Hello Princess Margaret Families,
It has been a busy week at the school as staff completed professional learning and prepared the building for the return of our students. We are especially thankful for our hardworking custodial team, who not only spent the summer cleaning and preparing the school, but also responded to a major pipe burst on Wednesday. The leak affected both floors of the building, but thanks to the incredible efforts of our custodial, maintenance, and board support teams, you would never know it when our doors open on Tuesday. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team, and we are grateful for their quick response and hard work.
New this year: You should receive an email sometime on Friday with the name of your child's teacher. We hope this information will help you have positive conversations with your child over the weekend and ease any worries they may have about the start of the school year. Please note that class placements cannot be changed. We are currently at capacity in all of our Kindergarten, Primary, and Intermediate classes, and there will be no school-based reorganization unless directed by the Board. A great deal of thought and time went into creating class placements. Our goal was to create balanced classrooms that considered friendships while also addressing the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students. We appreciate your trust in this process and kindly ask that families not send requests for placement changes, as we are unable to accommodate them.
Important Medical Information : As a result of Ministry of Education changes, all Plans of Care must be updated this year. If your child has asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, a life-threatening allergy, or another serious medical condition, a new Plan of Care must be completed, even if one was submitted last year. Families with existing plans on file will receive a blank copy on the first day of school. If your child is new to Princess Margaret or has developed a medical condition since last year, please contact the office and Mrs. Mackenzie will ensure that you receive the appropriate forms.
We understand that it may take some time to arrange for a doctor's signature. In the meantime, please complete and return the form with your signature and instructions as soon as possible. We can then make a copy for you to take to your next medical appointment for the physician's signature. Once completed, please return the doctor-signed form to the school. If you need assistance with any part of this process, please do not hesitate to contact either Mrs. Mackenzie or me. This change was only recently communicated to schools, and we became aware of it during the past week.
There are a few additional information items included below, as well as last week's message about welcoming students back to school.
It is going to be a wonderful school year, and we are looking forward to seeing all of our students on September 8th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend!
Important Upcoming Dates: September:
-25th: Terry Fox Run-last block
-28th: PMPS Picture day ( individual photos only)
-30th: Truth & Reconciliation Day (wear orange)
October:
-2nd: GET REAL inclusion assembly grades 4-8 (letter coming home)
-5th:World Teacher’s Day
-7th: Oue new Superintendent Visits, Mr. Cousins
-12th: Thanksgiving- No School
-13th: Grade 7 Immunizations
-14th: All IEPs go home
-16th: Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day
-20th: ECE appreciation day
-26th: PD Day -no school for students
-27th to 29th: CCAT grade 3 testing
-28th: PMPS individual picture retakes, staff photo, and class photos
November:
-2nd to 6th: Treaties Recognition Week
-5th: New Director &CEO Mr. MacDonald & SO Mr. Cousins visit
-11th: Remembrance Day
-11th: Progress reports go home
-27th: PD Day (interview day)
December:
-5th: 30th Annual Holiday Craft Fair at PMPS 9am-2pm.
Spirit Days: Welcome Back Mustangs! ,Don't forget to get involved in our upcoming Spirit Days! Show your school pride, dress up, and encourage your classmates to participate. Our Student Council team will be visiting classrooms on each Spirit Day to tally school spirit points and see which classes are showing the most enthusiasm! The Mustang Cup Continues!
September 9th
Wear Red Day!
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness!
September 18th
Blue and White Day!
To support and inspire our Toronto Blue Jays!
September 29th
Wear Purple Day!
Wear purple: Raise awareness about Concussions!
September 30th
Orange Shirt Day!
Wear an Orange shirt to support and acknowledge the history of residential schools.
October 9th
Fall Colours!
Wear fall colours like brown, red, orange, or yellow to celebrate Fall and Thanksgiving!
October 16th
October is Global Diversity Awareness Month!
Let’s promote cultural diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect worldwide by wearing lots of bright colours!
October 23rd
School Colours Day!
PMPS students and staff can wear purple, grey, blue, or white to show their school pride!
Preparation for Diwali
Each class can make a colourful paper chain - with a sunflower on it- to be ready for Diwali on November 8th. Paper chains due to Miss. Lyon on November 6th!
October 30th
Black and Orange Day
OR
Costume Day
Reminder: E-Scooters and E-Bikes : With the return to school this fall we encourage students to use safe routes to school when walking or 'wheeling' to and from school. We are sharing the following information regarding e-scooters and e-bikes for awareness.
Please note, e-scooters and e-bikes are not permitted on school property for students under the age of 16. This is in line with Ontario legislation which prohibits the use of e-scooter and e-bikes for youth under 16 years old. E-scooters and e-bikes are not permitted to be stored inside school buildings.
Students are welcome to ride standard bikes or scooters to and from school, always wearing a helmet and following road safety rules.
To help keep parks, sidewalks, roads and trails safe, the county of Dufferin has banned all E-Scooters on town property. Please see the following information and links with your communities:
In case you missed it, check out our welcome back email to families that was sent out the last week of August:
Welcome Back PMPS Mustang Families!
It is hard to believe that August is almost over. We hope everyone had a safe and happy summer! We are excited to start the 2026/2027 school year.
Our custodial and maintenance staff have been working hard to get the building ready for our students. This work is continuing into the last week of August and early days of September. We are asking our families to avoid coming in unless they have a scheduled meeting or visit. Staff are gaining access to the school later than usual, so they are working even harder in a shortened period of time to prepare the building for students. If in doubt, please contact our school office and we’ll be able to help. Thanks for your continued understanding.
Elementary registration for new families is still happening for anyone who is new to our area and who did not register prior to the end of the 25/26 school year. This happens on September 1st, 2026 at 9am. More information can be found at: UGDSB registration . Please register by end of the day on the 3rd. Please register online and then come in with proof of address and brithdate. This is helpful to help us create balanced class lists and avoid the reorganization of students as much as possible. It will also decrease the chance that your child misses the first day of school. Please note that September 4th is a school board holiday and staff will not be working that day. Thanks in advance.
Please not again: It is very helpful if parents/ caregivers can fill out the online registration form prior to coming to PMPS to provide proof of address and proof the child’s birthdate (ex. Birth certificate, passport…).
If you have moved away from PMPS please call or email myself and/or our office coordinator to inform us of the move and their new school. This is also very helpful to help us create balanced class lists and avoid the reorganization of students as much as possible. Thanks in advance.
Classroom Assignments and Organizations:
Each year, we begin with the staffing that was allocated in June. As in past years, our actual numbers are reviewed following the first days of school. This means students may begin their first day in one class, yet find themselves being reassigned to another class when our enrollment has been reviewed. If this happens, we will communicate with families.
Class placements will be emailed to you from the board before the first day of school. Here is an update on how to access your child’s teacher along with other important information:
Message from the UGDSB: We are excited to share that the Family Portal version 2 is set to launch on August 25, 2026. Parents/caregivers can log in with the same username and password at https://family.ugdsb.on.ca/ (they may need to refresh the webpage).
The updated portal features child-specific information organized into cards on one page, including:
Absences
Google Classroom Assignments (grade 4 and above)
Parent-Teacher Interview (Parents will book appointments here)
Report Cards (this is the recommended method, however, ConnectEd remains accessible for parent use)
School Bus Information
School Cash Online
School Events
Special Reports (e.g., IEPs)
Student Profile (Class and teacher email details available starting Labour Day).
First Day of School:
Our first day of school for all students Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 is Tuesday, September 8th at 830am. To our new JK families, please note all JKs start on Tuesday, September 8th at 830am as well. . There is no staggered entry in the UGDSB, all students start on the same day and same time.
Below you will find some additional information that might be helpful as we return next week. More information will be coming home the first few days of school.
What to Expect of the First Day:
Students will meet on their regular hard top areas (i.e., Kindergarten., Primary, Junior or Intermediate) at 830am. Teachers will have lists and staff will be there to greet and ensure all students get to the right spots. To help with this, grade signs will be posted. Students will gather at their grade signs, and staff will tell students what class line to join. Please see the attached map for where grade signs will be located. Grade Sign Map Once teachers have their full class, they will make their way into the school and then classroom.
Updated School/Board Code of Conduct:
Our School Code of contact for students, staff, and families was sent out by email in late June. It is also posted on our school website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/pmps/page/pmps-school-code-of-conduct. The code of conduct will be explained to each student in grades 4-8 in a developmentally appropriate way by their classroom teacher during the first days of school.
Before & After School Supervision:
A reminder that our school day begins at 8:30am and dismissal is at 2:50pm. The back tarmac is supervised at 820am and the kindergarten yard at 815am. Supervision starts at 820am in the primary, junior, and intermediate yard in the morning. Please do not have children arrive to school any earlier than 820am in the morning. Please note that we have limited supervision after school and all students must be picked up or be able to walk home when they are dismissed at 250pm. Students are encouraged to leave immediately after school if not staying with a caregiver.
Whole School Recess & Lunch:
All students eat and go out for recess at the same time. Please note that lunch for all students is between 1040am and 11am and again at 1250-110pm. If you are dropping food to the school please have it to the school a few minutes before each eating time. When you drop off food, we are asking that you drop it off at the same desk outside the office/library and label it. Please note the following information that was shared last June about food delivery services:
Food Delivery Services Not Permitted:
Effective Friday, June 19th, 2026: Princess Margaret Public School will no longer allow access to the building for food delivery services such as SkipTheDishes, Uber Eats, or any similar companies.
We have experienced a number of concerns with delivery services entering the school. It is important to recognize that these individuals are not known to us, and allowing unrestricted access to the building poses a safety risk. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. As you know, we have implemented a buzzer system and screen all individuals entering the school. Continuing to allow delivery personnel into the building is not consistent with these safety measures.
In the past, we have had delivery personnel wander through hallways, leave items unattended, or engage in disputes with staff when orders are unclear or unlabeled. For these reasons, we are no longer able to support this practice. Parents and caregivers are still welcome to drop off food for their children at the front office, provided that all items are clearly labeled and put on the desk underneath our foyer tv. Your child should know that food is being dropped off for them. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please do not send orders, as the delivery service personnel will be told we do not accept deliveries and we will not allow them access to our building.
Drop off and Pick up:
A reminder to all our families, that the front parking lot in front of the school is closed and is a walking area only. We encourage our families to walk or park on the adjacent streets to create a safer area for our students. There is no parking in our bus loop at any time. It is also a fire route and the last time someone was ticketed the fine was $125.00. You will also notice new stop signs and a new crossing guard. Thank you to our parent community, Town staff and the OPP for advocating and securing these new resources.
Dogs & Other Animals on School Property:
When dropping off and picking up kids, please remember that dogs and other animals must be leashed and kept on the sidewalk of our property. This is the expectation for all dogs (no matter the size or age). Some students have allergies, a fear, and there is the potential that someone could be scratched or bitten.
Communication of Concerns:
At any time, if you have questions or concerns about what is happening at school, please reach out to your child’s teacher. It is far better to communicate early rather than grow frustrated. Often, a quick phone call or email can help to clarify situations as they arise. Please make sure you continue to refer to our website often, and update your email address with the front office if it has changed.
The Upper Grand DSB is continuing to use a parent communication tool for smartphones. The UGConnect app, provides parents with a simple interface with information including news, calendars and social media feeds. The Upper Grand Mobile App is available for free at either the Google Play Store or at iTunes. Use the search term “Upper Grand” to find the app. Please make sure the office has an email address for your family, as we send weekly updates via email. Our Princess Margaret website is https://www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ and our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps . Our school council also has a Facebook page and an Instagram page: @princessmargaretps.
Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions:
UGDSB Policy 518: Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions, outlines the roles and responsibilities for all in the educational community to support students with possible life-threatening medical conditions. The prevalent medical conditions covered under this policy are Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders. . Please contact our school as soon as possible and we will work with you to develop a Plan of Care to support your child. Mrs. Mckenzie will be sending out paperwork to update plans during the first week of the school. Please note the information above that all plans need to be redone, as the Ministry has made some changes. More information can be found on the UGDSB board website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/o/ugdsb/page/policy-518-students-with-life-threatening-medical-conditions
Life-Threatening Allergies:
We have children in our school with potential life-threatening allergies (called anaphylaxis) to various foods and other materials. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that can cause death within minutes. At PMPS these food allergies include: peanuts and tree nuts. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. Although this may not affect your child’s class directly, we are letting you know so that you are aware that we aim to create an allergy safe environment at our school. Please do not send peanut or tree nut items to school in your child’s lunch as this will often create confusion and worry. Our school has procedures in place for the prevention and management of anaphylactic reactions. If your child has health concerns of any kind, please tell your child’s teacher and the office and we will take the necessary health protection steps. Thank you for your understanding in ensuring an allergy-safe environment for all of our students.
Scent Aware & Fragrance Sensitive Environment: The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) maintains a scent-aware and fragrance-sensitive environment across its schools and board-owned sites to protect students and staff with severe health sensitivities.
Prohibited and Restricted Items: Students, staff, and visitors are asked to avoid wearing or bringing scented products. This includes perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, scented body sprays, scented deodorants, air fresheners, essential oils, potpourri, and strongly scented laundry products or fabric softeners.
Health Impact: Exposure to chemical fragrances can trigger adverse health effects, including allergic reactions, severe respiratory distress, migraines, and potentially life-threatening reactions for individuals with medical sensitivities or asthma
Thank you for your cooperation and helping to ensure the well being of students and staff. Students who wear heavily scented products will be asked to go home and shower to ensure the safety of individuals with reactions to scents and fragrances.
Spirit Wear:
Spirit wear can be ordered at any time during the year now. Please visit http://princessmargaret.deco-apparel.com/.
We look forward to welcoming back our students and having a wonderful school year full of fun and learning! Enjoy the final weeks of summer and we’ll see everyone back on Tuesday, September 8th, at 830am.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
Reminder for parents/guardians: Student Accident Insurance
Parents and guardians are responsible for expenses related to student injuries on school premises or during school activities. Accidents can and do happen and the costs involved might not be fully covered by provincial health care or employer group insurance plans.
The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is empowered under The Education Act to offer Accident and Life Insurance for students.
Please see the UGDSB Director’s letter to families posted on our website containing information with respect to two programs available for the purchase of Student Accident Insurance. The Insuremykids Program is offered through Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada and the Studyinsured Program is underwritten by Certain Lloyds’s Underwriters through AON Insurance.
Each program offers a variety of options, including family rates at affordable prices. The cost must be paid by the parent or guardian. Families who require paper copies of the application can contact the provider directly. Purchase is done directly online or by contacting the Provider:
www.insuremykids.com or call toll free 1-800-463-5437
www.studyinsuredstudentaccident.com or call toll free 1-833-560-0527.
For today’s active children, especially those who participate in field trips, co-curricular and other school activities outside the school day, Student Accident Insurance is recommended.