Dear Mount Sentinel and Sequoia Students and Families,
Back to school is here!  I hope you had both a restful and playful summer and are feeling ready to return to the routines of school again. The start of the new school year feels like an opportunity to bring the renewed energy of summer with us as we reconnect, reset, and look forward to all that the year ahead will bring. 

We are excited to be returning to school on Tuesday, September 8.  Our first official day is a half day of school that starts at 8:40 am and ends at 12:00 pm. Buses will run 3 hours

earlier than usual on this day. This day is intended to help students transition back to school by reconnecting with friends, staff, and the routines of school.  

Giving One’s Best - Starting the Year Off with A ROAR
At Mount Sentinel, our school motto is “Giving One’s Best.” Giving our best doesn’t mean being perfect or getting everything right the first time. It means how we approach each day, how we respond when things are difficult, how we treat one another, and how willing we are to learn and grow.

We bring "Giving One’s Best" to life through ROAR:

R – Resilience: Bouncing back, taking responsibility, and growing stronger through challenges.

O – Opportunity: Taking advantage of learning experiences, getting involved, and being open to trying new things.

A – Attitude: Approaching learning and one another with a positive mindset, a willingness to try, and the belief that we can learn and grow through challenges.

R – Respect: Showing care for ourselves, for others, and for the spaces and community we all share.

During the first week of school, we will spend time as a school community exploring what Giving One’s Best and ROAR look like in our classrooms, hallways, activities, and

relationships. These first few days are an important opportunity for students to reconnect, build a sense of belonging, learn expectations, and set the tone for a positive year ahead.

We encourage families to make attendance throughout the first week a priority. We want every student to be part of these conversations and experiences as we begin the year together. And we’ll finish the week by putting some ROAR into action with our first Spirit Day on Friday! It’s a chance to have some fun, build school spirit, and celebrate being back together as a Mount Sentinel community.

Some Changes for 2026 | 27
To start the year, please also note some important change:

• The school day starts at 8:40.  This is to accommodate a slightly longer morning break, increasing from 10 to 15 minutes between Period 1 and 2.  The daily schedule is posted on our school website >> HERE.

• The Middle Years Program will continue to have four HUBS.  The grade configurations will be different this year.  We will have two Grade 7 HUBS and two Grade 8 HUBS. All

• students in Grade 7 and 8 will receive their HUB information on the first day of school. 

• The hot lunch program that was previously organized and prepared by our school staff will not be continuing this school year.  

• We hope to see both the breakfast program and a parent-run hot lunch program continue this school year.  Both are dependent on the support of parent volunteers to help

  organize and run them. We will work in partnership with our PAC to discuss next steps in planning these important programs. We are anticipating that there will be no food services on site for at least the first two weeks of school. 

• We will be using the homeroom structure throughout the school year.  It is important that students know who their homeroom teacher is and begin making connections with them at the start of the year.

• The gym is an active classroom space throughout the regular school day. As we begin the year, we will be reinforcing clear expectations for the safe and respectful use of his space, both during classes and during break times.

• For PE classes, students are expected to come prepared with appropriate clothing for physical activity, including suitable athletic footwear. These expectations help ensure that all students can participate safely and comfortably in PE activities.

New Student Orientation - Friday, September 4
In previous years, we hosted a Labour Day Monday orientation for middle school students (Grade 7 and 8) in the morning followed by a session for new Grade 9 to 12 students in the early afternoon.    

This year we will instead host a “New Student Orientation” on Friday, September 4 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.  This time is for students who did not have an opportunity to visit the school before the end of June last year. 

Please be assured that if your child did not visit the school prior to the end of June or is unable to attend on Friday, they will feel prepared to have a successful start to the year by

being here on our opening day. Opening day is intended to provide students with the grounding they need to start the year in a positive way. Our Grade 7 and 8 students will have an opportunity to connect with their HUB teachers and feel confident about the transition to a new school and/or new HUB configuration.    

What to Expect the First Day and Week

Tuesday, September 8 

• Students will be called to their homeroom classes at 8:40. The homeroom lists will be posted in the multipurpose room upon students’ arrival at school in the morning. 
• Students will receive their schedules for the year, locker information, fee sheets, and the start of the year consent forms for parents/caregivers to sign. 
• Plans for Spirit Day on Friday will also be introduced.
• Students and staff will be called to the gym for an opening day assembly. 
• Following the assembly, students will follow a mini-schedule rotation. The schedule will be shared by homeroom teachers.
• Staff will review the course change process with students during homeroom.  Course changes will be prioritized in the following order; students without schedules (new students), Grade 12, Grade 11, Grade 10, Grade 9 (electives only). Grade 7 and 8 students have a defined schedules. Students are expected to follow the schedules they are assigned for the first two days.  We anticipate that course changes will be completed by the end of the first week of school. 

Wednesday, September 9 & Thursday, September 10 

• These will be the first full days of school following a modified daily schedule. 
• Teachers will share information about the school supplies that are need for their specific course.
• The modified daily schedule will include morning homeroom followed by Spirit Day activity preparation.
• Course changes will happen throughout the day. The counsellor and the school administration will meet with students throughout the day.  We will find students in their scheduled classes. 

Friday, September 11 

• Student Council hosted pancake breakfast starting at 8:15 to 9:00 am 
• A modified daily schedule begins at 9:00 with the students following the block rotation of  Block 2, 6, 3, 7 followed by Spirit Day activities 

The school office continues to be open this week from 8:00 to 3:00 pm. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

We look forward to seeing our returning students back at school and, together with them, welcoming our new students and families. 

Happy New Year, Mount Sentinel!

Shellie Maloff
Principal,
Mount Sentinel School