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School Newsletter

Sunningdale School Logo, A Yellow Stringray with a Blue Background

September Newsletter

Principal's Message đŸ‘©đŸ»â€đŸ«

As the leaves begin to change and the cooler autumn air sets in, our school community has settled into the routines of the school year. September was all about establishing connections, expectations and building relationships. Now in October we're focused on building momentum in our learning.

With the change in weather, please remember to send your child to school with extra layers so they stay comfortable during outdoor recess and phys. ed. October also brings several important events, including the Terry Fox fundraising walk, Photo day, a professional development day for staff as well as Thanksgiving and much more, so please review the newsletter calendar carefully for upcoming dates. October is also the month when we take a moment to recognize our Custodial staff and all they do to keep our schools healthy and safe. As well as acknowledging the important impact that our educators make during World Teacher Day.

Thank you for everything you do to support our school community. We are pleased to let families know that, this year, the school will be allocating $10 per student from funds raised through our school fundraising initiatives to help offset the cost of one field trip. This is one of the ways we are able to put our fundraising proceeds back into supporting meaningful experiences and opportunities for all of our students. We appreciate the support of our school community in making this possible! Your voice and perspective matter to us, and we would love to invite you to our first School Council meeting of the 2026–27 school year on Monday, October 5th. 

We look forward to a fabulous month of learning together!

Your Sunningdale Team

Truth and Reconciliation Day - Orange Shirt Day at Sunningdale 🟧

Students participated in a mindfulness walk on Truth and Reconciliation Day. The students from 4-3 helped to hold up the questions for some mindful reflection about our land and the people, plants and animals that occupy this space or have occupied this space before us. Teachers supported their students by helping guide the reflection and continued the learning back in their classes with some mindful poems about their scenes and their feelings of being on treaty land. It was a beautiful day to celebrate and notice all the beauty we have around us and the history of the land our school is on.  

   

Mark Your Calendars đŸ—“ïž

Oct 1 - Cross Country Meet, Sherwood Forest Park

Oct 2 - First Pizza Lunch Day (Oct. 2nd-Dec. 11th)

Oct 2 - Custodial Workers' Recognition Day

Oct 2 - School Council Nomination Forms Due

Oct 5 - World Teacher Day

Oct 5 - School Council Mtg 6:30-8:00pm 

Oct 6 - School Photo day 

Oct 7 - Terry Fox Walk 

Oct 9 - PD Day - no school 

Oct 12 - Thanksgiving Day - no school 

Oct 13 - “Fantastique Fall” Food Drive begins

Oct 14 - Flag Football Tournament, City View Park

Oct 26 - Municipal Election Site at Sunningdale

Oct 29 - School Dance & End of Fall Food Drive

Nov 5 - Grade 7 & 8 Vaccination Clinic at Sunningdale

White Oaks SS - International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Information Night 📚

White Oaks SS is pleased to offer an opportunity for Grade 8 students and parents / guardians to learn more about our IB Program.  The information sessions will take place on Thursday October 15 in our South Campus Cafeteria (1330 Montclair Drive).  We are holding a session at 6 pm and will repeat the presentation at 7 pm.

The presentation will allow families to learn about the amazing opportunities that an IB education provides, how to apply, and to hear from current IB students and staff members.

There is no need to pre-register for either information session - all are welcome to attend! 

Any questions can be directed to the school (905 845 5200) and further information is found on the White Oaks SS IB Website.  We look forward to seeing you on October 15 at either 6 pm or 7 pm!

White Oaks SS High School Information Night - Hold the date 

Grade 8 information night for families will be held on Thursday November 5 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Sunningdale School Spirit Wear 👕

Coming Soon - watch for an email with more information 

Staring into the closet every morning asking, "What am I supposed to wear today?"

We have the ultimate solution: School Spirit Wear!

Throw on a cozy hoodie, pop on a t-shirt, and boom—instant outfit, zero morning debate, and maximum school pride. It’s practically a uniform, but way more comfortable.

Whether you're gearing up for Friday Spirit Days, repping your school at events, or just looking for an easy go-to option for those rushed weekday mornings - we have you covered.

Sunningdale Athletics 🏐

🏀 Junior Basketball season is starting at Sunningdale!
This year, junior basketball will be during the months of October and November, instead of April and May. Tryouts will be starting next week, with the team being finalized in the coming weeks.

Best of luck to all the Stingrays trying out.

đŸƒđŸœâ€â™€ïž Cross Country
Our Cross Country meet was on Thursday, October 1 and it was outstanding!!!  Our student athletes did a fabulous job competing for and representing our school.  Congratulations to each and every one of you for your effort!!  Truly appreciated.

🏐 Senior Volleyball
Our senior volleyball teams are made and have been practicing early mornings in preparation for the upcoming season.  Both teams open the season on the 13th of October.  Stay tuned for more updates as the season unravels.

🏈 Flag Football 
Our senior Flag football team will be competing at 2 tournaments in the coming weeks. Players are doing great and we will keep preparing to represent and compete for Sunningdale.

“Fantastique Fall” Food Drive & Dance đŸȘ©đŸ‚ 

In the spirit of the season, we are holding a non-perishable food drive to support our local community, leading up to a fun fall dance. Students are invited to bring in non-perishable food items. Please give the donations to your homeroom teacher.  All donations will go to support local food banks. 

Food Drive Collection: Tuesday, Oct. 13th till Thursday, Oct. 29th

Dance Date: Thursday, October 29th. Students are welcome to dress up in what makes them happy, wear festive colours like orange and black or school appropriate costumes (no face coverings or weapons are permitted as part of costumes).

Eco Update 🌳

Packing a waste-free lunch is an easy, exciting way for your family to help transform Sunningdale PS into a leader in environmental citizenship! By ditching single-use items like disposable cutlery, plastic baggies, and individually wrapped snacks in favor of reusable containers, water bottles, and cloth napkins, we can stop mountains of plastic from ending up in our local landfills and Great Lakes watersheds. Every reusable lunch item helps lower our carbon footprint, protects local wildlife from harmful microplastics, and replaces a "throwaway culture" with habits of care and stewardship. When we choose reusable containers together every morning, we help fulfill Sunningdale's commitment to building a greener future while teaching our kids that small, everyday choices can make a world of difference!

Music Notes đŸŽ¶

Welcome back Grade 8 Sunningdale Band!  Band practises will be held Wednesdays at 8:00 A.M. in the music room from September through May.  Our first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, September 23rd. 

Students should enter through the front doors between 7:50 and 8:00 A.M.   

This year the grade 8 band will be involved in a number of extra-curricular music events.  The first event will be the Remembrance Day ceremony and then the Sunningdale Winter Concert in December.  Mark your calendars as the Winter concert will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2026.

Science at Sunningdale 🔬

Dear Sunningdale Parents and Guardians,

That’s not a tent on our playing field; it's all part of a national biodiversity research project that our Grade 6-8 students are participating in.

 photo of a tent in a field

During the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 academic periods, Sunningdale Public School will participate in a national insect biodiversity research initiative conducted by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph. This project provides our school community with a valuable opportunity to contribute to authentic scientific research and explore the local ecosystem.

A Malaise trap has been deployed near the berm in the school’s rear yard. The trap will remain operational throughout September and October, and again from April through June. Students in Grades 6 to 8 will engage with the study’s findings as part of their Science curriculum. To learn more about the initiative or view ongoing research results, please visit the official BugQuest website .

To ensure accurate data collection for the university, we kindly request your support in instructing your children to remain clear of the Malaise trap. Emphasizing the importance of leaving the equipment undisturbed will help maintain the integrity of the research sample.

Executive Functioning Services for Students Gr 7-12 đŸ—’ïž

Grade 7-12 Learning Strategy Drop-in Sessions

These sessions are offered bi-monthly, after school (4-4:45pm). Topics include: time management, planning and organization, attention strategies, stress management, procrastination, study strategies and test-taking skills. Additionally, specific strategies for: note-taking, reading textbooks, and organizing ideas for writing. 

Students can join the Google meeting link with their HDSB emails at the time of the session at 4:00pm.  Session list (with meeting links) No registration is required

Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Conference 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

Saturday, Oct. 24

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

School Council Corner đŸ«

Follow Sunningdale School Council on Instagram @sunningdalecouncil

School Council Meetings are held at 6:30 in the Sunningdale Library:

Oct 5th next meeting Nov 2nd 

Please note that you may join the meeting virtually using the following Google Meet Link 

Please think about attending this year's HDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Conference. All parents/guardians and community members are invited 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. More information can be found in the PIC section above.

Looking to Volunteer at Sunningdale đŸ™‹đŸŒâ€â™‚ïž

Make sure to get your Police Record Check completed.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. All volunteers must meet provincial requirements and under regulation O.Reg. 298/25, effective April 1, 2026 school boards are now required to collect a new Police Record Check (PRC) with Vulnerable Sector Check for volunteers, in the jurisdiction that they reside, every five (5) years before volunteering in schools.

Visit Volunteer in HDSB Schools for more information.

Halton Learning Foundation - Back to School Campaign 🚌

Help  00 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.

FAQ

Parent Handbook



Pizza Days 2025-26 - Mark Your Calendars

Term 1 (9 weeks running Oct 3 - Dec 12): 

Opens:  Wed. Sept 3rd

Closes: Sun Sept 28th

 ****NO PIZZA ON FRI DEC 19th EARLY DISMISSAL DAY****  School Messenger Reminder set up to remind parents and to remind them to bring a lunch that day.  It is mentioned on the school calendar as well.

Term 2 (9 weeks running Jan 9 - Mar 13):

Opens: Mon Nov 24th

Closes: Sun Jan 4th

Term 3 (10 weeks running Mar 27 - June 19):

Opens Mon Jan 26th

Closes: Sun Mar 22nd

If your child has a Plan of Care, please remind them to bring their Epi Pen and/or puffer to the
office to be stored. A second one should be on them at all times.

Medical Forms for Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions

If your child has a prevalent life-threatening medical condition (e.g., anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, seizures), the school must have a Plan of Care in place. 

Just a reminder to those parents who have a child with a prevalent medical condition and a Plan of Care was completed last year at Pineland to please return the HDSB ANNUAL REVIEW OF MEDICAL INFORMATION FORM 


Thank you for ensuring that any epipens, puffers, and essential medications are sent to school on or before the first day along with all of the appropriate completed forms. 

If your child has a NEW or CHANGE in medical diagnosis, please complete one of the following forms to initiate the process for your child’s revised Plan of Care with Mme Difelice:


All NEWLY prescribed medicines that students have to take at school MUST have the appropriate form completed and signed off by a Regulated Health Professional (medication dispensed by school personnel or self-administered by student). If the completed and signed forms are not brought in at the same time as the medication, we will not be allowed to administer the medication.  If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

Volunteers in Schools  2025-26

As you welcome (and welcome back) volunteers in your schools, please note:

  • All volunteers will have a Criminal Background Check which includes vulnerable sector screening. 

  • If there is a Criminal Background Check with vulnerable sector screening on file at the school, the volunteer is required to complete the Halton District School Board's Annual Offence Declaration for subsequent years.

  • The Halton Regional Police Service now has an online process for residents who require a police record check. Note: There are many online background check services (e.g., mybackcheck.com) on the internet. These services do not include vulnerable sector screening, a requirement for HDSB volunteering.  

  • For reference: HDSB Volunteer Application Form

 

Introducing the Aspen Family Portal: Access Student Info and Report Cards Online

We are pleased to share that the Halton District School Board (HDSB) is launching the Aspen Family Portal, a login-protected space where parents/guardians can access:

  • Student information: View demographics, contact details and real-time attendance records.

  • Report cards: Access your child’s report cards electronically through the portal. While this will eventually replace paper copies, families will continue to receive hard copies until the portal has been officially rolled out to all schools, unless a paper copy is specifically requested. Once your account is active, any report cards that become available in the Aspen Family Portal will remain accessible for future reference.

  • One-stop access to important links: Easily access important and useful HDSB-approved websites, eliminating the need to search for or save essential links.

Activate your Aspen Family Portal Account

The Aspen Family Portal is being launched to HDSB schools in phases. You are receiving this email because your child’s school is currently activating accounts. 

To activate your Aspen Family Portal account, you must have a valid email address on file with your child’s school. 

  • Some families may have created an Aspen account when registering their child for school. If you have already created an Aspen account, you do not need to activate a new one to access the Aspen Family Portal. 

  • If you did not create an Aspen account when registering your child for school, you can now activate your account using the email address on file at your child’s school (the same email address you use for SchoolMessenger). To activate your account, follow the instructions on the Aspen Family Portal webpage.

To learn more about the Aspen Family Portal, including instructions on how to activate your account, log in and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), visit the Aspen Family Portal webpage on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca).

Code of Conduct & Discriminatory & Harmful Language Protocol

The Halton District School Board is committed to a whole school approach to create safe, caring, equitable, and inclusive school environments through the adoption of a Code of Conduct which promotes respect, civility, responsibility and academic excellence, and sets clear standards of behaviour for all members of the school community. The goal is to create a positive school climate where every student, staff and member of the school community feels safe, included and accepted. The Board supports all students in developing healthy relationships, making good choices, continuing their learning and achieving success. The Code of Conduct is reviewed with students throughout the year including an assembly with our intermediate students to review the expectations. 

Shared are the links for review at home: HDSB Code of Conduct

Discriminatory & Harmful Language Protocol link


Reminders: If you are driving your children to school, please remember that there is no parking on school property 

Traffic Safety is very important for everyone! Walking and cycling is an option for getting to and from school. Please review traffic safety with your child or walk/cycle with them if possible. We do not have on site parking for parents and cars should NOT be entering the front or back parking lots, unless it is arranged for early pick up and is before 3:30pm. For safety our school parking spots are limited and for staff only. When picking up or dropping off your child(ren), cars are not to stop on Oxford Ave.

Bus Pick Up: Parents/guardians should be waiting at the bus stop with their younger children
and if the child is old enough to be there on their own, families should have a “back up plan” in the event the child misses the bus. The child should always know what this plan is. In winter if the bus is delayed the back up plan should indicate how long a child(ren) should wait and next steps if they feel they “missed the bus”. 

If there is an unexpected change to a student’s usual after school arrangement: parents
should write a note in the student’s agenda so that the teacher that is in the child’s classroom at
the end of the day can reference the agenda if there is any uncertainty. If a teacher is absent
that particular day, any email sent to the teacher would not be received.

Late arrival, early dismissal and full day absences: please report these prior to and up to
10 a.m. on the day of through the Student Attendance Portal (School Messenger). Emails are
not to be used to convey this important information.

Dropping off lunches and forgotten items during the school day: Please use the drop off
cart located outside of the front doors of the school. Please label items and ensure the student’s
name is clearly legible. If you know the class, please include that. Students will pick up their
item (which will have been brought inside to the indoor student pick up table) at the appropriate
break time.

Label student belongings: Please take a minute and label lunch bags, shoes, coats and
anything that may be misplaced at school. We donate so many unclaimed “lost and found”
items during the school year but if an item is labelled with the students’ name then these
valuable items can be reunited with the student.

At Sunningdale our school motto is, Be a Ray, lead the way! We believe that it is important to promote this statement within our broader community as well. We want to ensure all families have their basic needs met. Our Angel Fund helps to provide the financial resources to support these many needs including clothing, backpacks, field trips, grocery gift cards, etc. If you are interested in supporting our Angel Fund, you can donate through our school cash online.

If you are a family who requires this support, please reach out to us; contact our school Principal
bardellt@hdsb.ca or your child’s teacher. All requests are kept strictly confidential.

On behalf of our school community, we thank you in advance for making a difference!

Make a Donation

HDSB’s Fashion Forward; Open Houses held in March and April
Fashion Forward is an initiative that provides Halton District School Board students an opportunity to select
donated formal wear, at no cost, for their upcoming prom and graduation celebrations.

To browse for formal wear, students can attend one of the Fashion Forward Open Houses:
Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23 from 3:30 - 8 p.m at Rolling Meadows Public School (1522 Mountain
Grove, Burlington)

Students are required to bring student identification to the Open House they attend.

A more private shopping opportunity will be available from 3 - 3:30 p.m. during the Open Houses for
anyone who would benefit from it.

Free webinar series for parents/caregivers: Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health from School Mental Health Ontario

We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being.

School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub,
designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to children’s mental health.

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:
  • balanced device use
  • vaping
  • body image
  • anxiety

The webinars will also include responses to questions submitted in advance, giving the opportunity to
ask questions and receive practical guidance.
Sessions run March to June

Register for free today!

We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series.

Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities

Sunningdale School Schedule
Transportation Information
Student Technology
Health & Safety Reminders
Anti Black Racism*
Coyote Awareness*
Public Health Info*