Weekly Community Message

Weekly Community Newsletter - October 23rd, 2026

We are so happy to announce that the Tuck Gives Back Book Swap Sale was a great success.  We are so grateful for your generosity, and we are excited to be able to donate over $575 to the Halton Learning Foundation. 

Halloween Reminders

We will be having a Halloween parade on Halloween, but the route for the parade will be dictated by the weather, so further details will be communicated closer to the 30th. 

Students who choose to wear a costume must remain in it the entire day - there will be no access to washrooms/change rooms for the purpose of changing out of costumes and no additional storage for extra clothes. Costumes MAY include face coverings for the parade ONLY and may NOT include masks that cover their eyes in any way.  This is a safety precaution. 

Costumes that mimic the traditional attire of an ethnic, religious, racial, or gender group/identity are inappropriate and unacceptable for Halloween at our school. This includes dressing in clothing of the opposite gender. Pretending to be a member of a group for ‘fun’ is evidence of cultural appropriation and sends the message that cultural attire is a ‘costume’ to be donned for entertainment purposes. Additionally, do not wear costumes that require you to assume a racialized minority or other marginalized identity. Assuming such an identity for entertainment purposes trivializes and disrespects the oppression of the group. Examples of costumes that mimic ethnic, religious, racial, or gender group/identity include: 

• a caricature or representation of an Indigenous person by a person who does not have an Indigenous Identity (e.g. Pocahontas)

• a person who is Transgender 

• a person who is a Khalsa Sikh 

• a person who is a Hasidic Jewish person 

If students choose to dress up in a costume for Halloween, please ensure that they are contributing to the positive and prosocial climate that our school is cultivating around recognizing Halloween. Costumes that are intended to, or have the impact of, inciting fear and anxiety for others are not acceptable costumes, and special sensitivity needs to be exercised around current socially trending incidents, such as people dressing up as characters from popular media and approaching youth to frighten them at random. In the past, this has included scary clowns. 

Please remind students that Halloween costumes should not incite fear and anxiety. As such, please refrain from bringing replica weapons or wearing costume masks to school. 

Families are reminded to save ‘treats’ for home and not to include them in snacks and lunches following Oct. 31st. Many Halloween treats contain nuts (including tree nuts) or may contain nuts and are not allowed at school for the safety of our students who have prevalent medical conditions. 

Thank you for your support of students and families in our Tuck community.

Spirit Wear and Grad Hoodies!

Spirit Wear and Hoodies for Graduating students are now available for purchase. Please click here to be connected to the Virtual Store. 

Lost and Found

Please see the photos below of items that are in our lost and found.  Any items remaining when we do our Winter clothes drives will be donated. Thank you to the parents who help Subway Day run for taking photos of the lost and found. 

Hearing and Vision Screening (Updated with Link)

We shared the following information last week; however, the link to register for the screening was not included in the content. There is now a link on the third line. 

It’s Hearing and Vision Screening Time!

Our clinic will be at your school, John T. Tuck, on November 18th, 19th, 2026

Register your child and complete the payment through the Online Link

The deadline for registration is November 16th at 9 a.m., and the duration at the school may be adjusted based on student participation

Your child’s Hearing and Vision should be screened every year

 A fee of $25.00 is collected to help offset the cost of bringing this clinic to your school

Why Screening Matters:

• Growing children are very susceptible to middle ear problems, and one of the best ways to prevent hearing loss is early detection of middle ear function issues.

• Vision issues are common in children, so early detection is crucial for their healthy development and academic success.

Our screening program helps identify hearing and vision concerns before they impact learning and social development, ensuring children get the support they need to thrive. As part of the program, we will refer any results that are considered outside the normal range to the parents for follow-up with their physician and/or optometrist.

For hearing concerns, we recommend bringing your child’s result form to your physician, who can then refer you to an ENT specialist, which is covered by OHIP. Alternatively, you have the option to schedule an appointment with an Audiologist without needing a referral from your family physician. Please note that visits to an Audiologist may not be covered by OHIP, and you could incur a fee ranging from $75 to $150 or more.

Your child's hearing is not being monitored unless they're seeing an audiologist or an ENT specialist, making our screening program a valuable resource for your child's health.

While eye exams are covered by OHIP, our hearing clinic offers a basic vision screening for students participating in the hearing clinic.

For more information and to address all your questions and concerns, please visit our website at www.schoolscreeningassociation.ca.

Good Grades start with Good Hearing and Vision

Weekly Community Newsletter - October 16th, 2026

So many amazing things are happening at Tuck each week - as you can see by the table below!  We are so excited for our Senior Volleyball Teams, who began their seasons this week, as well as for our Senior Flag Football Team who played in their last tournament.  A quick reminder to families that during this transition into more fall weather, the temperatures can change drastically throughout the day. Please ensure students have the layers they need during the school day. 

The Annual Tuck Book Sale - New Date!

Cross Country T-Shirts

We are still looking for some of our school T-shirts that were used during Cross Country.  They can be differentiated from other spirit wear by the word ATHLETICS printed on them.  They can be returned to the office.

It’s Hearing and Vision Screening Time!

Our clinic will be at your school, John T. Tuck, on November 18^th, 19^th, 2026

Register your child and complete the payment through the Online Link

The deadline for registration is November 16^th at 9 a.m., and the duration at the school may be adjusted based on student participation

Your child’s Hearing and Vision should be screened every year

A fee of $25.00 is collected to help offset the cost of bringing this clinic to your school

Why Screening Matters:

• Growing children are very susceptible to middle ear problems, and one of the best ways to prevent hearing loss is early detection of middle ear function issues.

• Vision issues are common in children, so early detection is crucial for their healthy development and academic success.

Our screening program helps identify hearing and vision concerns before they impact learning and social development, ensuring children get the support they need to thrive. As part of the program, we will refer any results that are considered outside the normal range to the parents for follow-up with their physician and/or optometrist.

For hearing concerns, we recommend bringing your child’s result form to your physician, who can then refer you to an ENT specialist, which is covered by OHIP. Alternatively, you have the option to schedule an appointment with an Audiologist without needing a referral from your family physician. Please note that visits to an Audiologist may not be covered by OHIP, and you could incur a fee ranging from $75 to $150 or more.

Your child's hearing is not being monitored unless they're seeing an audiologist or an ENT specialist, making our screening program a valuable resource for your child's health.

While eye exams are covered by OHIP, our hearing clinic offers a basic vision screening for students participating in the hearing clinic.

For more information and to address all your questions and concerns, please visit our website at www.schoolscreeningassociation.ca.

Good Grades start with Good Hearing and Vision

Spirit Wear is Coming!

We wanted to let families know that we hope to have Spirit Wear Orders out for purchase within the next week.  Please keep an eye out for a message!

School Bus Safety Reminders

No Eating or Drinking on the School Bus

To ensure a safe, clean, and comfortable ride for all students, we would like to remind all families that eating and drinking are strictly prohibited on the school bus at all times (water is permitted).

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!

Municipal Elections 

The following information is shared on behalf of the City of Burlington, which oversees the administration of municipal elections in Burlington.

Burlington’s municipal election is taking place between Oct. 14 and 26. Make a plan to vote at myvoteburlington.ca. Have your say by voting for the Mayor, Regional and Local Councillors, and School Board Trustees.

Weekly Community Newsletter - October 9th, 2026

We had an incredible week here at Tuck - it has been busy! We would like to thank all the families who participated in our Pantry Food Collection. We are so grateful for your generosity.  We also want to congratulate the students who participated in Cross Country this week. We are so proud of our Cross Country team! Our students had an amazing meet on Monday, with every Grade team placing among the top schools. Even more exciting, five of our Grade teams finished in 1st place overall!! Here are the results:

A huge congratulations to all of our runners! We are incredibly proud of the hard work, determination, and school spirit they demonstrated throughout the season and at the meet. Ribbons will be handed out at a later date once they arrive at the school. We are still missing a number of jerseys and T-shirts. If you have one at home that was borrowed, please return it to the office or Mrs. Laurie as soon as possible, 

Student Safety Reminders - travelling to and from school

Families are reminded to please park on side streets according to city signage and bylaws.  We know that local bylaw officers have been ticketing cars that are not parked in appropriate areas. In particular, please do not stop or park adjacent to the fire hydrant on Spruce Ave, slightly east of our school property.  Thank you for keeping our students safe as they travel to and from school. 

Child and Youth Care Practitioner and School Social Worker

We would like to introduce our school’s Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYC-P): Amanda Mascola, and our School’s Social Worker (SW): Cathy McDonald.  Amanda and Cathy will be a part of the John T. Tuck community this year.

What is a CYC-P? CYC-Ps are an active and integral part of the school community, often participating in school-wide activities (e.g., well-being teams, youth engagement, parent/guardian/caregiver information sessions, etc.) with educators to enhance student well-being. Students receive mental health literacy and social-emotional learning while at school through the curriculum. As a complement to this learning, CYC-Ps promote mental health through sharing and co-leading  evidence-based social-emotional learning and activities to provide classwide programming. CYC-Ps are also part of response teams for all schools in the Halton District School Board (e.g., Traumatic Events Response Team and suicide risk screening). 

Parents/guardians/caregivers may receive notification letters and updates throughout the school year about evidence-based social-emotional literacy materials shared in classrooms with CYC-Ps. CYC-Ps can also provide specific opportunities for students through small group or individual sessions focusing on psychoeducation, well-being, and skill building. These sessions support students in reaching their goals. This is done in consultation with and with consent from parents/guardians/caregivers. 

What is a Social Worker? Social Workers are an integral part of the school community.  Social Workers work together with students,  parents/caregivers, staff, and community providers to help students feel well and have a positive school experience. Students learn ways to address their feelings and emotions through identity-affirming, evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Social Workers, like CYC-Ps, are also part of response teams for all schools in the HDSB. Access to a Social Worker is done through your child’s school with parent/guardian consent through the SRT process. Grade 7 and 8 students (who are 12 years of age or older) may provide independent consent to receive individual psychotherapeutic support 

How can Social Workers support students? Social Workers use psychotherapeutic interventions to support students on a variety of issues. These interventions are evidence-based and are identity-affirming to ensure that students feel that their voice is being heard and validated. Some interventions used include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Social Workers and students work towards goal-based outcomes.

Further information and additional support about the full complement of services from Student Well-Being 

Please refer to the HDSB Mental Health & Well-Being webpage for more information on the support parent section available to students at school and how to access this support

The Gingerbread Social - A Festive Family Event!

Please read the information below carefully.  On Tuesday, October 13th, a Google Form will be emailed to all families to be able to sign up. The form will close when we have a total of 250 individuals interested, as that is the capacity for the event.  School Cash Online information will be forwarded to those families we are able to accommodate.

Join us for an evening of gingerbread house decorating with a sprinkling of festive surprises along the way! Celebrate the season with sweet treats, laughter, and community spirit.

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Large and Small Gyms

Cost: $20 per family

Capacity: 250 people (first come, first served)

What to Bring:

A non-perishable food item for our donation bin to The Burlington Food Bank

Holiday decorations from your family’s traditions to help us decorate the space! Please donate by November 13.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! - The Gingerbread Social Planning Group

An Unplugged Thanksgiving

*From Tuck’s parent-led initiative, In Real Life:Community (IRL:Community), in partnership with Unplugged Canada* 

With Thanksgiving weekend around the corner, it’s the perfect time to trade a little screen time for play, connection, and exploring together.

Unplugged Canada has created a Thanksgiving Long Weekend BINGO challenge for families! 

Go on a nature walk, bake together, build a fort, look at the stars, play a board game, have a family dance party, or challenge yourselves to a screen-free day.

Download the attached BINGO card, put it on the fridge, and see how many squares your family can complete over the long weekend. Colour in a square each time you complete an activity and see if your family can get five in a row.

This Thanksgiving, let’s make a little more room for the things kids need most: time to play, connect, explore, and just be together.

Happy Thanksgiving from Unplugged Halton! 

Take action as part of the Tuck community and sign the Unplugged Canada pledge!

Families are encouraged to join the movement by taking the Unplugged Pledge. The more families in our community who sign, the more social pressures ease, and we shift the culture around when we give our kids their first smartphone. Once five or more families  

Sign the Pledge Here

The Annual Tuck Book Swap Is Back - Rain or Shine!!!

Tuck’s Book Swap Collection is on Tuesday, October 13th! Spend part of your long weekend cleaning out your bookshelves! We are looking for books for all ages and interests to be donated to our annual Book Swap.

Drop off your used and gently loved books at the Parent Coffee Morning Tent on Tuesday, October 13th (from 9-9:30 am). Book collections will continue in the bin by Door 2 on the mornings of the 14th and 15th . We are excited to swap and share your much-loved books at our upcoming swap event - let’s keep fostering a love for reading!

Weekly Community Newsletter - October 2nd, 2026

It is hard to believe that October is already here!  School is in full swing now.  Please note that if you would like to stay up to date with what is going on at JTT, we do our very best to keep our Web Calendar up to date. 

Pantry Food Drive

John T. Tuck is once again hosting a Community Food Program Collection on Tues. Oct. 6, Wed. Oct. 7 and  Thurs. Oct. 8

Please bring all donations on these days to the BLACKTOP between 9:05 am - 9:20 am. Each grade is collecting the items listed in the chart below. Thank you for your support and generosity!

Mrs. Oppermann, Mrs. Laurie, Grade 3 Students

The Annual Tuck Book Swap Is Back

THE ANNUAL TUCK BOOK SWAP IS BACK!

One of our treasured Tuck Gives Back initiatives is our annual book swap event. 

Let’s foster a love of reading while we support the Halton Learning Foundation. 

Collection Day: Tuesday, October 13th 

Donate your used and gently loved books to our collection bins on the blacktop. Collection bins will be available at drop-off alongside our Parent Coffee Morning. Collection will continue at drop-off by Door 2 on October 14th and 15th. 

Swap/Sale Day: Friday, October 16th

The Book Swap/Sale will take place on the blacktop at pick-up 

All books will be on display for students and parents to refresh their home libraries. Suggested donation of $1/book. All proceeds will go to support the Halton Learning Foundation, which helps to eliminate financial barriers to education for elementary and high school students in Halton. (Rain date Monday, October 19th).

Thank you for your support!

Weekly Community Newsletter - September 28th, 2026

It was a beautiful day for our Terry Fox run.  We would like to thank our Tuck community for their donations, which brought us to 110% of our goal!  Our school raised just under $6500! 

Important Dates

• Monday, September 28th - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am

• Monday, September 28th - Class 2-2 and ⅔-1 to Halton Safety Village

• Tuesday, September 29th - Photo Day!

• Tuesday, September 29th - Senior Girls’ Volleyball Tryouts - 11 am

• Thursday, October 1st - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am

• Friday, October 2nd - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am

• Monday, October 5th - Cross Country Meet for grades 3 - 8

Cross Country Map and Race Order

Our Cross Country Meet is on October 5th at Sherwood Park. For those of you who have students participating in the Cross Country Meet on October 5th, we wanted to share the race map and order of the races.  A reminder to families that there is no parking on site; parking is only available on side roads near the park.

Races start at 10 am and follow this order:

• Grade 3 Girls (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 3 Boys (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 4 Girls (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 4 Boys (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 5 Girls (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 5 Boys (Heat A & Heat B)

• Grade 6 Girls, then Boys

• Grade 7 Girls, then Boys

• Grade 8 Girls, then Boys

Intermediate Music Extracurriculars Starting Next Week!

• Concert Band: Rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 29 and will run every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:10 AM. Open to any student with at least one year of playing experience on their instrument.

• Jazz Band: Rehearsals begin Wednesday, October 7 and will run every Wednesday at 8:10 AM. Grade 7 and 8 students interested in joining should see Mr. Hoover.

• Rock & Roll Club: First meeting is Monday, September 28, at first break. Open to Grade 7 and 8 students who play bass, drums, keyboard, guitar, or sing.

Feel free to contact Mr. Hoover if you have any questions - hooverb@hdsb.ca

Annual Offence Declaration

Please be reminded that an Annual Offence Declaration must be signed if we have a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) on file from the previous school year (2025–26).

If you plan to volunteer for any school activities this year, such as pizza days, field trips, or other events, please ensure that you complete the annual declaration.

You can complete the declaration using the link here, or you are welcome to stop by the office to sign a physical copy.

Please note that if the declaration is not received annually, the VSC will become invalid under Board policy. In that case, you will be required to submit a new Vulnerable Sector Check that has been completed within six months of submitting the police check.

Thank you for your cooperation and for supporting our school community through volunteering.

Community Food Program Collection 

John T. Tuck is once again hosting a Community Food Program Collection - Tues. Oct. 6, Wed. Oct. 7, and Thurs. Oct. 8

Please bring all donations on these days to the BLACKTOP between 9:05 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. Each grade is collecting the items listed in the chart below.  Thank you for your support and generosity!

~ Mrs. Oppermann, Mrs. Laurie, Grade 3 Students

The Annual Tuck Book Swap Is Back

One of our treasured Tuck Gives Back initiatives is our annual book swap event.  Let’s foster a love of reading while we support the Halton Learning Foundation. 

Collection Day: Tuesday, October 13th 

Donate your used and gently loved books to our collection bins on the blacktop. Collection bins will be available at drop-off alongside our Parent Coffee Morning. Collection will continue at drop-off by Door 2 on October 14th and 15th. 

Swap/Sale Day: Friday, October 16th

The Book Swap/Sale will take place on the blacktop at pick-up 

All books will be on display for students and parents to refresh their home libraries. Suggested donation of $1/book. All proceeds will go to support the Halton Learning Foundation, which helps to eliminate financial barriers to education for elementary and high school students in Halton. (Rain date: Monday, October 19th).

Thank you for your support!

Weekly Community Newsletter - September 18th, 2026

One of our families captured this beautiful picture of the rainbow over the school on Tuesday morning, and it definitely reflects how we felt about this week at Tuck! 

Important Dates

• Monday, September 21st - Cross Country Practice @ 8:30 am

• Monday, September 21st - Final Flag Football Tryout @ 11am

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Cross Country Practice @ 8:30 am

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Senior Girls Volleyball Tryouts @ 11 am

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Flag Football Practice @ 1:20pm

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Terry Fox Run - last block

• Wednesday, September 23rd - ½-1 and 2-1 to Safety Village

• Thursday, September 24th - Cross Country Practice @ 8:30 am

• Friday, September 25th - Flag Football Tournament 

Pizza, Subway, Hero Burger, Popcorn Chicken!!!

Term 1 Pizza and Subway orders are currently open on School Cash Online. Orders for Pizza and Subway close on October 1st.  Term 1 Subway will begin on October 6th and Term 1 Pizza will begin on October 8th. Thank you to our School Council for organizing these food days. 

At our September School Council meeting, we also discussed a one-day trial to see if families might be interested in other food options. Therefore, we are offering two other ONE-DAY opportunities for food ordering as a trial: Hero Burger on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 (orders close on September 28th) and Popcorn Chicken from Ginos on Friday, October 2nd (orders close on September 28th).  The Popcorn Chicken was just added to School Cash online today, Friday, September 18th.  Once we have completed the two trial days for these food options, we will seek feedback from the community before deciding if we want to move forward with either/both options. 

Terry Fox Run

Thank you for helping us work toward our goal of raising $5,900 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve already reached 20% of our goal. What a fantastic start! Let’s keep the momentum going and continue pushing toward our fundraising goal.

Please consider making a donation through our school’s Terry Fox fundraising page here: John T. Tuck online fundraising page. Every contribution, big or small, helps support life-changing cancer research.

We look forward to coming together for our Terry Fox Run on Tuesday, September 22, as we show our support for Terry’s legacy and the ongoing fight against cancer.

Thank you for your continued support!

Lauren Shaw & Shelley Spivak

Parent Involvement Committee

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 Scholars!

Scholars’ Hub is a free, in-person academic support initiative led by experienced Halton District School Board (HDSB) educators. Scholars’ Hub provides targeted academic support in a supportive, engaging learning environment.

Who Can Participate?

The program is open to Grade 7–8 students from elementary schools that feed into

Nelson High School, including:  Tecumseh PS, John T. Tuck PS, Frontenac PS, Pineland PS and Burlington Central PS.

Students will attend sessions at the secondary school their elementary school feeds into, helping them become familiar with the high school environment.

What Does the Program Offer?

• Focused support in literacy and numeracy in a welcoming, encouraging environment to build skills and confidence

• Homework help and guided practice

• Support for the transition to secondary school

• Smaller class sizes with individualized attention and meaningful learning support

Program Schedule

Scholars’ Hub is offered for five weeks, with students attending two sessions per week.

Location: Nelson High School

Time: 4:15-6:45 pm

Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

First session: October 5 - November 6

Spots will be given to students on a first-come, first-served basis.  Registration will close on September 27, 2026.

Register today at:  Nelson Scholars' Hub Session 1 Registration Link

Weekly Community Newsletter - September 11th, 2026

Thank you to all our families who came out to our Open House last night. It was wonderful to see so many students and their caregivers visiting classrooms.   

Important Dates

• Monday, September 14th - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am (students only, please)

• Monday, September 14th - School Council Meeting @7:00 pm

• Tuesday, September 15th - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am (students only, please)

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Terry Fox Run

• Thursday, September 17th - Cross Country Practice at 8:30 am (students only, please)

School Council Meeting

We will be having our first School Council Meeting on Monday, September 14th, 2026 at 7 pm in our school library. If you are interested in holding an elected position on our School Council for the upcoming school year, please complete this Nomination Form by September 13th, 2026. 

Pizza Days and Subway Days

We will finalize plans for Pizza and Subway food days at our September School Council meeting. Please look out for more information in emails next week. 

Year of Giving

We are so grateful to have a generous school community here at John T. Tuck.  The infographic below provides an overview of the ways in which we give back to our school and larger community over the course of the school year.  Some initiatives, such as the Dance-a-Thon and Scholastic Book Fair, directly support our students. Other initiatives support communities in need in the larger Burlington and Halton area. We share it so that families can see the different initiatives that take place and so you can decide if and when it may work for your family to contribute. 

Weekly Community Newsletter - September 4th, 2025

Welcome Back, JT Tuck Families! We hope all of our families have had a safe and restful summer break.  We are so excited to have our Cougars back with us on Tuesday morning for another amazing school year!

Much of the information below includes important information for families, both those who are new to the school community and those who are returning. Please read the information carefully.  

Important Dates

• Friday, September 4th - Class/Educator assignments communicated via School Messenger

• Monday, September 7th - Labour Day - No School for Students

• Tuesday, September 8th - First Day of School! Meet your educators outside at 9:05 am!

• Thursday, September 10th - Open House

• Monday, September 14th - School Council Meeting @7:00 pm

Class Assignments

Emails regarding class and educator assignments were set to run through School Messenger at 5 pm on September 4th, 2026. Because of the volume of messages being sent simultaneously, it is possible that you may not receive that email until later in the day.  If you have not received a School Messenger message for a child by the morning of Sunday, September 6th, please email Mareika Smith at smithmar@hdsb.ca, indicating your child’s first and last name, and you will receive an email on Monday, September 7th, with their class code and educator assignment.  

We want to assure you that we have put considerable time and thought into class building. We take into account the learning and social needs and strengths of all students when building classes. We want to be transparent in sharing that we will not be making changes to class placements.  We kindly ask that you support your child(ren) with the transition to a new school year, a new class with new classmates and educators.  We, too, will support all your children this time.  They will make new friends, become accustomed to new routines, and get to know their classmates and educators. The first week of school is a very busy one in the office; concerns about class placement will be followed up by one of the school administrators by the end of the 2nd week of school. 

First Day of School Procedures

• Educators will be outside to greet students and their families at 9:05 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8th.  They will each have a sign with their names and class code clearly displayed. There will be additional staff on the blacktop with class lists and maps if anyone needs help. 

• Homeroom educators will be greeting students close to their entry doors:

• FDK Classes will meet in one of the two kindie penned areas: KF-1 and KF-2 are in the East Pen, and KF-3 and  KF-4 will be in the West Pen. 

• Grades 1 and 2 students (including ⅔) will meet their teacher outside Door #2 

• Grades 3 and 4 (including the ¾)  students will meet their teachers by the portables. 

• Grades 5 and 6 (including ⅘) will meet outside Door #6 

• Grades 7 & 8 will meet outside Door #7. 

• Homeroom teachers will take their students to their classrooms at approximately 9:20, using their entry door for the whole year (as above). Additional staff will remain on the blacktop to ensure that all students have found their class.

• Please ensure your child knows their dismissal plan for the end of the day (school bus, child care bus, Before/After program, walk home with a parent/guardian, walk with a sibling) so that this can be communicated to their educator and documented for dismissal. If a parent/guardian/sibling is picking up a child, it will be in the same location as their morning lineup spot. 

Coffee on the First Day of School!

School Council is excited to welcome families back to school and will be offering free coffee for parents/guardians during first-day drop-off on Wednesday,  September 3rd. Look for the big red tent, grab a cup of morning smiles, and stay to hang out and meet with other parents!

Open House -  Thursday, September 10th

We have scheduled our Welcome Back BBQ and Open House on Thursday, September 10th.  Parents and students are welcome to join us as early as 5:15 pm for dinner.  We will have some tables set up, but not nearly enough for the whole school, so please feel free to bring a blanket and have a family picnic!  To avoid the long lines, plan on coming early and connect with others in our school community on the playground area.  Dinner will finish promptly at 6:30 pm.

We have Troy's Catering coming to the event, and they will set up on our blacktop and offer a variety of items for dinner.  Pre-ordering or pre-payment is not necessary, and they will accept cash or credit. See below for a list of menu items.

At 6:30 pm, but not sooner, parents and students will be welcomed into the school to visit classrooms and meet teachers.  The evening will finish up at 7:30 pm.

Food in the Classroom and Medical Perils

We would like to ensure that families are aware that food cannot be brought from home to be shared with other students, even for celebrations (ie, birthdays).  We have many students with not only anaphylaxis accommodations but also other dietary needs (ie, gluten-free, dairy-free), and we do not want educators or families to find themselves in challenging or dangerous situations. 

If you would like to send items for celebrations, they must be non-food items, must be individually wrapped, and will only be distributed at the end of the day. 

There may be situations where educators bring food into the classroom learning environment (eg, baking with students). In those situations, educators will be aware of the medical peril needs in their classrooms. They will also be communicating with families ahead of time to ensure that all dietary needs are being respected. 

Additionally, please be incredibly mindful of the food that is sent with students in their lunches. All HDSB schools are peanut and tree-nut-free environments, as per Sabrina’s Law.  In particular, please be aware of products that contain chocolate hazelnut spread (ie: Nutella or similar products).  Often, these spreads look like they are only chocolate-based, but they contain allergens for students with tree-nut allergies.  

Dropping Items off for Students 

We know there are rare instances where a child forgets something at home, and it needs to be dropped off at school. If this happens,  items can be left in the office, labelled clearly with your child’s name and classroom teacher. They will be called down to receive the item at a time that is the least disruptive to their learning.

Late Arrivals

The entry bell rings at 9:15 am, and announcements and attendance take place at 9:20 am. On the rare occasion that your child arrives after this time, please have them enter through the front door so that they can sign themselves in and we can ensure that our attendance records are accurate. 

Mid-day Appointments/Pickups

We recognize that there are rare occasions when a child may need to be picked up early. Your child will be called down for dismissal once a parent or guardian has arrived at the school and has rung the doorbell to let us know that they are here to have them dismissed. We do not call students down before their parent or guardian has arrived. 

We are not able to dismiss students between 3:20 and 3:40 as it is too difficult to locate students promptly when classes are preparing for the end of the day. 

Dogs on School Property during Entry and Dismissal Times

A reminder that while dogs are allowed on school property during entry and dismissal times, we ask that they please be walked by a parent or guardian to ensure the safety of all students.  We ask that dogs be kept off the blacktop area. 

Stay Connected

Weekly Community Newsletter - August 28th, 2026

Welcome Back, JT Tuck Families! We hope all of our families have had a safe and restful summer break.  We are so excited to have our Cougars back with us for another amazing school year!

This is our first of TWO Welcome Back emails. The next email will be in a week’s time (September 4th) and will contain the bulk of the information you need for back to school.  Today’s message is focused on ensuring families are aware of a few key upcoming dates! 

Important Dates

• Tuesday September 1st - School Tour for families new to JTT Tuck at 1 pm

• Wednesday, September 2nd and 3rd - Professional Activities Day for Educators

• Thursday, September 3rd - New to Kindie Meet and Greet from 2:30 - 3:30 pm 

• Friday, September 4th - Class and Teacher Assignments Communication (5 pm)

• Monday, September 7th - Labour Day

• Tuesday, September 8th - First Day of School - Join School Council for Coffee on the Blacktop

• Thursday, September 10th - Open House 5- 7:30 pm, classroom visits from 6:30 - 7:30 pm