August 30th, 2023

On behalf of the staff at AMG, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our students and families. We hope you have enjoyed a rejuvenating, engaging and joyful summer. We look forward to welcoming you to AMG on Tuesday, September 5th @ 8:45 am. We will be meeting in the back field (off of Dufferin Street). 

It is a privilege and an honour to serve the school community as your Principal alongside our admin team: Vice-Principal, Rachel Berger, Office Administrator, Michelle Sheehan and Office Secretary, Bernadette Ryan-Phillips. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute and collaborate with such a strong school community. I have heard many positive comments from both the staff and the community of your commitment to support an excellent academic program and a wide variety of co-curricular activities that can reflect our students’ strengths and interests.

The school year 2023-2024 provides new opportunities and challenges. We will need to adapt individually and collectively to respond to the needs of our community and pivot as needed for the safety and well-being of our students and families. As a staff, we are interested in gaining your insights throughout the year both from our students and families. In partnership with you (our students and families) and our School Council, we will continue our commitment to equity and inclusion, identity-affirming learning opportunities, dismantling anti-Black racism, homophobia, anti-Indigenous racism and all forms of hate in our programming, school operations and in our local community. 

We recognize that the first day of school is an exciting and anxious day for students, staff and families. We are proud of the hard work and dedication displayed by our entire staff in order to prepare the school. The classrooms are thoughtfully organized and ready to welcome learners in a manner that will be inviting and provide the environment necessary for safety, well-being and creativity. A special word of thanks needs to be directed towards our caretaking team working throughout the summer and over this long weekend to prepare to welcome everyone on Tuesday. We know that you will appreciate all their efforts and we certainly know that the caretaking crew is integral to our school's success. Thank you to the office team: Michelle Sheehan and Bernadette Ryan-Phillips for all of their hard work supporting all of us to start the school year for both new and returning students, families and staff.

Please see below some initial information for the start of the school year. We will continue our communication throughout the weeks to come as we settle into the new school year. 

On behalf of the AMG staff champions, we look forward to welcoming you to your school next week.

In Partnership,

Michelle Sheehan, Office Administrator

Bernadette Ryan-Phillips, Secretary

Rachel Berger, Vice-Principal

Sara Gogani, Principal

Class Placement and First Day of School

On Friday afternoon you will receive an email from TDSB School Messenger informing you of your child’s class placement including: Class, Room # and the name of your child’s classroom teacher. The classroom teachers will connect with families directly during the Week of September 5th. If you do not receive the email on Friday, please do not worry. Please come to the school on Tuesday and we will have staff ready to guide the students to their teacher. The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 5th . The school bell rings at 8:45 AM where we will gather on the field (off of Dufferin Street). The staff will be outside with signs for students to meet with their teacher and class. 

2023-2024 Homeroom Staff List (Pending Re-organization)

School Hours (Bell Times)

Communication from Homeroom Teacher

Families will receive communication from their homeroom teacher during the first week back, introducing the educator(s) and welcoming them to their class. Careful consideration has been made in the creation of class lists and we unfortunately cannot accommodate changes and/or requests of placement at this time. All class placements are tentative (pending re-organization) and can change up to and including the end of September based on class size requirements from the Ministry of Education.*

Construction Update

We have been working closely with the construction team and TDSB facility over the summer months and continue daily walkthroughs in the building. The school is ready to welcome all students into their classrooms and multi-use spaces such as the gym. Construction will continue throughout the school year mostly outside of the instructional time as we will have windows to be installed in certain common areas and some other finishes. We will continue to provide construction updates with changes. 

Start of Year Forms 

This is a friendly reminder to complete the form, 'Start of Year Forms' as soon as possible. These important forms include Medical Information, Consent for Walking Excursions and Use of Online Devices among others. The forms are digital and sent to the email address on file with the school. Check your inbox and junk mail folders if you have not completed them. The email will say TDSB Online Form Permission Click.

Lunch Procedures

All students should bring a packed lunch and snacks unless they are being picked up by an adult to go home for lunch.

Students in older grades will receive a lunch letter and permission form that needs to be completed by a parent/guardian before a student may leave property to go home for lunch.

AMG Snack Program 

AMG Snack Program begins Monday, September 25th. We will be asking for contributions to help cover the cost of the program, shortly. This will be done through School Cash Online

Visitors within the School

If you are coming into the school please ring the doorbell at the front entrance on Gladstone and someone will connect with you via the school intercom. If meeting with a staff member please arrange a meeting with them ahead of time. The office can be very busy, especially at the beginning and end of the school day, your patience is appreciated.

School Cash Online

The school is limiting cash payments, the TDSB has an online system, School Cash Online, which allows for families to pay for school fees. If you haven't already signed up for School Cash Online, please use this link https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/   All families new to AMG will need to sign up.

Inclement Weather

Dress for the weather. Ensure your child comes to school with the appropriate rain gear as we will be going outside during recess when the rainfall is light. Students will also be lining up first thing in the morning to enter the building – so they will need protection from the rain. Umbrellas, rain boots, raincoats etc. would be ideal. Regardless of the season, weather can have an impact on system-wide school board operations or individual schools, staff and students. Whether it’s cold and snow or extreme heat, the Toronto District School Board has a number of practices and policies in place to manage the impact of this weather on the school board. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Severe-Weather

Parent Communication Protocol

The TDSB wants to hear your questions and concerns, and makes every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Below is the best way to talk to us, and who you should reach out to and when. In any situation, your child’s classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school’s principal, the school superintendent and your Trustee. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Contact-Us/Steps-to-Address-Questions-Concerns

Communication

School Website https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/alexandermuirgladstone

School Calendar https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/alexandermuirgladstone/School-Calendar

EarlyOn at AMG 

The EarlyON Child and Family Centre is excited to welcome you back for in-person programming on Wednesday, September 7. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8:45 to 12 pm. The EarlyON program offers a free, fun, play-based program designed to support your child's early learning and development and to help prepare them for their first school experience. We offer a safe, nurturing and stimulating program where children and parents/caregivers can play and learn together. We are located at Alexander Muir Gladstone entrance door 8 off of Dufferin St.

School Council

School councils are an excellent way for parents/caregivers to get involved in their child’s education. Our school has an elected school council that is an important forum for involving all members of the school community in issues that affect the education of students. The school council is made up of an elected committee of parents, staff and student representatives, appointed community members, the principal, and a general membership which includes all parents/caregivers of children attending the school. The school council advises the principal on a variety of issues and activities relating to student achievement, school improvement, curriculum goals and priorities, school budget priorities, school safety, renovation plans, and after school activities. More information to come regarding how to get involved with the AMG School Council.

Information about the School

You can find more information about the school in the 2023 Family Handbook .

Best wishes for a great start to the 2023 – 2024 school year.

AMG Staff