Sept. 18 - Holsgrove Family Update

September 18th 2026 - Family Update

Principal's Message

There are lots of exciting things happening at Holsgrove in the upcoming weeks including our Fall Open House, School Council Elections and meeting, Orange Shirt Day and Terry Fox Walk. More information about these events is included below.

A reminder that our school did undergo a classroom reorganization, which was communicated to families by email on Wednesday, September 16. Students have transitioned to their new classrooms and have connected with their teachers. Reorganizing classrooms in never ideal and change is always hard. We appreciate the support of families and staff and are proud of how our students managed during this transition period. Well done Huskies!

Below, you will find the updated classroom teacher and staff list reflecting these changes. We are sorry to say goodbye to Mr. Supaul and Ms. Newell as they move on to their roles at their new schools. Thank you for all your hard work to start the year with us. Holsgrove will miss you. Welcome to Ashley Glassford who is joining us from Southview PS in our Gr. 4/5 and Planning Time teacher role. We are happy to have her join the Holsgrove team. We are fortunate that Ms. Benipal will be transitioning from her ECE role at Holsgrove to an EA position for the upcoming weeks.

Please reach out to the school with any questions or concerns.

Have a wonderful weekend!

J. Cole, M. Brushett & the Holsgrove Learning Team

Current Staff List

Principal - Jen Cole

Vice Principal/Student Support Teacher - Michele Wilson-Brushett

Office Administrator - Hayley Hargrave

Head Caretaker - Rob LebBanc/Tiffany Redmond

Evening Caretaker - Byron Rybka

Fall Open House

We are excited to welcome families to our Fall Open House! This is a great opportunity to come into the school, visit your child’s classroom, see where they spend their day, and meet their teacher. The Open House will take place Thusday, September 24th from 4:30–5:30 p.m., followed by our SAC elections (5:30-6:00) and first School Council meeting (6:00-7:00).

Families may choose to order pizza from Ginos on School Day (order deadline is midnight Sunday September 20) for the open house. Face painting is available until 6:00 PM.

We hope you can join us and take the opportunity to connect, meet other families, and be part of the Holsgrove school community!

School Council

Our small but mighty School Council meets about once every 6 weeks to discuss events and fundraisers at Holsgrove, bring up issues with administration, and plan special opportunities for students and families. It is a great way to stay informed and involved in your child's schooling!

Our Holsgrove Council from 2025-26 includes the following executive members:

• Chair: Jamie Clayton
• Secretary: Nicole Pennell
• Treasurer: Michelle Piper-Berman

We hold elections for all executive positions annually. This year our elections and first meeting of the year will be held on September 24 at 5:30 in the Grade 8 classroom. All parents/caregivers are welcome, whether you are interested in running for an executive position or not. Nomination Forms are available in paper copy at the school main office or electronically. Nomination Form - SAC Holsgrove

Volunteers always welcome!

Hot Lunch

Our Hot Lunch Program is organized and run by our School Council (SAC) and provides families with the opportunity to order a variety of lunch options throughout the school year. Orders can be placed in Lunch Box. A big thank you to our SAC members for organizing this program and helping to provide this great service to our school community!

Terry Fox Run/Walk

Our Terry Fox School Run will take place on: Friday, October 2, 2026

 Our school’s fundraising goal is: $1,000

 Donate here: https://schools.terryfox.ca/132204

 Last year, our amazing Holsgrove Huskies community raised a whopping $920 for our Terry Fox Run! This year, we are hoping to beat that and have set a goal of $1,000.

Donations can be made online at the link above and can be shared with family members. No donation is too small, and every dollar raised helps make a difference in the fight against cancer. 

Terry started a marathon against cancer, and together, we can "Finish it".

For Information About LESAA Sporting Calendar - Click Here

Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School

Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.

Our Shared Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30th, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to engage in learning about the Residential School System and the true history of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in what is currently known as Canada. This day invites us to honour the children who never returned home, stand with Survivors, and recommit ourselves to meaningful reconciliation in our classrooms and communities.

Grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and our shared responsibilities as Treaty people, our Indigenous Education mission and vision guide our efforts to advance educational practices that honour Indigenous rights, knowledges, languages, cultures, and ways of being. Through meaningful relationships, reciprocal learning, and ongoing systemic transformation, we strive to create conditions where Indigenous students, families, and communities thrive, and where reconciliation is reflected through purposeful, sustained, and accountable action.

A Change to Our Recess Schedule

This year, we have made a change to our recess and lunch schedule so that all students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are outside for recess at the same time. The timing of our breaks has not changed — recess and lunch breaks continue to occur from 10:50–11:30 a.m. and 1:10–1:50 p.m. Kindergarten students will enjoy the fenced Kindergarten yard, Grades 1–4 will use the west half of the school yard, and Grades 5–8 will use the east half. Following recess, all students will eat lunch at the same time. Having the whole school on the same schedule allows us to make efficient use of our spaces and resources while creating a consistent routine across the school. If you have any questions about the new schedule, please reach out to the school.

Concussion Codes of Conduct

All school boards in Ontario are required to have a policy on concussion safety for students. There have been some changes to LDSB Concussion Protocol this year which simply the  Return to Learn (RTL) and Return to Physical Activity (RTPA) process and support a safe, gradual, symptom-informed return to school and activity. These are outlined in Administrative Procedure 142: Concussions, as well as a variety of supporting resources and documents that outline a code of conduct for students and families, flow charts to identify and diagnose a concussion and assessment and management forms.  Please reach out to the school with any questions.

Cell Phone Use Policy

A reminder to families that Limestone District School Board has clear expectations regarding student cell phone use during the school day. At Holsgrove, we want students to be fully engaged in their learning and to have opportunities to build positive, face-to-face relationships with their peers. Cell phones can be a distraction during instructional time and can also take away from important social interactions at recess and lunch. For more information regarding LDSB policy on cell phone use at school please click here

School Yard Climber Update

The school yard climber is currently off limits while we wait for some required upgrades to be completed. The good news is that Facilities has a plan in place to complete the work needed for the climber to pass its safety inspection, and we are just waiting for the work to be finished. We are very pleased with how respectful our students have been in staying off the climber while it is closed. Fingers crossed that the work will be completed soon and we will be able to safely open it back up for everyone to enjoy!

Daily Schedule

Our school operates on a balanced day using a Day 1 to 5 cycle.

2026-2027 LDSB School Year Calendar

September

September 22 - Bus Patroller Training & JR. & SR. Soccer Tournament

September 24 - Open House & SAC Elections & Meeting

September 30 - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - Orange Shirt Day

October

October 2 - Terry Fox Walk

October 12 - Thanksgiving Monday - No School

October 13 - Picture Day

October 15 - Term 1 Individual Education Plans (IEP's) sent home; Cross Country Regional Meet - Fort Henry

October 20 - Cross Country District Meet - Fort Henry

October 26 - PA Day

November

November 4 - Picture Retake Day

November 5 - School Bus Safety Presentations

November 11 - Remembrance Day

November 13 - Kindergarten Communication of Learning & Progress Reports sent home

November 19 - Grade 7/8 Immunizations

November 20 - PA Day

December

December 21 - Winter Break Begins

January

Monday, January 4 - Back to School - Welcome 2027!

Friday, January 29 - PA Day

February

Friday, February 12 - Report Cards Distributed

Monday, February 15 - Family Day Holiday

March

Friday, March 12 - March Break Begins - School Holiday

Monday, March 22 - Return from March Break - Welome back!

Friday, March 26 - Good Friday Holiday

Monday, March 29 - Easter Monday Holiday

April

Thursday, April 15 - Grade 8 Graduation Photos and Sibling Photo Day

Friday, April 23 - PA Day

May

Monday, May 24 - Victoria Day Holiday

Monday, May 31 - PA Day

June

Friday, June 25 - Report Cards Distributed

Monday, June 28 - Last Day of School

Tuesday, June 29 - PA Day