Jan 12th – Weekly

Posted January 12, 2024

Hello Harris Mill Families, 

Happy New Year to everyone, we are so excited to be back! The weather is finally looking like winter so remember to ensure enough winter clothing is packed each day to help your child(ren) keep warm and dry as students are having a lot of fun playing outdoors in the snow. Please check out these important reminders and have a great upcoming week. 

#1 Forest of Reading books have arrived at Harris Mill! The Forest of Reading is a Canadian program aimed to promote a love of reading. Students in Grades 3 to 5 can choose to participate by reading at least 5 books from one book category and voting for their favourite book in April. 

– Silver Birch Express: a mix of English fiction (short novels) and non-fiction (picture books)

– Silver Birch: 10 English fiction novels

– Le prix Mélèze: 10 French fiction novels (Harris Mill has 4 of 10)

Students in JK to grade 2 will participate in either Blue Spruce or le prix Peuplier with their class. Passports will be available for students to track their reading. Check out the website For more information and to check out this year’s book nominees. https://forestofreading.com/program-for-kids/

#2 Kindergarten Registration is Happening: Here’s what you need to know – https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2023/12/04/kindergarten-registration-is-fast-approaching-heres-what-you-need-to-know-2/ 

#3 New English Language Grade on Term 1 and 2 Report Cards: FYI – Recently, the Ontario Ministry of Education shared that English Language Marks (grades 1 to 8) on the Term 1 and 2 Report Cards will be represented by one overall grade or mark which is different from previous years where the grade was divided into 4 areas with a corresponding mark for each. The ministry of education shared the following: “To foster a cohesive approach to both instruction and assessment across the elementary language curriculum, achievement in language will be reported as one overall grade or mark, with supporting comments.” https://www.ontario.ca/page/growing-success-assessment-evaluation-and-reporting-ontario-schools-kindergarten-grade-12#section-1 

 

#4 Immunization Information from WDG Public Health: A reminder to make sure that your child(ren)’s immunization record is up to date with Public Health. Anyone who has questions about immunization records/exemptions, etc., please contact Public Health (1-800-265-7293 x 7006) or check www.wdgpublichealth.ca for more information.

#5 Pizza Starts Next Wednesday:.  If you placed an order for your student for next term, pizza lunches will re-commence on Wednesday, January 17th.  

#6 Booster Juice Orders: You can now order Booster Juice smoothies for your students for 1st break on Fridays!  Orders can be placed through www.boostyourlunch.com.  Navigate to the Elementary tab along the top, pick Harris Mill PS, enter your students name and then select their teacher.  Orders must be placed/cancelled by Wednesdays the same week at 8pm. A portion of each order ($0.75) will be donated back to the school to be used towards teacher wish-lists, technology and playground improvements.

#7 Settlement Workers in Schools Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin: A Summer Camps and Activities session for Parents is being hosted by the Immigrant Services SWIS program and will be virtual on January 25th. Full details are available here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/harrismill/2024/01/10/settlement-workers-in-schools-guelph-wellington-dufferin-summer-camps-and-activities-session-for-parents/ 

#8 Harris Mill and the UGDSB Need Noon Hour Supervisors: Harris Mill PS is actively looking for one more person who can fill in as a Noon Hour Supervisor as needed throughout the week. Also 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/

#9 Inclement Weather? Get Updates! UGDSB is sharing information on websites and social media, reminding families of where to get updates/alerts about bus cancellations and delays (i.e. STWDSTS) and where info gets posted about school closures due to inclement weather (i.e. UGDSB websites and social). Please check out the link to learn more: https://www.ugdsb.ca/blog/its-that-time-of-year-again-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ug-inclement-weather-procedures/ 

 

#10 January Communications Newsletter for Families: The January Communications Newsletter is out! This is the monthly public-facing newsletter from the UGDSB’s communications department. In this month’s issue we have information about:

  • Kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year
  • Course selection for students starting high school next year
  • Policy feedback opportunities
  • And more!

 

Download the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/communications/communications-newsletter/ 

#11 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.

#12 LUNCHLADY: You asked, and we listened!  Parent Council has worked hard to get more lunch options into the school this year.  As of Monday, November 20th, you will have the benefit of choosing to order hot healthy dishes for your students from Lunch Lady.  All you need to do is go online to www.lunchlady.ca, sign up, and register your students.  All ordering and payments are done through this site.  Orders will be delivered every Monday beginning November 27th (aside from holidays and school closures) at second break.  Orders must be placed/cancelled by 7am on the day of delivery.  Not only is this a great fundraiser for our school funds which will go towards teacher wish-lists, technology and playground improvements, but our kids also get the added benefit of a hot lunch of their choice.  Any questions, please reach out to our Lunch Committee Lead Jennifer Shaw at [email protected] 

#13 Subway/Pita Pit Fridays are still going strong! Order now for a weekly treat delivered fresh on Fridays. Lunchbox by School Cash Online makes it easy to receive subs/pitas 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!

#14 ACCESSIBILITY & EQUITY: There may be times throughout the year when we ask parents to send in money to cover the cost of field trips, pizza, special events, etc. We understand that for some families, these funds may cause financial hardship. We never want a child to miss out due to financial hardship. If you are ever in this situation, please contact the school, and we will arrange to have the school cover the cost.

#15 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. 

#16 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

#17 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!

Harris Mill Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday January 17th – Pizza Days start up again

Friday January 26th – Professional Activity Day (School Closed)

Tuesday February 6th – School Council Meeting 7pm 

Wednesday February 14th – Term 1 Report Cards available

Monday February 19th – Family Day Holiday (School Closed)

Monday March 11th to Friday 15th – March Break Holiday (School Closed)

Categories: News • Newsletter