Start Up Information Newsletter
Welcome back to the 2025-2026 school year! We are so excited for another amazing school year filled with learning, wonder, and fun! You will notice we are using a new format for newsletters this school year. The school board is asking that all schools use the newsletter feature on our websites. The great news is that you can find a translate button in the top right corner of the webpage if you need a language other than English!
Our Storm Staff and team have been busy setting up their spaces and planning for learning. Our office administrator, Mrs. Thompson, has been busy with new registrations and helping to prepare class lists, and our custodial staff, Mr. Webster and Mr. Soriano, have been busy with summer cleaning and making to school look amazing. We thank everyone for all of their hard work!
Staffing Update
We welcome Ms. Clissold (teacher) and Ms. Hallett (ECE) to our kindergarten classroom this school year as we continue to send healing energy to Ms. Lamarche.
Ms. Gazeley will be starting the school year covering Ms. King position.
Ms. Farrelly will be taking over from Ms. Kanellos in our kindergarten planning time and student support roles.
Ms. MacDonald will be replacing Mr. Richards is on his pre-planned leave.
Welcome back to Mr. Emmerton to our French and planning time roles!
Welcome Email
By the end of the day on Tuesday, September 2nd, you will receive a welcome email from your child's classroom teacher so that you know who their teacher will be this school year. Please ensure the school has your most recent email address so that you don't miss out on this email!
Heads Up!
Every September can look different at Sydenham PS, some years with a significant amount of movement in and out of our community. By the end of the first two weeks of September, the school board reviews every school's enrolment and makes decisions around class sizes and the number of classrooms each school is allotted for the school year. As such, the school organization may change after this review which could cause teacher/grade/student placements changes. We will keep you posted if any changes need to be made at Sydenham.
School Day Schedule:
8:55 - 10:35 Learning Block 1 (100 min)
10:35 - 11:05 (30 min - Snack 10; Recess 20)
11:05 - 12:45 Learning Block 2 (100 min)
12:45 - 1:45 (60 min - Lunch 20; Recess 40)
1:45 - 3:25 Learning Block 3 (100 min)
First Day of School Arrival
School staff will be outside to greet students on Wednesday morning to help ensure that students find their meeting spot and their teacher and classmates on the first day of school. We ask that families stay on the sidewalk side of the fence and drop their students off at the gate to avoid congestion on the school yard. We do welcome JK families to bring their students onto the school yard for the first few weeks until students are comfortable with the new routines and new adults.
- Our start time is 8:55 am and supervision begins at 8:45 am.
- There will be staff welcoming students and helping them to line ups.
- Our JK/SK class will enter through the doors on the right side school.
- Ms Gazeley's and Ms. Bryson's classes will enter through the front doors.
- Ms. Zwicker's, Ms. Reid's, and Ms. MacDonald's classes will enter through the side doors on the left hand side of the school.
Dismissal:
- The end of day bell rings at 3:25 pm.
- On the first day of school, students will be ready to go a little bit earlier to help them learn the dismissal routine.
- Students come out to the gates with our Storm Staff. Staff will be dismissing students (walkers or pick ups) to their designated family members.
- All families will remain on the sidewalk and students will be dismissed to the adult picking them up at their dismissal gate.
School Supplies & Labelling:
Our school will provide the necessary supplies that students will need for learning. However, here are a few things to think about bringing on the first day:
- Backpack
- Labelled refillable water bottle
- Lunch bag with a peanut-free/treenut-free lunch and snacks
- Indoor shoes (with non-marking soles) to be left at school
- Extra clothes (for our Kindergarten/primary students or kiddos that like to play in the mud!)
To avoid your student's clothing ending up in the lost and found, please consider labelling items, such as indoor and outdoor clothing, indoor and outdoor shoes, containers, school supplies, etc.
2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar
A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.
Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School
Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.
