Aberfoyle Public School

August Update

Posted August 20, 2021

Dear Aberfoyle Families,

I hope that you are enjoying the summer.  In preparation for September 7th, the School Board has just released the Student and Family Guide for the 2021-2022 school year.  We will be using this information to help develop our Aberfoyle-specific plans and will be in touch with first-day details the week of August 30th.

Below, please find some reminders that were previously shared but may be helpful as you prepare for September.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

If you are wondering about what school supplies your child will need for September you may find this list helpful.  These are not mandatory items and the classroom teacher may request additional items in September.

TRANSPORTATION

If you do not plan on having your child riding the bus this Fall, please contact the transportation consortium (If you haven’t done so previously).  All opt-out status’ are carried forward, so if your child did not ride the bus last year but will this school year, you will need to connect with them too.  Their website is https://stwdsts.ca/ and can be contacted at 519-824-4119.

BELL TIMES

Our bell times have changed slightly.  We will still begin at 8:30am but our day will end at 2:50pm.

PARKING

The Township has made some changes to parking and stopping regulations outside of the school.  We are waiting for a visual representation of the changes and will share this with you prior to the first day of school.  The main location for end-of-day pick up parking will be the Community Centre.  The Township is hiring a Crossing Guard for the lights at Brock Rd and have made some improvements to the crossing as well.

FUNDRAISER

School Council has partnered with Little Navy, a local company making personalized children’s items, to create a back-to-school fundraiser.  From personalized labels to bags, masks and much more, these items are sure to avoid the lost and found!  Purchase any product under this collection and use code: ABERFOYLE in the checkout and a portion of the sales will go directly to Aberfoyle Parent Council fundraising initiatives.  

TEMPORARY AND COMBINED (SPLIT) CLASSES

Due to the numbers in our Elementary Remote School, our class compositions from the Board are temporary and will not be finalized until the second week of September (we have been told that the classes we start September with are very likely to change).  Our number of classes, students in each class and number of combined grades are all determined centrally and we are not given flexibility to adjust this. Currently, it appears as though there are quite a few combined-grade classes for next year.  Aberfoyle Staff spend hours composing classes. They consider who students work best with, friendships, student conflicts, the classroom environment and community, behavioural needs, interests and several other factors.  When a student is placed in the higher grade of a combined class (ex. Grade 5 going into a 4/5), it is not because they are academically low, nor are they placed in there if they are academically strong and are in the lower grade. Academic strength is not a driving factor in these decisions.  Every class needs, and will have, a wide variety of learners who are at different levels.  This is the reality of our school system and provides opportunities for different levels of discourse, consolidation, and extension.  Teachers always meet students where they’re at in their learning.  Here at Aberfoyle, teachers do a great job of providing strong academic programming and do not teach students with a one-size-fits-all approach.

SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSURE

Please be aware that the school office will be CLOSED until the afternoon of Tuesday August 31st. 

Enjoy the remaining days of summer.  I will be in touch shortly with details of our first day.

Categories: News