A very warm hello to all SRB students, parents, guardians and caregivers, and welcome to the 2024 / 2025 school year.
I am happy to be able to introduce myself as the new principal of Sir Robert Borden; I am sincerely looking forward to the school year ahead and working to support and serve our staff, students and community.
Please see below several items to help get the year started and align us all on several important topics:
All students begin classes on Tuesday September 3, 2024.
Student Arrival/Drop-Off
We encourage students to walk or bike to school where possible. We ask that parents/guardians limit dropping off their children to school and use nearby neighborhood drop off/pickup locations to avoid congestion where possible especially during the beginning/end of the school day.
For students that bike to school, students should lock up their bike on the bike racks at the front of the school. The school cannot be responsible for any bikes that are lost or stolen.
Student Attendance Leads To Success
Every instructional day is important for student learning. We have a collective responsibility as staff, parents, and students to help ensure that students attend regularly and arrive to class on time to promote student success.
A copy of the elementary and secondary school year calendars are linked. Please avoid booking holidays during school instructional days--including the exam/summative period. All students are expected to be available to attend during the exam/summative period.
For any prolonged/extended absences beyond your control, parents are asked to discuss this with their school vice-principal as far in advance as possible.
School Cash Online/Voluntary Student activity fees
SRB uses cashless payment for school sports, field trips, voluntary student activity fees, etc. If you have not already done so, please sign up for School Cash Online. The SRB voluntary student activity fee is $20 for 2024-2025. This helps student clubs run extra-curricular activities school wide, student council events, intramurals and athletics, Welcome Crew, and the library commons. These activities contribute to our school climate and the overall well being of our students.
Important Forms to Complete
A reminder that parents/guardians need to complete these forms each school year for each child in OCDSB schools.
Media/School Website Permission Form
Student Science Lab Safety Agreement
Appropriate Use of Technology Agreement - grade 7 and 9 only
Plan of Care for students with Life-Threatening-Medical-Conditions - only as needed
OPTIONAL - Student Accident Insurance -
The OCDSB does not provide student accident insurance coverage for student injuries. Student accident insurance is available for purchase, on a voluntary basis. Parents may apply online at Insure My Kids or call 1-800-463-5437.
SRB Admin Team and Student Support Team
Vice-Principal - Grade 7-8 - John Ioannou
Vice-Principal - Grade 9-12 A-K - Karl Carey
Vice Principal - Grade 9-12 L-Z - Christine Ranki
Principal - Aaron Hobbs
Guidance - Grade 9-12 A-K Susan Griffin
Grade 9-12 L-Z Mark Mullins
Learning Support Teacher - Grade 7-8 Valerie Steed Grade 9-12 Michael Hull
Personal Mobile Devices in The Classroom
Cellphones and other mobile devices can cause major distractions in the classroom and disrupt student learning. Last spring, the Ontario government put in place new restrictions on personal mobile devices in schools. We wanted to share more information with you about these changes at our school.
Starting September 3, the following restrictions will be in place at Sir Robert Borden:
All Students, grades 7 - 12: Personal mobile devices are not allowed to be used during class instructional time. They can be used during breaks, spares or lunch.
What is a personal mobile device?
According to the Ontario government, the restrictions include (but are not limited to) cell phones, personal laptops, tablets, and smartwatches.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Exceptions exist for education, health, special education or accommodation needs.
This includes if a student needs a mobile device for a medical issue or a teacher has permitted phone use for a learning activity. Talk to your teacher, principal and/or guidance counselor for more information.
What if students use their phones during class time without permission?
Students who don’t comply may be asked to give their devices to the teacher or the office, to be returned later in the day. Further progressive disciplinary action will be taken if students repeatedly disobey the restrictions in place.
What if I need to contact my child?
Parents/caregivers can call the main office of their school. If it is an urgent or emergency
situation, we will immediately notify your child.
What if my child needs to call me?
Students can use a phone in the main office to call their parents/caregivers.
Can students still bring a phone to school?
Yes. Students may keep their cell phone, tablet, headphones or smartwatch with them, but they must turn them off or set it to silent mode and store it out of view (for example, in a bag or pocket) during instructional time. This includes headphones.
When do these restrictions take effect?
These restrictions will be in place for the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
To further reduce distractions during the school day, all social media networks will be blocked on school networks. We appreciate these restrictions may be difficult for some to adjust to at first, but we are confident that limiting mobile device usage will improve student focus during class.
Parents/caregivers are encouraged to talk about these changes with students prior to the start of the school year. The organization MediaSmarts has helpful information on managing screen time on their website. More resources and information about these changes can be found on our website: ocdsb.ca/mobiledevices
Grade 7-8 Specific Information
School runs from 9:00am - 3:20pm daily.
8:50 - 9:00 Transition/Locker Time
9:00 - 11:00 First Learning Block
11:00 - 11:40 Nutrition break
11:40 -1:40 Second Learning Block
1:40 - 2:20 Nutrition break
2:20 – 3:20 Third Learning Block
On the first day, students will line up outside on the basketball courts between the portables and the main building (back of the school). Staff will be present and eager to help your child find their appropriate line.
There is no supervision for students before 8:35 am. We encourage students to arrive between 8:35-8:50 so that they are in time for class. Students must be in class for 9:00am.
Student Absences: If your child will be away from school, please report the absence through the SchoolMessenger App, Website or toll-free phone number. More information regarding reporting absences can be found here. When students are away from school they may work on school work, if they are able, by communicating with their teachers. This does not replace in-person teaching.
We encourage you over the coming days to walk your child to school to help them navigate if you feel your child would benefit from this, instead of accompanying your child on the first day. If you do need to drop your child off at school, please walk-a-block to avoid traffic congestion and we encourage you to drop your child off in nearby neighborhoods.
Grade 7-8 students will have an orientation with their classrooms to tour the intermediate student spaces, do icebreaker activities and get to know other students in the class on the first day. Grade 7-8 students will also get their subject schedules from the homeroom teacher and explain how class rotation works.
What to bring on the first day: Backpack, litterless lunch, three ring binder, paper, pencil or pen. By the end of the week teachers will request additional items as needed.
Lockers: All students require a lock for their lockers. You may bring your own, or purchase one from the main office for the cost of $10. Payment is available via School Cash online. Locker assignments will be given out by the homeroom teacher on the first day of school. Students are not allowed to share their locker with another student. They are also not allowed to share their locker combination with another person.
Students eat lunch/snacks in the cafeteria, supervised by staff.
Students should come to school with lunch/snacks, and a water bottle each day. Our school cafeteria will not be open at the beginning of the school year; we will provide an update on the opening of cafeteria services as soon as possible.
Presto passes for eligible students will be distributed by homeroom teachers. They must be registered online for ease of replacement if lost.
Grade 9-12 Specific Information
School runs from 9:00am-3:08pm daily.
8:30-8:55 Student arrival
9:00-10:15 Block A Class
10:15-10:23 transition
10:23-11:38 Block B class
11:38-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:45 Block C class
1:45-1:53 transition
1:53-3:08 Block D class
3:08 - High School Dismissal
High school students have a Day1/Day 2 schedule.
Day 1: Odd calendar days (A, B, C, D)
Day 2: Even calendar days (B, A, D, C)
Grade 9 students will spend the morning on Tuesday September 3rd connecting with Welcome Crew students (senior students) for a range of activities, and attend their Block C and D classes as usual after lunch. Grade 9 students should come to the main foyer at 8:45 am to be greeted by Welcome Crew leaders.
Timetables: There will be alphabetical lists with the Period 1 room locations in the foyer and outside of the main office. There will be staff available on the first day of school to help direct students to their Period 1 class. Grade 10-12 students will get their timetables from their Period 1 teacher.
Timetable Changes: Students are expected to attend all classes on their timetable. There will be no timetable changes on the first day of school. The timetable change request process will be communicated by Student Services to students in the second week of school. Priority will be on changes from summer school, pathway changes for post-secondary, and any errors. Students are expected to follow their current timetable until any changes to their timetable are finalized and confirmed.
Lockers: Lockers are assigned to all high school students; the number will be printed on the student timetables. Students must only use the lockers assigned to them. All students require a lock for their lockers. You may bring your own, or purchase one from the main office for the cost of $10. Payment is available via School Cash online.
Students on spare/e-learning: Senior students who have a spare or e-learning course must work in the library or lower foyer on their course work.
Lunch: Grade 9-12 may eat their lunch in the cafeteria, foyers, or they are welcome to go off property during lunch. Students must return to school property in time for their afternoon class. A reminder that students must also extend respectful and kind behaviour off of school property as well as within the school. Students are expected to clean up after themselves both inside and outside of the school.
Cafeteria Services: Our school cafeteria will not be open at the beginning of the school year; we will provide an update on the opening of cafeteria services as soon as possible.
Absences and Student Sign Out: For all student absences: Please call the school, or, send an email to [email protected], including in your message: the name of your child, grade and the reason for the absence. Should you need to pick up your child early, please make arrangements and notify the school ahead of time. You may arrange to pick up your child at the front of the school at the prearranged time.When students are away from school they may work on school work, if they are able, by communicating with their teachers. This does not replace in-person teaching.
Late Arrivals: If a student is late to school, they can go directly to their class. Their teacher will record the late arrival. We will no longer be issuing late slips to students in the main office.
Welcome to the 2024/2025 School Year
We look forward to welcoming all of our students back to school on Tuesday, September 3rd. We sincerely believe that the school year ahead will be a positive one, filled with growth and learning opportunities for both staff and students. Thank you for your continued support, both of our school, and of course, of each one of our students. Please reach out if you have questions, or if we can provide further support,
In education,
Aaron Hobbs, Principal of Sir Robert Borden