Hello October 2023
Message from the School
As we welcome October, we want to reflect on September. Our school community celebrated a month filled with community-building activities and special events, including Open House, the inspiring Terry Fox Run, and a meaningful observance of Orange Shirt day on September 29th. The Open House was a delightful opportunity for us to connect with families, and we eagerly anticipate meeting even more parents and guardians during our upcoming school events.
We encourage you to maintain your connection with us through our newsletter, school website, and forthcoming parent-teacher meetings, ensuring you are well-informed and actively involved in your child’s educational journey.
School Council Message
The School Council convenes in the library for its meetings, scheduled from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We are fortunate to be part of such a wonderful and supportive community. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. If attending the meetings does not work for you, we continuously seek volunteers for numerous fundraising events throughout the year. If you wish to volunteer, please keep an eye out for our volunteer announcements or reach out to us via email at:[email protected]
Executive Positions 2023-2024
- Jeff Bennett (Co-Chair)
- Erin Corstorphine (Co-Chair)
- Tim Fish (Treasurer)
- Khaleed Khalfan and Kathy Kaye (Secretary)
School Council will be running a Danceathon on October 31st. More information to come.
OCTOBER 31st SPIRIT DAY COSTUME EXPECTATIONS
Costume Dos:
- Follows the dress code and school code of conduct
- Needs to be appropriate for school
- Can be put on independently
- Is safe (i.e., not too long as this is a tripping hazard, can be worn safely in a classroom and to sit at a desk/table)
- Be creative and have fun
Costume Don’ts:
- No costumes that are representative of another culture, religious beliefs, gender, or socioeconomic status. It is important to keep Halloween safe and inclusive by leaving culturally insensitive, racist and sexist stereotypes out.
- No masks or toy replica weapons
- No props/accessories (we do not want these left behind at school)
- No violent references
Costume Ideas should avoid the following: any cultural stereotype, depictions of violence, people with mental illness, anything mocking gender identity, the Covid-19 pandemic, a person with differing abilities, body shaming, or individuals experiencing homelessness.
Remember: Halloween can be a time for fun. Think critically and creatively when choosing a costume that honours the dignity of each human person, so that everyone can enjoy themselves.
Please note that our younger students may be sensitive to scary images.
| OCTOBER IS INTERNATIONAL WALK/WHEEL TO SCHOOL MONTH
The Upper Grand District School Board is participating in International Walk/Wheel to School month this October as well as iWALK/iWHEEL day on October 4th. As part of this month, we are encouraging students and staff to walk, wheel or roll to and from school throughout the month, where able and where it is safe to do so. If walking, wheeling or rolling to school is not an option due to school location, schools can set aside some time during the month of October to encourage getting outside and being active. Visit the Ontario Active School Travel website for more information and classroom resources, including customizable posters, I-spy activities for grades k to 6, colouring work sheets, and more. . |
Terry Fox
Gratitude is extended to the dedicated staff, students, and parents who collectively contributed $4,725 in support of Terry Fox and cancer research.
Fresh from the Farm Fundraiser
Grade 7 & 8 students will be participating in the Fresh from the Farm fundraiser to raise funds for their Grade 8 trip.
Kids Ability
During this school year, an Occupational Therapist (OT) from KidsAbility Centre for Child Development will once again be working with teachers and students in our school.
OTs are regulated health professionals who focus on improving activities of daily living. An OT will be in our school on a regular basis to support teachers in our classrooms, gym, and playground. This support is available to all classrooms.
Read more at:
https://www.ugdsb.ca/jmc/2023/09/08/2114/
| Great Things Happening at JMC
We have so many great things happening at JMC.
|
Attendance – It Really Matters
We understand the significance of regular school attendance and the role of established routines in helping students develop knowledge, skills, and confidence. We also acknowledge that maintaining consistent attendance depends on fostering strong partnerships between families and the school, as well as maintaining open lines of communication.
In this regard, our school intends to send an informational letter to parents in October to notify them if their child has accumulated 10 or more absences or a high number of lates.
Environment Club Message
Our environment club (grades 4-6) meets regularly throughout the year. Here are some things we do.
- **The Importance of Environmental Education** (announcements and classroom sharing)
- **Our Commitment to Sustainability** (Recycling club )
- **Engaging the Whole Community** (litterless lunch)
**September’s Environmental Focus**
- Over the month of September and the rest of the school year we are encouraging children to bring in litterless lunches.
- Nature Walks: Our teachers will lead nature walks and outdoor classroom activities, allowing students to connect with the natural world and observe its beauty.
Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make this school year one filled with learning, growth, and positive environmental impact.
We are looking for parent volunteers to put up fishes on our fence. If you are able to help please email [email protected]
Food Drive
JMC will be hosting a Food Drive for Chalmers Community Services from Wednesday, September 27th to Friday, October 6th. Donations will be picked up Friday, October 6 th at 3:30 pm.
CYC Message
Hello! My name is Lisa Longtin and I am the Child & Youth Counselor at John McCrae PS. Part of my role within the school is to support the social and emotional needs of our students! I conduct whole class presentations, facilitate small groups, and provide individual check-ins. I am at our school on Mondays and Fridays this year.
The Grove Youth Wellness Hub will be at JMC on October 10, 2023 to present to the grade 7 and 8. This is a great opportunity for our students to familiarize themselves with another wonderful support we have in our community. The Grove is a space for youth where they can access support in various areas of wellness all free of charge. The Grove site at the University of Guelph, has drop-in programming for youth throughout the week. Youth can use the drop- in programming to connect with other youth, staff supports, or to use the space (free snacks, Disney Plus, Netflix, Nintendo switch, art , puzzles, games, space to do your homework etc).
More Information can be found at Youth Mental Health | The Grove Hubs | Guelph.
Please know that there are fantastic additional supports within our community:
- Guelph/Wellington: 1-844-437-3247 (HERE247) or
- COMPASS Distress Line at 1-888-821-3760
- KidsHelpPhone: 1-800-668-6868
- 2SLGBTQA+ support line: call or text 226-669-3760.
The UGDSB Mental Health website is also packed full of helpful information for you to access anytime.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone and am excited to be back at John McCrae!
| GCVI is now accepting applications for the IB Preparatory Program!
GCVI IB graduates and current students are excited to share their stories with potential IB candidates in the UGDSB. Virtual “school visit” presentations introducing grade 7 and 8 students to the Preparatory and IB Diploma Programs at GCVI will be held throughout October and November. On Thursday November 23rd at 6:30pm, prospective applicants and their families are invited to attend the IB Information Night at GCVI. IB graduates and current students will share their stories about student life at GCVI and their journey in the preparatory and IB programs. Small group Q&A sessions will follow to give each family the opportunity to have their questions answered. For more information about the IB@GCVI visit: https://www.ugdsb.ca/ib-gcvi/ To learn more about the preparatory program application process visit: https://www.ugdsb.ca/ib-gcvi/application/ |
Creating a Culture of PrivacyIt is the responsibility of everyone to protect students’ personal and confidential information All parents, guardians, and visitors to the school are reminded that the privacy of all our students must be maintained at all times. We are ultimately responsible for the safety and security of our students and the security and confidentiality of our students’ personal information, including first and last names, images and any other identifying information.
Thank you for being respectful of the privacy rights of our students. |
Report BullyingWe take all incidents of bullying seriously. If your child is the victim of bullying or sees bullying behavior at school, please encourage him/her to speak with someone at school or use our board’s online reporting tool. Report Bullying gives students and parents 24/7 access to report bullying. You don’t have to identify yourself – just your school – and your message gets sent directly to the school principal for follow-up. You’ll find the Report Bullying button at the bottom of our “Home” page on our school’s website: Conflict vs BullyingConflict only becomes bullying when it is repeated over and over again and there is a power imbalance. Over time, a pattern of behaviour may emerge where the person who behaves aggressively in the conflict may continue or even make it worse. The person who is the recipient of the aggressive conflict may feel less and less able to express his or her point of view and feel more and more powerless. That is when negative conflict may turn into bullying. A school will respond to bullying and conflict differently. For example, in the case of a conflict, a school staff member may try to have the students come together to tell their side of the story and help them resolve the situation together. In the case of bullying, a principal will consider progressive discipline, which may include suspension or expulsion. Is conflict the same as bullying? People may sometimes confuse conflict with bullying, but they are different. Conflict occurs when two or more people have a disagreement, a difference of opinion or different views. Conflict between students does not always mean it is bullying. Children learn at a young age to understand that others can have a different perspective than their own, but developing the ability to gain perspective takes time and the process continues into early adulthood. In conflict, each person feels comfortable expressing his or her views, and there is no power imbalance. Each person feels able to state his or her view point. How people deal with conflict can make it positive or negative. Conflict becomes negative when an individual behaves aggressively by saying or doing hurtful things. Then the conflict is an aggressive interaction. |
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