Dear Mustang Families, 

It was another fantastic week at Princess Margaret! Have you checked out some of our posts on Instagram and Facebook? We have spooky fun in our courtyard and a fall store that incorporates literacy and numeracy. Our primary staff is so great at making learning fun! Craft club is busy making a super cute craft and the volleyball teams are practising! 

We had our first visit from our new superintendent, Mr. Roy Cousins.  He took some time to walk around our school, meeting staff and students and even handing out a few handshakes. The younger students were quick to comment on how tall he was! He was very impressed with the culture of our school and the beautiful learning environment created through the display of student artwork throughout the building. He also acknowledged our excellent EQAO results and the tremendous work our staff are doing to provide high-quality instruction and support for students. He remarked that our school is a very special place.We look forward to welcoming him, along with our new Director, Mr. McDonald, back to Princess Margaret on November 5.

You may have noticed that our flags have been flying at half-mast. This is in recognition of the recent tragedy involving members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Alberta. We extend our sincere wishes for a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured and offer our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the four Canadian soldiers who lost their lives.

Beginning November 1st, our Poppy Flag of Remembrance will fly proudly in honour of our veterans and all those who have served our country. The flag will remain raised until sunset on November 11th as we observe Remembrance Day and reflect on the sacrifices made by members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Lest we forget.

School Council would like to thank our amazing school community for supporting our popcorn fundraiser! For every bag of popcorn purchased, $5 goes directly back to School Council to help support school initiatives and goals. What a delicious way to give back to our school! We truly appreciate all of the families who were able to participate. Council raised $1260 for our students.  Pick up will be during the afternoon of November 4th. Please stay tuned for more instructions, closer to the date. 

Please keep an eye out over the next week for the launch of our annual Terracotta Cookie Fundraiser. We need to start a little earlier this year to ensure orders are ready for pickup on November 30th.  Cookie orders will be open October 26th and close at midnight on November 12th.  More details will be shared soon!

We are urgently looking for volunteers to read with our grade ones and twos. Volunteers must have a current VSC (last 6 months) and be available for at least one hour per week. Please email me, if you are interested (andrea.papavasiliou@ugdsb.on.ca). This makes a huge difference to our students.

We are #MargaretProud. If your child or family has done something wonderful in our community or accomplished a big goal, please send in a picture and a short note and/or a clipping from the newspaper or online site  to me, Mrs PapaV. We have a board celebrating our amazing PMPS students across from the gym. It already has so many good news stories on it. 

Finally, parents and caregivers please remember that there will be no school for students on Monday, October 26th. It is a PD Day. Staff will be working on numeracy and literacy in the morning and in the afternoon will be starting their progress reports. We’ll see everyone back on October 27th at 830am.

Parent Resources: 

Dufferin Parent Support Network: Please check out https://www.dpsn.ca/ for free parenting workshops. The Dufferin 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/

Important Upcoming Dates: 

October: 

-23rd: Grade 7 Immunizations 

-26th: PD Day -no school for students  & Terra Cotta Cookie Fundraiser starts 

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

-4th: Popcorn pick up, late afternoon. 

-5th: New Director &CEO Mr. MacDonald & SO Mr. Cousins visit

-9th: Guest speaker: Pr. Concepcion Grades 2-8 (email home earlier this week) 

-11th: Remembrance Day 

-11th: Progress reports go home

-12th: Terra Cotta cookie fundraiser ends

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

-27th: PD Day (interview day)

-30th: Terra Cotta cookie pick up 

December: 

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

*** all dates are also posted on the bottom of our school website. 

Spirit Days: 

-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: 

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). 

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.

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. Freezie sales are over. Thank you for your support. 

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. A reminder that Monday, October 26th is a PD Day- we’ll see our students back on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026. 

Andrea Papavasiliou

Proud Principal of PMPS