JR Henderson Weekly Update #11 - November 13th, 2025
Good afternoon Henderson Families,
As the crisp chill of November settles in, our school community has embraced the change in seasons with warmth and positivity. This week has been filled with meaningful learning experiences, encouraging curiosity and growth in every classroom. Alongside academic progress, we’ve taken time for remembrance and reflection—honoring the importance of understanding our past while shaping a brighter future. Together, we continue to foster a spirit of resilience and care as we move forward into the colder days ahead.
PA Day Reminder
Tomorrow, Friday November 14th, is a PA Day for all students. Have a great weekend Hawks, see you Monday!
Progress Reports go home today
Please be sure to check your student's bag today - communications of learning (Progress reports) for all students in K to 8 have gone home today.
Attendance Matters!
We recognize that, as the weather changes, attendance can become trickier. Student attendance is our priority and we are happy to work with individual families to develop plans to improve attendance. We have a great deal of supportive strategies so please reach out!
Anti-Bullying Week
Anti Bullying Week will take place during the week of Nov 17th to 21st. We have activities planned such as a "Caught Being Kind" wall. As well, on Friday November 21st, we will ask students to wear pink for Pink Shirt Day.
Calling on all Hawks! Appel à tous les Hawks!
We need your artistic talents! Our school will be creating a Hawks mural with help from our friends at Frontenac Secondary School. The theme is: What does it mean to be a Hawk?
If you have a vision, please sketch, color, and submit your design by Friday, November 28th. Submissions should be on 8 x 11 white paper and can be created at home or in class. Please give your artwork to your homeroom teacher. We are also looking for a bilingual slogan (English and French) to add to our mural. Have a catchy Hawk slogan in mind? Submit your slogan by Friday, November 28th to your homeroom teacher.
We can’t wait to see your creativity and the amazing end result of our new Hawks mural! Nous avons hâte de voir votre créativité et le résultat incroyable de notre nouvelle murale des Hawks !
Fresh from the Farm School Fundraising Delivery Notice
If you supported our Fresh From the Farm fundraiser, thank you! Pick up will be on Wednesday November 19th. Please check your email for more info, as individual families will be contacted. We are delighted that $450 was raised to support Henderson School Council priorities.
Remembrance Day
On Tuesday, all Henderson students attended our Remembrance Day ceremony in the gym. We laid wreaths, welcomed a guest speaker, listened to music and reflected. This moments of remembrance and understanding are a critical part of our learning.
Lunch Monitors
This month, we’re excited to highlight our Lunch Monitor Initiative—a program designed to create a safe, welcoming, and organized environment during lunchtime. Our dedicated student monitors play an important role in supporting younger students, encouraging positive interactions, and ensuring everyone enjoys a calm and respectful break. This initiative not only helps maintain smooth routines but also fosters leadership and responsibility within our school community. We appreciate the teamwork that makes lunchtime a positive experience for all!
Toevember
This November, Henderson is excited to participate in Toevember, a community fundraiser that helps people in need stay warm during the winter months. We’re collecting new socks of all sizes and styles for children, teens, and adults.
Donations can be sent with your child to school throughout the month of November. Many thanks for your contributions - every pair of socks will help someone stay cozy and comfortable this season.
To celebrate the amazing contributions of Hawks, we will also celebrate Silly Sock Day on Friday November 28th.
French Fridays!
Starting next Friday, we are encouraging all Hawks to engage in as much French as possible on Fridays. We are extending this to parents/guardians and staff too. Not great at French? That's okay! It's a part of learning!
Grade 5/6 Remembers
This week, our Grade 5/6 students in FI honoured Remembrance Day by hand sewing their own poppies with the guidance and support by Indigenous community members. The end result was truly beautiful and the learning was truly meaningful.
Nominations for the Prime Minister's Award Now Open
The nomination period for the 2026 Prime Minister’s Awards is now open, and we’re looking for your help in recognizing outstanding educators who empower Canada’s youth. The Prime Minister’s Awards are a chance to celebrate educators for their leadership and exemplary education practices. Any person or group (i.e. parents, colleagues, principals, board members or students) can nominate educators in three different categories:
- Teaching Excellence
- Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Math News
Here is the LDSB Math Newsletter:November Newsletter 2025
We are delighted to inform families that we are doing another Curriculum Night on Wednesday November 19th from 5pm until 6:30pm. This is a family-friendly event where families come to learn new math, literacy and self-regulation strategies. All are welcome and we hope you can attend! A School Council meeting will be hosted right after the event.
We will also have a 50/50 draw as a fundraiser so be sure to bring cash :)
Save the Date - School Council Movie Night!
On Thursday November 27th and Friday November 28th, School Council are hosting Movie Nights in the JR Henderson gym. These events are family-oriented opportunities to relax, enjoy a flick and connect with the community. More info to come!
Choices at 7
We're approaching the time of the year for Choices at 7 for our current Grade 6 students. See here for more info.
See Yourself in Limestone – Student Census Survey
Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall. The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.
Families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact Principal Kate Brennan (brennanka@limestone.on.ca) by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.
Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census
Reminder About Parking Areas
As the weather changes, more families may choose to drive to and from school. Please remember that stopping in school bus loading zones or no-stopping areas can result in high parking fines. Bylaw encourages families to respect posted signage and use alternative locations for pick-up and drop-off.
Hot Lunch Reminder
As a reminder, if you haven't yet, be sure to order hot lunch through https://www.lunchboxorders.net. We are offering subs on Tuesdays and pizza on Thursdays. Money raised from hot lunch goes directly back into our school community to support athletics, learning materials, student initiatives and more. Orders are due Sunday at noon for the following week. Finally, if buses are cancelled because of the weather, hot lunch will be cancelled as well. If you have questions, please email jrhschoolcouncil@gmail.com
School Council
The next School Council meeting is on Wednesday November 19th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Free childcare will be available. Don’t forget - here’s the School Council email address: JRHSchoolCouncil@gmail.com School Council looks forward to hearing feedback and voices from all Henderson community members. Finally, School Council minutes can be found here.
Have a great weekend, Hawks!
Mme Brennan, Mme Rodé and the JR Henderson Staff
Important Dates: |
2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar
A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.
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 |