Shipyard Elementary - Principal's Message

Principal's Message

Sep 1, 2022

Hello Parents and Guardians:

I am pleased to welcome you and your children to Shipyard Elementary. With the first day of classes just around the corner, teachers and support staff have been working hard to ensure your child’s first day of school is a success.

By Friday afternoon, your child’s teacher will contact you via email to welcome you and provide additional information prior to the first day of school on Tuesday, September 6. This is an exciting time for you and your child as they begin or resume their elementary school experience. You can be assured that our teachers and support staff will work tirelessly to provide a quality educational experience for all children.

As you may have heard, there are no formal Covid restrictions or protocols in place. There will however be a supply of masks and test kits on site that can be made available to your child at your request.

First Day of School

Should the weather be favorable students in grades Primary to 5 will gather in their normal outside play areas and reconnect with classmates and staff. Upon arrival, Pre-Primary students will proceed directly to the Pre-Primary entrance located west end of the building (far right end of the building). When the bell sounds, students in grades 1-5 will line up with their teacher. In the event of inclement weather all students will proceed directly to their classrooms.

Grade Primary students (homeroom of Mrs.Gillis or Mrs. MacDonald) will gather outside the main entrance of the school with a parent/guardian(s) and be greeted by their teachers and principal. Parent/Guardian(s) of students in these classes only will be able to enter the building to assist with school supply drop off. Please note this will be a quick visit and because of privacy issues photos cannot be taken inside the school. In the event of inclement weather proceed to the gymnasium.

Bell Times:

8:30 - Opening Bell

10:15 - 10:30 - Recess

12:00pm-12:30 - Lunch 1

12:30- 1:00pm - Lunch 2

2:05 - Dismissal

Breakfast Program: 8:05am - 8:25am

This is available each morning to all students in grade P-5. Community volunteers prepare and serve breakfast items such as cereal, bagels, yogurt, and milk. Each year we seek community volunteers to help. Please contact the school if you would like to volunteer.

Important Websites

Shipyard Elementary Website

Here you will find staff emails, school supply lists, cafeteria menus, etc…

CBVRCE WEBSITE

Here you will find Central Office contact information, school calendar, bus info etc…

Can my child ride the bus? For everything Transportation please contact the Transportation Department Directly prior to the start of school at 902-562-4595 or search the included link.

Chartwells Cafeteria - Service Begins Monday, September 12

Chartwells provide hot lunch options for our students. Meals can be ordered online or students can pay cash each morning. While paying online is highly encouraged, cash payments can be made each day.

If paying by cash please do the following:

Include a note with the child’s name and grade/section (i.e Primary A or PA)
Clearly list the food items for purchase.
Include the correct change as often as possible
Place money and note in a ziploc bag
Place bag in your child’s Communication folder/bag

Shipyard is a Peanut Free School so please ensure that only peanut free items are sent with your children.

There are no microwaves at Shipyard so hot meal options have to be purchased through the cafeteria or sent in a thermos.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend school each day unless they are ill. Students should arrive no later than 8:25am and not before 8:05am. We have a Safe Arrival protocol at Shipyard. In the rare instance that child is unable to attend, you are required to phone the school office by 8:55am. At 9:00am our automated system will phone you notifying you that your child is not in school.

I look forward to meeting you and your children in September!

Sincerely,

Geoff Oliver

Principal

902-562-8878

Shipyard History

Sydney has grown from the coalescence of once isolated neighborhoods, like Ashby and the North End. One of these areas, "the Shipyard", first housed shipbuilders who worked for Jersey merchants, like Phillip Ingoville in the 18th and 19th centuries. As the population of the area grew, more merchants and a grist mill located in the shipyard. When the steel plant was built in 1900, the shipyard became a popular "suburban area". By 1918 the Argyle Street School was built to serve the growing population, and in the 1950's St. Anthony Daniel School opened.

Now, as areas like Membertou, Boulderwood and Calderwood have developed, the Shipyard is almost downtown, and St. Anthony Daniel and Argyle have been replaced by our own Shipyard Elementary School, an historic name for one of Sydney's oldest neighborhoods.