Welcome Back Alma PS!
Hello Alma Families! Welcome back to a great school year ahead. Our construction is just wrapping up and it’s been a flurry of activity since we were allowed back in the building on Monday. We have been getting things ready for your arrival on September 6, 2022. If you’re new to Alma PS, we send out weekly “5 Things” messages with the most important things you need to know for the coming week. There is often a lot of communication, with links to current information, so this is a great way to get the most important things into your hands quickly. Here are the 5 things you need to know today to keep up to date this week:
- Returning to school or joining us for the first time often comes with a lot of questions. This handy document of Start Up information will help to answer most common questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12y-vGaln19dPattlbwwYmXwgwXzK5Lu7UZjZazFiZ5g/edit. As always, if you have something you’re still wondering about, feel free to reach out to the school. We are happy to help point you in the right direction.
- The UGDSB has also set up some general information about the changes in school rules and routines this year. You can read more about it on the UGDSB website here:
https://www.ugdsb.ca/board/back-to-school-2022-23-general-information/.
- As the Board organized each of the UGDSB schools in the spring for what we predicted for enrollment in September here at Alma PS, we begin each fall with a tentative class placement for your child. The Board asks that we remind families that schools have built class lists based on their tentative organizations. Changes may be necessary at your child(ren)’s school in order that our Board remain compliant with Ministry parameters as shown below. Any changes would be implemented by Monday, September 19th. Principals do not have the option of changing the school organization that is set by the District Staffing Committee of the Board. If changes affect your child(ren), you will be informed by the school.
Ministry of Education Parameters:
- Full Day Kindergarten Class Size Average for the Board is 26 students
- 90% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with 29 or fewer students
- 10% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with up to 32 students, under certain circumstances
- 90% of the Board’s primary classes with 20 or fewer students
- 10% of the Board’s primary classes up to a maximum of 23 students
- Grade 3/4 classes have a cap of 23 students
- Junior/Intermediate Class Size Average for the Board is 24.5 students.
- Our exterior of the building has had major changes as well. The old blue climber was removed last week. As we envision with the help of the School Council what our new playground options will look like, we have proceeded this summer with painting new line games and learning tools on the asphalt. You’ll notice freshly painted basketball courts, target games, four-square games and many other learning tools too. Thanks to our amazing School Council to help fund this initiative. We also ordered new outdoor equipment which hopefully will arrive in the next week or so. We can’t wait to see kids enjoying these new features of our school!
- Stay tuned for a future 5 Things email to learn more about how to be a part of our incredible School Council. The Council traditionally meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month several times throughout the year and they are such an integral part of helping make Alma PS the amazing school that it is. There will be an opportunity to learn more about elections for leadership roles in the Council as well so be sure to watch for that information soon.
Thanks as always for your continued support. If there’s anything the school can do to help, please let us know. We’re here to help!
Take care,
Jason Boyce
Principal Alma PS
Categories: News