Hello Arbour Vista families,
We hope you found some cozy moments during the wet and chilly weekend! As November settles in, the cool air reminds us that winter is on its way and so are many exciting happenings at school. From Remembrance Day to dancED and parent-teacher interviews, there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Grade 7 Vaccination Clinic
This is a reminder that the Public Health Nurses will be at our school on Tuesday November 25th for the Grade 7 vaccine clinic.
If you have not completed the online consent, please do so now by following the link below. A consent should be completed for each child even if they are not receiving their vaccines at school.
www.wdgpublichealth.ca/gr7consent
Please remind your child to dress comfortably in a short-sleeved shirt or something easy to roll up to the shoulder and to eat a good breakfast.
If you have questions regarding these vaccines or require assistance completing the consent form, please contact Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 to speak with a public health nurse.
The Power of Belonging - Speaker November 18th
Rickson Ridge School Council invites you to hear Michael Jacques, a published author, activist, and speaker who was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability. Michael’s inspiring story highlights the power of self-acceptance, relationships, and community support.
This event promotes inclusivity and understanding of neurodiversity across our UGDSB community. Register for the event by clicking on this link Registration Link
UGDSB November Communications Newsletter is out!
In this month's issue we have information about:
The UGDSB’s new Sustainability & Climate Action Plan
A new PSW Program
Resources for parents on screen time and substance use
And more!
You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/communications-newsletter
Remembrance Day
Tomorrow, staff and students will gather for a special assembly to honour the sacrifices made for our freedom and peace. We will observe a minute of silence for reflection and gratitude.
All classes will contribute to a commemorative wreath, and our Intermediate students will present a slideshow highlighting the contributions of diverse veterans, including women, 2SLGBTQIA+, Black, and Indigenous service members.Due to gym capacity, we are unable to extend this invitation to families.
School Mental Health Ontario Looking for Parent and Student Voice
1.ThriveSMH is a group of passionate students who help to develop and review resources, share student perspectives and support or lead mental health promotion initiatives. Students must be in grades 7 to 10 and attending an English language, publicly funded school board in Ontario. Applications are due by November 30th. For more information and to apply, students can visit bit.ly/ThriveSMH
2. PCCG is a group of parents/caregivers who help to inform the work of School Mental Health Ontario by contributing to parent/caregiver mental health literacy through co-development of resources. Parents and caregivers must have a child (grades JK-12) currently registered in a publicly funded school board in Ontario. Applications are due by November 30th. For more information and to apply parents/caregivers can visit https://smho-smso.ca/pccg/
Webinar EQAO Math Night for Parents and Guardians
Join EQAO for a free live webinar on November 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm . Please see registration below
Fall Progress Reports
The fall Progress Reports get uploaded to the parent portal on November 12th and provide students and parents with early and specific feedback on the progress made in the first two months of the school year. After these progress reports go home, there will be an opportunity for parent/teacher conferences. This provides you with an opportunity to find out how your child is progressing and work with the teacher to support their areas for growth.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Friday, November 28 is Professional Activity Day dedicated to parent-teacher interviews focused on student progress.
🗓️ Interview Booking Opens: November 13, 2025
📍 Location Options: In-person or Google Meet
Families can book interviews online by visiting:
🔗 UGDSB Interview Booking Portal
We encourage all parents and guardians to take this opportunity to connect with teachers and discuss your child’s progress.
Guest Speaker Announcement
On November 12, 2025, students from JK to Grade 8 will enjoy a special presentation by Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, a celebrated Red River Métis fiddler, and Forrest Eaglespeaker, a Blackfoot storyteller and musician. Their engaging performance will focus on self-love, empowerment, and connections to land and nature.
Message from Your School Council
Thank you to everyone who was able to join our School Council meeting on November 4th! We truly appreciate your time and participation. Our sincerest apologies to those who experienced technical difficulties with the meeting link - the issue has since been resolved, and we don’t anticipate it happening again.
The School Council plays an important role in organizing and supporting a variety of programs and events throughout the year, all aimed at building a strong sense of community and creating fun, meaningful experiences for our students. Some of the initiatives we’ve led include the recent Dance-a-thon, our food programs (Harvey’s, Pita Pit, Popcorn, Booster Juice), Math Night (upcoming in February), Spring Clean-up and Earth Day events, Family Fun Night, and Grade 8 Graduation.
We’re also excited to share that we’ll be announcing a brand-new event soon, created especially for our Junior students - stay tuned for more details!
These activities wouldn’t be possible without the help of our wonderful parent volunteers. If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to lend a hand at any of our upcoming events, please don’t hesitate to reach out to sc.ivana.mcintosh@ugdsb.on.ca directly, we’d love to have you join us!
Have a great week!