Good Evening Mustang Families,
It’s been a great week at PMPS again this week. I am sending our weekly update earlier, to remind everyone that Friday is a PD Day. There is no school for students. Remember that tomorrow is also our school wide Blue Jays Spirit Day and Class Photo Day/ Retakes. These class pictures will be memorable when everyone is in blue, white, and/or Jays gear! Go Jays Go!
Students celebrated Diwali this week. One of our classes had a student who wanted to share her celebrations. She shared the meaning of the Festival of Lights, made beautiful diyas and created colourful mandalas. Students had fun celebrating and learning together. I also had the pleasure of hearing our choir sing on Wednesday and to listen to our band playing a song. It’s hard to believe that students have only been singing and practicing their instruments since mid September. Everyone sounds great!
A reminder that our Student Council continues to sell milk for $1.25 at 1st lunch. All profits benefit our students.
Community Recognition Board: We are #MargaretProud. If your child has done something wonderful in our community or accomplished a big goal, please send in a picture and a short note and/or a clipping from the newspaper or online site to Mrs. PapaV. We have a board celebrating our amazing PMPS students across from the gym.
Snacker the Cracker Monster is back: We need your help as our cracker supply for our nutrition program is running low. We are asking for help re-stocking our shelves with more boxes of crackers. Extra boxes of crackers will be stored so we can continue to provide snacks to students all year long. We kindly ask that donations be peanut-free! Donations can be fed to Snacker the Cracker Monster located near the school's front entrance. Thank you for your continued support and for those who have already donated!
Important Dates:
-October 22nd-30th, 2025: Grade 3 CCAT Testing (info sent home in September)
-October 23rd, 2025: Officer Amy Visit to kindergarten classes (Rescheduled from the 15th as Officer Amy presented at the Careers Day for the Intermediates)
-October 23rd, 2025: Class Pictures and retakes
-October 24th, 2025: PD Day ( AI Cyber Training, Keeping Schools Safe, and Progress Report writing (No School for Students)
-October 29th: Donut Fundraiser Pick Up
-October 31st: Halloween
November 3rd to 7th: Treaties Recognition Week
November 3rd to 13th: School Council Terra Cotta Cookie Fundraiser
November 6th: School Council 6pm in the library
November 6th: Superintendent Visit 1045am-1215pm
November 13th: Progress Reports go Home & Posted online
November 17th to 21st: Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week
November 18th: Public Health Grade 7 CARD presentation
November 20th: Extra School Council Meeting for Craft Fair
November 25th: Fall Grade ⅞ Vaccination Clinic at PMPS
November 27th: Progress Report Interview Night 3pm-7pm
November 28th: PD Day & Interview Day 830am to 250pm
November 28th: Classroom donations due for Class Holiday Baskets
December 2nd: Junior Division Trip to Theatre Orangeville
December 4th: Grade 8 Information Night at ODSS 630pm
December 6th: PMPS 29th Annual Christmas Craft Fair 9-3pm (Please plan to attend)
December 9th: Grade ¾ & Grade ⅘ Fire Safety Presentations
December 10th: Grade ⅚ & Grade 6/7 Fire Safety Presentations
December 16th: Holiday singing assembly
December 16th: Grade ¾ & Grade ⅘ Library Visit
December 19th: Holiday singing, performances, and award assemblies
December 22nd to January 4th: Holiday Break (No School for Students)
Upcoming Spirit Days:
-October 31st: Halloween: Orange and Black or costumes
Don’t forget about our Mustang Spirit Cup!
Reminders:
HALLOWEEN: Many schools celebrate Halloween with costume dress up and/or black and orange. Halloween is a day that is not observed by all students or staff. With this, it is considered a choice to participate as are all spirit days. Alternate and supportive accommodations are provided for students if school events take place (e.g. parade). Please reach out to your child(ren)’s teacher to speak more about accommodations.
Costumes: It is our responsibility to ensure that all school community members (e.g., students, staff, parents in our building…) avoid using identities and cultures as costumes. This includes appropriative costumes/cultural stereotypes (i.e. cultural garments), black/brown face, transphobic costumes (i.e. man dressed as a woman), body-shaming and objectifying costumes, and costumes that joke about situations that have caused harm. Such costumes perpetuate stereotypes and can cause harm that can further marginalize and oppress community members. We also ask that violent, scary, and bloody costumes are also not worn, as these costumes scare some students. All props and accessories stay at home as well, so they are not lost. If costumes violate the above criteria, students will be asked to remove their costume and parents/guardians will be notified. Thanks for helping to make our school a safe and inclusive environment for all. Teachers will provide more guidance about the details around Halloween (e.g. when costumes should be worn etc).
Professional Activity Day Description: October 24, 2025
Information for Elementary Parents/Guardians Date: October 24, 2025 Length: Full Day
Elementary AM Topics:
AI Cyber Security Month (50 minutes)
Keeping Schools Safe (50 minutes)
Upholding Human Rights and Tackling Racism (50 mins)
Elementary PM Topics:
Progress Report Writing
YMCA Before and After Care: If you are a parent/caregiver who drops off or picks up from the YMCA please use the front door only. This is for safety reasons and helps staff secure the building. Please also do not park in the fire route and bus route at any time. Bylaw has been by and it is a $125 ticket. Thank you for your cooperation.
Video Surveillance Reminder:The purpose of video surveillance at UGDSB schools is to serve the safety and security needs of the board and is not intended to infringe on anyone’s right to privacy. Please take some time to read the policy. Policy 203.
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/
We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Thursday. A reminder that Friday is a PD day and there is no school for students. Have a great weekend.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal