Good evening Mustang Families,
Happy almost long weekend! This week has been busy at Princess Margaret! It started off with so much fun at the bike roadeo, we had close to 110 riders! That’s a little more then ⅓ of our school population. Thank you to all of our families who helped ensure bikes were ready for the event and thanks to Mrs. Mikulik for organizing the event. Our students are also eagerly anticipating rock climbing next week—please see the reminder below.
Our Special Olympics team, including peer coaches, met for the first time last week, and we are incredibly impressed by our athletes’ grit, as well as the patience and positivity shown by our older students as they coached younger students. This truly is one of the best days of the year at our school.
Our entire school learned a great deal from Lauren Pines, our accessibility speaker, last Friday. Thank you to Ms. Patel for organizing this once again.
On the 15th, we are also fortunate to be hosting a bee presentation for our primary students. It’s safe to say the next little while will be very busy at Princess Margaret, so please keep an eye on the calendar. Thank you so much for your continued support.
Rock Climbing May 19th to 22nd: A reminder that next week , we have rock climbing here at PMPS—very exciting! Thank you to our School Council for supporting this experience so that every student can attend free of charge. A reminder to families:
Long hair must be tied back (low ponytails work best with helmets)
Running shoes are required
Students should wear comfortable clothing
Each class will attend two sessions in the gym.
Spirit wear can be ordered at any time during the year now. Please visit http://princessmargaret.deco-apparel.com/.
Playground Update: I would like to share that many of our playground structures require a significant amount of repair. Across all playgrounds—except for the train structure in the kindergarten yard—the estimated cost for repairs is approximately $6,300. Fortunately, School Council, with the support of our families, has been saving funds each year to help maintain these structures, and requests have already been submitted to address these repairs as soon as possible.
However, I do have some difficult news regarding the kindergarten yard. While the train-themed playground structure is a much-loved feature, it was not installed at an adequate depth. Over time, the rebar from the structure has begun to surface, creating a safety concern. Despite our efforts over the years to manage this by adding pea gravel, this has not proven to be an effective long-term solution.
I obtained a quote to have the structure fully excavated and reinstalled, but the cost would be approximately $12,000. Unfortunately, this is beyond what School Council can afford at this time, especially given the possibility of additional issues in the future. The school board is responsible for the costs of removing it. I have asked that the pea gravel be taken out, the area levelled and sodded.
As per board policy, unsafe playground equipment must be removed. After careful consideration, School Council has made the difficult decision to proceed with this option. The train structure is now fenced off, and removal is scheduled to take place over the summer.
Moving forward, School Council will explore alternative ways to enhance the kindergarten yard, such as adding mud kitchens and other outdoor play equipment. Modern playground structures are increasingly expensive and difficult for smaller school communities to sustain in terms of both installation and ongoing maintenance.
I kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring that children stay out of the fenced-off area before and after school hours.
Parent Resources:
Parent Support Network: Please check out www.parentsupportnetwork.ca for free parenting workshops. The 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/
DCAFS Walk In, Talk In Clinic: Open to Everyone!
https://dcafs.on.ca/services/child-youth-mental-health/talk-in-clinic/#:~:text=Talk%2DIn%20Clinic%20is%20open%20Wednesdays%20between%2012%3A30%20p.m.,to%20provide%20some%20basic%20information.
Talk-In Clinic is your primary gateway to essential mental health support. Talk-In Clinic is open Wednesdays between 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (last appointment at 5:30 p.m.). Please come as early as possible to ensure an appointment. If you prefer, you can call ahead at 519-941-1530 to provide some basic information. This is support for children, youth, and famImportant Dates:
May:
*** Freezie Sales start week of May 12th and runs each Tuesday and Thursday until we run out- 2nd break. ***
-15th: Bee Ambassador K-¾ (letter went home)
-15th: EA & CYC appreciation day!
-18th: 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)
-21st: Special Olympics (rain date May 22nd)
-25th: Primary Track and Field Standards Day
-26th: Junior Track and Field Standards Day
-27th: Intermediate Track and Field Standards Day
-26th: Spring ⅞ Vaccination Clinic at PMPS
-28th & 29th: EQAO grades 3 & 6
June:
-2nd & 3rd: EQAO continued grades 3& 6 ( EQAO make up June 4th)
-2nd: Family Fun Night 5-7pm
-June 3rd: Author Visit: Amaya James. Child author of Afro No and her latest novel, Emmie’s Next Chapter (more information will be emailed home)
-4th: Compass Run @ PMPS- last block
-4th: School Council- Last meeting 6pm (elections-everyone is invited to run for positions)/ First meeting of 26/27 September 24th/26 6pm in the library (same night as Meet the Teacher)
-5th: PD Day: am curriculum & pm report card writing: no school for students
-9th & 10th: Intermediate Trip
-12th: School wide play day
-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:
May 15th: Backwards and Inside Out Day!
May 21st: Special Olympics Day! Wear Olympic Red and Olympic grey in support of our 15 PMPS Special Olympics team.
May 29th: Beach day(Dress like you are going to the beach - no bathing suit.) Sunglasses sunscreen Hat Shorts
Reminders:
June 2nd/26: Annual Arts Night: Please mark your calendars for our Annual Arts Night and Family Fun Night on June 2nd from 5:00–7:00 p.m. There will be raffles, including a beautiful bike and helmet up for grabs. Student artwork will be on display, our choir and band will perform, and of course, we’ll have our Family Fun Night games. Pizza will be available for purchase online. We hope to see you there!
-EA & CYC appreciation day!
💙 Child and Youth Worker Appreciation Day 💙 May 15th We are so excited to celebrate Child and Youth Worker Appreciation Day and to recognize our outstanding CYC, Tania! Tania brings kindness, patience, and heart to everything she does. She works tirelessly to support students’ well‑being, helping them feel safe, understood, and ready to learn. Whether she is offering a listening ear, teaching important social skills, or cheering students on through challenging moments, Tania makes a positive difference every single day. Our school is a stronger, more caring place because of her dedication, compassion, and commitment to our students and families. We are so grateful for the calm, care, and support she brings to our community.Thank you, Tania, for all that you do. We appreciate you today and every day!
🌟 Educational Assistant Appreciation 🌟
On May 15th we would like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate our incredible Educational Assistants this includes: Mrs T, Mrs. R., Mrs. Thompson, Ms. Mckenzie, Ms, H, Ms, Arseneau, Ms Hazel, Ms. G., and Mrs Nicholas. Our EAs work tirelessly each and every day to support students in their learning, growth, and well‑being. They show patience, care, and dedication in everything they do, helping students feel safe, included, and confident. Whether they are offering encouragement, adapting, or lending a steady, reassuring presence, their impact is felt in countless ways throughout our school. What makes our EA team truly special is the way they work together — supporting one another, collaborating with staff, and always putting students first. Their teamwork, compassion, and commitment strengthen our entire school community. Thank you to our Educational Assistants for your hard work, your hearts, and your unwavering support of our students. We appreciate you today and every day.
Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk. The milk costs $1.25
We have a great day of learning on Friday and then please have a great long weekend. We’ll see everyone back on Tuesday at 830am! Here’s to beautiful sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal