Oct 20th – Weekly

Posted October 20, 2023

Hello Harris Mill families, 

It’s hard to believe it will be the last week of October. Time is flying by and we couldn’t be more impressed with the entire school’s efforts in learning and having fun. Please check out these important reminders and have a great weekend! 

#1 Friday Oct 27th is a PA Day: The school will be closed for students but please click the link to see the description of what staff will be completing on this day –  https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/10/05/professional-activity-day-description-oct-27-2023-2/

#2 Husky Spirit Wear: Our school’s spirit wear will be opened for ordering on school cash online starting Monday October 16th. The window for ordering will be 2 weeks with a close date of Sunday October 29th. Click here to access the available items and full details for ordering – https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/10/12/spirit-wear-orders-start-october-16th/ 

#3 Congratulations to our Jr Soccer Teams: Both teams travelled to Eramosa PS on Oct 19th and showed amazing teamwork and sportsmanship and represented our school very well. Thank you to Mrs. Terry and Mrs. Dowhaniuk for coaching this year’s teams!

#4 HALLOWEEN AT HARRIS MILL: Our school celebrates Halloween with costume dress up or by wearing black and orange if a student chooses to participate. Note: there will be a school wide parade early in the morning on Oct 31st. 

We will ask that parents carefully consider the costumes their children wear to school. If students choose to wear a costume they should come to school wearing it. Please have regular clothes available for your child, as they may need to change out of their costumes part way through the day. Class specific activities may be communicated as applicable by your child’s teacher.

  • Accessories (ie. Masks and replica weapons) are to stay home
  • Inflatable costumes are to stay at home as they can be accidentally damaged and not safe on our stairs
  • We ask that students not share candy/drinks/treats; however, students may bring a treat for themselves in their lunch
  • A reminder that costumes should not be scary as we have young students who may be frightened.

If your child(ren) does not participate in Halloween please inform their teacher and there will be alternate activities available.

Costumes:  It is our responsibility to ensure that school community members avoid using identities and cultures as costumes. This includes appropriative costumes/cultural stereotypes (i.e. cultural garments), black/brown face, transphobic costumes (i.e. man dressed as a woman), body-shaming and objectifying costumes, and costumes that joke about situations that have caused harm (i.e. COVID pandemic). Such costumes perpetuate stereotypes and can cause harm that can further marginalize and oppress community members.

#5 DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY: We kindly ask that all families who walk their dogs to the school refrain from taking their dog into busy areas around the school (ie Kindergarten drop off and pick up areas, the back tarmac and sidewalk of the school area during drop off and pick up times). We have many students who for various reasons are uncomfortable around dogs and to help these students transition easier to and from school we ask that all dogs be kept well away from these areas around the school. Thank you for your help and understanding. 

#6 Harris Mill and the UGDSB Need Noon Hour Supervisors: Harris Mill PS and other UGDSB schools are always looking for parents or community members who are willing to help out as a Noon Hour Supervisors, click here for more information – https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/09/18/ugdsb-career-opportunity-noon-hour-supervisor/

#7 CANADA DENTAL BENEFIT:  Applications for the second period of the Canada Dental Benefit are open. Eligible families can receive up to $650, to help with expenses for their children under 12 who receive dental care between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. canada.ca/dental

#8 ATTENDANCE SUPPORT WEEK 3: This week our tips for supporting your child’s attendance at school focuses on ways to involve the school. See below for some strategies you could try. 

  • Know that there are supports in your child’s school.  Connect with them as soon as an issue starts. Connecting earlier is better than when your child has missed a lot of school.
  • If your child wants to leave school, try to have them connect with a caring adult in the school first to see if things can be worked out before your child goes home.
  • Reach out to your school Principal and/or Guidance department for help if your child is not coming to school.  Let’s talk!  There is no judgement!
  • A welcoming school approach has proven to be quite effective. Ensure your child is familiar with their school Principal, Vice-Principal and other caring adults in the building.
  • Talk to the school team about anything you are hearing might be difficult for your child at school.  School staff are always ready to help problem solve.
  • Have a mental health plan created with your child and school staff and ensure there is a safe place to go in the school when your child may need some quiet time.
  • If going into the classroom is hard – remember coming into the school building and meeting with a caring adult in a safe space is an important step in getting back to school.

For more information, please visit the UGDSB website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/parents/student-attendance-at-school-tips-and-strategies-for-families/ 

#9 Subway Fridays are back! Order now for a weekly treat delivered fresh on Fridays. Lunchbox by School Cash Online makes it easy to receive subs on Fridays. Place your order by Sunday at noon each week, or order in advance for several weeks at a time. Cancellations can be made up until the Wednesday before the delivery day. Click on the Lunchbox icon within School Cash Online to order now!

#10 CELL PHONES: Just a reminder that if your child brings their cell phone to school it is to be kept in their backpacks at all times during the school day. Please remind your child that if they need to contact parents during the school day the office will gladly help them. This ensures that staff are aware if there is a problem and can offer support. Thank you!

#11 ILLNESS PREVENTION: KEY PROTECTIVE MEASURES – As a school, we want to remind everyone of the importance of many standard protective strategies to help keep staff and students safe and healthy. Strategies such as frequent hand washing, respiratory etiquette and making the most of our outdoor spaces for learning continue to contribute to the health and well-being of students and staff. Classes in the UGDSB will continue to have a standalone HEPA filter unit, with more than 2500 units deployed across the system. In addition to these measures, the UGDSB will continue to support students, staff and visitors to our schools and respect their individual choices about masking. 

Management of Illness in Schools – The UGDSB will continue to follow the direction of WDGPH for appropriate responses to illnesses in our community. Please visit their website for the most current information about COVID-19: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/covid-19/covid-19-information-public/status-cases-wdg

#12 UGDSB’s FALL PIC EVENT: The Upper Grand District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is inviting UG parents/guardians to join them at the free PIC event on October 25, 2023. Please click the link for full information – https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/09/18/inspiring-engagement-with-parents-school-councils-ugdsb-pic-invites-you-to-its-fall-event-2/

#13 Morning Drop Off Safety: To help us ensure the safety of all our students at Harris Mill, parents are asked to stay on the edge of the tarmac close to the yellow posts when dropping off their grade 1-5 child(ren) before school starts. If parents are dropping their child off late (Kindergarten to Gr.5) Please go to the front office doors and connect with the Office staff. Thank you!

#14 Wanting to Volunteer at Harris Mill?: We really appreciate and value all our parent and guardian volunteers who give up some of their time to help us out, whether that be in the school or on a field trip. To get started volunteering this year there are a couple of actions to take. 

  1. Anyone who is new to the volunteer role at Harris Mill must first contact Ms. Evans, our Office Coordinator, for full information on how to submit a vulnerable sector check. 
  2. Those volunteers who have already submitted a vulnerable sector check to the school previously must also see Ms. Evans to complete a quick annual offence declaration. Please note: Following the UGDSB Policy 205: School Volunteers, your vulnerable sector check remains valid for 5 years, as long as you sign a yearly Volunteer Agreement with Annual Offence Declaration.

#15 PUBLIC HEALTH DENTAL HEALTH SCREENING: On April 4th 2024, a team from WDG Public Health will be coming to conduct dental screenings for all students in JK/SK, Grade 2 and Grade 4. All parents no matter their child’s grade at Harris Mill have the choice to Opt In or Opt Out of the screening process. For full information please click the link: https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/10/20/public-health-dental-screening-april-4th/

Harris Mill Important Upcoming Dates:

Friday October 27th – PA Day (School is Closed)

Sunday October 29th – Last day to order Spirit Wear through cash online

Tuesday October 31st – Halloween (Parade early in the am)

Saturday November 11th – Remembrance Day

Wednesday November 15th – Progress Reports go home 

Categories: News • Newsletter