Principal’s Message – February News
Principal’s Message – February News
Dear Parents/Guardians,
What a fantastic 2 weeks back at Primrose. It was wonderful to welcome our students and staff back to in-person learning.
WELCOME
I would like to welcome Tricia Boynton our new Office Coordinator. We are very lucky to have her at Primrose. She is finding Primrose families, students and staff to be very warm and welcoming!
REPORT CARDS
In February, you will receive your child’s term one report card. This report, unlike the progress report, will provide you with more detail on how your child is progressing at school in all areas of the curriculum which have been taught this term. Please review the report with your child and discuss the next steps that are suggested for improvement. Although formal interviews occurred in November, please feel free to connect with your child’s teacher if you have concerns or questions about your child’s progress.
MASKS
Last week we gave students two 3-ply cloth masks. Please take some time to look at the masks your children are wearing. They should cover the mouth, nose and chin and sit tightly on their face. We have some students who are wearing masks that are too big and as a result they keep slipping down. We do remind students regularly “the mask goes over the nose” but it would be more comfortable for them if it sat properly. Also, consider sending two or more masks if you can. Masks regularly get wet and/or dirty throughout the day. Having a dry, clean mask makes learning better for all. We do have masks in the office for any students who need them. Please remember students are to have their masks on when they get on the bus and wear them for the entire ride to and from school.
DAILY SCREENING
Please remember to complete the Ontario School Screening daily COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool. If your child develops any of the symptoms at school we WILL be sending them home. We also use the tool and there is clear guidance around next steps for parents (e.g., need for child to self-isolate, need for siblings to self-isolate, can return to school if symptoms have been improving for 24 hours, etc.) As a rule of thumb we ask that you keep your children home if they are not feeling well.
Here is some of the important information:
- If a student/staff is experiencing at least one symptom most commonly associated with COVID-19 or two or more symptoms less commonly associated with COVID-19, they must self-isolate.
- If a student/staff is experiencing only one symptom less commonly associated with COVID-19, they must stay home until their symptom(s) has been improving for 24 hours (48 hours for nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea). Household members, including siblings, are to stay home until the household member experiencing symptom(s) is cleared from their isolation
- Most Common: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, decrease or loss of smell and/or taste.
- Less Common: Runny nose, headache, sore throat, aches, extreme fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Provincial guidance on – What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19
BUSES
To our parents of students who ride the school bus: Please know that the transportation consortium is dealing with a driver shortage due to Covid 19. Parents need to be prepared for delayed routes both in the morning and after school. We are also being warned that some routes may be canceled for a time across the system. As a school, we have no control over this, as the busses are run by the transportation consortium. We encourage you to regularly check their website at https://stwdsts.ca/ and to sign up for their notification service to help you in planning for these events.
RECESS
A reminder that we do spend time outside for learning and recess each day, regardless of the cold. We keep an eye on temperature, sunshine and wind, and if we can get out, we go out as being outside provides students with a mask break and is good for their mental wellness. Please remember to send your children with warm layers, winter boots, extra gloves and extra socks (these can get quite wet.) We do have extra coats, mitts, hats and boots for any children who need them. This is all available due to Jacqueline Clements and the School Council running a Coats for Kids initiative . Thank you to all the parents who donated. Please let your child’s teacher know or call the office if your child could benefit from this.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
The next Parent Council meeting is Wednesday, February 9th, 2021 at 6:30 pm virtually. A meeting link will be sent out and made available on the school website that day. If you would like to look at past agendas and minutes they are posted on the school website under the school council tab.
GRAD & PICTURE RETAKE DAY
Grad and Picture Retake Day is on Thursday February 24th. Please see attached flyer.
Full Color Flyer – QX551224QR.pdf
STUDENT ABSCENCES
Please call the office attendance line (519-925-3939 ext 100) if your child is going to be absent. This saves our office coordinator from calling and ensures each student is accounted for as quickly as possible. If you are curious about absentee rates in Upper Grand, the Board has created an information dashboard looking at increases and decreases in absences. You can find it at https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/coronavirus/2021-22-school-operations/daily-absence-tracking-pilot/
KISS AND RIDE
A reminder to all parents that are picking up students at the end of the day that there is NO PARKING in our Kiss and Ride loop. If you need to pick up a primary (K-4) child from the gym you must park in a designated parking space. Our Kiss and Ride is well used by parents of our older students and having parents parked in this area poses a safety risk to our older students and causes congestion. Please respect the signage and the routine of the school and use parking spots if you need to park. Thanks for your attention in this matter.
STUDENT PICK UP AT THE END OF THE DAY
We ask that if you are picking up your child at the end of the day that you call in by 2:30 pm. Since we are a fully bused school the office is very busy at the end of the day and your call may not be answered and returned right away. Thank you for understanding.
TRANSITIONS:
Beyond the world of Covid protocols, February is always an exciting time for us and a time of transition. We have 38 little people registered for JK in September. We have been doing virtual registrations and it is so much fun to see these future learners so excited to say hello and to come to school. On the other end of the spectrum our Grade 8s are deeply involved in selecting their courses for high school and having visits from the high school guidance counselors. We appreciate that there are big emotions for parents at the beginning and the end of elementary school.
IMPORTANT DATES TO BE AWARE OF:
National Anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day is the Day of Pink on Wednesday February 23rd where we stand up against bullying and discrimination. A day to stand up for kindness. Where we work together and treat others with dignity and respect. Working together we can make sure that Primrose is a safe learning and working space for everyone. Support Bullying Awareness, Prevention and Diversity by wearing Pink on February 23rd!
In the month of February we will focus attention on Black Heritage, Black Brilliance, Black Futures Month. The G.E.T. Outreach works team is once again excited to be working alongside our Northern schools and remote school to recognize Black Heritage, Black Brilliance, and Black Futures month. We will be doing a series of virtual presentations to pay tribute to the generations who have struggled before. Each year the schools in Shelburne will take on a theme (Sports, Military, Food, Music, Dance and Careers). This year Primrose will be looking at music. This is just a starting point for staff and students to expand this learning, not only in February but throughout the year.
UGDSB Umbrella Project- February is Realistic Optimism. We continue to have wellness themes for each of the months of the school year. During the month of February, we will be learning about realistic optimism. Please have a look at the following about realistic optimism. February_ Realistic Optimism
Winter Walk Day will be on Wednesday February 2nd . Winter Walk Day (WWD) is an annual celebration of winter walking that takes place on the first Wednesday of February. Each class will have an opportunity to
National Sweater Day On Thursday, February 3rd, Primrose will be participating in the World Wildlife Federation’s (WWF) National Sweater Day. This initiative is in partnership with our Eco-Schools Team. All students are encouraged to wear a sweater to keep warm as we lower the heat in our building by 1.5 degrees Celsius to show our support for limiting global temperature rise and raise awareness about global climate change and energy conservation. For more information about National Sweater Day please visit the following site: https://schools.wwf.ca/events/primary-sweater-day/#key-dates. Looking fowrard to seeing all our students wearing their sweaters on February 3rd to support this great cause!
Family Day is on February 21 . Family Day is not a national statutory holiday. Family Day was originally created to give people time to spend with their families. Here are some ideas to do with your family 40+ Indoor and Outdoor Things To Do This Family Day – Active Parents
SPIRIT AT PRIMROSE
February 1 – Red/Gold/ Yellow Day (Lunar New Year)
February 2 – Winter Walk Day
February 3 – Wear a Sweater for National Sweater Day
February 14 – Red/Pink Day (Valentines Day)
February 23 – Day of Pink (Anti-Bullying Day)
February 25 – School Gear/Colours Day
Have a fantastic week Primrose families. Please continue to check the UGDSB website, our school website, your child’s classroom, Twitter, and email for important information from our school.
Marianne Millsap
Categories: News