September 2nd, 2022

Imagining the first day of school without knowing our teachers or classes 

WRDSB shared today that School Day is not functioning. See more info here. This means that students in WRDSB schools, including Empire, will not find out their teacher until they arrive Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday morning, at Empire, as kindergarten students arrive (walking or off the bus) they will be greeted at the front of the school by our DECEs and kindergarten teachers. Please consider putting a first name and last initial label on their person or backpack

Bus students in grades 1 to 6 will walk around the school to the back tarmac where staff will be waiting. Siblings in grades 1 to 6 are encouraged to walk together as staff will have an alphabetical list of all students.

Walkers and students dropped off by car may arrive by 9:05. This is when supervision begins and when our staff will be on the back tarmac assisting students in finding their teachers and classes. Homeroom staff will have their classes marked off with a pylon and signage with homeroom teacher’s names and class codes on the back field. Other staff with clipboards will be helping students and families find their class.

It will be chaos but we hope it is joyful chaos! We have over 500 students who will be trying to seek information and head to the appropriate place. We ask that only one adult family member come to the back tarmac/field as you can see how our numbers could multiply rapidly if we have several parents, and other caregivers etc. Where appropriate, older siblings are encouraged to assist younger ones and say goodbyes to caregivers at the front. We also ask that all canine family members say goodbye to students at the front of the school – thank you for respecting our no dogs rule behind the school where students gather.

To help you narrow in on the possible staff teaching your child’s grade, here is our homeroom list:

K1 J Suckert, A Wright, and C Needler

K2 C Mills (K Munroe)

K3 M Wiltshire, S Arnott, A Wright

K4 M Rowland, A Ficic

K6 M Wilton, S Wettlaufer

Gr 1/2A- L Edmonds

Gr 1/2B- S Holmes

Gr 2/3C- W Bahab

Gr 3/4C- A Bossenberry

Gr 3/4D- T Crawford

Gr 4/5C- D Hughes

Gr 5/6C- A Shaw

Gr 6A- J Gilbert

ABLE Class- A Duquette, B Benian

1A FI- L Wright

1B FI- S Bezaire

2A FI- C Knishchewsky

2/3A FI- K Ganaha

2/3B FI- L Michael

3/4A FI- M Black

3/4B FI- M Marshcall

4/5A FI- S Brown

4/5B FI- L Daigle

5/6A FI- P Pettit

5/6B FI- M Hope 

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday at 9:05. We know that students will be nervous with this change of practice due to School Day being shut down and schools being unable to post class lists in windows as was done in the past. We hope that along with nerves, students (and families) are feeling excitement, anticipation and hope about starting a brand new school year here at Empire.  

Our office is closed Monday due to Labour Day. Our office opens at 8:30 AM on Tuesday. You may receive some old fashioned paperwork on Monday.  Then stay tuned for updates as to when School Day will be up and running. 

Thanks so much,

Lori Williams, Principal, Empire PS