Dear Mustang Families,
I am sending out this update a little earlier because I want to remind our families about Thursday night.
We can’t wait to welcome families back on our Meet the Teacher night, Thursday, September 24th from 530-7pm-that’s tomorrow! Come out to see your child(ren)’s classrooms and meet with their teachers briefly.
Please note, this is not an interview night, but a brief opportunity to meet the teachers and visit the classroom environment. If you need a longer conversation, please let the teacher know and they’ll be happy to give you a call or arrange a meeting. Thank you in advance.
Please note our first school council meeting of the year is also scheduled on the 24th (the same evening) from 6-7pm. Please stop by to see what we are all about. Everyone is invited to attend!
What another great week here at PMPS! We are fortunate to have student leaders who contribute their time and efforts to many things that make our school better. Students help with our food days, spirit days, our school sign, our announcements… the list goes on. We know all of our students are working hard and trying their best. Milk sales will start tomorrow, Thursday, September 24th at 1st break. Students require $1.25 cash to purchase.
Lockdown Drill-Note to Families: During our lockdown drill, last week, we had some parents/caregivers entered the school while extra lockdown signage was posted on the doors and the exterior poster about no entry with flashing warning lights to draw attention to this direction. As an important safety reminder, if our school is conducting a lockdown drill, or in the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, parents and visitors must not enter the school while the lockdown signage and flashing lights are activated. Please remain outside and follow any instructions provided by the school or emergency services. A few parents also noticed that the front door was unlocked during the drill. Please know that this is intentional so that police and emergency personnel can quickly enter the building and provide assistance in the event of a real emergency. An unlocked front door during a lockdown does not mean that parents or visitors should enter the school. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and support in helping us keep our students and staff safe.
Our Flag: Our flags will be lowered at the end of day on Friday, September 25th, and be raised Monday morning to mark Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day, which is on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Our flags will also be lowered on September 30th as well to recognize Truth and Reconciliation. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange if possible.
Picture Day: Monday, September 28th is also picture day! This date is only for individual student photos. Class phots and individual retakes will be on October 28th.
Ministry of Education Memo: School Board and Police Service Partnerships: I wanted to update families about a Ministry Memo updating School Board and Police Service Partnerships. The memo highlights the changes that were originally discussed last spring by the Ministry. It outlines when and how Police Service Partnerships may attend schools. This could include pop ins and visits to upcoming Open Houses and BBQs which is completely acceptable under the new regulation.
The model states: In partnership with the school board and other community-based service providers, police and school resource officers also play an important role in supporting a positive school climate, such as:
• Building relationships with students and the school community through intentional interactions and engagements
• Being a visible and supportive presence within the school community
• Being a positive adult role model for students
Please note that the requirement to advise families 14 days in advance for Police Service visits to schools for presentations etc. is no longer necessary. We have presentations on October 2nd with Officer Amy and had already sent letters home to our ⅚ & ⅞ families. We will still communicate with our families about upcoming important dates for our students like we always have.
IMPORTANT: NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: Please follow us and thank you if you already!
Our Princess Margaret website is https://www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ and our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps .
Our new Facebook and Instagram accounts are: Facebook: Princess MargaretPS- New and Instagram: @psprincessmargaret
Important Upcoming Dates:
-24th: Meet the Teacher (530-7pm) and School Council (6-7pm)
-25th: Terry Fox Run-last block (please make a donation online if you are able)
-28th: Picture day: Individual pictures (class pictures at a later date)
October:
-1st: Officer Amy at PMPS to present about Cyber safety to all grade 5-8s (letter sent home earlier this week)
-2nd: GET REAL inclusion assembly grades 4-8 (letter was sent home with more information)
-5th:World Teacher’s Day
-12th: Thanksgiving- No School
-13th: Grade 7 Immunizations
-14th: All IEPs go home
-15th: Fall Dental Screenings (more info to come)
-16th: Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day
-20th: ECE appreciation day
-23rd & 30th: Diary Educator’s Program K-8 (letters will come home)
-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:
-September 29th: Wear Purple Day! 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
Reminders:
Personal Items Brought to School: Students and parents/caregivers are reminded that if they choose to bring valuable personal items to school, the school board will not cover loss or damage.
School Volunteers: The UGDSB updated their School Volunteers Policy (205) this year after the Ministry of Education made changes mandatory for all Ontario boards. If you are volunteering in our school or plan to in the future, it is important to note that the following is required: a volunteer agreement and a vulnerable sector check (VSC) /offense declaration (if the VSC was already on file with our school and completed in the last three years). A VSC will be required for field trip supervisors, volunteer drivers, classroom volunteers working with students, volunteer coaches/advisors. The school will be able to provide letters that parents/guardians can use to apply for a VSC. Please note if you completed this process and we have your information on file, Mrs. Mckenize is sending home what you need so you can be ready to continue volunteering at PMPS.Please stop in the office if you are interested or ask your child’s teacher. * More information was sent home on Monday- please check our school website for a copy of this email.
Milk & Pizza Sales: Milk is cash only ($1.25) and will be on sale tomorrow!
Supervision: Please remember that students should not be arriving before 820am in the morning and need to be picked up/ or leave the school at the dismissal bell at 250pm. Our school day is from 830am to 250pm every day.
We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Thursday and Friday. Have a wonderful weekend when it gets here, but first we’ll see you at Meet the Teacher and our first Council meeting tomorrow evening.
Andrea Papavasiliou
Proud Principal of PMPS