Dragon Bites
Welcome Back and Greetings:
I would like to introduce myself as your temporary Principal (Tony DiLeo) and inform you that I will be replacing Mrs. Tapp temporarily to start the year. I would personally like to thank Mrs. Tapp for getting things prepared for us to start the year successfully. In the opening days, I will be out and about getting to know your children and I look forward to meeting the entire school community in the near future. You will probably see me before and after school around the school building ensuring that we are safe with all of the busy traffic. I have heard many great things about this wonderful little school as an Administrator in Halton for over 20 years and I am truly excited about the weeks ahead!
We hope that you have stayed healthy and active and are ready for your children to come back to J.M. Denyes. This Dragon Bites newsletter contains very important information about what to expect at school and the first day procedures. We know this is a lot of information, but we urge you to take the time to read the entire newsletter and familiarize yourself with school procedures and expectations. We will be sending out the Dragon Bites newsletter every Friday throughout the school year. As you can imagine, we are working very hard to get the school ready for your children. We are excited to welcome everyone back on Tuesday, September 8th. Our number one priority is and will always be ensuring that everyone in the school community is safe and we encourage you to review some of our old and new routines for the academic school year.
Sincerely,
Tony DiLeo
____________________________________________________________________________
Important School Information
Class Placement for this school year will be emailed to parents at 4:00pm Friday, September 4, 2026
Traffic Safety
We have new lines painted on our parking lot and as a result have less parking spots for our Staff. This parking is for staff only. Please walk your child to school or create a walking club/team with friends and neighbours. Less vehicles around the school building will make it safer for all our students! If you must drive please stay off all school property especially during busy times. YMCA parents who arrive prior to 8 am will be able drive into the school parking lot for drop off. Parents are asked not to enter the driveway after 8:00am Thank you.
Health and Safety
If your child has an epi pen or puffer please ensure that it is up to date and that a Plan of Care is in place for your child which outlines how we manage their medical condition. Also connecting with your child’s teacher will be beneficial so that everything is in place to support your child throughout the year. Staff has been through training for various medical conditions and will be ready to work with you. We strongly encourage parents to join us on excursions where possible for everyone's safety. Thank you.
Bell Times
Morning Supervision begins at 8:35am. Please do not drop your child/ren off before supervision begins. Please have your child to school on time so that we can reduce interruptions to our learning time.
Supervision begins at 8:35am
Bell Rings: 8:50am
Period 1: 8:50 am - 9:50 am
Period 2: 9:50 am - 10:30 am
Nutrition Break: 10:30 am - 11:10 am
Period 3: 11:10 am - 12:00 pm
Period 4: 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm
Nutrition Break: 12:50 pm - 1:30 pm
Period 5: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Period 6: 2:30 pm - 3:10 pm
Supervision Ends at 3:25 pm
On Friday, September 4th, all families will receive their child’s class placement in the late afternoon and we ask you not to enter the office for this information as we will be doing last minute preparations and not able to make any changes. Staff have worked diligently to ensure that students are placed appropriately.
A Note Regarding Class Placements
The goal of the class placement process is to achieve the most practical heterogeneous combination of student groups, which may result in students not being placed with a preferred peer. Requests for classroom assignment changes can no longer be accommodated. We ask that you encourage your children to embrace all new learning environments as this will benefit them later in their school years with the many changes and opportunities for growth.
For families, rather than look upon a class placement as a challenge, use each new opportunity as a chance to form new friendships, meet new educators, and gain resilience from a placement that your child(ren) may not have overly preferred. When children find themselves in circumstances that weren’t their first choice, parents/guardians should support them to look at the positive aspects of each new grade they encounter as this teaches our children perseverance and resiliency. Please accentuate the positive aspect of your child(ren)’s placement this year and take advantage of the opportunity to build intangible skills with your child(ren).
With your trust in our professional judgment, we will continue to provide all students with the best possible learning environment. As we have recently experienced, please understand that class placements can change depending upon the Ministry of Education or Board Directives, and fluctuations in school population. Our fingers are crossed however, there is always a chance that we have to re organize so we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Annual Startup Paperwork
During the first week of school your student will bring home a paper copy of the Elementary Physical Education and Intramural Information Package. Please complete the Elementary Physical Education and Intramural Acknowledgement of Elements of Risk, Consent to Participate and Medical Information Form 2026/2027 and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible.
All other startup forms will be sent home electronically in the near future and must be returned in a timely manner or your student will not be able to fully participate in all school activities such as community walks, or displaying their work inside the school and more.
Students Coming Late
It is, of course, strongly encouraged that your child arrives on time to school!
When students arrive after the bell, they will be required to wait outside the front doors until after the morning announcements are completed. Announcements begin at 9:00am and the length of the announcements varies depending on how many announcements there are on a particular day. If you are late for some reason please be patient while we start the day and honour our national anthem.
Students of all ages must be accompanied by an adult please do not just drop them off at the street and drive away. Parents must escort their students all the way into the school and ensure they have been checked in at the office. We understand some students walk to school without parent supervision, this is an exception, but they will still have to wait outside the doors until we can assist them. Upon arrival, students must check in at the office so we can sign them in. Once signed in they may proceed to class.
Picking up a Student Before Dismissal
If a student must leave school before dismissal, a parent/guardian may do this by using the intercom outside the front doors to contact the office when they arrive. The student is signed out by the main office (as per the school’s protocol). Students will remain in class until the parent/guardian has arrived inside the school. We are not able to have students waiting in the office. Again, if you can avoid pick up or drop off during the instructional time it is much appreciated and allows us to maximize our learning time with minimal interruptions.
Fall Fair Trip - September
Each year J.M. Denyes students are fortunate enough to take a Field Trip to the Fall Fair. Watch for permission forms coming home early in the school year with our date being September 25. Thank you to our School Council for raising money to pay for this wonderful trip for the entire school this year.
If you wish to volunteer on this trip, or in any capacity at the school, please see this important information about Volunteering in Schools. All volunteers must provide the school with a valid Halton Regional Police Vulnerable Sector Report that has been issued within the past six months before volunteering in any capacity with students. Returning Parents who have already provided the Vulnerable Sector Report must complete the Volunteer Offense Declaration annually before volunteering. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the office.
What to bring
Students are asked to bring indoor shoes as well as outdoor shoes for recesses and other outdoor times.
Students are asked to bring a reusable water bottle that is labeled from home. We have 2 refilling stations, one in the Primary hallway and one in the Junior hallway.
Please send your child weather ready (e.g, rain boots, appropriate warm clothing etc.). The field will be used as much as possible during all seasons.
Extra socks/clothes left at school are always recommended for all ages especially during wet or snowy times an extra set of clothing is certainly recommended for younger children
All Student Belongings
Everything students will need to be successful at school will be provided. Please do not send items, such as pencil cases, binders, toys, or other personal items to school.
Essential Material Drop-off
If your child left an essential item at home (i.e., lunch, outerwear, library book), a parent/guardian is asked to use the intercom to inform the office they are at the school to drop off an item. Please ensure you have labeled the item with student name, teacher and grade/class before you bring it to school, otherwise it will be difficult to ensure your child receives the item. If the item is non-essential, please consider leaving it at home or sending it the next day. This will help minimize interruptions.
Technology
For students in Grades 1 - 5; we will not be sharing headphones/earbuds again this year. If you would like to send a pair of headphones/earbuds for your child to use with school issued technology, please put them into a small container or baggie with their name clearly labeled on it. They will be kept at school inside your child’s desk. Phones and personal technology are to be left in backpacks during the school day.
Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Replacements at School
We would like to remind everyone that Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Replacements (like Wow Butter) are not permitted at school. Products like Wow Butter are very similar in texture and smell to real peanut butter making it difficult to tell the difference. For the safety and comfort of all of our students and staff, please do not send peanut butter replacement products (like Wow Butter) to school with your child(ren). We do have students with many allergies and some being life threatening.
Reporting Your Student Absent or Late
It is very important that if your child will be away from school you report their absence using School Messenger. You can find information about how to use the school messenger here.
The Mobile app is the simplest to use and can be downloaded here.
Snacks and Lunches
Please ensure you are sending enough food with your students. Our snack program has not yet started. The snack bin program will be starting soon. The expectation is that students eat everything they have been provided in the lunch bag before having an item from the snack bin. It’s better to send extra and have some come back home, then send not enough and have hungry students. Food that is not eaten will be sent home so you are aware of your child’s eating habits at school. If you are experiencing food insecurity and are in need of assistance, please contact Mrs. Canjar in the office.
School Cash Online
School Cash Online is our online payment system where you will pay for field trips, special food days, and other special school events. Returning students who are not yet signed up for School Cash Online can register using your students name, date of birth and HDSB student number. New students to the school will receive information about how to sign up for school cash online in the first week or two of school. We encourage all families to use school cash online as your main payment method for field trips instead of sending in cash which can easily be misplaced or lost.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
If you are walking, please drop your Grade 1 to 5 child/ren off at the chain by the Junior doors. In an effort to reduce the number of people on the playground in the morning, parents are to remain off our blacktop area. There are a number of staff to guide and support your child(ren) as they learn the routine of where to line up.
Please drop your kindergarten student at the fence of the Kindergarten yard with a staff member. Remember to use the path beside the parking lot and refrain from walking through the parking lot for safety reasons. There is no access to the kindergarten area from the parking lot. Staff members will be there to assist your child in getting to their teachers. Once you have dropped your child off, please leave the Kindergarten area. We are asking that parents do not wait at the fence, this will help to reduce congestion.
If you are driving, please remember there is no parking in our parking lot. You will need to park on the street and walk your child/ren to the designated area.
Less vehicles around the school building during busy times = SAFER STUDENTS!
There will be staff on the playground and in the hallways to ensure students find their classes. Please see below as to which door your child will enter. This is where they will wait until the bell rings beginning Tuesday, September 8th.
Classes entering the Primary Door: Door #6
1 - 1
1/2-1
2-1
Classes entering through the Junior Door: #2
2/3-1
3 - 1
3/4-1
4/5-1
5-1
End of Day
Parents are asked to stand on the field or at the edge of the blacktop. Do not approach the doors to meet your child as it will be too busy and confusing for everyone as well as unsafe. This extra space will allow teachers to have a sightline to safely dismiss their students. We don’t know every family and we want to ensure that students are getting home safely!
Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) – Back to School Campaign
Learn more about Carrie’s Back to School mission and how you can help at GoBack2School.ca.
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 our cheerful helper Carrie the Backpack, to help 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.
Food Days at Denyes
Lunch Programs Are Back!
We are excited to offer a variety of lunch programs for our students this school year! These programs provide students with some delicious options to enjoy at lunchtime.
Currently Available
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Alternating Mondays – Hot Dog Day
Hot Dog Days are available on alternating Mondays. Orders can be placed through School Cash Online. -
Every Tuesday – Pizza Day
Enjoy Pizza Day every Tuesday, provided by Milton Pizza Pasta and Wings. Orders can be placed through School Cash Online.
More Options Coming Soon!
We will be adding more lunch options as we get further into the school year. Be sure to check the Dragon Bites Newsletter every Friday for updates, new programs, and ordering details.
We look forward to offering our students lots of tasty choices throughout the school year!
School Council
Coffee and Kleenex
Fill out this Google Form to let us know if you can help out!
Cross Country
Attention all Grade 3-5 students! Our Cross Country meet will take place on Monday September 28th at Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington. If you are interested in joining our Cross Country team, our kick off meeting will be Wednesday September 9th in the gym! Practices will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday at first break! We are also looking for parent volunteers to help with the meet. If you are interested, please email Miss Craik at craike@hdsb.ca. A police check with vulnerable sector screening is required.
