Dear Families,
I am happy to inform you that following final approval of the OCDSB Board of Trustees, our school will now be named Wazoson Public School.
Pronounced wuh-zoh-sohn (audio pronunciation), Wazoson is the Algonquin/Anishinaabe word for bird’s nest. A nest is a safe place to nurture the young. Birds of all types, sizes and shapes begin life in a nest. As there is a place for all those different kinds of birds in the natural world, there is also a place for every student in our school. The name encourages engagement and connection with the natural world around students.
The name Wazoson was chosen following consultation through the spring of 2023 with students, parents, staff and members of the Half Moon Bay community. Additional input was provided from a member of the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee along with an Algonquin Elder and an Algonquin Knowledge Keeper.
We are so thankful to all who participated in helping us find a name for our new school. This is a significant step in framing the school culture we would like to create. We want our school to be a safe, caring and nurturing environment for children to thrive. An Algonquin-named school also sends an important message of our commitment to reconciliation and learning about the rich knowledge, history and culture of Indigenous peoples.
With the name now official, we can really start to move forward together in building the community and culture of Wazoson Public School.
We are hoping you will be able to join us for an open house at D.A. Moodie School at 595 Moodie Drive on August 31, from 5:30 to 7:30, we will also have a video to share with families to view in August to further prepare for our first day of school.
All students will be bussed to D.A. Moodie. You can check your bus stop location and time at the end of August on the OSTA website. Please make sure you have updated your pick up and drop off locations with us, if your child will take the bus or be dropped off to a location other than your home. If your child is new to the bus, consider taking your child to the School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Awareness Day – Sunday, August 27, 2023. It is a great opportunity for your child to learn about safety on their way to school.
Sincerely,
Janis St-Germain
Principal
Wazoson Public School