Welcome to new and returning students, staff and families!
We can't wait for the first day of school on Wednesday, September 3rd, when our returning Stingers from Kindergarten to Grade 8 come together again. This update contains key pieces of information and reminders for all families. A weekly Buzz update will be posted to our RG Sinclair Website with a link sent to families via email on Monday evenings, except on holidays. Please ensure that we have your current email address so that the information makes it to your home!
Our current student enrolment allows for 10 classes to begin the 2025/26 school year. Due to new registrations, we have robust numbers from Grades 1 to 8. We hope that our two Kindergarten classes, each with 21 students, get approved by our District Staffing Committee. We will know and share this information with Kindergarten families after the first week of school.
Our school's current organization and the Sinclair team is outlined below:
Kindergarten - R. St. James and B. Hodgson
Kindergarten - J. Wilson and T. Kekewich
Grade 1 - T. Gazeley
Grade 1 / 2 - S. Richards
Grade 2/3 - K. Ambury
Grade 3/4 - D. Edmondson and L. Hackel
Grade 4/5 - L. MacDonald
Grade 5 - K. Eves
Grade 6/7 - S. Desarmia
Grade 7/8 - M. Byers
Core French Teachers: R. Proud and F. White
Planning Time Teachers: F. Zeltser
The above organization is supported by the following staff:
Educational Assistants: B. Mallot, C. Lefevere, and S. Munhall
Yard and Break Supervisor: D. Senarath
Student Support Teacher: S. Burnett
MLL Teacher: A. Allen
Student Support Counselor: A. O'Hearn
Office Administrator: L. Smith
Head Custodian - S. Sleeth and Evening Custodian – E. Gordon
Principal - C. Closs (pronounced "close')
Superintendent of Education: P. Gollogly
Trustee: Garrett Elliott
School Council: To Be Elected on September 24th at 6pm (Elections Meeting)
Sinclair Stingers (Alumni and present) and Families
Daily Schedule
9:00 - 9:15 - Before School Supervision
9:15 - Entry
9:15 - 10:55 - First Instructional Block (100 minutes)
10:55 - 11:35 - First Recess and Nutrition Break
11:35 - 1:15 - Middle Instructional Block (100 minutes)
1:15 - 1:55 - Second Recess and Nutrition Break
1:55 - 3:35 - Last Instructional Block (100 minutes)
3:35 – Dismissal
Arrival and Dismissal Routines
School supervision begins in the yard at 9:00 am and ends with the entry bell at 9:15 am. It is so important that school staff know your child's specific dismissal routine. When there is a change in your child's arrival or dismissal routine, please ensure that this information is communicated in advance (if possible) and directly with the classroom educators who work with your child(ren). If the change is unexpected, please communicate the details as soon as possible and directly with office personnel so that we can ensure that your child is dismissed safely and as per your wishes. We can only release your child(ren) with your consent to individuals that you have identified as emergency contacts/caregivers. The school office phone number is 613 389-0267.
At the end of the school day, it is lovely for children to have the opportunity to continue to play and/or connect with other families. If you or your designated caregiver chooses to do so, please help school staff facilitate a safe transition by closely supervising your child, once they are released to your care. A safe transition is typically achieved with a nod or a wave between the educator and the adult/caregiver who is picking up one or multiple K to 3 students. More specific details about arrival and new locations/routines for dismissal will be shared on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, based on the status of construction and yard improvements.
Please note that the gardens at the front and side of the school contain precious plants and a memorial bench that are not intended for active play or exploration. Thank you for supporting the maintenance and care of our beautiful gardens by choosing to play away from these gardens and in other areas of our “soon to be beautiful” school yard.
If needed, please use the pathways at the side of the parking lot to walk onto the school property. The use of the pathway ensures the safety of all.
Plans of Care
If your child has an allergy, a medical condition, diabetes or asthma please reach out to us to ensure that we know how to care for your child's specific needs. We keep a plan of care for staff to follow while your child is in our care each school day. Plans of care are updated annually by families and physicians. Ms. Burnett is sending home paperwork for existing care plans to be updated and returned.
Attendance
To report student absences, please use the Safe Arrival system by downloading the School Messenger App (Blue One) or by going to the School Messenger Portal at (https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/) to sign up and use this absence reporting tool.
We miss your children when they are away! "Catching up" isn't always easy. Please reach out if you need assistance signing up for the School Messenger App or support with attendance. Starting a new school year can involve tricky feelings about the upcoming year. We are here to help. Reach out and let us know and together we can determine how best to support your child's needs and your family.
What to Bring?
Labeling items that come to school - extra clothes, backpack, lunch kit, refillable water bottle, indoor shoes and hats - is strongly encouraged. Labels assist with the timely return of items to their owner. Basic school supplies are provided by the school.
Students have two, twenty-minute nutrition breaks. When possible, send food items in containers that your child can open and that are not made of glass. Please do not send peanuts or tree nuts to school - including peanut butter, Nutella or other nut products. We are a nut safe school and do so to support the safety of our students with life-threatening food allergies. Please send a refillable water bottle to school each day. Food Share snack items are available in every classroom to supplement student lunches daily.
Don't forget to dress in layers - sometimes the mornings are cool, but the afternoons can become quite warm! Air Cooling systems have been installed in upper floor classrooms to mitigate the heat.
Please avoid bringing toys or special treasures to school. These precious items can be a distraction to your child or others. If they become lost or damaged, they are often irreplaceable.
Cell Phones During the Instructional Day
Sinclair PS will follow the Ministry Guidelines outlined in PPM 128 regarding Cell Phones in Schools.
The basics of PPM 128:
Students must not use cell phones and other personal mobile devices (Smart Watches) during instructional time except under the following conditions:
- For educational purposes, as directed by an educator
- For health and medical reasons
- To support special education needs
Students in Grades 7 - 12 must keep their personal mobile devices stored out of sight and either powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when an educator grants explicit permission for use under specified circumstances.
Students in Grades 6 and below can bring their device to school but will only be able to use it before or after school.
School Day App:
Please use the School Day App to sign permissions and to pay for products and/or field trips.
Need an account? Register at https://www.school-day.com If you require support to register, please do not hesitate to reach out.
On-site Construction:
Throughout the fall, work will continue in the yard. To begin the school year, entrances and exits will be covered and accessible. Work will stop at entry, during recesses and at dismissal. Fencing will provide a physical and visual barrier.
Visiting the School
If your child forgot something that is not urgently needed but you would like to drop it off to them, then please allow myself or Ms. Smith to assist you. To limit interruptions to the learning environment, we can hold the item and then buzz down your child at the end of the instructional block. If the message or item delivery cannot wait, then we understand that too! We will call your child down to the office/foyer to connect with you!
If you have a scheduled appointment with one of our educators or staff members, please start your visit at the office. We will connect you with the educator and help you find a space for you to chat or meet. Calling ahead to schedule a time to connect with Ms. Closs or any of our educators is the best way to ensure that we are available to focus on the information that you would like to share and do so in a way that also allows us to maintain our supervision and teaching responsibilities.
Volunteering
There are often opportunities to volunteer and support initiatives at the school! We appreciate your help! To volunteer, a person requires a current CPIC with the vulnerable sector screening completed. A CPIC is considered current if it has been issued within the last three years. CPICs are valid for three years. If you have any questions or wonderings, please reach out.
Important Upcoming Dates:
**As soon as we know dates for Terry Fox Run/Walk, LESSA Soccer Tournament and OPEN HOUSE we will send these to families via the update!
September 24th - School Council Nominations and Elections at 6pm
September 30th - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
October 1st - First School Council Meeting - Budget - at 6 pm
October 10th - PA Day
October 13th - Thanksgiving
October 28th - Picture Day