September 4, 2014
Dear Westmount Parents and Guardians:
Welcome back! We hope that everyone had a safe and relaxing summer holiday. The staff at Westmount is looking forward to an exciting and productive school year. The staff list and teaching assignments are attached.
Our Main Office opens at 8:30 am and closes at 4:00 pm. We now have only one Office staff, Mrs. Gazzellone.
We will be hosting an Outdoor Movie Night on Wednesday, September 17that 7:30 pm. This will be an opportunity for Westmount families to meet and socialize. You will find out who the parents are of the children that your child has been talking about. Bring a blanket and please have dinner before you come, we will only have popcorn.
Curriculum Night is Wednesday, September 24th Come as early as 5:00pm to enjoy roast corn and sweet potato provided by our School Council and then at 6:00pm meet your child’s teacher and become informed about what your child will experience this year. This evening is planned to share information with you about curriculum and classroom happenings and is not a parent/teacher interview night.
To assist families with planning, we have created a calendar for the school year which your child will bring home early next week. This calendar has information regarding dates of special events, holidays, professional development days and the days of our school timetable cycle. Please post this calendar in a safe place for future reference.
Wednesday’s tend to be the night for our school events in case you are signing up for programs.
All students are asked to purchase a Westmount Student Planner (Agenda) at a cost of $7.00. Effective use of the planner can enhance student success and is a valuable communication tool between home and school. Students are expected to bring the planner to school each day. Please take time to discuss the contents and use of the planner with your son or daughter. It is our suggestion that parents review the planner on a daily basis. Lost planners will be replaced at an additional cost of $7.00.
Please use your agenda to communicate if your child needs to be dismissed early for an appointment,. The teacher will send them to the Office at the required time. Avoid last minute calls to the Office.
We will not send a data verification form this year. Please provide updates to phone numbers or emergency contacts in your child’s agenda or a letter to the Office.
As part of our efforts to keep Westmount a safe and secure place to learn and work, we ask that you review the Safe Schools Policies and Code of Behaviour contained in the student planner with your child.
When your daughter or son will be absent from school, please notify us immediately. The phone line is open 24 hours for you to leave a message.
Students are to arrive on time for school and prepared for learning each day. Morning supervision begins at 8:45am, entry is at 8:58am. Afternoon entry is at 12:28pm.
Dismissal is at 3:10 pm. Please pick students up promptly.
A hot nutritious lunch at home is best for students. If you can take your child home for lunch, please do. For students who need to remain at school for lunch, we do offer a lunch program. No microwave is available. Please send all utensils required. Students who generally stay for the lunch program who need to leave the school property on occasion must provide a note from parents and sign out at the Office.
Students who eat at school should be bringing their lunch in their backpacks each morning. If you are dropping lunch off late, please leave at the front door on the desk provided by 11:30 am, ensure that your child’s name and class are labeled. Please do not disrupt the Office to drop off late lunches.
The School Council offers an optional weekly lunch program. It is usually on Thursday and varies between pizza (halal cheese or pepperoni), Subway, Subway flatbread and soup, taco bar and any other ideas that the students or you share with us. And yes, we did Popeye’s Chicken but that was because the students pleaded! We often require volunteers to administer the lunches so please let us know if you are available to help.
The lunches and other fundraisers of the school go directly back to all students. Last year, students attended venues like Ripley’s Aquarium, Humber Arboretum, various locations for Winter Activity Day, Famous People Players Theatre, all of which were subsidized by fundraisers so Thank You, on behalf of the students, for supporting our programs.
We have reduced the cost of the Nutrition Program, from $75 to $60 for the school year. You may choose to pay for the year or $30 per term.
Please do not send food items to celebrate birthdays. We have students and staff with various allergies in the building, not just to peanuts. Instead send pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.
All volunteers require a police reference check. If you plan to volunteer and will have direct contact with students, attend a field trip, etc. you will need to ensure that you can provide an up-to-date police reference check form to the Main Office. If you need to complete a police reference check, forms are available at the main office and the program cost is $15.00.
We look forward to meeting you at Outdoor Movie Night, Curriculum Night and at other events during the year