September 4, 2026
Principal’s Message – September 4th
Dear École Herbert Spencer Community,
Welcome Back for the 2026-27 school year!
We hope you have had an enjoyable summer and are ready for an exciting school year at École Herbert Spencer.
Here is the schedule for the opening week of school. September 8th – 11th. A reminder that Monday, September 7th is Labour Day – School Remains Closed.
Please read the following information carefully, as the information is Grade Specific AND whether you are a Returning Herbert Spencer Student, a Transferring EFI Qayqayt Student or a NEW Student.
All Incoming Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten students do not attend classroom sessions until Friday, September 11th following our Kindergarten Gradual intake Schedule. Kindergarten teachers will communicate directly with families by email on Tuesday, September 8th to schedule your families Welcoming Conversation and confirm your child’s specific gradual intake schedule (Group A or B). Please ensure you watch for this email and confirm your Welcoming Conversation as soon as you are able.
All RETURNING Grade 1–5 Herbert Spencer Students (French AND English):
Day 1 – Tuesday, September 8th: Students arrive at 8:50 AM and enter independently to their last year (2025-26) classroom or lineup. They will remain for 1hr and be dismissed at 9:50 AM back to the lineup or door they arrived at.
*No snack or lunch is required on the opening day.
Day 2 – Wednesday, September 9th: Students attend with regular school hours 8:50AM – 3:00PM. They will arrive and organize directly into 2026-27 classroom Division Lineups which will form at the front of the school AND on the tarmac at the rear of the school. Families of ALL Grade 1 – 5 students will receive an email in the afternoon/early evening on Tuesday, September 8th indicating their child’s Division number and lineup location. Staff will be on hand to help direct families on Wednesday morning. Please ensure you remember the Division number and location of your child’s lineup upon arrival. Students will dismiss directly back to these locations at 3PM with instructions on how to arrive and dismiss for the balance of the year.
*Please remember to pack a snack and lunch for your child from this day forward.
Day 3 – Thursday, September 10th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
Day 4 – Friday, September 11th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
All Transferring Grade 1–5 Early French Immersion Qayqayt Students:
Welcome to your New School! We have been so fortunate to meet many of you over the last year and we are so excited to welcome you officially to Herbert Spencer for your first day. Transferring Qayqayt students will return to their last year QQ class groupings on Tuesday, September 8th. Classes will meet teachers in numbered line ups on the tarmac (between the modulars and portables) at the rear of the school. You will receive a separate email today indicating your specific line up number. Staff will be on hand to help direct you.
Day 1 – Tuesday, September 8th: Students arrive at 8:50 AM to the tarmac at the rear of the school and organize into their 2025/26 QQ class groupings. Teachers will lead students to classrooms where they will remain for 1hr and be dismissed at 9:50 AM back to the lineup they arrived at.
*No snack or lunch is required on the opening day.
Day 2 – Wednesday, September 9th: Students attend with regular school hours 8:50AM – 3:00PM. They will arrive and organize directly into 2026-27 classroom Division Lineups which will form at the front of the school AND on the tarmac at the rear of the school. Families of ALL Grade 1 – 5 students will receive an email in the afternoon/early evening on Tuesday, September 8th indicating their child’s Division number and lineup location. Staff will be on hand to help direct families on Wednesday morning. Please ensure you remember the Division number and location of your child’s lineup upon arrival. Students will dismiss directly back to these locations at 3PM with instructions on how to arrive and dismiss for the balance of the year.
*Please remember to pack a snack and lunch for your child from this day forward.
Day 3 – Thursday, September 10th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
Day 4 – Friday, September 11th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
All NEW Grade 1 – 5 Students to Herbert Spencer:
Welcome to Herbert Spencer! We are thrilled to welcome you to our school community!
Day 1 – Tuesday, September 8th: Students arrive at 8:50 AM to the main office/school foyer and will be directed to our library. They will remain for 1hr and be dismissed at 9:50 AM back to the foyer where parents will pick them up.
*No snack or lunch is required on this first day.
Day 2 – Wednesday, September 9th: Students attend with regular school hours 8:50AM – 3:00PM. They will arrive and organize directly into 2026-27 classroom Division Lineups which will form at the front of the school AND on the tarmac at the rear of the school. Families of ALL Grade 1 – 5 students will receive an email in the afternoon/early evening on Tuesday, September 8th indicating their child’s Division number and lineup location. Staff will be on hand to help direct families on Wednesday morning. Please ensure you remember the Division number and location of your child’s lineup upon arrival. Students will dismiss directly back to these locations at 3PM with instructions on how to arrive and dismiss for the balance of the year.
*Please remember to pack a snack and lunch for your child from this day forward.
Day 3 – Thursday, September 10th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
Day 4 – Friday, September 11th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classroom location and be dismissed according to their teachers’ instructions.
Summary of Communication to expect:
Today! – Welcome Back Email with Opening Week Expectations for ALL Students – you’re reading it!
September 8th – Group Specific Gradual Intake Schedule and Scheduling of Welcoming Conversations for ALL Kindergarten Families
September 8th (after 3PM) – Specific Division Number Lineup and Location for ALL Grade 1 – 5 Students.
September 8th – Office Communication for the charges on School Cash Online for bulk purchase of School Supplies, School Permissions and access to My Education BC – Parent Portal (available Mid September).
School Cash Online – Our district uses School Cash Online for Families to purchase school supplies, provide school permissions for the year, and purchase individual field trips etc throughout the year. The office will send communication on Tuesday for families on how to use this platform.
My Education BC – Parent Portal – this is how you will access your child’s school information and progress reports throughout the school year. The Portal will be opened in Mid-September and further information will come as to how to access the Parent Portal.
A Principal’s Message will come every Friday for the balance of the year. The next will be on Friday, September 11th. These communications will contain a running school event calendar, updates, highlights and information about school events and community happenings, and some useful information and access links we will use throughout the year.
Until then here is an Important Welcome Back Message from the PAC!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns – we look forward to welcoming you all back next week!
Paul Manville
Principal
Important Calendars:
Kindergarten Gradual Intake Schedule
Useful Links:
École Herbert Spencer 2026 – 2027 School Calendar
École Herbert Spencer Website
École Herbert Spencer Parent Advisory Council Website
PAC Events Calendar
School Cash Online Information
Family Portal Instructions for Parents
My Ed BC Parent Portal instructions
Upcoming Calendar Dates:
Sep 8 Opening Day – Students attend for 1 hour 8:50 AM – 9:50 AM
Sep 8 PAC Welcome Coffee – Front of the School 8:45 AM – 9:10 AM
Sep 9 Regular School Hours Begin 8:50AM – 3:00PM
Sep 11 Freezie Friday!
Sep 18 Freezie Friday!