August 27, 2025
Welcome Back for the 2025-26 School Year! (Principal’s Message)
Dear École Herbert Spencer Community,
Welcome Back for the 2025-26 school year!
We hope you have had an enjoyable summer and are ready for another exciting school year at École Herbert Spencer!
Here is the Schedule and Expectations for the Opening Week of School. September 2nd – 5th. A reminder that Monday, September 1st is a holiday – School Remains Closed.
Please read the following information carefully, as the information is grade specific.
All Kindergarten Students
Kindergarten students do not attend school until Friday, September 5th according to our Gradual Intake Schedule. Kindergarten teachers will communicate directly with families by email on Tuesday, September 2nd to schedule your 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 Students (French AND English):
Day 1 – Tuesday, September 2nd: Students arrive at 8:50 AM to their last year (2024-25) division/classroom/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 3rd: Students attend with regular school hours 8:50AM – 3:00PM. They will arrive and organize directly into their 2025-26 classrooms. The school will send an email to all Grade 1 – 5 families indicating where their specific Division Lineup will be in the afternoon on Tuesday, September 2nd. Maps will be provided, and staff will be on hand to direct families on Wednesday morning. 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 4th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classrooms according to their teachers’ instructions.
Day 4 – Friday, September 5th: 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 2nd: Students arrive at 8:50 AM to the main office/school foyer. 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 3rd: Students attend with regular school hours 8:50AM – 3:00PM. They will arrive and organize directly into their 2025-26 classrooms. The school will send an email to all NEW Grade 1 – 5 families indicating where their specific Division Lineup will be in the afternoon on Tuesday, September 2nd. Maps will be provided, and staff will be on hand to direct families that morning. 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 4th: Students resume regular school hours. 8:50AM – 3:00PM. Students will arrive to their new classrooms according to their teachers’ instructions.
Day 4 – Friday, September 5th: 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.
Thank you – we look forward to welcoming you to our school on September 2nd!
Summary of Communication to expect:
Today! – Welcome Back Email with Opening Week Schedule and Expectations for ALL Students – you’re reading it! – from the Principal
September 2nd – Specific Gradual Intake Schedule and Scheduling of Welcoming Conversations for ALL Kindergarten Families – from individual Classroom Kindergarten Teachers
September 2nd (after 3PM) – Specific Division Number Lineup and Location for all Grade 1 – 5 Students – from the Principal
September 2nd – Office Communication for the bulk purchase and organization of School Supplies, School Permissions and access to My Education BC – Parent Portal (available Mid December). – from the Office
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 first will be on Friday, September 5th. 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 Message from your Parent Advisory Council (PAC)!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns – we look forward to welcoming you all back on Tuesday, September 2nd!
Paul Manville
Principal