Oct 26th – Weekly

Posted October 26, 2023

Hello Harris Mill families, 

October is wrapping up and we couldn’t be more excited to start heading into November where we have more exciting and engaging learning and fun planned. Please check out these important reminders and have a great weekend! 

#1 Tomorrow is a PA Day: The school will be closed on Friday October 27th 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 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.

#4 Harris Mill School Council meets Tuesday Nov 7th  at 7:00 pm at the school or on Google Meet. Click here for more info and the Google Meet link: https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/10/26/parent-council-meets-nov-7th-7pm/

#5 School Photo Re-take Day: Monday November 13th will be school photo re-take day. If your child missed our original photo day on Oct 18th they will have their photo taken on this day. Also, if you would like your child’s photo to be retaken please let their teacher know in a note ahead of time so they can participate. 

#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 ATTENDANCE SUPPORT WEEK 4:  This week, let’s discuss some things to do if all the strategies you’ve tried so far to encourage regular attendance at school with your child haven’t worked. 

  • Be consistent! Don’t give up. And know that there are supports for parents if you need them. “Put on your own oxygen mask, before others.”
  • There are resources available within schools and community supports if there are other barriers to attendance such as having enough food for lunches.
  • Here’s a great resources with existing handouts and evidence based information: https://www.attendanceworks.org/  

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

#8 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

#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 Video Surveillance: Harris Mill Public School is monitored by 24 hour video surveillance. Security cameras are in operation for the safety of the students, staff and the school community and for the protection of the Upper Grand District School Board property. For additional information please contact the Principal (519-856-0309) of the school or contact the F.O.I. Co-ordinator at the Upper Grand District School Board office at 519-822-4420.

#12 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. 

#13 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

#14 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!

#15 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.

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)

Tuesday November 7th – School Council Meeting @ 7pm

Saturday November 11th – Remembrance Day

Monday November 13th – Picture Re-take Day

Wednesday November 15th – Progress Reports go home

Categories: News • Newsletter