Dear Mustang Families,
We can’t wait to welcome families back on our Meet the Teacher night TOMORROW, Thursday, September 18th from 530-7pm. Come out to see your child(ren)’s classrooms and meet with their teachers briefly. Please note, this is not an interview night, but a brief opportunity to meet the teachers and visit the classroom environment. If you need a longer conversation, please let the teacher know and they’ll be happy to give you a call or arrange a meeting. Thank you in advance. Please note our first school council meeting of the year is also scheduled on the 18th from 6-7pm. Please stop by to see what we are all about.
This week, we completed all of our drills for the fall. We had all of the students and staff out of the building safely in 1 minute and 31 seconds. That’s awesome for over 330 people.
Our Princess Margaret website is https://www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ and our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps . Our school council also has a Facebook page and an Instagram page: @princessmargaretps. Staying connected during the school year is key.
Important Upcoming Dates:
-Our Meet the Teacher evening is September 18th, 2025 5:30-7:00pm.
-Our first school council meeting of the year is also September 18th from 6-7pm. Please drop by during Meet the Teacher night to see what school council is all about!
-September 19th, 2025: Picture day: Individual pictures (class pictures at a later date)
-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Friday, September 26th from 130-230pm in the last learning block. Please donate through School Cash Online if you are able.
-Friday, September 24th, 2025: Please wear purple to raise awareness about Rowan’s Law: Concussion awareness
-September 25th, 2025: Intermediate Trip to Island Lake
-September 29th, 2025: Grade 7 Fire Safety Presentation (letter is coming home to families)
-September 30th, 2025: Public Health Dental Screenings JK/SK/ Grade 2 (letter emailed home today)
-Wear orange on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
-September 30th, 2025: Grade ⅚ trip to Island Lake for a Truth and Reconciliation concert (teacher is sending home information soon).
-October 2nd, 2025: Superintendent visit to Princess Margaret. Mrs. Heaslip has retired and our new superintendent is Mr. Viveiros.
-October 2nd, 2025: Cross Country Meet (grades 1-8, information to come home soon for participating students)
-October 5th, 2025: World Teachers Day
-October 6th, 2025: Anti Black Racism Workshop GET REAL Grades 4-8 (letter coming home with more details)
-October 13th, 2025: No school, Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate
-October 15th, 2025: Grade 8 trip to Career Day
-October 16th, 2025: All IEPs go home (Individual Education Plans)
-October 21st, 2025: ECE (Early Childhood Educator) Appreciation Day
-October 21st, 2025: Public Health Fluoride Treatment- all grades (info will be sent home)
-October 22nd-23rd, 2025: Grade 3 CCAT Testing (letter coming home to families by the 26th of September)
Personal Items Brought to School: Students and parents/caregivers are reminded that if they choose to bring valuable personal items to school, the school board will not cover loss or damage.
If You Move During the School Year: If you and your family move through the school year, please let Mrs. Mckenzie know. It is important to always have updated contact information for each child. Moving also means that your child will go to his or her home school (the area where they moved). This helps avoid overstaffing or understaffing a building and larger reorganizations. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Parent Resources:
Dufferin Parent Support Network: Please check out https://www.dpsn.ca/ for free parenting workshops. The Dufferin Parenting Support Network is a great organization of parents supporting parents.
DCAFS Behaviour Solutions: DCAFS offers a wide range of services designed to meet the unique needs of each child and family. They believe that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, and they are committed to helping them do just that. If you're looking for support for your family within a safe and welcoming community, look no further than DCAFS! Please see the link for some different workshops and events: https://behavioursolutions.dcafs.on.ca/events/
Reminders:
Milk & Pizza Sales: coming soon! Pizza will be posted through School CashOnline (check out the information we sent home on coloured paper the first day of school). Milk is cash only and we will confirm once it is being sold again.
School Volunteers: The UGDSB updated their School Volunteers Policy (205) a couple of years ago now. If you are volunteering in our school or plan to in the future, it is important to note that the following is required: a volunteer application, a volunteer agreement, an interview, a reference check and a vulnerable sector check (VSC) /offense declaration. A VSC will be required for field trip supervisors, volunteer drivers, classroom volunteers working with students, volunteer coaches/advisors. Please note: all volunteer drivers will need to complete a 508-3 Transportation of Students in Privately Owned Vehicles, a signed volunteer agreement, and a VSC/ Offense Declaration. This means that the school can no longer coordinate rides to sporting events unless we have parents/ guardians who have completed the VSC and other paperwork. Parents/ Guardians and family members must transport to games. The school will be able to provide letters that parents/guardians can use to apply for a VSC. Please note if you completed this process and we have your information on file, you will only need to complete an offense declaration. Please stop in the office if you are interested or ask your child’s teacher.
We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Thursday and Friday. Have a wonderful weekend after a full day of learning tomorrow.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal