 1 through 6 students need to use the Lucas front door and proceed upstairs to check in with Ms. Manal.

Guidelines when your son is not feeling well: If your son is not feeling well in the morning, please keep him home to recover.

• If he has a fever, he should be fever-free for 24 hours (without meds) before returning to school.

• If he has vomited twice in a 24 hour period, he should wait 24 hours before returning.

As always, thank you for keeping Ms.Manal informed. A quick call (ext.2235) or email (manalm@selwyn.ca) before 8:30 am is greatly appreciated.

Birthday Celebrations: As we look ahead to the 26-27 school year, we are making a small but meaningful change to how we celebrate student birthdays.

• Moving forward, we ask that sweets or other food treats are no longer brought to school to honour a child’s birthday. These treats include but are not limited to cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, milkshakes, etc.

• Instead, we are pleased to introduce a Free Dress Day as a special way for the birthday student to be recognized and celebrated by their classmates. We hope this simple change will allow students to enjoy their special day while creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone.

• This shift is intended to be respectful and inclusive of the many food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities within our school community. It also reflects our desire to celebrate special occasions in ways that do not rely solely on food as a reward or form of recognition.

• Thank you for your understanding and for helping us make birthday celebrations joyful, compassionate, and inclusive for all of our students.\

Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders:

• Reminder that the beginning and ending of the day are a time to gather the children and are not intended as a recess time. Teachers are focused on the safe arrival and dismissal of your son.

• As mentioned in the SHS Parent Student Handbook, “parents who pick up their children after school should do so promptly at the time their son is dismissed. Students are expected to leave for home or for other commitments immediately after their dismissal. They are not to play in front of the school or in the school yards.”

Late Arrival Procedure for Grades 1 to 6 Reminder: To ensure the safety and proper supervision of all students, we kindly ask that if your child arrives late and there is no staff member or group of students in the yard, students enter the building through the front door only. From there, they should proceed directly to the third floor to sign in at Ms. Manal’s office.