Newsletter #2 - 9/12/25

JR Henderson Weekly Update

Good afternoon Henderson Families,

That was a busy week! It is wonderful to see classes learning again and the hallways filled with laughter and joy. We hope that you are all back into the rhythm of school as well.

New Newsletter Format
All LDSB schools are moving towards web-based newsletters, which leads us here today. There are additional accessibility features, such as translation features, as well as increased consistency and security. As you know, we love feedback so please reach out and let us know how you are finding the change.

Getting Fancy
As the year gears up, we wanted to show some display boards that staff and students have been collaboratively creating. September is busy - lots on the go - so having some time to recentre is key.

Reorganization
As many families are aware, every class from Grade 1/2 to Grade 7/8 on our English side was affected by re-organization this year. Families who were affected by the re-organization were given a written letter and sent an email on Wednesday afternoon. As a result of our increasing enrollment at Henderson, we would like to welcome two new teachers. Warmest welcome to two teachers who are familiar with the Henderson community and whom we are delighted to welcome back:

• Ms. Catarina Lafrance - Grade 3/4 English teacher
• Mme Lyric Barkley - French Kindergarten with Mme Jackson-Grundy

Sports Update
We know many families may have questions about the change in Junior sports. Worry not! We held a coaches meeting on Tuesday morning and we had over 20 staff attend, ready and eager to get involved with coaching. We have many coaches who are invested in the continuity of athletic learning and as such, we created a plan for each sport to continue for both Junior and Intermediate students.

Intermediate sports will continue as per last year, where students may have to tryout, depending on numbers. We will create a boys, girls or co-ed team. For Junior sports, we will hold regular intramurals where teams will be created and will compete against other junior teams.

We are already in the swing of sports. See this update below from Coaches Caldwell, Morrison and Seiveright: We are looking forward to getting Intermediate soccer up and running, with practices scheduled for the next 2 weeks. Henderson will be presenting a co-ed team this year! Tournament date TBD and information will be shared once the date is set. Go Hawks! 

We need your help! Book Fair Volunteers
We are looking for some parent/guardian volunteers to help during the academic day with our Scholastics Book Fair! Are you interested in donating time during the academic day to support? Jobs include set-up and clean-up, as well as helping with sales.
We are looking for support with set up on Friday Sept 19th in the afternoon, as well as support with selling throughout the week of Sept 22nd to Sept 26th. Volunteer shifts can be as long or short as you can accommodate. Reach out to Emily Ashie to sign up: emily.a.ashie@gmail.com

Don't forget, Library Week is on the horizon!

Terry Fox Day
Our school will celebrate Terry Fox Day on Friday September 26. Terry believed in a world without cancer. Terry was an example of courage, humility, determination, and perseverance. From a young age he exemplified these attributes that made him an inspiration for not only Canada, but the entire world. Our school is grateful for the example of this wonderful Canadian Hero. We are hoping to raise $3,000 this year in support of this great cause. If you are able to donate to help us achieve our goal, please do! https://schools.terryfox.ca/105464/donate

Open House - Save the Date 
We are delighted to announce that we will have our Open House on Thursday September 25th 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. 

Lice - Be vigilant
As many know, lice loves to spread in fall and spring. We are asking families to be extra vigilant and always remind your child not to share brushes, hats or other personal items.

Looking for a mini fridge
Do you have a mini fridge you are willing to donate? We are on the hunt for one!

Read For Fun is Back!
Are you looking for free tutoring in reading, writing, and homework help? The Queen’s Read For Fun program is back, running circles on Tuesdays from 6-7pm at Henderson. Please see the graphic below for more information. Kindly note that Queen’s organizes the registration and details for this event. Any questions should be directed to queensstudentsforliteracy@gmail.com Here is the registration link for this year: https://forms.office.com/r/M6tUcWXuqp

School Council 
Our first School Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday September 17th from 6:30pm until 8:30pm at Henderson. The School Council is an advisory group of parents, caregivers and educators who provide support to the school community (e.g. school community communications; fundraising activities; methods of reporting to community, etc.); foster good relations among parents/caregivers, staff, students and the local community; and provide liaison and communication between the school, home and community. The agenda is available here.

We also welcome parents and caregivers who wish to participate in the School Council, but are not interested in being on the executive. New attendees are always welcome! Free childcare will be available. 

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.

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.

Please note that we are awaiting more information regarding hot lunch. Please do not place orders until further notice. 

MALTBY Resources to Share

MALTBY is a great community resource that supports mental health and autism services for children and youth. Here is the Fall Workshops and Groups guides for Mental Health and Autism Services. maltby fall programs.pdf

Have a great weekend, Hawks!

Mme Brennan, Mme Rodé and the JR Henderson Staff

2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar

A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.

School Day Schedule

Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School

Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.