Good evening Mustang Families,
It’s a PD Day on Friday, which means there is no school for students and the reason I am sending our weekly update a little earlier.
We had another busy and exciting week at Princess Margaret! We successfully completed our first fire drill in many months, safely evacuating over 300 students and staff in just 1 minute and 20 seconds. This is an outstanding achievement and means students and staff know what to do in case of an emergency. Several more drills will be happening over the next two weeks.
We also hosted a successful intermediate badminton tournament at our school. Once again, Ms. Mikulik’s incredible leadership shone through, along with her students who helped plan and organize the event. A big thank you as well to Mrs. Landry for her support, and to all of our athletes who competed with excellent sportsmanship and spirit. Go Mustangs!
This week, classes participated in Earth Day activities, and we are thrilled to welcome an Indigenous artist into our school for learning and enrichment experiences.
There is always so much happening at Princess Margaret! We have begun planning for our annual Special Olympics meet and have already sent out applications for peer coaches. With spring finally here, students have also begun working in our school gardens.
I hope everyone enjoys a restful long weekend. While students are away on Friday, staff will be at school participating in professional learning, including training in artificial intelligence, Indigenous education, math and literacy, and racism.
Important Dates:
April:
23rd:Shannon Paul, Indigenous Speaker (Szabo, Westlake, Patel) info to come home.
-24th: PD day: No school for students
-27th: IPRCs full day
-28th: Island Lake Rowing Program Grades 6-8 (see email sent out April 14th)
-28th: Grade 3 & 7 Swim to Survive
-30th: Scientists in the School: Szabo 9am
May:
-1st: Patel & Christie: Nature Journaling workshop am
-4th to 8th: Education & Mental Health Week
-5th: Empowerment Day-am Grade 7-8s
-5th: Grade 3 & 7 Swim to Survive
-5th: Primary Trip to Orangeville Theatre K-¾
-8th: Accessibility Presentation (Lauren Pires) K-3s: 120-150pm & 4-8s 2-230pm ( info already sent home)
-11th: Optimist Bike Roadeo
-12th: ODSS visit for grade 8s 9am
-14th: Special Olympics (rain date May 15th)
-15th: Bee Ambassador K-¾ (letter to go home)
-15th: EA & CYC appreciation day!
-19th: Victoria Day- No school for students and staff
-19th to 22nd: Rock Climbing at PMPS/ gym in use all week (permission forms sent out)
-20th: JK Orientation for new students (see email sent)
-26th: Spring ⅞ Vaccination Clinic at PMPS
-28th & 29th: EQAO grades 3 & 6
June:
-1st & 2nd: EQAO continued grades 3& 6 ( EQAO make up 3rd & 4th)
-2nd: Family Fun Night 530-7pm
-4th: Compass Run @ PMPS- last block
-5th: PD Day: am curriculum & pm report card writing: no school for students
-9th & 10th: Intermediate Trip
-13th: Finale for Bike Roadeo: Alder Street
-17th: Grades ¾ (pm) & ⅘ (am) at Island Lake for Indigenous Learning
-22nd: PMPS Grade 8 Grad
-25th: Last day of School with students
-26th: PD day for staff (school improvement plans and transitions)
Upcoming Spirit Days:
-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:
Understanding Youth Today - Substance and Screen Use Parent/Caregiver Event May 6, 2026: This May, more than 10 local community partners are coming together to host an unforgettable event for parents and caregivers. On May 6, 2026, parents and caregivers are invited to attend the Understanding Youth Today: Substance and Screen Use event. Registration is required. Registration details are provided directly on the poster.
Rock Climbing at Princess Margaret: Rock‑climbing permission forms have been sent home for every student from Kindergarten to Grade 8. Thanks to the generosity of our School Council, a rock‑climbing walls and an obstacle course will be coming to Princess Margaret and will be set up in our gym from May 19 to May 22, as previously announced. There is no charge to families. To participate, each student must return a signed permission form, and clean indoor runners are required. Teachers will be sending the permission forms home this week. Please return the forms as soon as possible. Thank you—we are very excited to offer this fun and engaging experience for our students! More details are on the permission form.
Vision Screening From Public Health: Reminder of the Sight for Success initiative promoting awareness of vision health and supporting access to comprehensive eye assessments by licensed optometrists.
or in your life. Stick the notes on your classroom door.
Climber & Playground Safety: Students are reminded that running shoes must be worn on all climbers.. Crocs and sandals are not permitted on the climbers or while playing games like football and soccer. No long necklaces or bags/purses as they pose a choking risk. Thank you so much for your cooperation and for reinforcing this message with your children.
Professional Activity Day Description:
Information for Elementary and Secondary Parents/Guardians:
Date: April 24, 2026
Length: Full Day
Elementary/Secondary Topics AM: Tackling Racism (Upholding Human Rights, Anti-Black Racism , and Indigenous Racism)
Elementary/Secondary Topics PM: School Resource Officer Program, Literacy & Mathematics, AI Learning Modules
Entity Hosting: Upper Grand DSB
Description:
Elementary / Secondary Morning (150 mins):
Tackling Racism (Upholding Human Rights) (75 mins)
This session examines how racism operates across school systems and everyday interactions, grounded in Ontario’s human rights obligations. Participants will build practical skills to recognize, interrupt, and respond to racism, reinforcing their role in creating safe, inclusive, and accountable learning environments.
Tackling Indigenous Racism (75 mins)
This session explores the ongoing impacts of colonialism and Indigenous-specific racism in education. Grounded in human rights and reconciliation, participants will strengthen their ability to recognize and disrupt harmful practices while fostering respectful, culturally responsive relationships with Indigenous students and communities.
Elementary / Secondary Afternoon (150 mins)
School Resource Officer Program (10 mins)
This session will focus on understanding:
Supporting Children and Students Act 2025 and implications for school communities
Police / School Board Protocol
Emergency Procedures and Responses
Police & Community Partner Presentations in Schools
Laser Focus Literacy & Mathematics (70 mins)
Schools will engage in a focused block dedicated to Literacy and Mathematics aligned with their specific school improvement goals. Teams will use this time to analyze data, reflect on student needs, and plan targeted instructional strategies to support student achievement. Educators will draw on board-supported resources and professional learning (e.g., Let’s Go! UGDSB Learn modules, continuums, and assessment tools) to strengthen practice in both literacy and numeracy.
AI Learning Module (70 mins)
Staff will engage in a focused block dedicated to AI Literacy designed to navigate the evolving role of technology. Educators will explore an AI Literacy Module on the Let’s Go! UGDSB Learn site. Core concepts include: AI Fundamentals, Ethics and Human Rights, maintaining a Human-Centred Mindset, and the Art of Prompting, to build a foundational and critical understanding of AI. Learning will also include reviewing the UGDSB AI Literacy Guidelines, ensuring that AI use remains grounded in math comprehension, language skills, human rights, and sustainability. Teams will use this time to align AI applications with professional expectations, drawing on these resources to support innovative, ethical, and effective instructional strategies across all grade levels.
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s):
Independent/Individual
Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk. The milk costs $1.25
Thanks for taking the time to read through my weekly emails and your continued support. We’ll see everyone on Thursday, before students enjoy a long weekend due to our staff PD day on April 24th. We’ll see our students back on Monday April 27th at 830am. Have a great weekend!
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal