hwdsb homework policy

Mr. D’s Classroom

Lessons, resources and ideas, information for parents and students.

Classroom Rules

• Be excellent to each other;
• Demonstrate responsibility for the environment around you as well as learning materials;
• Demonstrate responsibility for your own learning and respect the learning of others;
• Work hard and ask questions;
• DO YOUR HOMEWORK (It’s a DAILY THING)
• Come to class prepared.

Classroom Gui delines

• Daily Homework should always include 20 minutes of reading, Math review and checking the classroom blog;
• Technology can be brought to school. The school does not take any responsibility for the care, maintenance or whereabouts of the technology.  Personal technology should only be used for educational purposes while under the direct supervision of a teacher .  This includes time spent on the playground and during nutrition breaks. Phones are generally poor learning tools. 11″ or larger screens tend to be the best investment in learning while laptops and chrome books are the best. Please note that the school board uses Microsoft products which means it is best to load Microsoft Edge on your device and use it as the default browser for schoolwork.
• I often answer emails at night, particularly when major assignments are looming.  Send me a message if you need help:  [email protected].  Don’t be afraid to reach out to me if you are uncertain of an expectation, do not understand a concept or assignment, want to check your understanding or if something unexpected has happened and you need to inform me of an issue.
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South Carolina considers its energy future through state Senate committee

Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, left , and Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina President Mike Callahan, speak before testifying before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, left; Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, center; and Sen. Nikki Setlzer, D- West Columbia, right, speak before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton, left, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, center, and Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina President Mike Callahan, right, are sworn in before testifying before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025. in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton, left, Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, center, and Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina President Mike Callahan, right, wait to testify before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina President Mike Callahan waits to testify before a South Carolina Senate committee planning to write a comprehensive energy bill in 2025 in Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Aug. 22 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate on Thursday started its homework assignment of coming up with a comprehensive bill to guide energy policy in a rapidly growing state and amid a quickly changing power- generation world.

The Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future plans several meetings through October. On Thursday, the committee heard from the leaders of the state’s three major utilities. Future meetings will bring in regular ratepayers, environmentalists, business leaders and experts on the latest technology to make electricity,

The Senate took this task upon itself. They put the brakes a massive 80-plus page energy overhaul bill that passed the House in March in less than six weeks, and the bill died at the end of the session.

Many senators said the process earlier this year was rushed . They remembered the last time they trusted an overhaul bill backed by utilities.

State-owned Santee Cooper and private South Carolina Electric & Gas used those rules passed 15 years ago to put ratepayers on the hook for billions of dollars spent on two new nuclear reactors that never generated a watt of power before construction was abandoned because of rising costs.

But those dire memories are being mixed with dire predictions of a state running out of power.

Unusually cold weather on Christmas Eve 2022 along with problems at a generating facility nearly led to rolling blackouts in South Carolina. Demand from advanced manufacturing and data centers is rising. If electric cars grow in popularity, more power is needed. And a state that added 1.3 million people since 2000 has a lot more air conditioners, washing machines and charges for devices, the utility leaders said.

Senators stopped Duke Energy’s president in South Carolina, Mike Callahan, in middle of his presentation after he told them his utility’s most recent predictions for growth in electricity usage over the rest of this decade were eight times more than they were just two years ago.

“Growth is here, and much more is coming. We need clear energy policy to plan for that growth,” Callahan said,

The utility leaders told senators their companies need to know what kind of sources of power — natural gas, solar, nuclear, wind or others — the state wants to emphasize. They would like to have a stable rules from regulators on how they operate.

“A quick no is a lot better to us than a long-term maybe,” Santee Cooper CEO Jimmy Staton said.

Another complicating factor are federal rules that may require utilities to shut down power plants that use coal before there are replacements with different sources online, Staton said.

Others aren’t so sure the state needs a rapid increase in power generation. Environmentalists have suggested the 2022 problems that led to blackouts were made worse because power plants were nowhere near capacity and better cooperation in the grid would allow electricity to get to where its needed easier.

Those less bullish on the overhaul also are urging the state not to lock in on one source of power over another because technology could leave South Carolina with too much power generation in inefficient ways.

There will likely be plenty of discussion of data centers that use a lot of electricity without the number of jobs, property taxes or other benefits a manufacturer provides.

Staton estimated about 70% of Santee Cooper’s increased demand is from data centers.

“We clearly need them. I don’t want to go back in time,” committee chairman Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said. “What I’m trying to get at is a better understanding, a better handle on how much of the projected growth is based on data centers or on everything else.”

Massey has been hard on Dominion Energy, which bought South Carolina Electric & Gas after the abandoned nuclear project at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. But Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam said it is important that all options, including a new nuclear plant, remain on the table.

“Everybody thinks if we build anything that we’re going to absolutely repeat what we did with V.C. Summer” Kissam said. “Well, I promise you, that ain’t gonna happen. OK? I’ll pack up and leave.”

Massey said he appreciated Kissam’s candor and felt he was a straight shooter, but there are a lot of other people involved in the failed project who lied and hid problems.

“I can’t put that behind me. And I don’t think a lot of people can put that behind them,” Massey said.

Massey’s goal is to have a bill ready by the time the 2025 session starts in January.

Westmount Student Services

Student Success

Hi everyone,

My name is Ms. Proulx and I am the Student Success Teacher at Westmount. I mainly work out of the Learning Commons (LC) – you can find me in there during Period 1 and 4. Part of my job as a Student Success teacher is to help students who are struggling with various aspects of school life by helping them to plan, problem solve and work on subjects that they are finding difficult. I also work with classroom teachers, guidance counselors and parents and guardians to develop plans to make sure that our students are successful at school. Pop in to the LC to see me if you are having trouble with anything school related – whether you aren’t sure how to use your agenda to help you plan your work,  are having trouble with your English assignment or aren’t sure where to find the Comhairle room!

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The Rad Pack

Homework BINGO

• Completion of Homework BINGO will not affect letter grades in curriculum areas, however will be considered for the Learning Skills portion of the Progress Report/Report Card (Responsibility and Initiative).

Daily Reading and Writing

• Students should be reading for a  minimum  of  20 minutes per night  (up to 180 minutes per week)
• Reading every day is important for improving fluency, increasing vocabulary, and for pure enjoyment!   Parents can help  further their child’s comprehension of texts by engaging in reading with them.   Ask your child questions about what they are reading.    Go to the library and participate in some of the great after school programs they offer (not to mention the FREE books!).    Read things that aren’t just books.    Show them that you read often and enjoy reading yourself!
• Prodigy  is a fun game that kids can play to practice math skills.  It covers all the math strands in the Ontario Curriculum and will give an assortment of questions as your child plays.  Occasionally, I will assign Prodigy tasks that are specific to the content area that we are covering at the time.  Your child’s username and password is in their agenda.

Occasional Homework/Assignments

• From time to time,  additional homework will be sent home.   Incomplete work  that was expected to have been completed in class will be sent home and expected back the next day.   Extra work  may be assigned if I feel as though the class as whole could benefit from some extra practice in different concepts. ( The mystery word is: organization)
• Homework completion is reflected in the Learning Skills portion of the Progress Report/Report Card.

Here are links to the HWDSB homework guidelines (available in different languages):

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does HWDSB need a Whistleblower Policy?

A HWDSB whistleblower policy can support all members of the HWDSB community.  Such a policy can promote a clear, fair, consistent and effective mechanism to receiving and resolving complaints and concerns without fear of reprisal.

Whistleblower concerns may not be specifically addressed in some Board policies. Developing a whistleblower policy is preferable to amending each policy and would also apply to new policies developed by the Board.

A whistleblower policy will also further HWDSB’s commitment to foster and maintain a respectful culture that permeates in all HWDSB learning and work environments, so that:

• Individuals may come forward in good faith without fear of reprisal
• Everyone is treated with dignity and respect
• Everyone is supported and accepted
• Everyone is free from discrimination and harassment
• HWDSB learning and workspaces are welcoming, respectful, accessible and free from systemic discrimination, harassment and different forms of oppression.

What Existing Board Policies and Legal Obligations did you consider?

Under the Education Act and its regulations, the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, HWDSB is responsible for ensuring that learning and work environments are safe, inclusive and free from discrimination and harassment.  Various statutory provisions also protect employees from reprisal if not explicitly found in Board policy.

On October 3rd, 2022, the Board of Trustees approved two important new policies, the Human Rights Policy and Anti-Black Racism Policy . These policies signal our next steps in HWDSB’s commitment to providing learning and working environments that are welcoming, respectful, accessible, and free from discrimination and harassment.  The Human Rights Policy serves as an anchor for existing and future policies and procedures, including the development and implementation of our Whistleblower Policy. 

Further, HWDSB currently has a number of polices and related procedures that include elements of human rights tenets tenants such as the Equity and Inclusion Policy 5.4, the Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Policy 4.9, and the Accommodation of Staff Policy 4.1.  Further, whistleblower protection is currently defined and outlined within the Staff Policy 3.6 Fraud Prevention and Management Policy and Procedure.  A whistleblower policy will further serve as an additional expectation which can be considered when these types of policies are interpreted and applied.

HWDSB also has nine collective agreements and three Terms and Conditions documents which provide employees with additional job security, due process and arbitration rights.

What is HWDSB's process for writing policies?

Board policy is reviewed, revised and approved by the Board of Trustees as part of their governance role and responsibility. Staff assists by writing reports and draft policies and conducting consultation activities. Through the Policy Committee and then the full Board of Trustees, trustees review scoping reports and draft policy and make changes and decisions about what to include as well as consultation.

How often are HWDSB policies reviewed?

HWDSB policies are reviewed on a five-year policy review cycle.

Where can I find more information on HWDSB policy writing and review process?

The policy writing and review process is outlined on the board website at the following link:

Policy-Develolpment-Process-FINAL-April2018.pdf (hwdsb.on.ca)  

Who responded to the online survey?

The survey garnered a total of 562 respondents with 329 (58.5%) identifying themselves as HWDSB Parents/Guardian/Caregiver. The second highest group represented was HWDSB Staff Members who made up 183 (32.5%) of total survey respondents. Other groups who self-identified as respondents included, HWDSB Students (1.9%), HWDSB Vendor/Contractor/Third Party Service Providers (3.7%), and Community Members or Members of Community Organizations (3.2%). HWDSB Volunteers were not represented in this survey despite being an option of choice within the question

What is the difference between a Policy and a Procedure?

A policy acts as the guideline and the procedure sets out the specific operations and actions that will bring the policy to life

Both are important, however, oftentimes when reviewing a policy, the details on how the policy will be implemented are found in the accompanying procedure. The procedure for this policy will be shared in January/February 2023 once the Policy is approved. 

Within a School Board, a policy must first be approved by the Board of Trustees and then the accompanying procedure will be developed to operationalize the policy by staff. 

Why do you call them a Whistleblower?

Based on the consultation feedback, we heard that many people had wonderings and questions about the use of the term "Whistleblower."

It is generally recognized that the term "whistleblower" refers to an individual, with knowledge of dangerous or illegal behaviors within an organization who bravely come forward to shed light on such activities and bring about change to prevent further harm. 

For the purpose of this policy, HWDSB defines a Whistleblower as anyone who brings attention to wrongdoings (see wrongdoing definition) in order to ensure that HWDSB functions in a manner that promotes a safe, welcoming, and inclusive working and learning environment.

What is a Whistleblower?

Whistleblower : A person who brings forward information that reveals wrongdoing.

What is an example of "wrongdoing?"

Within the context of the HWDSB Whistleblower Policy,

 Wrongdoing means:

• Violation of laws, Acts, or legislation (ex. Ontario Human Rights Code)
• Violation of Board policies procedures (ex. Human Rights Policy, Fraud Prevention and Management Policy and Procedure)
• Misuse of public funds or public assets
• Mismanagement or abuse of positional power
• Doing something that creates a substantial danger to health, safety, or life of person(s)
• Serious breach of an Organizations Code of Conduct or existing policies
• Knowingly directing, counseling, or pressuring a person to commit a wrongdoing

What framework was used to help develop this policy?

As a foundation, HWDSB Human Rights Policy used to ground the work of the Whistleblower Policy (WBP) from Human Rights and Equity lens.

Further, HWDSB staff referenced the Canadian Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act along with similar policies from other Ontario School Boards for guidance and when creating our Whistleblower Policy. 

Did you consult policies from other Ontario school boards?

Yes. HWDSB staff completed a thorough review of all school board Whistleblower policies and procedures. Further, HWDSB staff met with and consulted directly with TDSB staff to help in the development of this policy. The TDSB has had a Whistleblower policy since 2008 and therefore, we felt that they would be able to provide rich learning that they have gathered over years of experience. Our goal in this consultation process was to learn how best how best we can create our procedures to ensure people will come forward and report wrongdoings in good faith. 

How would "in good faith" be assessed?

All people(s) bringing forward a concern or report under the Whistleblower Policy will be assumed to be "acting in good faith." The accompanying procedure to this policy will outline steps to be taken should, during the investigation stage, evidence suggest that a report was filed with malicious or vexatious intent. 

Does this list of reportable actions reflect the vision of the community, students, and staff?

As part of the initial consultation process, people were asked to share what they feel would consider to be reportable under the policy to try and capture what offences to include in the policy. That being said, this list is not conclusive and any action that violates a person(s) human right (OHRC), Canadian laws, organizational code of conduct or existing policies, along with any action that constitutes an abuse of power dynamic should be considered as appropriate to bring forward under the policy.

How will complaints / concerns be handled?

A third-party company will be hired to handle the receiving of complaints .

The details of this process will be outlined in the accompanying procedure. HWDSB is committed to ensuring the process is confidential and safe for individuals to come forward. Further, HWDSB is committed to addressing wrongdoing, as defined by the policy, appropriately and in an independent, transparent, fair, and timely manner. 

Who will be responsible for data collection?

Data collection and the retention of records will be outlined in the accompanying procedure, but it will fall within the purview of the Privacy Office.

Who determines the final consequences?

The process for investigation and resolution will be outlined in the accompanying procedure.

Will there be an annual report created?

Yes, an annual report on Whistleblower complaints will be made available to the Trustees and made publicly available. 

Are individuals liable for failing to report a Whistleblower wrongdoing?

There are no penalties outlined in the policy regarding “not reporting” however, it should be noted that depending on the concern, that different employee groups may be held to the standards outlined by their own professional colleges (ex., Duty to Report – Harm or Neglect)

What is a whistleblower procedure?

A Whistleblower Procedure will:

• Encourage current and former Board members, employees, providers, students, volunteers, vendors, contractors and partner organizations to come forward with credible information on illegal practices or violations of adopted organization policies, including with respect to issues of honesty and integrity, conflicts of interest and of questionable financial or operational matters
• Formalize a procedure for receiving and investigating complaints which are already reviewed when raised with the Board
• Whistleblowers would be expressly protected from reprisal if a procedure is identified as necessary to support existing practices when questionable financial or operational matters are raised.

Once the Whistleblower Policy is approved, how will you inform staff, students, community, vendors of the policy and procedure?

The communication of this policy and procedure is very important to everyone.  HWDSB will ensure we communicate both internally and externally and ensure the procedure is accessible on both our HWDSB website and HWDSB internet.  A series of system communications will be shared in January and February 2023.

Le Troisième année à Guy B. Brown Elementary

A way for students and families to stay up to date.

Great french sites

Site for mathematics:

http://ca.ixl.com/math/grade-3

Site for students reading (strategies and phonics)

http://lps13.free.fr/

Site for parents of students in FSL

http://www.fslhomeworktoolbox.ca/

 For those of you interested, here is a pamphlet that was put together by HWDSB regarding homework support and policies:

Bienvenue & Welcome to Grade Three!

Chère Parents et Guardiens,

Bienvenue and welcome to Grade Three!  The grade three French Immersion team of Mademoiselle Blimkie and Mademoiselle Moore would like to welcome your child to Third Grade. We are looking forward to getting to know both you, and your children, this year. Grade three students will achieve much this year in terms of academic growth, greater self-confidence, and improved social skills. Good communication between parent, teacher, and student is very important for your child’s academic growth.

During the first week of school the students will make a time capsule. Firstly, we ask them to bring an empty paper-towel roll or empty Kleenex box from home and a recent picture of themselves. The specific date for when this material is required will be found in their agenda’s after the first day of school. We will cover the rolls with construction paper, on which the children draw pictures and write their names. Capsule contents will include a picture of the child, a hand tracing, and a completed interest inventory that asks about favourite books, TV shows, friends, and so on. It also asks them to write three things that they want to learn during the year. I measure each student’s height with a piece of string, and the string is also put into the time capsule. Then I will collect the capsules and store them in safe/hidden place. On the last day of school we will have a “reopening” ceremony, during which the children compare their earlier choices and goals (and height!) with how they feel now.

I would like to briefly introduce my homework policy which is based on the HWDSB homework policy found at: http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/dalewood/policies.htm#homework .  We will have regular assignments in Grade Three, and homework will be assigned accordingly. The purpose of homework is to reinforce what we have learned in class. A child who has done his (or her) homework is prepared, in class, to hear explanations of what he (or she) has had trouble with at home. I am also trying, in grade three, to help students develop good work habits for future years.

Every evening you can expect your child to arrive at home with his or her homework and/or daily notes written in the agenda. Each day, all assignments are written on a particular place on the board, and at least five minutes are given toward the end of the day for students to copy this information into their agendas. Please review this information daily with your child, as I may write notes home occasionally in this space. Also, please feel free to use the agenda to write notes for me, as well. Together, we can help your child succeed at school.  I do encourage a great deal of independent reading, reading for your child and reading with your child. Developing a love of reading is so important to a child’s educational future, and I view reading for pleasure as a priority to developing literacy skills. We have a great selection of books, right in our own classroom. These books are of all reading levels and variety, available for students to sign out on a regular basis.

Every year I ask parents to write me a letter about their child. The length and the details you enclose are up to you. Letters from parents in the past have included familial interests, activities, hockey game nights, or concerns.  I use the letter to help me plan an interesting grade 3 year. Your letters also help me learn all about your child (from the experts!). I would greatly appreciate letters returned by Friday, September 17h. Thank you in advance for taking the time to write.

If you have any special questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to send me a note with your child in the morning, or by calling the school and leaving me a message.  I will return your call as soon as possible.  The school phone number is 905-689-8254.

Mlle K. Blimkie    et    Mlle. A. Moore

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