Brant Avenue Public School

A big thank you to the School Council for hosting an amazing community picnic! It was a lot of fun and raised nearly $1000 for student resources and events. Thursday is the last day of school for students and so Report Cards go home on Wednesday June 25th. We will send home paper copies and you can also view it online here: https://connect.edsembli.com/on/ugdsb/brant/portal/viewer/login/login.aspx?logintype=P We will be donating all lost and found clothing on the last day of school. All items will be donated to the Lost & Found at The Clothing Closet at New Life Church 400 Victoria Rd. N just south of Woodlawn. They provide FREE CLOTHING in a thrift store environment to families in the community. Congratulations on an amazing career go to Mr. Graham who is retiring this June. We are saying good-bye to Mrs. deBoer, Ms. Norris, and Mrs. Moyer, who are moving to other school communities in September, and Ms. Farquharson, who is heading back to school. Also a fond farewell to our long-term occasional staff Ms. Coulter, Mr. Hepburn, Ms. Stephen, Ms. Moddison, Ms. Mair, Mr. Dietrich, Ms. Barr, Ms. Free, Ms. Bell, and Ms. Jakupovski who are finishing their time at Brant Avenue at the end of June. It’s Pride Month! Here is a resource that might help you if your children have questions. Why do we talk about gender in elementary school? Children are already learning about it. Messages about gender are everywhere, and children receive very clear messages about the “rules” for boys and girls, as well as the consequences for violating them. By learning about the diversity of gender, children have an opportunity to explore a greater range of interests, ideas, and activities. For all children, the pressure of “doing gender correctly,” is greatly reduced, creating more space for them to discover new talents and interests. We reiterate that all people regardless of gender are free to express themselves how they choose and feel most comfortable. Boys can wear dresses and nail polish, and girls can wear sports jerseys and basketball sneakers. School is a place where children are taught to respect one another and to learn to work together regardless of their differences. Learning about gender diversity is part of that work. Creating a more tolerant, inclusive, and accepting school environment teaches all children to recognize and resist stereotypes. We teach children to stand up for others, to resist bullying, and to work together. Our expectation for all of our students is that they respect the privacy and physical boundaries of other students. If the behaviors of one student are making another student feel unsafe, that is an issue we take very seriously. Is something or someone behaving in a way that makes your child feel unsafe? Please let us know. We want to help, and your child deserves a safe place to learn. In the Upper Grand District School Board, identity-based harm and other forms of bullying can be reported using the online Identity Based Harm and/or Bullying Reporting Tool. The tool makes it easy for kids to reach out and let an adult in authority know when there’s a problem. Parents are also welcome to use the tool, either to report incidents they have witnessed themselves, or by passing on second-hand accounts from younger children. This tool can be easily found on the board’s website, school websites or on the UGCloud landing page for students. adapted from ‘Schools in Transition,’ by Gender Spectrum https://gender-spectrum.cdn.prismic.io/gender-spectrum%2F7c4c63b2-52f2-4cb0-a48f-dd049bf6962c_schools-in-transition-2015-min.pdf

Check out the latest update on the new South Guelph Secondary School boundary review process: https://www.ugdsb.ca/article/8654

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Community Use of Schools is cancelled at all UGDSB schools on Wednesday April 2, 2025.

The UGDSB will be sending out a test message to all families and staff this week. The test message will be sent on Wednesday March 19 at approximately 4pm. It will be sent to staff and families via text, email and phone. The message will clearly indicate that it is a test and no action is required. Thank you for your understanding.

Due to inclement weather, UGDSB schools and offices in Zones 2, 3, and 4 (Centre Wellington, North Wellington and Dufferin) are closed today to staff and students. Students are to shift to remote learning, where possible. Staff should not report to work in person, and should shift to remote working where possible. All buses and taxis are cancelled to those affected schools. Schools and offices in Zone 1 (Guelph) remain open today.

Hello Brant Ave Parents Tonight (March 4) is the Brant Avenue PS movie night. We will be screening The Lego Movie in the school gym at 5:30pm. All students are welcome to come accompanied by parents. Please bring - A blanket to sit on - Water bottle - Parent supervision for the student(s) from your household We will provide the popcorn. Hope to see you there, Your Parent Council

Tomorrow is Winter Play Day. Students will be participating in outdoor activities outside from 9:30- 10:55am. Please ensure your child is dressed warmly with snowpants and all other winter gear. A change of clothes might be a good idea also.

NOTICE: The UGDSB will be sending out a test message to all families and staff this week. The test message will be sent on Thursday February 27 at approximately 4:30pm. It will be sent to staff and families via text, email and phone. The message will clearly indicate that it is a test and no action is required. Recipients of the messages shouldn’t notice much difference from board-wide messages sent in the past, with the exception that recipients will now receive a text message, in addition to phone call and email. Recipients will have the option to opt out of receiving text messages. A reminder that the text message will come from the following shortcode: 277849. Thank you for your understanding.

Wear your pink shirt to stand up to bullying on Wednesday, February 26. Our school board has updated our notification platform. We now have the ability to text, email and voice call. When the school texts, it will come up as #277849 and the message will start BAPS: We may text to inform about minor injuries, late buses, or last minute news. Next week we will be having a Winter Play Day. Students will be placed in groups and rotate through different stations of outdoor winter activities. Exact date will be announced next week based on weather. Please ensure your child comes to school with warm winter clothing. Immunizations - Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is required to collect and review immunization records for all students. If the parent/guardian fails to update missing information, the student may be suspended for up to 20 school days. Overdue notices have been mailed to parents/guardians of students who have incomplete immunization records on file with WDGPH. If you have received a letter, you have until March 14 to submit complete immunization records to WDGPH to avoid suspension. Please contact WDGPH with any questions.

Due to inclement weather and accumulated snowfall, all UGDSB schools and offices are closed today to staff and students. All buses and taxis are cancelled to Upper Grand schools. Students are to shift to remote learning, where possible. We hope to see everyone at school tomorrow!

Due to inclement weather, all UGDSB schools and offices are closed today to staff and students. Students are to shift to remote learning, where possible. Staff should not report to work in person, and should shift to remote working where possible. All buses and taxis are cancelled to Upper Grand schools.

There are three free Parent Programs being offered to the Brant Avenue Parent Community! 1) Circle of Security at BANG The Circle of Security is a relationship-based program designed to enhance attachment between parents and children. Through research, we know secure children have increased empathy, greater self-esteem, better relationships with parents and peers, are more ready for school and are able to handle emotions more effectively compared with children who are not secure. This course is designed for parents, grandparents, guardians, and caregivers with children of any age. EarlyON Guelph is pleased to partner with the Brant Ave Neighbourhood Group and Brant Ave Public School to offer this program in the Brant Neighbourhood. At this program you will explore the question: Why does my child behave this way? Our children’s behaviour is their way of communicating and the program offers different ways to respond and reduce family stress. Dates: Starting Thursday February 27th – Thursday April 24th (No class on Thursday March 13th March Break) Location: Brant Ave Public School Portable 3 on the left side of the school Time: 9:30-11:30am Please register by Tuesday February 25th To register please reach out to Katie (519) 362-6362 or Nicki (519) 993-6191. Please reply with the following information- your (the parent’s) full name, address, phone number, and email. Please indicate if you will require child care, and if so- the children’s ages. 2) Worry vs Anxiety: Parenting Webinar The next webinar in the Positive Parenting Webinar Series is coming up. On February 20, 2025, at 7pm, parents/guardians are invited to join the free webinar on Worry vs Anxiety. Discover what's normal and when it's time to seek additional support. Learn how to talk to your child about their emotions, while confidently navigating challenging situations. To register for the webinar, click https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m4vil6M0S2KM3Oet8blBJg#/registration . This is the fourth of five webinars hosted this school year by the UGDSB, WCDSB, NCDSB, and DSB1 in partnership with Pine River Institute's Centre for Family Initiatives. 3) EQAO Webinar On February 18, 2025, join us for a free live webinar where EQAO staff will discuss math questions that Ontario students encounter when they participate in Ontario’s large-scale assessments. These assessments are taken by all Ontario students in Grades 3, 6 and 9. During the webinar, EQAO staff will show how these math questions help assess the skills students are learning in their math classes. Staff will also share valuable insights from the past three years of assessment results, which can help parents and guardians support their children’s math learning. Register: https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5puRqI8uQJypIaHgBYoBMw

Due to inclement weather, all UGDSB schools and offices are closed today (Feb. 13) to staff and students. Students are to shift to remote learning, where possible. Staff should not report to work in person, and should shift to remote working where possible. All buses and taxis are cancelled to Upper Grand schools.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Due to forecasted inclement weather for Wednesday Feb. 12, all Community Use of School Facilities is cancelled for this afternoon/evening.

We are currently investigating a persistent issue regarding ConnectED accounts, affecting all student and parent accounts. The system is currently unavailable.  We are actively working to resolve these issues.

Putting Name to Face: Celebrating Black Excellence in Teaching & Learning About the Exhibit: Celebrate Black History Month with us through an inspiring exhibit that honours the contributions of past and contemporary Black educators in the Guelph, Wellington, and Waterloo regions. This engaging display chronicles the historical impact of Black communities on teaching excellence in the region and highlights modern efforts in Black educational excellence, focusing on anti-oppressive and inclusive pedagogies. When and Where: In keeping with anti-oppressive and inclusive practices, the exhibition extends beyond the University to embrace the broader community. This effort is made possible through partnerships the Art Gallery of Guelph, the Region of Waterloo Museums & Archives, and the Guelph Public Library. The exhibit will travel to: Guelph Public Library, Downtown Main Branch: February 10–14, 2025 Guelph Public Library, Westminster Branch: February 17–24, 2025 Report Cards go home and are available on line on Wednesday February 12. Pink, Red, or White or your favourite shirt for SPIRIT DAY on Friday, February 14. Candy Grams are still on sale Monday - Thursday. They will be delivered on Friday.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Buses are cancelled in Zones 3 and 4 today (North Wellington and Dufferin) - schools remain open. Please note that the Transportation website is having technical difficulties. To confirm - buses are cancelled in Zones 3 and 4, but schools remain open.

Provide your input on the draft School Year Calendars for the 2025-26 school year! Planning for the next school year has begun and we want your feedback! Staff, students and families in the Upper Grand are invited to take a few minutes to provide their input on the UGDSB’s draft 2025-2026 School Year Calendars via an anonymous online survey. To learn more and complete the survey, please visit https://www.ugdsb.ca/article/7580.

Attention Parents/Caregivers: Immunization notices have been sent for elementary students who do not have up-to-date immunization records. To get missing vaccines listed in the notice, you can book an appointment with your healthcare provider or with Public Health at wdgpublichealth.ca/appointments. To check or update your child's immunization record, visit immunizewdg.ca. Visit wdgpublichealth.ca/vaccination for more information about receiving a notice.

Term 3 Pizza is DUE Monday February 3rd. Please contact the office on Monday if you have any questions or trouble signing up online. Students will have the opportunity to purchase Valentine’s Day Candy Grams from this Thursday February 6th until Thursday February 13th. Candy Grams will be delivered to all classes on Friday February 14th. Candy Grams are being sold for $1.00. All money raised will go towards our schools Live Free Campaign and benefit our snack program.. We are looking forward to spreading some love and kindness over the next few weeks at Brant Ave. Important Dates: Pizza Orders Due - Feb. 3 Candygram Sales - Feb. 6-13 Report Cards go home - Feb. 12 Spirit Day - Feb. 14 (wear read, pink, white or your favourite shirt) Family Day - Feb. 17 (no school) Random Act of Kindness Week - Feb. 17-21 Pink Shirt Day - Feb. 26