WELCOME BACK! Symmes - D'Arcy McGee Update - 8/21/26 - Symmes Junior & D'Arcy McGee High Schools

Dear Families,

I hope you all had a lovely summer. We are so excited to welcome our students back to school next week.

Here is some preliminary information to kick off the year:

Administration Team

Tara Laine – Principal – tlaine@wqsb.qc.ca
Kate Smith – Vice-Principal – students with last names A-L – katesmith@wqsb.qc.ca
Chris Byrne – Vice-Principal – students with last names M-Z – chrisbyrne@wqsb.qc.ca
Holly Richardson – Guidance Counselor – students with last names A-F – hrichardson@wqsb.qc.ca
Danielle Nikora – Guidance Counselor – students with last names G-M – dnikota@wqsb.qc.ca
Franny Maloney – Guidance Counselor – students with last names N-Z – fmaloney@wqsb.qc.ca

Opening Days

Thursday August 27^th – ONLY grade 7, 9 and 10 students as well as our PY1 and PY2 students (those following the work-oriented training pathway) will attend on this day – all other students remain at home
Friday August 28^th – ONLY grade 8 and grade 11 students as well as our PY3 students (those following the work-oriented training pathway) will attend on this day – all other students remain at home
Monday August 31^st– ALL students attend school

When students arrive on their first day, they will be directed to the cafeteria to receive a hard copy of their schedule, their locker assignment and to receive further instructions from school staff
If parents are dropping their children off in the morning, please use our dedicated kiss-and-ride route at the front of the school (please DO NOT drop students off in the parking lots on either side of the school as this poses a safety risk) – school staff will be present to bring students down to the cafeteria to meet their peers
There will be LOTS of adults present to support and direct our students – they will be okay!
Students will follow DAY 9 of their timetable on their first day
August 31^st will be a DAY 1
Teachers will be focusing on building connections with their students as well as outlining our code of conduct and course expectations – there will also be time for FUN!

Code of Conduct

Transportation Information

Transportation information will be published to the parent portal at the end of the day TODAY and will be available until 9am on Friday August 28^th
I have attached the Parent Portal Guide to this email if you do not already have an account
If you are having trouble with the Portal, please email Ms. Jessica Pilon directly at: jpilon@wqsb.qc.ca
Between August 28^th and September 11^th, the process time for new registrations or changes of address will be 10 days
After that time period, the process time will be 3 days
I have also attached the WQSB transportation policy to this email

Suggested School Supplies

I have attached a list of suggested school supplies to this email
Your child’s teachers will let them know if they require additional materials
Generally, having a fully stocked pencil case and a binder with lined paper should be sufficient for the first few days

STO Cards

All grade 7 students and students NEW to our school will receive an STO pass during the first few days of school
I have attached a letter from the STO regarding this initiative

Student Absences

If you need to report a student absence, please send an email to: sdmattendance@wqsb.qc.ca

Communication

You can expect to receive an email directly from me every Friday
You can also see important information posted to our website: https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca/
Please note that we do not currently communicate via social media and the existing parent Facebook page is not monitored by school staff

Annual General Assembly (AGA)

The AGA for both Symmes and D’Arcy McGee parents will be in our auditorium on September 16^th at 6pm
The purpose of the AGA is to inform parents of the structures and routines of school as well as to elect the parent representatives to our Governing Board
I have attached information about Governing Boards to this email for your information – it’s a great way to get involved!
At the AGA, we will also be taking names for potential spots on the WQSB Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Parents will also have an opportunity to meet their child’s teacher and tour the school

Upcoming Dates

We can’t wait to get started! It’s going to be a great year.

Have a nice weekend and take care.

WESTERN QUÉBEC SCHOOL BOARD