Princess Margaret Public School

Dear Mustang Families,

We can’t wait to welcome families back on our Meet the Teacher night TOMORROW, Thursday, September 18th from 530-7pm. 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 18th from 6-7pm. Please stop by to see what we are all about.

This week, we completed all of our drills for the fall. We had all of the students and staff out of the building safely in 1 minute and 31 seconds. That’s awesome for over 330 people.

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. Staying connected during the school year is key.

Important Upcoming Dates:

-Our Meet the Teacher evening is September 18th, 2025 5:30-7:00pm.
-Our first school council meeting of the year is also September 18th from 6-7pm. Please drop by during Meet the Teacher night to see what school council is all about!

-September 19th, 2025: Picture day: Individual pictures (class pictures at a later date)
-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Friday, September 26th from 130-230pm in the last learning block. Please donate through School Cash Online if you are able.
-Friday, September 24th, 2025: Please wear purple to raise awareness about Rowan’s Law: Concussion awareness
-September 25th, 2025: Intermediate Trip to Island Lake

-September 29th, 2025: Grade 7 Fire Safety Presentation (letter is coming home to families)
-September 30th, 2025: Public Health Dental Screenings JK/SK/ Grade 2 (letter emailed home today)
-Wear orange on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
-September 30th, 2025: Grade ⅚ trip to Island Lake for a Truth and Reconciliation concert (teacher is sending home information soon).
-October 2nd, 2025: Superintendent visit to Princess Margaret. Mrs. Heaslip has retired and our new superintendent is Mr. Viveiros.
-October 2nd, 2025: Cross Country Meet (grades 1-8, information to come home soon for participating students)
-October 5th, 2025: World Teachers Day
-October 6th, 2025: Anti Black Racism Workshop GET REAL Grades 4-8 (letter coming home with more details)

-October 13th, 2025: No school, Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate

-October 15th, 2025: Grade 8 trip to Career Day

-October 16th, 2025: All IEPs go home (Individual Education Plans)

-October 21st, 2025: ECE (Early Childhood Educator) Appreciation Day.

-October 21st, 2025: Public Health Fluoride Treatment- all grades (info will be sent home)

-October 22nd-23rd, 2025: Grade 3 CCAT Testing (letter coming home to families by the 26th of September)

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.

If You Move During the School Year: If you and your family move through the school year, please let Mrs. Mckenzie know. It is important to always have updated contact information for each child. Moving also means that your child will go to his or her home school (the area where they moved). This helps avoid overstaffing or understaffing a building and larger reorganizations. If you have any questions, please contact us.

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/


We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Thursday and Friday. Have a wonderful weekend after a full day of learning tomorrow.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal

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

Dear Mustang Families, 

We have had another successful week here at Princess Margaret. Children and staff are fully in the swing of being back at school. We can’t wait to welcome families back on our Meet the Teacher night on September 18th  from 530-7pm. Mark your calendars!

This week, sports teams started back up here at PMPS. Cross country running started on Monday and both junior and intermediate soccer are going too.  Gardening club started as well and students were busy cleaning up our gardens from over the summer.  Our student leaders are already busy doing announcements for us in the morning. Pizza and milk sales will start soon, as well as spirit days.  Our grade 7/8 student council elections were held on Thursday. I am so proud of the students as they prepared speeches and presented them to their peers. Peers voted in the executive for the 2025-2026 school year and the winners will be announced on Friday.  It was a busy week at PMPS!

This week, we started with our safety drills that are mandatory. This fall, we have to complete three fire drills and one lockdown drill. I  have invited Officer Amy to participate in the lockdown drill at our school. This helps the officer learn the layout of our school. 

Please note, we had no changes to our school’s organization this year. Our staffing and class placements are set for the 2025/2026 school year. 

Firefighters’ National Memorial Day – Sunday, September 14, 2025:  Our flag will be lowered at the  end of day on Friday, September 12th, and we will raise it on Monday morning to mark Firefighters’ National Memorial Day, which is on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

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. Staying connected during the school year is key.  

Reminder; Procedure for Dropped Lunches: If you are dropping off a lunch, there is now be a lunch drop off table in the front foyer (an antique student desk).. Simply label your child’s lunch with their name and leave it there for pick up. Please let your child know that their lunch will be dropped off in the morning. The same procedure is for food service deliveries as well. Please let the driver know to label the lunch and please let your child know it will be dropped off in the morning. We are hoping this limits interruptions to student learning. Thank you. 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

-Our Meet the Teacher evening is September 18th, 2025  5:30-7:00pm.

-Our first school council meeting of the year is also September 18th from 6-7pm. Please drop by during Meet the Teacher night to see what school council is all about!

-September 19th, 2025: Picture day: Individual pictures (class pictures at a later date)

-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held  on Friday, September 26th from 130-230pm  in the last learning block. Please donate through School Cash Online if you are able. 

-September 24th, 2025: Intermediate Trip to Island Lake 

-Friday, September 24th, 2025: Please wear purple to raise awareness about Rowan’s Law: Concussion awareness

-September 29th, 2025: Grade 7 Fire Safety Presentation (letter is coming home to families) 

-September 30th, 2025: Public Health Dental Screenings JK/SK? Grade 2 (letter emailed home today) 

-Wear orange on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025  for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

If You Move During the School Year: If you and your family move through the school year, please let Mrs. Mckenzie know. It is important to always have updated contact information for each child. Moving also means that your child will go to his or her home school (the area where they moved). This helps avoid overstaffing or understaffing a building and larger reorganizations. If you have any questions, please contact us. 

We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Friday. Have a wonderful weekend after a full day of learning tomorrow. 

Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal

Please read your email for a copy of the the Public Health Prescreening Letter

Public Health is excited to return to PMPS for the dental screening on September 30th, 2025 to screen children in JK, SK, grade 2 and others as appropriate.

If you wish to opt out or opt in to complete the Opt-In, Opt-Out form by using the QR code on the parent letter (which is attached to this email).

Thank you.

Dear Mustang Families,

What a great week! Students were excited to be back and eager to learn and make new friends. Routines are quickly being established and students are settling in. It’s been great to catch up with students, to see how much they have grown, and to hear about what they were up to over the summer. It’s also been a lot of fun meeting our newest students as well. Our school is a special place when students are back and learning.

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. Staying connected during the school year is key.

Freezie sales: 2nd break Friday for all grades. JK to grade 3 (sales downstairs) $1.00 for half and grade 4 - 8 (sales upstairs) $2.00 for a whole freezie, $1.00 for half. Profits go towards grade 8 grade and an intermediate year end trip. Sales will happen on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays for the month of Sept. Or until we run out.

September Communications Newsletter
The September Communications Newsletter is out!
In this month's issue we have information about:
Registering for school
Helpful links on the UGDSB website
Information for students who take the bus
And more!
https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/communications/communications-newsletter/

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesday, September 9th, 2025: Please wear red to raise awareness about FASD

-Our first School Council Meeting will be Thursday, September 18th, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the library.

-Our Meet the Teacher evening is September 18th, 2025 5:30-7:00pm. Please drop by the School Council meeting while you are here to check out what Council is all about.

-Picture day is September 19th, 2025. Individual student pictures will be taken on the 19th. Class photos will be taken later on our retake day.

-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Friday, September 26th, 2025 from 130-230pm in the last learning block. More information to come.

School Volunteers: The UGDSB updated their School Volunteers Policy (205) a couple of years ago now. 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 application, a volunteer agreement, an interview, a reference check and a vulnerable sector check (VSC) /offense declaration. A VSC will be required for field trip supervisors, volunteer drivers, classroom volunteers working with students, volunteer coaches/advisors. Please note: all volunteer drivers will need to complete a 508-3 Transportation of Students in Privately Owned Vehicles, a signed volunteer agreement, and a VSC/ Offense Declaration. This means that the school can no longer coordinate rides to sporting events unless we have parents/ guardians who have completed the VSC and other paperwork. Parents/ Guardians and family members must transport to games. 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, you will only need to complete an offense declaration. Please stop in the office if you are interested or ask your child’s teacher.


WOW Butter/ Peanut Butter Substitutes: Please do not send in peanut butter or peanut butter substitutes in your child’s lunch. We have a number of life threatening peanut and nut allergies, and these products create worry with staff and students, as they are hard to tell apart. Thank you for your cooperation.


Spoons/ Forks/Heating Up Food: A reminder that we do not supply cutlery and do not heat up student meals. Thanks for your understanding.


Attendance/ Lates/ All Visitors:If your child is not going to be at school, please call our school office and report the absence on our attendance line. Please also do this if your child is going to be late. If a student is late, they must check in with the office and get a late slip. This allows the teacher to know that the student has checked in with the office, so attendance can be accurate.


Our school day is from 830am to 250pm every day and it is important that students arrive on time, as there are important routines and announcements that they will miss if they are late. Thank you for your help.

We’ll see everyone for another day of learning on Friday. Have a wonderful weekend after a full day of learning tomorrow. We’ll see everyone back on Monday for another week of settling into our routines, making connections, and learning.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal

Dear Mustang Families,

What a day it was back at school! Students were excited to be back and eager to learn and make new friends. Routines are quickly being established and students are settling into the rhythm of a new school year already. It was a calm start up and I am very proud of the students and staff. Thanks for all that you are doing to support this transition back to school. I am sure many kids will be tired tonight.

Our school looks great with new lighting throughout, as well as new boilers and a new HVAC system. Thanks to all of the school, board, and outside contractors who worked hard over the summer to make this happen. Some work continues.

Each week, I will send a short email update about news at Princess Margaret Public School. 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. Staying connected during the school year is key.

Welcome Back Information Package & Important Forms That Need to Be Returned:

The following forms were sent home tonight in white and require a signature. Please return ALL of these forms as soon as possible:
-Student Verification form – please make necessary changes to the information on this form, sign and date
-Consent to Share Personal Information; newsletters/media/UGDSB websites/social media- please indicate your consent, sign and date

-Walking Trip form - please sign and date

*Please read all of the information in the package as there is plenty of important information. Purple coloured sheets do not need to be returned. Please see the attachment for a letter from Erin Oakes that was not included in tonight’s package. It is about having Erin Oakes staff (OT, PTs…) in our building to support students as needed. https://5il.ca/v8r

Life Threatening Plans/ Plans of Care:

If your child has a life threatening plan of care, asthma plan,, or needs medication, please come into the office to update the plan or sign the renewal form. Thank you in advance.

Drop & Go:
We know it can be tough, but once staff are out and on duty, please give your child a big hug and leave them with us. Staying behind or saying a long goodbye is often hard on our little ones who have trouble separating from you (their favourite people). A quick goodbye is often best and if your child is upset, we are able to calm them more quickly when parents and caregivers do not linger. Please know that we will communicate with you if this is not the case. Thanks for your trust. Please also note that we ask parents and caregivers to stay off the yards at pick up and drop off.

Important Upcoming Dates:

-Our first School Council Meeting will be Thursday, September 18th, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the library.

-Our Meet the Teacher evening is September 18th, 2025 5:30-7:00pm. Please drop by the School Council meeting while you are here to check out Council is all about.

-Picture day is September 19th, 2025. Individual student pictures will be taken on the 19th. Class photos will be taken later on our retake day.

-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Friday, September 26th, 2025 from 130-230pm in the last learning block. More information to come.

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 kindie yard at 815am. Supervision starts at 820am in the primary, junior, and intermediate yard in the morning. Please do not have children arrive at 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.

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.

Communication:
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. Staff will be reaching out to families tonight- please check your child’s backpack.
Have a wonderful school week.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal

Volunteers Needed for our School's Breakfast Program:

We are looking to fill volunteer positions with our school's breakfast program. This program is so important for our students, as full tummies help to fuel learning!

We need assistance on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at 755am to about 830am.

All food is already at the school, in the office kitchen, and our volunteers prepare the breakfast options for our students in the library and help to clean up as school begins.

This commitment would run for the the school year. Volunteers need a vulnerable sector reference check completed in the last 6 months or if you were already a volunteer last year, a signed 25/26 offense declaration.

If you are interested in helping out, please call the office for more information. Thank you.

Please note we have a volunteer ready to help for the first day of school but at this point in time can only run the program on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please volunteer if you can.

The memo below and links from Public Health may be helpful if you are looking for information on ticks. 

Blacklegged Tick and Lyme Disease

https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-community/ticks-lyme-disease 

If there are questions, contact: your local public health office