Good evening Mustang Families,
Spring, it’s around the corner, Right?
I hope everyone had a great March break and to those who celebrate, a blessed Eid. It is certainly nice to have everyone back learning.
A reminder that it is a good idea to keep a close eye on the weather, so students know what to wear in the morning. Another good idea is to pack an extra pair of pants and socks in childrens’ backpacks as the snow melts and we have a return to mud. This avoids us having to call home for a pant or sock request during the day.
Parking lot reminders: Our parking lot is closed from 815am- 310pm everyday- all vehicles except for school buses and those with special needs parking permits, may not enter during this time . Please no parking in special needs parking without a permit, no stopping, no parking in the bus loop or no parking zones, do not block the exit from our parking lot by parking across the exit to the street and please be kind to staff who are helping to enforce these rules, including By Law who come out consistently but randomly. They have issued several tickets this year and they are expensive ($125 in some cases).
Please be a cautious driver while on the street: Making three point turns, stopping in the middle of the street, double parking, turning around in our exit, driving too close or too fast past parked cars that might have children exiting them, and having verbal disagreements with other drivers is unsafe. Please remember we all have the same goal; to have our students and families attend school safely, and this includes before and after school pick up and drop off. As the nice weather begins to become more consistent, please consider walking or parking on a side street or the Go Bus parking lot (old train station). Thank you for your support. The OPP, school and board staff, members of the Town, and County have plans to meet to discuss PMPS road safety and parking in the coming weeks.
Accessibility Week Assembly – May 8: As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful school community, we will be recognizing Accessibility Week with a special presentation for our students on May 8th. We are pleased to welcome a guest speaker, Lauren Pires, who will be sharing her personal experiences living with an invisible disability. Lauren was born with Central Core Disease, a rare neuromuscular condition, and is an inspiring speaker who focuses on themes of resilience, belonging, and celebrating what makes each of us unique. Students will attend one of two assemblies:
Kindergarten–Grade 3
Grades 4–8
This presentation will provide students with an opportunity to learn about accessibility, build empathy, and develop a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences of others. Through hearing a real-life perspective, students will be encouraged to reflect on how we can create a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to let me know.
Important Dates:
-April 1st: Elementary Skills Canada: Junior Robotics Club (Go PMPS go!)
-2nd: World Autism Day
-2nd: Custodian and Maintenance worker Appreciation Day! Thank you to our incredible custodian team: Sheila, Helena, and Marie for always taking care of us and our building.
-3rd-6th: Good Friday & Easter (no school) Happy Easter to those who celebrate!
-8th: International Day of Pink: Anti Bullying & Anti-Homophobia: Wear Pink!
-24th: PD day-no school for all students
Upcoming Spirit Days:
-Friday, March 27th: World Water Day, Wear blue in honour of water
-Wednesday, April 1st: Easter Colours (Wear pastel colours and accessories!)
-Thursday, April 2nd: Raise awareness and show support! Wear red and blue, celebrate neurodiversity.
-Friday, April 10th: Cascading Crackers!! Which classroom can bring in the most boxes of crackers to overflow Snacker the Cracker? Can you help your class cause a cascade of crackers???
-Wednesday, April 15th: Wordsearch Wednesday! Student council members will bring a wordsearch to each class with spring words to find.
-Wednesday, April 22nd: Earth Day (Dress like the world! Wear brown, blue, and green!)
-Friday, May 1st: Attitude of Gratitude day! Classes can create a sticky note door - writing things you are grateful for in your life. Stick the notes on your classroom door.
Reminders:
Ice & Water Safety: It's that time of year again. With the more mild and wet weather we have been experiencing it is time to remind students and families to stay off the ice on ponds and bodies of water near schools. The ice on local bodies of water is not safe, and we are encouraging everyone to stay off the ice. The Grand River Conservation Authority has shared water safety messaging on their website: GRCA Flood Warning and Flood Watch as well as GRCA Water Safety.
Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk. The milk costs $1.25 each.
We have another great day of learning on Friday ! A reminder that it is Easter weekend for those who celebrate is next weekend. There is no school on Friday April 3rd and April 6th.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal