John Galt PS
November 2026
Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Newsletter
JGPS Mission Statement
Be Safe. Be Kind. Work Hard. Every Student Matters. Leave Your Mark.
At John Galt Public School, we are a community where every student is valued, supported and inspired to reach their full potential. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and caring environment where everyone belongs, kindness guides our actions, and hard work leads to growth and success.
We encourage every student to discover their strengths, embrace challenges, celebrate their accomplishments and make a positive difference in our school and the world around them.
Every Student Matters @ JGPS. Every Student Has a Place. Every Student Can Leave Their Mark.
A Message from the Principal
What a wonderful October we have shared at John Galt Public School! Looking back on the past month, there is so much to be proud of as our students continue to learn, grow, contribute, and flourish each and every day.
October was filled with wonderful opportunities for our JGPS Jaguars to shine!
Our Terry Fox Walk/Run was a tremendous success, with our students raising over $300 in support of cancer research. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful cause and helped reinforce the importance of kindness, generosity, and giving back to others. A very special thank you to Mr. Campbell for organizing this important event!
On October 24th, our talented JGPS Choir had the very special opportunity to perform the National Anthem at a University of Guelph Gryphon Football Game. What an exciting and memorable experience for our students, and a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent and school spirit! Thank you to Mr. Brown and Mr. Schroeder for organizing this fantastic experience for our students!
We also celebrated our incredible Cross Country team, who represented JGPS so proudly at the district competition. Our runners demonstrated determination, perseverance, sportsmanship, and tremendous school spirit. Congratulations to all of our athletes on a wonderful season! A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Hamelin for organizing and supporting this amazing opportunity for our students!
While these special events provide wonderful opportunities for our Jaguars to shine, what makes me most proud is seeing the many ways our students flourish each day in their classrooms, build friendships, embrace new challenges, and discover their individual strengths. Every day brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and, most importantly, our wonderful students for making John Galt Public School such a special place to learn, grow, and belong. It is a privilege to be part of such a caring and vibrant school community!
As we move into November, let us continue to live our JGPS values each and every day:
Be Safe. Be Kind. Work Hard. Every Student Matters. Leave Your Mark.
With appreciation,
Lisa
Upcoming Events & Dates
Nov. 2, 2026 - Playground Equipment is closed until April 1st, 2027
Nov. 2-6 - CCAT Writing Dates (Gr.3)
Nov. 2-6 - CCAT Writing Dates (Gr.3)
Nov. 3 - Intermediate Soccer Tournament
Nov. 1-7- Treaties Recognition Week
Nov. 1-7- Holocaust Education Week
Nov. 4- Take Our Kids to Work Day
Nov. 5 - Intermediate Students to the River Run Centre
Nov. 5 - School Council Meeting - 6:30 pm in Staff Room
Nov. 5 - School Staff Meeting - 3 pm in Library
Nov. 6 - Guelph CVI IB Presentation for Grade 8 students - 9:15-10 am - Library
Nov. 8 - Diwali
Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day ceremony at JGPS
Nov. 11 - Progress Reports - Live in Parent Portal
Nov. 11 (3 pm) -26 (3 pm) - Sign up for Parent-Teacher Interviews
Nov. 5-11- Veterans’ Week
Nov. 12 - The Grove Wellness Hub - Presentations to Grade 6-8 students at JGPS
Nov. 16-20- Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
Nov. 25 - Playground Committee Meeting @ 6:30 pm in the JGPS Staff Room
Nov. 25 - Photo re-takes
Nov. 25- International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Nov. 26/27 - Parent-Teacher Interviews - no school for students on Nov. 27th
🌟 Progress Reports and Conferences
Progress Reports will be shared with families on November 11th through the UGDSB Parent Portal. These reports provide an early look at your child’s progress and learning skills. Please see information on accessing the UGDSB Parent Portal: https://family.ugdsb.on.ca/👍
To Sign into the Parent Portal:
Click "Sign In" located in the top right of this page.
Your username is the email address you provided to the school.
The first time you Sign in you will need to reset your password. Use the "Forgot Password" button and follow the process.
Only legal parents or guardians have accounts.
If you use any one of Brightspace, Clevr, StudentService or Compass for Success at work, please use a personal profile (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) other than your work one.
Having trouble or problems? Read our FAQ Here.
💞 Following this, Parent–Teacher–Student Conferences will be held on November 26th and 27th.
K to 8 interviews are booked ONLINE unless your child’s teacher has communicated something differently. Please follow the directions below to book an interview online with your child’s teachers. Interviews are a wonderful opportunity for parents, teachers and students to work collaboratively to discuss, plan and set effective next steps for individual student achievement goals. Students are invited to attend the interviews.
Instructions for ONLINE booking: (available from November 11th at 3 pm - November 26th at 3 pm)
Visit: https://www.ugdsb.ca/pti
Input student’s OEN # (found at the top of the student’s report card)
Input student’s date of birth
From “Teacher List” select which teacher(s) you would like an interview with.
Select “Show Appointment Schedule”.
Select time(s) and choose “Book Appointment".
The importance of daily attendance at JGPS - Every Day Matters at JGPS!
Regular school attendance plays an important role in every child's learning, achievement and sense of belonging. Each school day provides valuable opportunities to learn, build friendships, develop routines and stay connected to our school community. When students are away, they miss more than classroom instruction; they can also miss important conversations, activities and experiences that help them feel connected and confident. We recognize that illness and unforeseen circumstances sometimes make absences unavoidable. However, whenever possible, we encourage families to make regular attendance a priority and to support students in arriving at school on time each day. Every day matters, every learning opportunity counts, and every student matters at JGPS. Thank you for working in partnership with us to help your child make the most of every school day!
A Friendly Attendance Reminder: Please remember to report all student absences and late arrivals by calling the school. To ensure attendance information is received and recorded promptly, we kindly ask that families call rather than email the school to report an absence or late arrival. Thank you so much for your cooperation!
🌺Remembrance Day Assembly🍁
Our Remembrance Day Assembly will take place on Wednesday, November 11th, in the JGPS gymnasium.
Families are warmly invited to join us as we come together to honour and remember those who have served, and those who continue to serve our country in the pursuit of peace.
The assembly time will be confirmed and shared with all families by email no later than Friday, November 6th.
We look forward to coming together as a school community for this important occasion.
School Fundraisers:
Rheo Thompson Fundraiser (order through Cash Online):
John Galt School Council is launching our second annual Rheo Thompson chocolate fundraiser and we would love for you to participate! Orders can be submitted on school cash online or by submitting the paper order form that was sent home with the catalogue, along with cash or a cheque made payable to John Galt Public School.
Orders must be submitted no later than Monday November 9th.
Orders will be available for pick up at the school Monday December 7th from 2:45-4pm. Any orders not picked up during this time will be sent home with students later that week.
All proceeds from chocolate sales will go towards funding John Galt's new playground!
📸 School Photos – Edge Imaging
📷 Photo Re-Takes will take place on Wednesday, November 25th here at John Galt Public School.
Thank you for your continued support in capturing these wonderful school memories!
🍕 Our Next Round of Pizza and Sub Orders Is Here! 🥪
It's time to place your orders for our next round of Pizza and Sub lunches! We are so grateful for your continued support of this wonderful school initiative.
🥪 Sub Orders
Orders are due by Monday, November 9th.
Deliveries will take place from November 11th to December 9th.
🍕 Pizza Orders
Orders are due by Monday, November 9th.
Deliveries will take place from November 10th to December 8th.
Thank you so much for supporting our JGPS lunch program and School Council! Every order makes a difference, helping us raise funds for our new playground equipment, as well as activities, resources, and opportunities that benefit all of our students.
We truly appreciate your generosity and continued support of our JGPS community! 💙
❄️ Playground Equipment Closed for the Winter - November 1st, 2026 to April 1st, 2027
With colder temperatures arriving, our playground equipment is now closed for the winter season. To help keep everyone safe, please remind students to refrain from using the equipment until it reopens in the spring. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
🎄 Save the Date – Winter Carnival at JGPS!
We are thrilled to announce our Winter Carnival will take place on Thursday, December 3rd, 2026 right here at JGPS!
Families can look forward to an evening of fun, games, treats, and community spirit as we kick off the holiday season together. More details will be shared soon — mark your calendars!
🧣 A Gentle Reminder – Dress for the Weather
As temperatures drop, please ensure your child comes dressed in warm layers, hats, and mittens. Labelled clothing helps keep our Lost & Found manageable.
UGDSB November Communications Newsletter
The November Communications Newsletter is out! This is the monthly public-facing newsletter from the communications department.
A reminder that this is our public-facing newsletter and therefore can be shared with parents/guardians and the community. You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/communications-newsletter
❤️ Thank You, Families
Thank you for partnering with us, wishing all our families a safe and cozy November!
Lisa Sanvido, Ibrahim Akyol, and Jeanette Tavares
John Galt Public School