Harrowsmith Public School

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Family Update - September 12th, 2025

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Posted on 2025-09-12 18:28:23.167 +0000 UTC

Dear Families,

We hope you are doing well and enjoying the lovely fall weather!

We have a few staffing updates to share -

Congratulations to Mrs. Pond on being the successful candidate for the .5 SST position at HPS. We welcome Ms. Conner to HPS who will be sharing the 5/6 class along with Mrs. Pond.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through our new school organization. We recognize this process is tricky for students, families and staff as students settle into new classes and routines quickly. Our hope is that they will settle into their new classes just as quickly.

Our new school organization is the following:

JK/SK - Ms. Hackett/Ms. Crocker

JK/SK - Ms. McCullough/Mrs. Embury

Grade 1 - Ms. Downing (Ms. Jay)

Grade 1 - Ms. Hendry

Grade 2 - Ms. Smith

Grade 2/3 - Ms. Devlin

Grade 3 - Ms. Gerics

Grade 3/4 - Ms. Kelly & Mme Alikhan

Grade 4 - Ms. Harding

Grade 4/5 - Mr. Paul

Grade 5/6 - Mrs. Pond & Ms. Conner

Grade 6 - Mr. Palmer

Grade 7/8 - Ms. Vogelzang

Grade 7/8 - Ms. Bly

Grade 7/8 French Immersion - Mme Phillips

Wishing everyone a great week ahead,

Ms. Jurkowski and Ms. Neale on behalf of the HPS Team

This week -

Monday, September 15 - First Day of School Reorganization; Bus Patroller Training; Picture Day

Coming up -

September 22 (sundown) -24 - Rosh Hashanah

September 22-28 - International Week of Deaf People

September 23 - Bi Visibility Day

September 25 - Open House 5-6pm; Franco-Ontarian Day

September 30 - Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

October 1 - School (Parent) Advisory Council Meeting and Elections 6pm; all are welcome

October 10 - PA Day (no school for students)

October 13 - Thanksgiving (no school)

October 16 - Term 1 IEPs go home


STEM Library Program


Early Pick-Up/Late Drop Off Procedure

Families are asked to check in at the office if they are picking up a student early. The office will buzz the classroom to ask the student to come to the office. We will also buzz the classroom for students to come to the office to receive any items being dropped off by families during the school day. 

Students arriving late, need to be signed in through the office and and say goodbye to their family at the front office. 

A reminder to all visitors who are staying in the building that a sign-in and sign-out are required. The clipboard for visitor sign-ins is on the table in the front foyer.

Update to Kindergarten Dismissal 

Starting on Monday, September 8th, all Kinder students (McCullough/Embury, Hackett/Crocker, Downing SKs) will be dismissed from the fenced Kindergarten yard at the back of the school. 

All other students on pick-up will meet in the paved area on the east side of the school.

Inclement Dismissal Plan for all Students

We had an opportunity to try this on Thursday when it rained and have made a few tweaks for future heavy rain or snow days.

Students on pick up will gather in Ms. Kelly and Mme Alikhan's classroom. Families are asked to come to the front door for pick up on these days.