Gator Gazette

August 31, 2026

Hello Gator Families, 

It is hard to believe that summer has come and gone and the start of another school year is quickly approaching. I look forward to continuing to build on the positive things within this school community and I am looking forward to partnering with each of you again this year.  I welcome all of our students and their families to the 2026-27 school year. 

The first day of school is quickly approaching and we are looking forward to welcoming our students both new and returning! I have included some important information for your consideration as we prepare for opening day. If you are receiving this email we are expecting your child(ren) on the first day of school. If you have moved out of our catchment please contact the office at 905-827-4841.

Communication & Social Media

We will continue to send home editions of the “Gator Gazette” electronically, once per month. Valuable information may also be found on our updated website at https://www.hdsb.ca/gla  Also, Please follow us on our new instagram page @gladysspeers!  We will use this as an additional tool to communicate with our parent community about what is happening at the school, as well as celebrate the great things happening at our school.

Class Placements

Class placement emails will go out to families over the labour day weekend. If for any reason you did not receive one, we will have staff available on the blacktop with class lists on Tuesday morning, September 8th.

Our staff has worked extremely hard to create a balance within our classes between gender, social groupings, and academic ability. Our Staff has spent a great deal of time working on class placements and classes are created to optimize student learning. This is a collaborative process requiring the input of sending and receiving teachers as well as school administration and support staff. In the event that you or your child are not initially pleased with the class placement, we respectfully ask that you resist the temptation to call or e-mail school staff to request a change. We believe we have created classrooms where our students can be successful in building new friendships while building on past peer relationships. Our staff will not be considering any changes to our classrooms at this time, however, we are committed to helping each student transition into their new grade. Usually after the first few days students will settle in, make new friends, and are excited to be part of their class.

Class rosters for the 2026-27 school year will only be revised if we are forced to go through a September reorganization. This news would be communicated to all parents during the second week of school. Thank you in advance for your understanding. 

First Day Procedures

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Kindergarten parents will bring their little ones and send them in through the kindie gate at the back of the school. Primary and Junior parents/guardians are asked to walk across the blacktop/ field to drop off your child(ren) with their teacher. Staff will be available on the blacktop to greet our students. We kindly ask families to keep your pets at home during the business of the first day. After the first day we know that many parents find the walk to and from school to be a good time to also walk the family pet.  If this is the case, please keep your pet on the grass areas and do not bring your pet onto the blacktop, as some students are allergic and/or fearful.  It is also difficult to predict an animal’s behaviour when confronted with a large group of excited children. 

Weather permitting, our parent council will be under the Gladys Speers tent with a free coffee or tea for parents who can celebrate the end of summer together and reconnect as well!  Thank you, parent council!

Kindergarten Drop-Off:

Parents/guardians will drop off their child(ren) at the Kindergarten gate, and educators will direct each child to their appropriate door. Parents are then asked to head off and start their day. Staff will help to make your child(ren) feel as comfortable as possible, and our students typically settle in quickly.

Kindergarten Pick-Up:

Parents/Guardians will approach the gate and wait their turn as they receive a hand-to-hand exchange. An educator at the gate will assist with the transition.

Primary/Junior Drop-Off:

Students in grades 1-6 will meet their teachers on the blacktop (staff will have signs). Once your child(ren) has connected with their teacher, we ask that you kindly head off to start your day. Junior students (Grades 4-6) will meet outside of Door #10, and Primary students (Grades 1-3) will meet outside Door #5.

Primary/Junior Pick-Up:

Parents/Guardians that are picking up are asked to make their way to the blacktop at the rear of the school. Adults will be available to assist your child in locating you if they do not see you. No pick-ups will be done from the front of the school or the main office. Ensure your child is aware of your end of day plans and routines to help limit confusion.

Transportation

Bus information should now be available at https://www.haltonbus.ca. Please log in and review your students' information. If your student has been allocated a bus stop and you will not be using it for the year, OR if your child is attending a daycare program before and after school, please complete this form ASAP so that we can have the proper information for your child(ren) at the school. As you can imagine, the first few days are very busy in our office so the more information we have before that day the better organized we can all be.  Please also ensure that your child knows which bus they are on - we will colour code them to ensure our youngest students can get on the right bus. While the actual buses will still be yellow, students on Afternoon Route #219 will be on the coded “Green” Bus, and students on Afternoon Route #239 will be on the coded “Red” bus for easy remembering with our students.

Parking

Accessible parking is available on the east side of the school. Permits are required to use these spots.  Our parking lot is reserved for staff and for essential visitors to our school who will be staying at the school for some time. Please arrange drop off/pick up with your child either on a side street adjacent to the school (e.g., Sandlewood or Stanfield), but we encourage walking to/from school and using the school bus if eligible. As a reminder, please follow signage that indicates no stopping or no parking (i.e., you can stop, but must remain in your car).  Our students can enter and exit our school grounds through the sides and back of the school, but must stay out of the parking lot for safety.  We also ask that our walking parents and students do not cross through our parking lot as they head to the back of the school for entry and pick up. This year, we will be closing the sides of our parking lot during drop off and pick up to help ensure student safety.

Drop off Zone (aka Kiss & Ride)

If it is essential that you drive your child(ren) to school for drop off in our Drop off Zone, please ensure you only enter on the west side of the school, following the one-way signage.  As you pull up, please ensure you come all the way to the end of the drop off zone. Do not get out of your car, but have your children exit the car only on the side closest to the building to ensure they are not exiting your car into the laneway.  Please note that this area is used for our school buses and if you are behind the bus, please be patient and do not pass the bus (or other cars) in the drop off zone.  These expectations are essential to ensure the safety of our students.

School Hours

Please note that students are expected to be at school by 8:45am.  Supervision begins at 8:35am so that we have a window of ten minutes to get students to the back of the school for entry at 8:45am.  Once there are no staff manning the Drop Off Zone, students are late for school and will need to wait outside at the front of the school until O’Canada and Announcements are over before being let in to sign in at the office.  Please be on time every day to ensure there are no disruptions in classrooms to start the day.  Our breaks are a little later this year:

10:50am - 11:10am - Outside Break #1

11:10am - 11:30am - Lunch Break

1:30pm - 1:50pm - Outside Break #2

1:50pm - 2:10pm - Snack Break

Dismissal

We dismiss at 3:10pm.  We encourage students to walk, ride their bikes or take the school bus.  Anyone who is picking up their child(ren) in a car will need to “Drive to 5” and park on Stanfield or Sandlewood and walk the 5 minutes to school for pick up, as our parking lots are closed to parent parking to ensure student safety.

Volunteering at Gladys Speers

If you are looking to volunteer with the school as opportunities arise, you will require a Vulnerable

Sector Check from the Halton Regional Police Services. Details can be found here. If you already have a police check on file from last year, you are required to fill out this volunteer declaration form and hand it into the office, or your child’s classroom teacher.

Outdoor Learning

Your child(ren) will be spending a lot of time learning and playing outdoors. They will be outside in all types of weather when it is safe to do so. We ask that you ensure your child has appropriate footwear and clothing on a daily basis. Note: We will be going outside even when it is misting or snowing. Additionally, most of our physical education classes take place outside.

School Cash Online

Please remember we are a cashless school and use School Cash Online for field trips, food programs, etc. If you have yet to sign up for School Cash Online you can do so now at https://hdsb.schoolcashonline.com. If you have any problems registering please let us know. JK students (and those new to the HDSB) will not be able to register just yet. We will send more information in the coming days as school begins.

School Messenger

We will continue to use the student absence reporting system called School Messenger - https://www.schoolmessenger.com.  This system will be used for student absences as well as receiving all messages and phone calls from your child’s school. If you are not already signed up for this, please click here for more information.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions throughout the year, or would simply like to say hello, please feel free to reach out at any time. I am always happy to chat and meet our families. Thank you in advance for your support as we begin this new school year. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back. GO GATORS!

• Shout loudly and wave your arms high in the air.
• Use hazing techniques: Air horns, whistles, etc
• Back away slowly while remaining calm. Never run or turn your back on a coyote.
• Never feed coyotes

Hello Gator Families,

Thank you for such a great start to our school year! It was great to meet many of you at our Community BBQ and Open House - we had a great evening for it! As the principal, I am very proud of our students and those who were forced to go into a class reorganization as they showed great resiliency and have settled in well with their new teachers this week. This month's Gator gazette is full of information about our school, and we ask that each month you block off some time to read through each item to help the school run smoothly throughout the year, and to learn about all of the amazing things happening at our school. Have an outstanding October!

Mr. G. Donaldson

Principal

Gladys Speers PS

Gladys Speers School Council has organized Pizza for Term 1 that runs on Thursdays for those who participated, up until the Winter Break.  Sometime in early December we will release Term 2 pizza which will begin in the New Year when we return from the break. WE CAN NOT ACCEPT LATE ORDERS and there is no pizza sold at the school, so please make those deadlines or pack pizza from home.

School Council has also helped set up LunchBox which is found inside the School CashOnline portal with Hero Burger on Tuesdays!  You can order for multiple weeks in advance, and also cancel if needed as long as you order and cancel before the deadlines. 

Deadlines are:

***Order by: Sunday at noon for the upcoming week***

***Cancel by: 2 days before your scheduled delivery***

For more information, click here.

Calling all big boxes!

The Kindergarten team is always on the lookout large, sturdy appliance boxes (think refrigerators, washers, dryers etc.) to help us create some exciting structures in our classrooms. Our students will use their imaginations to turn these boxes into forts, houses, shops, rockets, tunnels, and so much more. 

If you have a large box at home or know of a family member expecting a delivery, we would be so grateful if you could send the empty boxes our way. The bigger, the better! If you think you could help us, please reach out to hubleya@hdsb.ca, Dickl@hdsb.ca or walkerb@hdsb.ca. They can be dropped off in Mrs Hubley's  room, who will store them until building time.

Kindness Club

A new club is coming to Gladys Speers this October! Open to students in Grades 3–6, Kindness Club will bring students together to share ideas and find creative ways to spread kindness throughout our school. Members will work together on thoughtful projects that help others feel valued and brighten someone’s day. If students enjoy helping others and want to make a difference, Kindness Club is for them! Listen to announcements for more details this month.

Police Checks

In order to volunteer with students, on field trips, or regularly at the school in lunch programs, an up to date Police Check with a Vulnerable Sector Search is required.  If you gave us a police check previously, you just need to sign the declaration each and every year to keep the police check up to date.  We have noticed that many Police Checks have expired, as the declaration has not been kept up to date.  Please connect with the school when you get a new police check on file so that we can update our files and welcome you into the school as a volunteer!

Parent Council

We have our first parent council meeting on Monday, October 5th at 7:00pm in the School Library.  At the meeting, we will have a Principal's Report, Teacher's Report, Budget Report and then form the new council for this school year.  All parents are welcome to attend.

Halloween Parade

This Halloween season, we plan on having a Costume Parade for all of our students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 on October 30.  Students can come to school dressed in their costumes for the first two periods of the day, or can wear Orange and Black.  It is expected that students in costume have a change of clothes so that they are out of their costumes by the end of first nutrition break. As a rule, students should not be wearing any masks during the morning, except for during the parade itself.  In addition, please think carefully about the props that you send with costumes to ensure that nothing gets damaged, or nothing is too scary for our younger children, could be used as a weapon, or is insensitive to ethnic, religious, racial or gender identity groups. If you do not wish to have your child participate in the Halloween parade, please let your child's teacher know in advance so that we can organize an alternate activity.  More details will follow closer to the date on how parents can watch the parade of students.

Terry Fox Run

Our Terry Fox Run was a great success! The students walked and ran for an hour enjoying the beautiful day, exercising and catching up with friends. We not only honoured Terry's legacy, but also raised funds for cancer research. During the week leading up to the run classes spent time learning about Terry Fox, why he is a Canadian hero and the importance of continuing to raise money for cancer research. Our school raised $3000, way to go! Thank you so much for your generous donations and commitment to this cause. 

Recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day

On September 30th, our school will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students are encouraged to wear Orange Shirts to honour the children who survived Residential Schools and remember those who did not return home. Throughout the day, our students will engage in age-appropriate activities in their classrooms to foster understanding, empathy, and respect as we commit to the ongoing journey of reconciliation. This is a vital opportunity for our students to learn about the history of Residential Schools and the strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples.

Student Personal Devices

Should you feel that your child requires a personal device for the way to and from school, these devices should remain in a student’s backpack throughout the day. As per the Ministry's PPM128. personal devices include cell phones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches.  With the high level of access to technology for our students, and the early stages of their digital literacy, students in these grades do not need personal devices for any academic reason.  If there are special circumstances for your child, we require you to have that conversation with your child’s classroom teacher.

Peanut Allergy Awareness

To help us keep our school a safe place for all students, we need your support with lunch and snack items brought into the school. We understand that sometimes it's convenient to bring a special lunch, but we need to remind everyone that items from fast-food restaurants (e.g., Wendy's, McDonald's, Chick Fil-A, Tim Hortons, etc.) should not be brought into the school for students. The main reason is that these locations cannot guarantee that their items are free from cross-contamination with peanuts and other allergens, which poses a serious health risk to our students with severe allergies. We appreciate you choosing items prepared at home or in facilities you know are safe when packing your child's lunch. Thank you for helping us protect all our students.

Notification of Transportation Delays to Families

Every September, when students and drivers are getting accustomed to new routines, there tends to be a higher frequency of delays. We thank families for their ongoing patience and understanding during this time. We expect Bus Operators to promptly communicate any delays and provide updates so that families have the chance to make necessary adjustments to their plans. We encourage families who have not already done so, to sign up for a Parent Portal account and add their child(ren).  This will ensure they are automatically signed up to receive email notifications when delays are posted.  For detailed instructions please click here.  We highly encourage anyone with a mobile device to download the free BusPlanner Delays app and sign up to receive instant notifications of route delays affecting their family. For detailed instructions please click here.

Prescribed Medication

There is a board policy on dispensing prescribed medication to students.  As with epiPens and inhalers, all prescribed medication to be dispensed at school requires a Physician’s signature.  Therefore, if you are heading to the doctor’s office, and think that your child may require medication at school, please ensure you get the physician’s signature on the correct form before you leave.  These forms can be found in the Student Health Page of our board website.  If you are not sure which form to use, please contact the office.  Over-the-counter medication (e.g., tylenol, advil, cough syrup) will not be dispensed by school staff at any time.  If you wish to provide this to your child, please come to the front doors of the school and we will call them down for you to administer.  Students should not be carrying any medication on them while at school, other than epiPens and inhalers.  Kindergarten students are able to have their EpiPen in a backpack, while students in Grades 1 through 6 must carry their EpiPen on them at all times.

Flag Football

Our grade 5 and 6 students learned all about Flag Football this September, beginning with an intramural.  Each team played five games, and a co-ed school team was formed to represent our school in a Jr Flag Football Tournament in Burlington on October 14th against 20 other schools in the HDSB.  Good luck to the Gators!

Cross Country

On Thursday, September 24th, our Cross Country team competed at the Halton meet at Sherwood Forest. We’re proud of the strong performances from our athletes, with Gladys Speers having several of our runners finishing in the top 10! Congratulations to the entire team on a fantastic meet! 

• Andie W 5th
• Haylie K 7th
• Austin G 8th
• Iris V 6th
• Bronson B 4th
• Stojan Z 5th
• Elliot E 3rd
• Zoe V 2nd

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.

Parent Involvement Committee Conference

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

Calling all Three-Year Olds

Calling all three-year olds to the Halton District School Board!​​ In October and November, the HDSB will be hosting Kindergarten Open Houses in Acton, Georgetown, Burlington, Milton and Oakville to answer any questions families may have about how the HDSB sets students up for lifelong learning and success. Future students and their families are invited to attend any of the following Kindergarten Open Houses. Incoming students and their families will be able to visit a kindergarten classroom, meet with community partners, and learn more about the kindergarten program at the HDSB. All events run from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• Burlington: John William Boich Public School – Oct. 1, 2026
• Oakville: Harvest Oak Public School – Oct. 7, 2026
• Georgetown: Silver Creek Public School – Oct. 15, 2026
• Milton: Cedar Ridge Public School – Oct. 28, 2026
• Acton: McKenzie-Smith Bennett School – Nov. 4, 2026

View this video to get a glimpse of how the Open Houses prepare families and future students.

Parents/guardians with questions about Kindergarten in the HDSB can learn more by visiting the Kindergarten webpage on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca). 

The upcoming sessions include: 

• “Just One More!” When Kids and Teens Can't Stop Wanting More – Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This session is virtual.

• Caring for Grieving Children and Youth – Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This session is virtual.

Learn more about the sessions available by visiting our Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage and register by completing the registration form. When you register, you can also submit a question for the presenters. Registration is required for these sessions as limited spots are available. Registrants for the virtual sessions will be emailed a Google Meet link to access the session. Captioning in various languages is available. 

This policy protects student safety for several critical reasons:

• Choking Risk: Vehicle movement, bumps, and sudden stops while eating increase the risk of choking.
  Severe Allergies: Food consumption or leftover crumbs can cause life-threatening allergic reactions for fellow passengers.
• Bus Cleanliness: Spills and trash create unsanitary conditions, odors, and pest issues.
• Driver Focus: Food-related incidents and cleanups divert the driver’s attention from the road.

Please remind your child to finish all food and snacks before boarding the bus and save any further eating for school or home. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Shout loudly and wave your arms high in the air.

• Use hazing techniques: Air horns, whistles, etc

• Back away slowly while remaining calm. Never run or turn your back on a coyote.

• Never feed coyotes

For quick tips and more information, please visit the Coyotes page on oakville.ca or watch this short video.

Whether your child is passionate about STEM, the arts, or exploring a variety of interests, discover how Blakelock prepares students for success beyond graduation.

When: Thursday, November 12, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:30–8:00 PM
👥 Who: Families of Grade 6–8 students and community members
📍 Where: Thomas A. Blakelock High School, 1160 Rebecca Street

Please register here:  Future Tiger Info Night Registration Form

The evening will be interactive and engaging, featuring:

• A Guidance Presentation: “What to Expect in High School” — offered multiple times throughout the evening.

• A School Showcase: Walk the halls, explore displays, and participate in hands-on activities led by staff and students. Meet teachers from the various departments and connect with current Tiger students.

Learn more about the many opportunities that make Blakelock unique:

• Advanced Placement (AP) Program 

• Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Programs 

• I-STEM (Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)

• Community Pathways Program

• French Immersion Program

• Athletics

• Arts

• Special Education, including Gifted Programming 

• Core Departments and Electives

Come see why Thomas A. Blakelock High School is a place where every student can find their path, pursue their passions, and prepare for a bright future.  We can’t wait to welcome our Future Tigers!