Norway families,
Thank you all for another wonderful school year. It has been a privilege to support your children and to get to know many of you as a result. I am always surprised how emotional the last day of school is for students and staff alike. It seems to suddenly come upon us. The scene in the school yard encapsulated this well with a buzz of tears, hugs and goodbyes. Even though most students will be returning to Norway with friends and familiar faces in September, there is something poignant about the end of a school year. The memories all come together at once with the realization that there will never be a year quite like the one we just had. Each year brings its own joys, challenges and successes, making each one unique. This is particularly amplified for the Grade 6 students who are leaving after many years at the school and starting a new adventure at middle school. I hope students are reassured knowing that their Norway family is always here for them.
The theme of community has been a focus of my time as principal at Norway and I plan to continue to do more next year to build a strong sense of community at the school amongst the students. Of course, a strong community relies on a variety of members for its success, and I am so grateful that Norway has such an active and engaged parent/caregiver community. Many, many of you have helped out in one way or another throughout the school year. This may have been in the classroom as a volunteer, or as a volunteer reader, or delivering and handing out pizzas for Pizza Lunch, or lending a hand at the fun fair, or accompanying a class on a field trip, or contributing materials or supplies for a classroom project, getting involved in School Council, or even helping your child with their homework or to get organized in the morning. Please know that your contribution and involvement, no matter how small or big, does not go unnoticed. Put simply, we could not do our jobs as well without your support! This school year, Alison Dowler and Hailey Eisen, long time School Council chairs, end their tenure as their children are graduating. They have set the next Council chairs and executive up for success with the work they have done, and the ‘guidebooks’ they have to explain everything from pizza lunch, to movie night, to Fun Day. Thank you to both of you for your dedication to the Norway school community. Parents who are interested in a role on Council are welcome to reach out to me should they have any questions.
Of course, the biggest part of what makes Norway tick so effectively is the staff. I am honoured to serve such a dynamic and dedicated group of teachers and support staff, and rely on their expertise and collaboration every day. Every school year, there are changes to staff and I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the following departing staff members for their commitment to the students at Norway. Whether you were here for less than a year, or for 8 years, we all appreciate what you have done, and wish you the best.
Moving On:
- Wayne Dennis, a Grade 5/6 teacher this school year, has accepted a Grade 5/6 position at Churchill Heights PS.
- Yoka Canrinus, a Grade 3/4 teacher for a number of years, has accepted a Grade 3/4 position at Equinox Holistic Alternative School
- Valerie Henry, Norway’s Special Needs Assistant, has accepted a position at Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy
- Lori-Anne Keith, Norway’s Educational Assistant (EA), has accepted a position at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute
- Sabera Ali, has been in the role of ECE for Room 102 for most of the school year and will continue this role at various schools at the TDSB
- Tyler Draganac, has been a Lunch Supervisor for most of the school year for Room 101 and has accepted a position at Dundas Street PS.
LTOs or Contracts Ending:
- Alison Damer covered Room 208 at the beginning of the school year, and supported Room 206 for a good portion of this school year
- Jason Martorino has been an LTO (Long Term Occasional) teacher at Norway for the past few months in Room 202 and will be continuing his studies in the fall, and plans to work as an occasional teacher or LTO for part of next school year
- Norah Matthews has been a Lunch Supervisor since the winter for Room 101 and hopes to pick up more work in the new school year at Norway
Returning in September:
- Oksana Rao, a long time Kindergarten ECE at Norway, will be returning in September 2025.
2025-2026 School Year
The first day of school is Tuesday, September 2nd. The start and finish times for the school day will be the same for all students next school year including Kindergarten students - 8:45 and 3:15. I will be sharing more updates and information in late August including an updated school timetable, your child(ren)'s class placement, updated calendars and some of the plans we have to make your child's experience at Norway even better than this school year.
I wish you all a wonderful summer full of time well spent with family and friends. We will see you all when we return in September.
Joel Krentz, Principal