Dear Mustang Families, 

It was another great week at Princess Margaret! There were so many wonderful opportunities for our students to get involved, including volleyball tryouts, Art Club, and Garden Club.

Student Council is beginning to take shape, and planning is already underway for our Holiday Craft Fair. Last week, we held our Student Council executive elections, and we are incredibly proud of the students who stepped forward, delivered speeches, and demonstrated courage by running for leadership positions. We have a strong executive team in place once again this year, along with many enthusiastic classroom representatives. A special thank you goes out to Ms. Lyon and Ms. Cairns for leading this important work and supporting student voice and leadership within our school.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. It's hard to believe how quickly the school year is already flying by!

Please see below for some important information and reminders.

YMCA Before and After Care: Please do not park in the fire route and bus route at any time. Bylaw has been by and it is a $125 ticket. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Video Surveillance Reminder:The purpose of video surveillance at UGDSB schools is to serve the safety and security needs of the board and is not intended to infringe on anyone’s right to privacy. Please take some time to read the policy. Policy 203.

Weather & Being Dressed Appropriately: It’s that time of the year when it feels like summer on some days and winter on others. Please make sure to be checking the weather in the morning so children are appropriately dressed for the weather. Children go outside in light drizzle and snow. Storing an extra set of pants and socks is a good idea in your child’s backpack, as this avoids a call home for wet pants. If your family needs help purchasing boots and warm winter wear, please contact your child’s teacher or Mrs. Papavasiliou (PapaV). 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

October: 

-15th: Fall Dental Screenings (email was sent this week) 

-16th: Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day 

-20th: ECE appreciation day

Today, October 20th, we celebrate Early Childhood Educators Day and recognize the important role that Early Childhood Educators play in helping our youngest learners grow, learn, and succeed. We would like to give a very special thank you to Mrs. Bradford, whose kindness, hard work, and caring nature make a difference in the lives of our students every day. Mrs. Bradford creates a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Her patience, dedication, and positive attitude help our students build confidence and develop a love of school. Please join me in thanking Mrs. Bradford for all she does for our school community. If you see her today, be sure to wish her a Happy Early Childhood Educators Day! Thank you, Mrs. Bradford, for your commitment to our Mustangs and for helping our students shine each and every day.

-20th: All IEPs go home

-23rd: Grade 7 Immunizations 

-26th: PD Day -no school for students 

27th to 29th: CCAT grade 3 practice  & Testing the following week (letters have gone home)

-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

-23rd & 30th: Diary Educator’s Program K-8 (letters will come home)

-27th: PD Day (interview day)

December: 

-5th: 30th Annual Holiday Craft Fair at PMPS 9am-2pm. 

Spirit Days: 

-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: 

Professional Activity Day Description: October 26, 2026

Information for Elementary Parents/Guardians

Length: Full Day

Elementary AM Topics:

● Curriculum Implementation (150 minutes) inclusive of:

○ Literacy

○ Mathematics

○ Artificial Intelligence (embedded)

Elementary PM Topics:

● Progress Report Writing

Entity Hosting: Upper Grand DSB

Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Administrators/Individual

Focus: Assessment, Literacy and Mathematics:

On October 26, elementary school staff will take part in professional learning focused on supporting student success in literacy and mathematics. Educators will work together to review student learning information, identify strengths and areas where students may need more support, and plan next steps for classroom instruction

Kindergarten educators will focus on using classroom observations, assessments and

reading and mathematics information to plan instruction and targeted supports. Grade

1–8 educators will also review student learning information and identify ways to

strengthen classroom instruction and provide additional support for students who need

it. Staff will also explore Edwin, a digital learning platform with curriculum resources and

tools that can be used to support teaching and student learning. The goal of the day is to help educators use information about student learning to plan responsive instruction and ensure students receive the support they need to continue to grow in literacy and mathematics. The afternoon will be dedicated to progress report card writing.

PMPS Food Program:  PMPS Families we are asking for your support once again. Did you know we offer breakfast from Monday through Friday for any child who needs it? This is in addition to our nutrition program that we run throughout the day to fuel our learning. Each month we have seen an increase in the number of students who are accessing food through PMPS. Last year we spent over $16,000 on food for students and this year we have already spent $1850.

You also might not know that we do not receive funding from any form of government or the school board. It is up to our principal to find the funding to continue to purchase food.  We have been fortunate to be supported through President’s Choice, The Compass Run, Orangeville Food Bank, The ODD Fellows, Tweedsmuir Church, Quest for Cakes,  and other generous community members and organizations. With the increase of food costs and the number of students who are using the program, we are asking that any family who is able, make a small donation to help. If you cannot this month, please consider it in the future.  Thank you in advance for any support that you can give and for those families who have previously donated.

We are also still looking for volunteers to help with our daily snack trays. We still need volunteers for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If you are interested we need a VSC completed in the last 6 months. If you do not have a VSC, we can provide a letter to the OPP so the check is free. 

HALLOWEEN: Many schools celebrate Halloween with costume dress up and/or black and orange.  Halloween is a day that is not observed by all students or staff. With this, it is considered a choice to participate as are all spirit days. Alternate and supportive accommodations are provided for students if school events take place (e.g. parade). Please reach out to your child(ren)’s teacher to speak more about accommodations. 

Costumes:  It is our responsibility to ensure that all school community members (e.g., students, staff, parents in our building…) avoid using identities and cultures as costumes. This includes appropriative costumes/cultural stereotypes (i.e. cultural garments), black/brown face, transphobic costumes (i.e. man dressed as a woman), body-shaming and objectifying costumes, and costumes that joke about situations that have caused harm. Such costumes perpetuate stereotypes and can cause harm that can further marginalize and oppress community members. We also ask that violent, scary, and bloody costumes are also not worn, as these costumes scare some students. All props and accessories stay at home as well, so they are not lost. If costumes violate the above criteria, students will be asked to remove their costume and parents/guardians will be notified. Thanks for helping to make our school a safe and inclusive environment for all. Teachers will provide more guidance about the details around Halloween (e.g. when costumes should be worn etc). 

Milk Sales: Milk is cash only ($1.25)  and on sale each day at first recess. We are also selling freezies On Tuesday and Thursdays to help fundraise for grade 8 grad. 

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. 

Spirit Wear:  Spirit wear can be ordered at any time during the year now.  Please visit http://princessmargaret.deco-apparel.com/

We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Friday. Thank you for your ongoing support. It means so much to our staff and students. 

Andrea Papavasiliou

Proud Principal of PMPS