Good afternoon Vincent Massey families,
We're excited to welcome students to the school next week. Normal weekly updates are sent on Fridays and posted to our website, but please take the time to read this message carefully, as it contains important information regarding the upcoming school year.
The staff is filled with familiar faces this year. We are pleased to welcome back Ms. Julia Gummo and Ms. Dayna Schmautz from parental leaves. They will be teaching Grade 7 core subjects and some Phys-Ed. Ms. Chelsea Doyle has also returned to the school, teaching Grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies, as well as option classes to various grades. Ms. Sheila Rule will often be the first voice you hear when you call the school, as she takes on the role of attendance secretary while Ms. Kelley-Elsayed continues to be on a long term leave. A complete list of staff can be found on our website, including their contact information.
Your child's classroom teacher should be the first point of contact for any questions or concerns. Our two Assistant Principals are the next point of contact, with Ms. Laurendeau responsible for Grade 7 and 8, and Ms. Springett responsible for Grade 9 and our specialized programs (L&L, LEAD, and Bridges). Ms. Angela Weimer continues to be our student services (resource) teacher, supporting student well-being and exceptional needs in all grades. To further support student's academic progress, we are implementing a student success centre, staffed by teachers, to provide targeted interventions to students requiring additional support, including English Language Learners. Referrals to this space will be made by classroom teachers. We will also continue to run Massey Mastery, before and after school on most days of the week. This program provides informal drop-in extra help for students, and is supported by at least one humanities teacher and one math/science teacher each day.
Students will receive their timetables on their first day of school, as we continue to make final adjustments based on enrollment. Students who are missing option classes, or who are requesting changes to option classes, will have the opportunity to make those changes during the first week. Homeroom class lists were created by teams of teachers to support student learning with careful consideration of class size and complexity. As such, changes to homeroom classes will generally not be considered, except in exceptional circumstances. You will receive an introductory email from your child’s homeroom teacher on Friday afternoon.
Communication is provided in a number of ways:
· The school website for general information and our calendar.
· Parent-focused Weekly Update, sent by email and posted to the school website every Friday.
· Student-focused homeroom teacher message every two weeks with learning plans for each academic course.
· Online platforms for classroom resources - Grade 7's use Google Classroom, Grade 8 and 9's use D2L. Please note that these resources are intended to support student homework and occasional short-term absences. We are not an online school and cannot provide remote learning for students.
· PowerSchool for class schedules, assessment information, and attendance reports.
As you help your child prepare for the new school year, please also share the following information:
· With our new bell schedule, the front doors will be opened at 9am. There will be a warning bell at 9:10 and classes start promptly at 9:15. Students are not permitted to be in the building prior to 9am, unless they are participating in a sports practice, club, or tutorial.
· At lunchtime, we will provide 15 minutes for students to eat inside if they want. After that time all students not in a club or other organized activity will be expected to be outside year-round, except in the event of extreme weather. This new practice supports student well-being through fresh air and exercise outdoors, as well as safety in our hallways at lunchtime. Please support your child in coming dressed for the weather each day and ensuring they have enough food to get them through the day with a water bottle.
· We continue to be an "away for the day" school with respect to personal mobile devices (such as cell phones). This means that any phones at school must be stored in lockers during class time and at lunch if the student is in the building. Students who have phones out in school will be asked to check them into the office for the day and, in the case of multiple infractions, a parent/guardian may need to come and collect the device. Exemptions are provided for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs, and for educational purposes.
· Each student in Grade 7 will be assigned a shared locker with another student in their homeroom. Each student in Grade 8 and 9 will have their own locker. All students must use the provided lock. Single digit locks are available if needed.
· Students should wear clothing that is suitable for an active learning environment, including physical education. For phys-ed class, students are required to wear appropriate safe, close-toed athletic shoes. Close-toed shoes are also required for some option classes and science labs. Many students choose to keep a pair of athletic shoes in their lockers year-round.
As shared on our website, the first day of school for Grade 7 students only is Tuesday, September 2. Students will start in the south gym, just inside the main doors. They will be directed by their homeroom teachers. Lunch will be provide for Grade 7's on this day. We welcome all students on Wednesday, September 3, with Grade 8 students starting in the south gym and Grade 9's in the north gym, then meeting their homeroom teachers.
I am excited to start a new school year and I warmly welcome you to 2025-26 at Vincent Massey!
Sincerely,
David Pugh
Principal