Hello CJP Families   

On behalf of the entire staff, I am delighted to welcome you to the 2025–26 school year at Captain John Palliser School. We are excited to (re)connect with your child(ren) and begin another year filled with meaningful learning and growth. 

Our teachers and office staff returned on Wednesday, August 27, and have been busy preparing for the year ahead. Our Kindergarten Enhancement and Before-and-After School Care program, Pre-Kindergarten Educational Services, is also back on site, coordinating and organizing for a smooth opening. 

As we get ready to welcome students, below are some important details to help you and your child(ren) prepare for the start of the school year. 

Students First Day Back to School - Tuesday, September 2, 2025 

The first day of school for students in Grades 1–6 is Tuesday, September 2, at 9:15 am. Supervision on school grounds will begin at 9:00 am. 

Kindergarten students will also begin on Tuesday, September 2, following the staggered entry schedule that has already been shared with families by the kindergarten teachers. 

Class Placement Notifications 

Tomorrow afternoon (Friday, August 29), teachers will send an email to parents to welcome students to their new classes and share details about their designated entrance and exit doors. Families can refer to this email to know exactly where to meet on the first day of school. 

Please note: The creation of class lists is a thoughtful process that began in June with input from last year’s teachers. It is a complex task, as we carefully consider many factors, including the diverse academic and social-emotional needs of all students. Over the summer, we also received a significant number of withdrawals and new registrations, and our staff has worked right up to today to ensure balanced classrooms that will best meet the needs of all students. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete this important work, and we look forward to a great start to the year. 

Calendar 

Please visit our website to view the school calendar.  

School Hours  

The general timetable for CJP is illustrated below. 

Lunch Supervision 

If you have not yet registered your child for lunch supervision please do so by going into MyCBE PowerSchool account.   

School Supplies  

Families do not need to purchase school supplies. We will send you a reminder to check your MyCBE account to pay a minimal school fee that covers all of the school supplies needed for the school year.   

Items Needed:   

Please ensure your child comes to school with the following essentials: 

• An adequately sized backpack 
• A pair of clean indoor running shoes 
• A water bottle 
• A daily snack 

Lunch must be brought from home each day, as the school does not provide lunch. We also encourage students to come dressed for the weather, as our nature grounds and Discovery Garden are often used for learning throughout the year. 

To help prevent lost items, please label all belongings with your child’s name. Finally, a gentle reminder that students should not bring toys, trading cards, or personal money to school. 

Picture Day 

Picture day for CJP is on Thursday, September 11. Retake day will be Tuesday, October 28.   

Epipens and/or Inhalers    

If your child requires an EpiPen, we ask that an additional one be kept in the main office. Please ensure it is clearly labeled and not expired. A Student Health Emergency Response Protocol form will also need to be completed; this form will be included in the student package sent home in early September. 

Legal Agreements    

To help us best support your child and family, we kindly ask that any current legal agreements (e.g., custody arrangements, emergency protection orders, etc.) be shared with the main office. Having this information on file ensures we can follow the correct protocols and keep your child’s best interests at the center of our work. In the absence of legal documentation, all legal parents/guardians are understood to have full access to the student and their educational information. 

Late Entry / Early Departure 

We ask that you notify the office and/or your child’s classroom teacher anytime your child will be arriving late or leaving early. 

If your child normally rides the bus but will not be taking it on a particular day, please call the school and leave a voicemail (Option 2) before 3:30 pm. This allows us to update the bus attendance list and helps ensure that buses can depart safely and on time. 

Volunteers and School Visits  

We greatly value our volunteers and the positive impact they have on our school community. We will be sharing more information with families soon about volunteer opportunities and visitor procedures, and we look forward to welcoming your involvement this year. 

School Council   

We have an amazing group of parent volunteers who help to support our school. If you are interested in joining School Council, please visit the CJP School Council website.  

From School Council... 

• Welcome back to a new school year! The CJP School Council & Parents Association is excited to support our school community with a year full of engaging events, volunteering opportunities and fundraisers. 
• Please join us on the playground Friday, September 5 from 12:00–1:30 pm for our first Coffee & Chat. Bring your own cup and enjoy a coffee or tea while connecting with other families. A few members of our School Council & Parents Association will be there to chat, and if you have any questions about setting up Fun Lunch, they’ll be happy to help. We look forward to seeing you! 
• Stay connected with us! Visit our website, join our private Facebook group, follow us on Instagram, and attend our (almost) monthly online meetings. Our first meeting of the year is on September 23, and we hope to see you there! 

We are excited to welcome all students and families to the 2025–26 school year. Thank you for your partnership in preparing your child, supporting routines, and contributing to our school community. Together, we look forward to a safe, engaging, and successful year of learning. 

Sincerely,  

Oliver Fisher 

Principal, Captain John Palliser School