2026/27 JR Henderson Weekly Update #2
Friday, September 4th, 2026
Hello Henderson Families,
What a week! The school is bursting with excitement as we welcomed back Hawks for another incredible academic year. This team is very excited to be together, working to advocate for and support every student in every class at JR Henderson.
Long Weekend Reminder
Monday September 8th is Labour Day. As such, all schools are closed. Have a great long weekend and see you on Tuesday September 9th.
At JR Henderson Public School, we are fortunate to have two dedicated office administrators who work together to support our students, families, and staff. Mrs. Diane Clarke and Mrs. Hayley Brown are the first point of contact for visitors and callers, welcoming families and assisting with day-to-day inquiries. They manage many of the school's operational and financial systems behind the scenes. Together, they collaborate closely to ensure that the needs of our school community are met efficiently and with care.
Some families may know that Mrs. Brown was away for part of last school year. With her permission, we are sharing that she is living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and continues to navigate the challenges of managing this diagnosis while supporting the many demands of a busy school office.
As we begin another school year together, we kindly ask all members of our school community to demonstrate patience, kindness, and respect in their interactions with all school staff. We appreciate your partnership in fostering a positive school culture where courtesy, empathy, and understanding are reflected in all communications and interactions.
5-Day Calendar
Here is the LDSB 5 Day Calendar for the 26/27 academic year.
Henderson Song
The wonderful Mr Hamilton created this fun song to help us get the year started. We hope you enjoy it as much as we are :)
Learning Commons Week!
If you haven't been, we can certainly assure you that we have an incredibly organized, fun and well-stocked Learning Commons (library). We LOVE to celebrate this space each year so students can learn the joy of reading. Here is the timetable for this fun week:
Back-to-School Parking Reminders
Please see the parking map below. While we recognize that mornings are a busy time, it is critical that parents/guardians park in the designated areas, for the safety of all.
Park & Stride encourages parents and caregivers to park a short distance from the school and walk or roll the remainder of the route, helping to reduce vehicle volumes around school entrances.
Please see here for a downloadable copy of safety reminders for families.
📚 Learning Commons Volunteers Needed!
Our Learning Commons is always looking for parent volunteers to help keep the space running smoothly! Parent volunteers play an important role in supporting our students and helping with the day-to-day organization. We truly couldn’t run the space as well without your help!
If you have some time to spare and would like to get involved, we would love to have you join us. Please note that all volunteering must take place during regular school hours.
If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please email Hillary Vital at Hillary-jackson@hotmail.com.
Beware - Squishy balls at Henderson
Please beware of students that bring a “Squishy Ball” to school. Regulators have flagged benzene in some products, burn risks from counterfeits and toys bursting in heat. See more information here: Warnings over squishy toy hazards expand globally | CBC News
Garden Club
Every Monday in September from 12pm to 1pm, our School Council Eco-Committee and friends will meet out front of the school to pull weeds and tidy the garden. We would LOVE additional parent/guardian helpers so if you're available, please come.
Save The Date - School Council and Elections
Our first Council Meeting of the year is set for Wednesday September 16th at 6:00pm. Elections will also be held on this day. More info to come next Friday in our newsletter. As always, new members are welcome, and childcare is provided.
Please use this form for nominations if you are interested in being on executive. Nominations are anonymous. Your nomination does not count as a vote; you must be present to vote. Nominations are due by 12:00 noon on Monday, September 15th.
Positions for election are:
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Open House - Save the Date
We are delighted to announce that we will have our Open House on Thursday September 24th from 5:00pm until 6:30pm - we are looking forward to seeing all of our families and showing off our beautiful school to you! We hope you can join us for a classroom visit.
Tallack's Martial Arts
We are happu that Tallack's Martial Arts will be back again this year. They will be at Henderson on Tuesday Sept 8th to do a demonstration in grades 1 to 5. Forms will also be sent home on this day. Tallack's will start their weekly martial arts programming the following week, Monday September 14th, for interested families.
If families are interested but cost is a factor, please reach out to brennanka@limestone.on.ca to discuss how we can ensure all those interested have the opportunity to participate.
New Kindergarten Curriculum
In the spring, the Ministry of Education officially launched the new Kindergarten Curriculum, effective the 2026–27 school year. This revised, "back-to-basics" framework updates the former 2016 program. It bridges the gap to Grade 1 by introducing systematic, explicit instruction in foundational literacy and mathematics. The core of early years pedagogy remains intact. Educators will continue to deliver this explicit skill instruction within play- and inquiry-based learning environments. Parent overviews are also available for families of kindergarten students. We are also here to support any questions you may have.
Have a great weekend, Hawks!
Mme Brennan, Mme Rodé and the JR Henderson Staff
Important Dates: |
2026-2027 LDSB School Year Calendar
School Day Schedule
Time | Activity/learning block |
|---|---|
8:55 to 9:15 a.m. | Supervision begins on the yard |
9:15 to 10:55 a.m. | 100-minute learning block |
10:55 to 11:35 a.m. | Recess and nutrition break |
11:35 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. | 100-minute learning block |
1:15 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. | Recess and nutrition break |
1:55 to 3:35 p.m. | 100-minute learning block |