Good Evening Mustang Families,
What a week! The building is humming with excitement not only about the Blue Jays while they look to win the World Series but Halloween! We have some important updates this week. Please read below.
Please take a moment to fill out the WHY survey from Public Health and the UGDSB. We have partnered to create one survey to replace multiple surveys from the past. The new
survey will provide the information we need to inform programs and supports for students. The results will also help identify opportunities to improve the well-being of children and youth in our community. It is vital to have parent voice in this survey. Students and staff are all doing the survey ( letter was sent home previously). Thank you in advance. Parent Survey: https://redcap.link/2026parentwhy
Please take a moment to check the Lost and Found for any missing items. We’ve had a number of belongings turned in recently, and we’d love to see them returned to their rightful owners.
PMPS is excited to bring back the Kid-Preneurs Market, at our upcoming Holiday Craft Fair, on Saturday, December 6th! We invite all students who love making things with their hands, like bracelets, ornaments, decorative items, and other cool crafts, to show off their creativity and become a young entrepreneur at our craft market! Students can set up their own table in the designated classrooms, sell their creations, and keep the money they earn! Forms are available from Mrs. Mikulik or from the front office. All participating students must fill out a permission form. We cannot wait to see what your imagination and creativity brings to our Holiday Craft Fair!
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, masks, 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).
Bully Awareness and Prevention Week at the Upper Grand District School Board: From November 17 to 21, the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will be participating in Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (BAPW). This week provides an important opportunity for students, staff, and parents/guardians to deepen their understanding of bullying, its impact on student learning and well-being, and ways we can all contribute to a safe, inclusive, and caring school environment. This year’s theme is “Power for Good.” Tuesday November 18 will be “Odd Socks Day” and Friday November 21st will be “wear Pink day.” For families currently navigating a bullying situation, there are a variety of resources and supports available on the UGDSB website to assist and inform. Resources and Links:
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan | Upper Grand District School Board
Get support with these mental health resources - Kids Help Phone
Attendance/ Pick Ups During the Day: It is very important that students attend school for the full day if they are well. Having consistent attendance helps to build childrens’ stamina, sense of routine, and academic success. If your child is having trouble attending school regularly please give me a call and I will help. Please call in all lates and absences. This is vital to our safe arrivals process, ensuring each child is safe.
Sporting Teams & Participation: We have a number of sporting opportunities available to all of our students. Once a student tries out for a team, it’s important to read and sign the Athletics Code of Conduct. Coaches will send it home. All athletes will be given three grace incidents and then will not be allowed to try out or stay on the school team. It is important to understand that academics at school are the athlete’s first priority and that they must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the board’s code of conduct. This has already been discussed with the intermediate division and teachers/coaches will clearly outline to the student when they have received a warning that counts as a grace incident. Thanks for your support.
Poppy Flag: Beginning on October 31st at 12pm until the end of day November 11th, we will be flying the Poppy Flag of Remembrance at the school. We are flying the Poppy flag as a tribute to the sacrifices of veterans and those who served to protect our freedoms. The flag honors the courage, commitment, and resilience of our veterans and current service members and reminds us of our shared responsibility to remember and support those affected by conflict. Our flags will also be at half mass from after school on the 7th to early morning on 10th to honour Indigenous Veterans Day.
Special Guest Speaker Grades 4-8: We are excited to share that Major Vanessa Soria, an engineer in the Air Force, will be presenting to our students in Grades 4 to 8 on Monday, November 10th at 9:00 AM via Google livestream. Major Soria will speak about her role in the Canadian Air Force and her pathway to get there, the significance of Remembrance Day, and how she personally commemorates this important occasion. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions such as how she chose a career in the military and what she finds fulfilling in her work.I am coordinating this special presentation. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Weather & Being Dressed Appropriately: It’s that time of the year when it feels like winter is on its away. Please make sure to be checking the weather in the morning so children are appropriately dressed for the weather. Children go outside in light drizzle and snow. Storing an extra set of pants and socks is a good idea in your child’s backpack, as this avoids a call home for wet pants. If your family needs help purchasing boots and warm winter wear, please contact your child’s teacher or me. We will be having another free coat and snow pants give away after mid November (when we get new donations from a local drive).
Important Dates:
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 10th: Live Stream Guest Speaker, Major V. Soria ( Canadian Air Force)- information sent home.
November 11th: Remembrance Day Assembly
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
-November 11th/25: Wear black and red and a poppy.
-November 21st/25: International Stand Up to Bullying Day: wear pink
-November 27th/25: Comfy clothes day or wear school colours
Don’t forget about our Mustang Spirit Cup!
Reminders:
Milk Sales: 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! So far we have received 44 boxes of crackers! Thank you so much for your support!
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 and fun on Friday. . A reminder that our clocks fall back Saturday night. For everyone that celebrates Halloween, have fun trick or treating and be safe! And remember... GO JAYS GO!
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal