Happy Labour Day weekend! I hope everyone had some time this summer to relax with family and friends. We look forward to greeting your child(ren) and welcoming them back on Tuesday for a great year of growth and learning at Norway.  

The following highlights some of the key information families need to know as we begin the 2026-27 school year. I will be providing important updates, early next week, and a few times a month throughout the school year. 

Joel Krentz, Principal

Norway Basics …

First Day Procedures 

School starts at 8:45 for all students. On the first day of school, staff will be outside in the school yard, or Kindergarten yard, to help students and their families locate their classroom teacher. Grades 1-6 students will meet on the pavement between the upper field and the school building. Classroom teachers will have classroom signs with teacher names and room numbers on them. Please note that Kindergarten students and families will meet their teachers in the Kindergarten play outdoor learning areas. Classes will take a little longer than usual to get into the building on the first day, but this gives students a chance to catch up and get to know one another and is all part of the excitement!  

School Daily Timetable

Eating will look a little different this school year due to Balanced Day model changes. Instead of a traditional lunch in the middle of the school day, students will have two wellness breaks to eat and get some outdoor time, one from 10:25 to 10:45 and the second from 12:45 to 1:25. The first break - 10:25-11:05 - is when the Nutrition Program will give out the Morning Meal. Students will have 20 minutes to eat and then spend 20 minutes outside. One of the supervisors will go outside a few minutes early to provide more time for those students who are faster eaters. The second break - 12:45-1:25 - is when students will eat the lunch they packed. They will then have 20 minutes of outdoor time with an option for more time for those finished early.

We are excited to continue our partnership with the City of Toronto's Nutrition Program Morning Meal this school year. The program will be up and running as of September 14, the week after the first week of school. It is important for students to pack their own snack for the first week of school until the Morning Meal starts! Students should bring a clearly labelled, refillable water bottle for use during the school day. 

We expect all students to stay at school during lunch on the first day of school, unless being picked up by an adult. Grade 6 students (only) will receive a lunch permission form on the first day of school from me. Parents/guardians can give permission for their child in Grade 6 to go home for lunch (12:45-1:25 - break 2), and indicate which days, by completing and signing the paper form and returning it to their child’s teacher. Throughout the school year, if there is a day when your child needs to be picked up to go home for lunch, please inform the teacher, and provide a note for Kim in the school office. You can also email Kim at Kimberly.Grasby@tdsb.on.ca.

Allergies and Medical Concerns

Our policy on allergens including nuts, and particularly peanuts, is that we ask families to avoid sending their child with any of the main food allergens, and to adhere to classroom restrictions based on individual allergies in your child’s classroom. While we cannot guarantee a nut free environment, the school, and each teacher, will make sure that this information is shared with all families. If your child has any specific allergies, please inform the classroom teacher, and call the school office and speak with Kim Grasby to inform her as well. She will ensure that this information is reflected in your child’s record. She can also provide more information on the storage of extra epi-pens, as well as inhalers, for your child. 

School Supplies

Classrooms will have the basic supplies your child needs to start the school year off. Your child’s teacher will be able to provide a more detailed list of supplies your child might be using during the school year, but there is not an immediate need to go out and buy everything. Your child’s teacher will share more during the first week of school. The one item that is necessary is a backpack. It should be large enough to accommodate your child’s lunch, water bottle, and some notebooks or folders. Indoor shoes will also be important as they will be used for gym classes and are necessary for rainy, muddy and snowy days.

Cell Phone Policy

The Provincial Government mandates that all schools in Ontario implement and enforce a Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools policy. Some of our Junior students have their own cell phone or smart watch, primarily so that they can communicate with their families and let them know that they’ve arrived safely at school or home. While we appreciate the need for students to connect with their families, cell phones will not be allowed to be used during the school day and should be turned off and out of sight. This is in line with the new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools policy adopted by the TDSB. You can read more about the updated policy here. If there is a need for your child to contact you, or you to contact your child, Kim in the school office will be happy to accommodate a call or relay a message. We ask that you speak with your child about this to ensure that they use these devices at appropriate times and in appropriate ways.

The Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools policy will involve a cultural shift in how students, parents, and guardians use technology. It will take some time, patience, and family support. In the end, it is about supporting the positive mental health and well-being of students and enhancing their focus on learning.

Dressing for Weather

Students at Norway spend 60 minutes or more outside every day. Students are going to be outside as much as possible this school year for recess and lunch, even in normal rain. This means that indoor recesses will be limited to extreme weather events. These only include a) lasting, torrential rain, b) temperatures below -25 Celsius, and c) lightning. As the temperature fluctuates from season to season, we ask that you properly prepare your child(ren) to be outside in all weather conditions. A rain jacket, sweater or fleece, umbrella, rain boots, and change of shoes are all things you can consider when planning for the next day's weather conditions. As you might imagine, our youngest students in Kindergarten and grade 1 are most prepared for all weather conditions, while the older students are the least prepared. Please help your child(ren) to understand the importance of staying warm and dry during extended outdoor times particularly in late fall, winter, and early spring. When there is a heavy rain forecast, we will be monitoring the conditions carefully. If we deem the rain to be torrential, we have a plan in place to accommodate students in a safe and supervised way inside the school.