Welcome back!
We hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and found some time to relax, recharge, and enjoy time together. It is hard to believe that another school year is already here, but we are very excited to welcome students back to Capitol Hill on Monday for the first day of the 2026-27 school year!
Our staff have spent the past three days together getting ready for the year ahead. Along with all of the classroom setup, organizing, planning, and preparation that happens at this time of year, teachers have been working together around teaching and learning, student support, safety, and how we can create a strong start for every student.
We also began our work with Yellow Steps, a place-based learning residency that will help students and teachers use the community and natural spaces within walking distance of our school as an extension of the classroom. Staff spent time this week exploring some of those possibilities and thinking about how this work can connect to learning throughout the year.
Back-to-School Information
As we head into Monday, we want to remind families that our Back-to-School page on the Capitol Hill School website is the best place to find current information about school startup, schedules, procedures, supplies, calendars, and other important details.
Throughout the year, one of our goals is to continue directing families back to our website as the central source for the most up-to-date school information, so please make it one of your first stops when you have a question.
Monday Morning
Monday morning is always one of our favourite mornings of the year. There is something pretty great about seeing the playground fill up again after a quiet summer!
On Monday and Tuesday, teachers will be outside beginning at 8:30 AM to meet, welcome, and gather their students before bringing classes into the school together. Our regular 8:35 AM soft entry will begin on Wednesday, September 2.
By now, families should have received a welcome email from their child’s teacher. These messages include a little bit about the teacher, along with some classroom-specific information and first-day procedures to help everyone know what to expect on Monday.
Please follow the meeting-location information provided in your child’s teacher welcome email when you arrive Monday morning. Staff will also be throughout the school grounds to help anyone who is unsure where to go.
If you have not received a message, please check your junk or spam folder first. There will also be many Capitol Hill staff members outside and around the school on Monday morning to help students find the right place and connect with their teacher.
A few things for students to bring on Monday:
- a water bottle
- indoor shoes
- a lunch kit and snack
If your child will be staying at school over the lunch hour, please also make sure they have been registered for Noon Supervision through your MyCBE account.
Saying Goodbye & Entering the School
We know the first morning can be a big one, particularly for some of our younger students, and sometimes their parents too! We ask that all families say goodbye outside the school and allow teachers to bring students into the building with their classes. Parents and family members should not enter the school with students or accompany them to their classrooms.
The safety and security of our students and staff is always a priority. During the school day, all parents, visitors, and volunteers entering the building must use the main entrance, buzz into the school, and check in and sign in at the main office before proceeding anywhere else in the building. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure school for everyone.
There is always a mix of excitement, nerves, anticipation, and probably a few butterflies as a new school year begins. Our staff have put a tremendous amount of work into getting ready, and we are looking forward to having the most important part of Capitol Hill School back in the building on Monday: our students.
Enjoy the final weekend of summer, and we will see everyone Monday morning!
Adam Eakins, Principal
Rachel Clowes, Assistant Principal