WHITBOURNE ELEMENTARY

IMPORTANT

Go to https://parentinterviews.com/whitbourne-elementary to setup and book your appointment time.

November 25, 2025

Hi Parents/Guardians,

Our Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on December 3rd as follows:

1-4pm in person or virtual

5-6:30pm virtual only 

We will be using Optis for booking online. Instructions on how to use will be sent by link on Nov 27, Thursday. Once you are setup you can book your appointment up until Dec 2nd. 

Thank you to all the parents, guardians and volunteers for their continued support since school opened. A special thank you to our guests and students for your stellar showing at our Remembrance Day Assembly. We are also very proud of our student entries in the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day Contest and our Fire Safety coloring contest!

Here are some important dates to remember:

1 Dec (Mon) - Report Cards go Home.

3 Dec (Wed) - Parent-Teacher Conferences; Students go home at 11:30am

5 Dec (Fri) - School Bazaar & Fun Day

16 Dec (Tues) - Christmas Concert

Our Elementary School Council has two parent representative positions.

Thank you to those who have reached out  expressing concerns and an interest in knowing more about school councils. We are in constant communication with the Federation and the Department regarding upcoming changes in education and how it affects the role of School Councils. There will be a nomination process after the Christmas break and if there are more than two names submitted there will be an election. Please call Patti Kennedy, School Council Chair at the school for more information regarding the nomination process.

We will also be seeking assistance/new ideas with our Kids Eat Smart Program. Stay tuned!

Our Christmas Concert is Tuesday, Dec 16.

Students are to arrive between 6:00-6:10, Doors open for parents at 6:10. Admission is $5 at the door. The concert starts around 6:30. We will also be selling tickets for $1. 

Be prepared: The weather is now changing and our temperatures will get colder. Please ensure your child is properly dressed for outside play.

Christmas Bazaar

All donations of baked goods should be brought to the office by December 4th. Set up time is 7pm Thursday, December 4th as well. We do not accept used or soiled stuffies or makeup and all baked goods should be peanut free. Shopping bags provided for students and we will also be accepting donations for our community food pantry.

Food Allergy 

Students are not permitted to bring in peanuts/mixed nuts or anything that may contain peanuts/mixed nuts, as well as whole egg.

September 11th, 2025

Hi Parents/Guardians,

Meet the Teacher

Our Meet the Teacher will be Thursday, Sept 18 at 6pm.

We will be doing our Terry Fox walk on Thursday, Sept 25. Please bring in a donation or donate online using the link below.

https://schools.terryfox.ca/101894

Reminders

-  Just a reminder to make sure you pack utensils for eating and containers labeled.

- Make sure food that needs to be warmed is already cooked, not frozen microwave safe containers as we will be using microwaves. Please do not send uncooked Kraft Dinner/Noodle cups to school.

- Have a labeled water bottle.

- Contact the school if your phone number or email changes.

- Check in at the office if you are picking up/dropping off your child during the school day and sign the register.

Parking Lot Pick Up

To our new parents at Whitbourne Elementary, please use the outside lane to pick up your child(ren) after school once the two big buses and unity bus park. We will bring your child(ren) to your car. Also, please make sure the school knows by 2pm if you are picking up your child(ren) as taking students off the bus delays departure time.

It’s School Picture Time!

Lifetouch will be here on Monday, September 22 for school photos!

There will be no school on Tuesday, September 30th to honor survivors and raise awareness of the tragedy of residential schools in Canada. We will wear our t-shirts on Monday, September 29.

If you wish to order a t-shirt please go online, as the school will not be taking orders. 

The deadline to order online is this weekend, Sunday, September 14th. The website is: https://whitbourneelementaryorangeshirtday2025.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

Food Allergy 

Please be advised that we have students and staff with a severe life threatening allergy. Students are not permitted to bring in peanuts/mixed nuts or anything that may contain peanuts/mixed nuts and/or eggs.

KES Breakfast Program

Our KES coordinator for this year is our school custodian, Miss Jackie! Grab and go breakfast items have started. Ms. Connie Brazil will be coordinating our special event lunches/breakfasts as well. Thanks everyone!

Volunteers - Lunch heat ups

Our lunchtime heat up program has begun! Ms. Shawna Sears is our heat up Coordinator. She can be reached at shawna_205@hotmail.com or reach out to her on Messenger if you have some time on your hands to help out. We are always looking for volunteers to help with this very important program. Many thanks to this very vital group for their support!

School Information Packages

Please return your student information packages to your child’s homeroom teacher if you have not already done so as they contain important information needed to start our school year.

2025-2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back to another school year! We are excited to be back and have been very busy setting up our classrooms and creating new learning opportunities for all of our students.

Our Staff

K - Miss Alicia Strapp

1 - Ms. Bonny Rose

2 - Ms. Tammy Hickey

3 - Ms. Carolyn Meade (4-6 French)

4 - Ms. Heather Mercer

5 - Ms. Heather Reilly (Music)

6 - Ms. Trudy Piercey (Phys Ed)

6 - Lilly Kirby

Reading Specialist - Ms. Tonya Fry

IRT - Miss Megan Lewis

Student Assistant - Ms. Tina Mercer

Student Assistant - Ms. Delrie Snook

Guidance - Ms. Lindsi Hutchings

Ed Psych - Ms. Cynthia Hicks

Custodian - Ms. Jackie Jackson

Secretary - Ms. Patti Kennedy

Principal - Mr. Gerald McCarthy

Schedule 

Please note that all timings will remain the same, as well as our lunch and recess time.

Doors Open - 8:25 am

Instruction Begins - 8:40am (Please make sure students are on time)

Recess - 10:10-10:30 am 

Lunch -   12:00-12:40 pm

Dismissal - 2:40pm

Parking Lot and Safe and Caring School Policy 

Please be extra careful in the drop off and pickup line. If you are dropping your child off in the morning, please let them out at the door without parking. In the afternoon, students will be brought to you in the lineup. Please don’t park by the play area. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.

Breakfast Program/Recess/Lunch

We will be offering grab and go types of breakfast items once we are set up. Please make sure your children have a packed recess and lunch and to include a spoon/fork if needed. There will be no heatups for the time being until we are set up.

Volunteers

Our programs are dependent on our volunteers, if you are interested in volunteering please fill out the form that is with the student forms; additional forms are available for others in the community at the office during regular school hours.

Bussing 

Again this year we have 2 buses. You will find a copy of the bus route on the district website. Bus students will be expected to be at the bus stop five minutes prior to pick up. The bus will not be able to wait for students that are not at the stops. There will be no changing of buses only for the daycare students.

Information/Registration Forms

Info form and permission forms are coming home today. Please return forms to your teacher by Friday, September 5th.

School Council

Welcome back everyone! We look forward to another great school year providing support to our school community.

Food Allergies 

Please be advised that we have students with a severe life threatening allergy. Students are not permitted to bring in the following:

• Peanuts/mixed nuts

• Whole Egg