2026/27 JR Henderson Weekly Update #9
Friday, October 23rd, 2026
Hello Henderson Families,
Happy Friday! Despite the amazing weather this week, we are certainly feeling fall in full swing. Classes and learning are moving forward - Spooky Week, report cards, Curriculum Evening, oh my!
Budding Artist Fundraiser is coming!
The School Council is proud to be hosting the Budding Artist Fundraiser this year. This week, students have been creating art throughout the school. We will be sending home order forms mid November and orders will be due November 22nd. There are options of mugs, cards and much more!!! And yes, you will get your orders in the first couple weeks of December. Funds raised will go towards STEAM, the Arts, and experiential learning!! Let's celebrate our fabulous artists!!
Help Henderson participate in Socktober!
Our amazing Grade 5/6s with Mme Lieberman are encouraging all Hawks to bring in socks for SOCKS Kingston. All sizes are needed, from infant to adult socks! With cooler temperatures coming our way, warm socks are a great way to support those in need in our community. There will be a prize for the class that brings in the most socks! Mrs. Cotman, Mme Corben and Mme Lieberman's classes are in tight competition!
Goose-tave Gazette
Our students have been busy creating the Goose-stave Gazette, a video news production that shares news and announcements with our school community! From brainstorming story ideas and writing scripts to presenting on camera, students are exploring the many steps involved in producing a news broadcast. It’s a wonderful way to practise reading fluency, develop oral language skills, and build confidence speaking to an audience. Along the way, students are strengthening their creativity, collaboration, and communication skills while bringing our school’s stories to life.
Back-to-School Parking Reminders
Please see the parking map below. While we recognize that pick-up and drop off are a busy time, it is critical that parents/guardians park in the designated areas, for the safety of all. Please be sure to follow this parking map. Those who do not may be ticketed by bylaw.
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.
Spooky Festivities are Coming!
We are delighted to announce our upcoming Spooky Week festivities timetable.
Date | Event |
Tuesday Oct 27th | Web of Wonders: Guess the Number – each class to visit the office to guess how many items are in each Halloween jar. There are prizes to be won! |
Wednesday Oct 28th | Get Ready to Play a whole-school game – Guess that Sound...?! All Day- Monster Mash Game Dash – Students will visit the gym to play some Halloween themed games with their older buddies. |
Thursday Oct 29th | Henderson’s Haunted Walk in the Gym - adapted to student age and development |
Friday Oct 30th | Orange and Black Day - Let’s fill our school with some Halloween spirit! |
🎃👻 Get Ready for a Frightfully Fun Haunted House Adventure! 👻🎃
As part of Spooky Week, our amazing IST students and staff are brewing up something spooky in the gym on Thursday, October 29... a Haunted House Experience for students in Grades 2-8! This fang-tastic event promises plenty of thrills, chills, and spooky fun. Kindergarten and Grade 1 classes are also welcome to join in for a "lights-on" not-so-spooky version. Each walk will be tailored to the age level and the objective is to provide a fun, silly and slightly spooky experience for Grades 2-5, and a bit more spooky for Grades 6-8. However, any student can opt to not participate or have a lighter, sillier experience.
All students are invited to take part. Families will have the opportunity to make a small donation through School Day, if they wish, with all proceeds supporting IST resources and materials for the school year. Every little bit helps keep the learning magic alive! To make a donation, please go to School Day -> School Items (left side tab) -> Services -> IST donation.
We're counting down the days until this spook-tacular event. It’s sure to be a scream! 🎃🕸️👻
Learning Commons Renovations
For the past two weeks, our Learning Commons has been closed for some exciting renovations. We are replacing some of the old shelving with new, more accessible shelving. The room is also being touched up, tiles fixed and refreshed. We would like to take a moment to thank our AMAZING volunteers, namely Hillary, Emily and Sara, for helping to lead this great project. We appreciate each and every volunteer who has come to support our evolving Learning Commons over the past few years. It is truly a warm, well-loved space at Henderson.
Curriculum Evening - Save the Date
We are delighted to let you know that we are once again doing the Curriculum Evening Open House. Our amazing educators put together stations in classrooms to help teach parents and families strategies that can be used at home to support learning. The evening is fun, engaging and family-focused. We hope you can join us!
Our Food Share Program
Did you know that every single day at Henderson, food bags are prepared for all of our 24 classes with healthy nutritious snacks donated by The Food Sharing Project? These bags include fruit, vegetables, bagels, cheese, eggs, and more, and are available to any student - stigma free - to enjoy if they are hungry! If you're interested in learning more about The Food Sharing Project, see here: https://www.foodsharingproject.org/
Hot Lunch Reminder
This year, we have Subs on Tuesdays and Pizza on Thursdays. Go to https://www.lunchboxorders.net Your login and password would be the same if you participated last year, or go ahead and create one if you didn't. You will have to create your student again and match them to their new teacher.
Orders are due Sunday at noon for the following week.
If buses are cancelled because of the weather, hot lunch will be cancelled as well. Questions, email Mark- jrhschoolcouncil@gmail.com
School Council Updates
Our first Council Meeting occurred on Wednesday September 16th. It was great to see new and returning faces!
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday December 9th from 6-8pm. As always, new members are welcome, and childcare is provided.
Have a great weekend, Hawks!
Mme Brennan, Mme Rodé and the JR Henderson Staff
Important Dates: |
Updates from Public Health Southeast
Hawk Swag!
On Mondays, many staff and students wear yellow and green to show Henderson pride. Interested in getting some swag? See here: https://specialtytrophies.ca/jrhendersonpublicschool/
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 |