Aldergrove Public School Community Newsletter August 28, 2025, Vol.1

Message from the Office

Dear Families,

We are excited to begin the 2025-2026 school year at Aldergrove!  We hope you had a restful and energizing summer. Our staff have put great effort into creating engaging and safe spaces for all our students. Please join us in welcoming our returning staff and our new staff members who are joining the team. Over the summer, Mr. Berberick accepted a new position at another school. We’d like to thank him for his positive contributions to the Aldergrove community over his many years here and wish him luck in this new endeavour.

Building partnerships with Aldergrove families is very important to us.  Please join us for the School Council on September 18 at 6:30 pm.  In addition, we look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 25 at our Meet the Family Night at 6pm.

In appreciation of your continued partnership in supporting all of our scholars, 

Mr. Louca                          Mr. Pamayah

Principal                            Vice Principal

First Day Routines for Students - Tuesday, Sep 2, 2025

By this weekend, you will receive your child’s homeroom code (e.g. 1A) and teacher name in a separate communication today.

• What time should my child(ren) arrive at school?

Students should arrive at the school by 8:15 a.m. in the morning. Teachers will be present OUTSIDE, in the school yard.

• Where do students go to meet their classroom teacher on the first day of school? 

Grades 1-8: On the first day of school, please proceed to back tarmac.  Find the class code posted on the back windows or portable. Students will line up and enter the school at 8:30. Parents will not enter the school. Parents can confirm end-of-day pick-up transportation with the teacher. For example, “My child will be going home by bus”.

Kindergarten: Please take your child to the kindergarten area.  You would have already received a separate communication regarding drop-off and pick-up areas.

If you do not receive your child’s homeroom code for any reason, please arrive at the back of the school on September 2nd at 8:15am and staff will be able to direct you where to go.

• Where do I pick my child up at the end of the day?

Please meet your child where you dropped them off in the morning at 3pm. The school parking lot will not be available at the end of the day. There is street parking available on the side streets.

• What will happen in the event of bad weather?

If it rains on Tuesday morning, Grades 1-6 students will go directly to their hallway. Our Grade 7/8 students will go to the upstairs hallway. Our K students will go straight to their classrooms.  There will be staff wearing duty vests to help.  Thank you parents for remaining outside and saying your goodbyes at the doors.

Bussing

If your child(ren) take the bus, please refer to the website for information:  www.schoolbuscity.com Please inform your child’s teacher if your child will not be riding the bus on the first day of school but riding the rest of the year. 

End of Day Dismissal 

Parents will pick up their child outside their entry door at 3pm. Parents should not enter the school.

Lunch Routines

Please complete this form to indicate where your child is expected to be for lunch every day.

Agendas and Communication

Students will be coming home with a Student Agenda or another online method of daily communication. Please use these tools to communicate with your child’s teacher about learning and school activities.

Reminders:  

 Students should bring everyday:

• Please ensure that your child(ren) comes to school each day with their lunch packed.
• Reusable Water bottles (water refill stations are open, drinking fountains are closed)
• Indoor shoes and an extra set of clothes for Kindergarten scholars which can be stored in classroom
• Be prepared for scholars to be outside (appropriate clothing, sunscreen, hats etc.)
• *New this year for students going home for lunch
  • Students may only leave if parents have completed the lunch form giving permission
  • Students must come to the office and sign-out before leaving
  • Students must exit the school at the front door only
  • Students must sign in to the office when they return to the school (do not go directly to the school yard) 

Active School Travel

Just a friendly note that our school will be participating in the Markham Active School Travel program in the upcoming school year 2025/2026. The project is funded through the City of Markham, York Region and York Region District School Board and is a partnership program. We will be launching initiatives, sharing communication and implementing a number of hard tools within the school zone.

The purpose of the project is to implement Active School Travel programs and traffic calming tools to:

• promote walking/cycling/scootering and sustainable travel to school
• improve school zone safety
• reduce traffic congestion on our school site and in the neighbourhood
• improve students physical and mental health
• increase social development and academic performance and
• reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases.

School Schedule

8:15 am - staff on duty outside 

8:25 am - entry bell

8:30 am - announcements & morning learning block

10:10 am - 10:40 am recess (30 minutes)

10:40-12:20 - middle learning block 

12:20 pm - 1:20 pm lunch (1 hour)

1:20 pm - 3:00 pm afternoon learning block 

3:00 pm - end of day bell rings

Safe Arrivals: Please be on time for school.  If your child is late or will be absent, please inform the school office or use EDSBY to share this information.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast club will begin on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 3 at 8 AM in the staffroom. Please have your children enter through the front door and follow the signs to the staffroom.  All scholars are welcome to attend.

Note: Breakfast Club opens at 8AM sharp.  Early drop off is not available.