Chers parents,
I wanted to express my gratitude for the supportive partnership we have established. Your children are amazing and resilient learners. I am looking forward to watching them grow and learn this year. Furthermore, we have some strong leaders in Grades 4, 5 & 6 who are showing leadership and being excellent role models to their younger peers. Continue to encourage them to keep it up! Please remember that regular attendance and arriving at school before the start bell is the first step to academic success. Speaking of academic success, I wanted to share a message I conveyed to students at our first day assembly this week. In today’s day and age keeping technology use in balance is not easy. With that said, I put the following challenge and reasoning before our students to give them the knowledge to set themselves up for success. It goes without saying that parent support and involvement is key to fulfilling this challenge.
Routines and responsibilities to ensure you have the best day possible at school
RESEARCH TELLS US THAT…..
NO SCREEN TIME at least 1 hour before bed…
READING or BEING READ TO close bed time …
NO SCREEN TIME before school…
WILL SUPPORT YOU TO SLEEP WELL, WAKE UP RESTED, AND HAVE A GOOD START TO YOUR DAY!
In other news and as you have read in my previous email messages, classroom organizations are temporary until they are approved by the District Staffing Committee. Next week, in order to comply with Ministry class size requirements, the Upper Grand District School Board’s District Staffing Committee will either confirm our current organization or assign a new school organization to École Edward Johnson in order to even out our class sizes and adhere to cap sizes. I will communicate any changes and next steps early next week to the whole school community and to specific classes as soon as I have confirmation if we will reorganize or not. Here is a letter from the UGDSB if you’d like additional information. REORGANIZATION LETTER
Here are a few reminders:
Our first School Council meeting will be held in-person in the school library on Tuesday, September 16th from 6:30-7:30PM. Please contact our Council Chair, Natasha Papadedes, at ejschoolcouncil@gmail.com if you’d like to be added to our mailing list to receive agendas, minutes, and the virtual links to future meetings.
Terry Fox Walk/Run on Sept 19 (More details to follow)
Open House/Fall Fair on Sept 25th (More details to follow)
School Photo Day on Sept 29th (More details to follow)
Orange Shirt Day on Sept 30th (More details to follow)
Information about Food Programs will be coming soon. Keep an eye out for School Cash Online notifications.
1st Day Packages (hardcopies) - Please review and return the signed forms to your students teacher as soon as possible.
For any student with a Plan of Care - Please complete ASAP and return to the main office. Annual Renewal - Plan of Care (518-6) 2018 06 fillable.pdf,
Spirit Wear will be posted on School Cash soon - once posted, we will plan on a 2-3 week turnaround.
Marketing Materials - School Cash Online Flyer - two sided (V4).pdfIf you would like to volunteer throughout the school year PLEASE, sign and return the UGDSB Volunteer Agreement and forward the email with your Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), from City of Guelph Police or OPP. We do have some from years past. Your VSC is valid for up to 5 years at which time you would need to apply for a new one.
Student End of Day Plans - Please let the office know ASAP if there are any changes to the Pick-up plans for your student, via email or call the office.
Here are also some important board level communication messages:
Information for parents/guardians: Updates to the Code of Conduct
It is the responsibility of all members of a school community to do their part in ensuring positive interactions and respectful relationships. Standards of behaviour must be followed by all staff, students, parents/guardians/caregivers, volunteers, trustees, community partners, community groups using board facilities, and all visitors on board property, in order to maintain a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning and working environment.
The UGDSB has information about standards of behaviour available on the board website, including information around provincial expectations regarding the use of mobile devices in schools.
https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/ugdsb/page/policy-503-safe-schools
https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/ugdsb/page/policy-318-responsible-use-of-digital-technologies
Information for parents/guardians from the UGDSB:
Welcome Letter From Director
Welcome Back Letter from Director Sovran
The September UGDSB Communications Newsletter is out!
In this month's issue we have information about:
Registering for school
Helpful links on the UGDSB website
Information for students who take the bus
And more!
You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/communications/communications-newsletter/
Lastly, here is a list of Significant Days occurring in the month of September. These days hold great meaning to many members of our wonderful EJ community.
Sept 23- 24 > Rosh Hashanah > Judaism
Sep 30 > National Day for Truth and Reconciliation > Indigenous
Thank you all for an excellent school start-up!
Olivier Cutz (Principal)
** This and all past EJPS Week at a Glance emails are also posted on our school website here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/johnson/category/newsletter/
Olivier Cutz (he/him)
Principal, École Edward Johnson
397 Stevenson Street North
Guelph, Ontario N1E 5C1
519.763.7374 ext. 223