2026/27 JR Henderson Weekly Update #1
Friday August 28th, 2026
Hello Henderson Families,
We’re ready! We cannot wait to welcome you back to Henderson. We are all geared up for a wonderful year ahead. Classes are set up and staff are getting ready. As a reminder, our first day back is Wednesday September 2nd!
5-Day Calendar
Here is the LDSB 5 Day Calendar for the 26/27 academic year.
As a reminder, here are some important dates:
Monday Sept 1st – PA Day (no school for students)
Wednesday Sept 2nd – First day of school! All students return at 9:15am
On Wednesday, we will have signs posted in the yard, as well as adults circulating, to help students find their class line. Unsure where to go? No worries - we'll have lots of staff to support.
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.
As well, here are some helpful reminders for families.
Please see here for a downloadable copy 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 smoothly 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.
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 delighted 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,
Summer Renovations
We are delighted to let you know a lot of great work happened at Henderson over the summer. New windows have been installed in 1/3 of the building. We also had sections of the roof replaced, as well as structural improvements and lighting upgrades. At the moment, the only remaining work is two windows in the kinder yard, which is delayed to due a hold on a part. These windows will be installed in the 3rd week of September. Any work in the kinder yard will happen after school hours.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday September 2nd at 9:15am.
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 |