Weekly Community Message

Hello BTL Families,

It was another wonderful week at BTL:) Please see the important messages below. As always, reach out if you have any questions.

Warmest wishes, 

Sandra Lynch, Principal

Email: lynchs@hdsb.ca; Instagram: @btlpublicschool

Important Dates

• HDSB School Year Calendar 2025-26
• HDSB's Calendar of Events and Observances

September

• 24 - Cross Country Gr. 3 - 6 (Send Consent Forms back asap)
• 25 - Terry Fox Run 2:10pm: Wear Red and White
• 25 - Franco-Ontarian Day
• 28 - School Council Meeting 6:00pm - See information below
• 30 - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day

October

• 5 - Pizza Day begins
• 6 - Hearing and Vision Screening
• 8 - Bus Safety Presentations (Primary 9:10; Junior 10am)
• 9 - P.A. Day
• 12 - Thanksgiving (No School)
• 19 - Pizza Day
• 21 - Take Me Outside Day
• 26- Pizza Day

Terry Fox Run: September 25

This is just a quick note to remind you that our K-6 Terry Fox School Run is coming up this Friday, September 25 at 2:10pm.

Our students are so excited to run, build empathy, and help make a difference. We are still working hard to reach our fundraising goal for cancer research, and every little bit helps! If you haven’t had a chance yet, you can easily make a secure online donation here: https://schools.terryfox.ca/131993

Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated and shared the link with family and friends. We appreciate your incredible support!

• Check out Bryan Adams -  Ballad of Terry Fox Song 

Cross Country: September 24

It is so wonderful to see so many of our Gr. 3 - 6 students training for Cross Country every 2nd break! If your child is attending the Cross Country Meet on Thursday, September 24th, please ensure they have submitted their permission form.  The team will run rain or shine! Let’s Go BTL!!

School Start Up Forms

Our School Start Up Forms are online with the exception of our Physical Education form which was distributed as a hard copy on the first day of school. A link to Start Up Forms was emailed to you. We would ask that these forms be completed no later than Thursday, September 24th. Should you have questions or require assistance in completing the school startup forms, our office staff will be happy to assist you, in person.

Pizza Days are starting in October

Please visit https://hdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ to place your orders before September 28th.  Block 1 of Pizza runs from October 5 - December 14th.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day - Wednesday, Sept. 30: 

All HDSB schools and Board offices will lower their flags to half-mast on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

At BTL, students will honour and observe this important day through meaningful, age-appropriate learning activities in their classrooms.

To learn more about the history and significance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, please visit this website.

Nutrition Program

We are excited to announce that our School Nutrition Program is up and running! A special thank you to Mme Turingia for continuing to organize this initiative and train our Grade 5/6 student leaders to operate the carts. A huge shout-out as well to BTL parent, Jeff Moore, for generously volunteering his time to shop for our food items - we truly appreciate your support!

• Breakfast for the Brain Carts (8:45 - 8:55): Launched this past Wednesday. Students may select one item in the morning to start their day ready to learn.
• Lunch for Learning Carts (2nd Break): Beginning Monday, September 21st. Students may choose up to two items during 2nd break, provided they have finished the food packed in their lunch bags.

Note: If a student is still hungry after finishing their lunch, we will always ensure they receive additional food.

Help Us Keep the Program Sustainable: While we are here to support every child, we kindly ask parents to remind students to take only what they need rather than what they want. This helps ensure our funding lasts through the end of the school year.

Our Partners: We are deeply grateful for the support of Halton Food for Thought (HFFT), whose funding - alongside community grants and parent donations - makes this vital program possible. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to support this initiative!

Confidential Community Support: If your family could use assistance with groceries or food security, please feel free to reach out directly to our office staff. We have access to various community food programs and are always here to help.

IMPORTANT: Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps…

If your child develops chicken pox, measles, mumps, or any other contagious illness during the 2026/27 school year, please contact the school office immediately. As usual, when your own child is unwell, please keep him/her home from school. 

School Council

Our first BTL School Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 28th, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. We will be meeting in person, with a hybrid option available. If you did not already fill in the form sent out last week, please email Paula Walsh at walshpau2@hdsb.ca to let her know if you plan to attend in person at the school or join via Google Meet.

Hearing and Vision Screening: Oct 6th

It’s Hearing and Vision Screening Time! The clinic will be at Bruce T. Lindley on: October 6th, 2026. Please see below for registration and cost. 

• Hearing and Vision Registration

Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)

The HDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) invites parents/guardians and community members to attend the upcoming Parent Involvement Committee Conference on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School in Milton.

The theme for this year’s event is Get Connected. Parents/guardians are invited to explore practical workshops on Student Mental Health and Well Being, Special Education, Generative AI and Social Media, Literacy, Mathematics, School Pathways, Equity and Inclusion. Come learn, connect and discover ways to support student success. Registration is now open for this free event, including childcare, a light lunch and transportation within Halton Region. 

Learn more and register by Friday, Oct. 9: tinyurl.com/mrxw6hxp

Strategies to Help You and Your Child Thrive - Virtual Parent Group Opportunity 

If you have families in your school community who are interested in this opportunity, please share this information flyer with them.  

The group is for parents/caregivers of children 6-12 years of age who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. The group will run virtually from 6-7:30pm weekly starting on October 21st for 7-weeks. 

Referrals go through Access and System Navigation (ASN) https://rockonline.ca/asn/

Centre for Diverse Learners, grade 2 and up, registration is open now.

Website:https://diverselearners.ca/programs/leaps-in-literacy/

Leaps in Literacy is a free early intervention literacy program to enable access for as many students as possible. It is a multisensory program to ensure access and support for each student’s unique learning style. The program is based on the most recent science of reading, the OHRC Right to Read recommendations, and the new Ontario Language curriculum.

Who would benefit from this program? Students in Grades 2-8 neurodiverse students with suspected or diagnosed learning disabilities (LDs), ADHD or level 1 Autism  

Mastering Mathematics is a multi-sensory mathematics program developed for children and youth who struggle with the attainment of foundational numeracy skills" 

Fall: September 28, 2026 – December 4, 2026
Winter: January 11, 2027 – March 12, 2027
Spring: April 5, 2027 – June 4, 2027

INFORMATION: Free Screening of Screenagers Generation AI  

On Wednesday, Sept. 23, HDSB is offering two screenings of Screenagers: Generation AI at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The film examines how artificial intelligence has rapidly entered the lives of young people and what it means for their relationships, learning and well-being. The free screenings are at Film.ca Cinemas Oakville  (171 Speers Rd.) and open to parents/guardians, educators, interested community members and students in Grade 4 and above.

REPOST
Volunteers Needed

BTL Needs Volunteers for various events through the year. School Council Members will be recruiting volunteers to help with Pizza at 2nd Break on Mondays. If you are interested, please email Jeff Moore at jefferymoore@gmail.com. Messaging about ordering pizza for Block one will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.  Stay tuned for more information along with other volunteer opportunities. 

Last spring we sent out information about requiring a Police Check with a  Vulnerable Sector Screen completed every 5 years. Please see the past communication about Police Check Protocols so you are aware of what you need before volunteering. 

Hello BTL Families,

We hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful first week back to school! It was such a joy to welcome back our BTL students and see their smiles light up our community. Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open House last night - seeing so many families come together was the perfect start to what is going to be a FABULOUS year!

Please take a moment to review the information and a few reminders below. 

Warmest wishes, Sandra Lynch, Principal

Email: lynchs@hdsb.ca; Instagram: @btlpublicschool

Important Dates

• HDSB School Year Calendar 2025-26
• HDSB's Calendar of Events and Observances

September

• 18 - Picture Day
• 24 - Cross Country Gr. 3 - 6 (Send Consent Forms back asap)
• 25 - Terry Fox Run - Stay tuned for more information
• 25 - Franco-Ontarian Day
• 28 - School Council Meeting 6:00pm - See information below
• 30 - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day

October

• 6 - Hearing and Vision Screening
• 8 - Bus Safety Presentations (Primary 9:10; Junior 10am)
• 9 - P.A. Day
• 12 - Thanksgiving (No School)

School Start Up Forms

Our School Start Up Forms are online with the exception of our Physical Education form which was distributed as a hard copy on the first day of school. A link to Start Up Forms was emailed to you prior to the first day of school. We would ask that these forms be completed no later than Thursday, September 24th. Should you have questions or require assistance in completing the school startup forms, our office staff will be happy to assist you, in person. 

Volunteers Needed

BTL Needs Volunteers for various events through the year. School Council Members will be recruiting volunteers to help with Pizza at 2nd Break on Mondays. If you are interested, please email Jeff Moore at jefferymoore@gmail.com. Messaging about ordering pizza for Block one will be coming out in the next couple of weeks. 

Stay tuned for more information along with other volunteer opportunities. 

Last spring we sent out information about requiring a Police Check with a  Vulnerable Sector Screen completed every 5 years. Please see the graphic below along with the past communication about Police Check Protocols so you are aware of what you need before volunteering.

School Council Nomination Forms: Due September 14th

Are you interested in being part of this year's BTL School Council? You are welcome to be an officially voted in member, a voting member, or you can just come to listen and join in when you are able. 

If you are interested there will be approximately five - six meetings over the year. The main purpose will be to help organize school events, assist with fundraising initiatives and support our AWESOME BTL community. Please complete this form no later than the end of day on Monday September 14th. Only answer the questions that are relevant for how you are looking to participate. 

If you are looking for more information about HDSB School Councils, please visit the HDSB website and you will find the School Council Handbook.

Our first BTL School Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 28th 6pm - 7pm. We will be meeting in-person, with a hybrid option. Please fill in this Google Form to indicate if you will be joining in-person at the school or via a Google Meet. 

Drop off/Pick Up & Sustainability Reminders

A huge thank you to all the families who have been walking or biking to school! Seeing empty parking spaces at the end of the day is fantastic, and we appreciate your support with our climate sustainability goals and student safety.

Now that our first week is behind us and routines are taking shape, please review the following reminders to help keep our school yard safe for everyone:

• Blacktop Perimeter: To keep line-ups organized and secure, we ask all parents and guardians to wait along the perimeter of the blacktop during both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Stepping back once your child arrives or while waiting for dismissal gives staff clear sightlines and helps keep all students safe.
• Furry Friends: While we love pets, please keep dogs on a leash at the perimeter of the school yard and off the blacktop. We have students and staff with severe allergies or fears, and keeping pets at the boundary helps ensure a safe, comfortable space for everyone.
• Active Play on the Blacktop: Because the blacktop is very crowded during arrival and dismissal, students are asked to refrain from playing running games or basketball during these times.
• Playground Structure Supervision: Yard supervision is not provided on the playground equipment before or after school (8:30–8:45 AM and 3:05–3:20 PM). Students should not play on the structure during these times unless an adult is directly supervising them. Please remind your child of this rule.
• Parking & Pedestrian Safety: Please only use accessible parking spaces if you hold a valid permit, and please do not park in the bus lane. When walking near the parking lot, please use the sidewalks and perimeter pathways - do not walk between parked vehicles.
• Supervision Times: Please note that staff supervision ends promptly at 3:20 PM.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in keeping our community safe!

Nutrition Program

We are excited to share that our Nutrition Program is starting up once again this year. Thank you to Mme. Turingia who continues to organize this program and trains the Gr. 5/6s to run the carts. Breakfast for the Brain Carts will start up  by the end of next week - we are hoping we will be ready to go by Wednesday.

We are grateful for the support of Halton Food for Thought (HFFT), whose funding - along with grants and donations from our parent community - makes this program possible. Stay tuned for ways you can help support this initiative!

This program is available to all students. We do ask that students only take what they need, not what they want. Thank you:) 

Note: If your family could use some assistance with groceries, please reach out to our office staff. We have access to food programs that can help.

BTL Technology and Cell Phone Protocol

Please read the following document to learn about the BTL Expectations of acceptable use of Technology and Cell Phones and how you can help your child become a positive digital citizen.

• BTL: Acceptable Use of Technology and Cell Phones 2026-27

Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYC-P) & School’s Social Worker (SW)

We welcome Krystal Carmichael (CYC-P) and Jeff Von Zuben (SW) back to BTL!! Please read the following information below on how they will continue to support our students. 

CYC Letter

HDSB Student & Family Support Office

Student and Family Support Office

Questions about your child's education? Start by speaking with your child's teacher and principal. If you still need support, the HDSB’s Student and Family Support Office can help answer questions, provide information and connect you with the appropriate supports.

Help 400 HDSB Students Start School with Confidence

As students across our community head back to school, some will arrive without the basics they need: a backpack, school supplies, or even lunch. The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF), thanks to our generous community, is here to help.

HLF launched its Back-to-School campaign, with the help of its cheerful helper, Carrie the Backpack, to support 400 HDSB students by September 30. Families are counting on this support, and HLF is asking our generous community to step in urgently so they can continue to say “YES” to every request for emergency support they receive.

Here's what one parent shared about what saying “YES” meant to her family:

Just wanted to say how grateful I am for this support. I’m a single mom, and because of your help, I’m able to get what my daughter needs for back-to-school and food, and I’m so unbelievably grateful for the support.

Make a gift for a student in need today: Donate Now

Together, we can give students not just supplies, but confidence, dignity, and hope.

Learn more about Carrie’s Back to School mission and how you can help at GoBack2School.ca.