Dear Mustang Families,
Thank you. What a wonderful feeling it was to have our families back in our building to see what a great start students have been off to.. I sensed how excited families were to start another school year. Thanks for coming and supporting your student(s). Didn’t the student work look great? Thanks to our parents/caregivers who were able to attend our first school council meeting of the year last week. Minutes from that meeting are at the bottom of this update.
We’ve had a busy week here at PMPS. The junior and intermediate soccer teams represented our school with #MustangProud. The choir has started as well. Thank you to all of our families who were able to donate to our Terry Fox run. We are excited to continue to honour Terry’s legacy. Thanks to Mrs. Landry’s class who made daily announcements encouraging us to donate and educating us about Terry. They did a tremendous job.
On another note, please continue to address your student concerns with teachers first, before coming to the office to discuss. Teachers are ready to help and spend the majority of the day with your child(ren). Thank you. All requests for Child and Youth Worker support (Tania) must also go through the classroom teacher.
Our PMPS Bullying Prevention Plan & Safe, Equitable and Inclusive School strategy has been updated. You can review it here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/pmps/page/resources. Thank you the parents, community members, staff, and student who helped review the plan.
If you have not already done so, please take some time to review the email I sent home last night about scooter safety. It is also posted on our live feed on our school website too. https://www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ Grade ⅞ families, please also be sure to review the email I sent home about the use of cellphones. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to review these important emails.
Please note Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day is on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Flags will be lowered at the end of day on Friday, September 26th, and raised on Monday morning to mark Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. Our flag will also be lowered on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation onTuesday, September 30, 2025.
UGDSB Family Portal: This fall, the UGDSB is launching the UGDSB Family Portal to all families across the board. The Family Portal puts bus updates, report cards and more in one secure place for families. Many tools use single sign-on and more are being added. The portal is equipped with language translation. Information about the Family Portal will be sent out centrally to all families starting next week.
Our First School Council fundraiser: Quest for Cakes Donuts! Council will be selling a dozen donuts for $15, once again. This time, they are decorated like pumpkins and all one flavour. The fundraiser will begin on October 1st through to the 15th. The pick-up will be on October 29th at pick-up time. Lots more information to come.
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.
Spirit Wear: Spirit wear can be ordered at any time during the year now. Please visit http://princessmargaret.deco-apparel.com/
Equity Update: I want to remind everyone of the Identity Based Harm button found on every school's website and on the main UGDSB webpage. The Report Identity-Based Harm and/or Bullying tool gives students and parents 24/7 access for reporting. You can also speak to your child’s teacher and/or me concerning any harm as well.
Mobile / Recording Devices : Please see this reminder from UGDSB’s Responsible Use of Digital Resources and note how it aligns with the revisions to the Code of Conduct last year related to the use of cellular devices: The UGDSB recognizes the critical role that parents play in educating their children on the appropriate use of mobile devices and in monitoring the use of these devices as today’s responsible digital citizens. This partnership of parents and schools is essential in achieving success in ensuring appropriate use of technology. Some tools available on mobile devices allow them to be used by parents as tracking devices to monitor a child’s activities and locations throughout the day. It is important to note that while some of these applications may serve legitimate purposes they can also be used in an intrusive manner. The privacy, safety and dignity of others could be violated by the inappropriate use of audio and video recording devices. Mobile devices may not be used to record audio or video while on school or board premises. Mobile devices may be used for recording purposes for instructional use only with teacher approval.
Important Upcoming Dates:
-September 26th, 2025: Terry Fox Run. Please come prepared to walk, wheel, or run during our last block. Sunblock, good shoes, and water are essential. If you are able, please donate through School Cashonline. If we raise $1000 there will be a ‘consequence’ for teachers and for me. In the past we have been human sundaes, slimed, funny stringed etc.
-September 29th, 2025: Grade 7 Fire Safety Presentation
-September 30th, 2025: Public Health Dental Screenings JK/SK/ Grade 2 (letter emailed home again this past week)
-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
-October 1st, 2025: Rescheduled Intermediate trip to Island Lake
-October 1st to 15th: School Council Pumpkin Donut Fundraiser (purchase through school cashonline)- more information to come.
-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 2nd, 2025: 2nd School Council meeting of the year 6-7pm in the school library. New members are always welcome!
-October 5th, 2025: World Teachers Day
-October 6th, 2025: Anti Black Racism Workshop GET REAL Grades 4-8 (letter went home last week)
-October 13th, 2025: No school, Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate
-October 15th, 2025: Grade 8 trip to Career Day
-October 15th, 2025: Officer Amy Visit to kindergarten classes (letter coming home)
-October 16th, 2025: All IEPs go home (Individual Education Plans)
-October 17th: 2025: Officer Amy Visit to Grade 7/8s classes (letter coming home)
-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
-October 29th: Donut Fundraiser Pick Up
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: Our first pizza day is tomorrow and milk sales started yesterday! Thanks to Ms. Mikulik for her organization of both sales and our amazing student leaders who help. Milk is $1.25.
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.
We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Friday. Have a wonderful weekend after a full day of learning tomorrow.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
School Council Meeting Minutes – September 18th, 2025
Princess Margaret Public School 2025
In attendance: Andrea Papavasilliou, Emily M., Billie Jo R., Ida C., Justine O., Brittani S., Sabrina F., Becky L., Amber J., Ashley H., Sarah C., Linsdey F., Laya H., Tanya P., Teagan K., Felicia B.
Regrets: Tracy P., Vienna R., Sandra J., teacher reps
Land Acknowledgement & Board’s Equity Statement – Read by Principal Andrea
Introduction to Council – Emily M., Lead Chair
§ Main roles of Council are to support school initiatives through partnerships with Principal, Teacher and Student reps; fundraising; school improvements; engaging and representing parent/caregiver community. Our main focus is outdoor learning and mental health programs. School Council is responsible for playground repairs and maintenance.
§ All Council members should have their Vulnerable Sector Check completed.
§ We meet first Thursday each month at 6pm in school library. No meetings in January.
§ We attend the PIC events (Parent Involvement Committee) when possible.
§ Introduced Council members, highlighted Council Bylaws, incl. importance of attending regular meetings, importance of volunteering for fieldtrips and programs when possible, only those who attend 50% + of our meetings are eligible to vote with Council.
§ Fundraising highlights from last year: Sledge hockey program, courtyard equipment, equity club board games, FTP programming, Get Real programming, accessibility swing, year-end trip to Niagara contribution, curling equipment, kindie snowshoes, phys ed equipment, art supplies for K-5, funds toward school gardens.
§ Means of fundraising include partnership with Quest for Cakes, Terra Cotta cookies, Holiday Craft Fair, and new ideas for this year include Marlies tickets, Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance. Annual events also include Family Fun Night.
Principal's Report - Andrea
§ Smooth start, with no reorganization of classes.
§ Enrollment is currently 290 students.
§ Safety drills are complete, with new lockdown system and a visit from Officer Amy.
§ Underway / upcoming – soccer tournaments, cross country running, gardening club, band, intermediate students are already doing their jobs (milk sales, announcements, etc.), school council elections are complete, dental screening, Island Lake Trip, career exploration trip, CCAT testing, picture day, Terry Fox run.
§ Physical plant upgrades are complete.
§ Our CYC, Tanya, has delivered presentations to all classes.
§ UGDSB Multi-Year Plan (MYP) – to be a provincial leader in educational achievement for all our learners.
§ EQAO results will come out in October.
§ School code of conduct was explained to students.
§ New Superintendent – Steve Vivieros.
Help needed: Snack trays need to be prepared for delivery to classrooms on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, ideally around 8:45am, but any time can be made to work. We also need back-up people for the School Breakfast Program each morning, at 8am for half an hour.
Proposed Fall Fundraisers:
§ October – Pumpkin donuts from Quest for Cakes, packs of a dozen for $15
§ Open the fundraiser from Oct. 1 - 15, and then pickup would be October 29 or 30
§ November – Terra Cotta cookie fundraiser (dates to be confirmed)
Holiday Craft Fair Introduction - Billie Jo R., Co-Chair
§ This year’s Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9am-3pm
§ This will be our 29th year!
§ Over the last 10 years, we have earned about $10,000 / year. Last year was a record high, nearly $12,000!
§ Attendance 1,500 - 2,000 each year
§ Silent auction - Ida and Becky will co-lead
§ Volunteers needed on December 1 and 2 to make baskets
§ The Holiday Craft Fair is a whole-school event – classes contribute gift baskets for the silent auction, students apply to sell their wares at the Kidpreneur’s Market, extended families contribute to the bake sale, grads return to help out, intermediate student council members volunteer, the cafe is made possible because of generous community donations, the kids’ only shopping area invites kids to do their holiday shopping, there’s a vendor’s market in the gym, there’s a Scholastic book fair in the library, there’s a cookie decorating room with Santa supported by Quest for Cakes, etc.
§ Vendor market – tables are $70 (12 tables left) or $80 (sold out). Anyone interested should email Billie Jo at pmpscraft@gmail.com
School Council uses the SlackApp for communication. All new members will be added to our private group chat.
Next meeting: Thursday, October 2nd, at 6:00pm