PMPS Weekly Update January 24th, 2023
Good morning Mustang Families,
As February begins next week, we are recognizing Black Heritage, Black Brilliance, and Black Futures month here at our school. We are learning about influential black role models on our daily announcements, during classroom activities, and through school displays. We are proudly flying the Pan African flag for the month of February to recognize this month. We’d also like to share with our school community our board’s equity statement as well:
Anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism is deeply rooted in our country, society, institutions and our history, and much work needs to be done to address this systemic racism. As an educational community we have a responsibility to identify and describe racism and oppression and then work to dismantle it. The Upper Grand District School Board is committed to disrupting systemic racism and oppression in all of its forms. We will implement ongoing mandatory anti-racism and anti-oppression training for all staff, review our protocols and policies, including our hiring practices, and be fully transparent and accountable to all Upper Grand students, staff, families, and stakeholders in an ongoing manner.
Our Twitter account is full of updates, please check it out: @margaret_ps . I update our website regularly as well: www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ . Our school council also posts to Instrgram @princessmargaretps. Please take a moment to have a look.
Lost and found items are currently on display in the front foyer. Please come and take a look this week and early next week, as unclaimed items will be donated. Please remember to label your childrens’ items.
Upcoming Spirit Days:
Thursday, January 25th: Favourite Character Day/ School Colours
Important Upcoming Dates:
January 26th: PD Day: No School for Students. Teachers are working on assessment and evaluation for upcoming term one report cards
January 30th: Grade 3 Fire Safety Presentation
February 1st: School Council Meeting 6pm in person in the library (new members are always welcome).
Professional Activity Day Description: January 26, 2024(No School for Students)
Information for Elementary Parents/Guardians
Length: Full Day
Elementary Topic: Assessment and Evaluation
Entity Hosting: Upper Grand DSB
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School Administrators and Online Modules
Description:
Elementary Staff will spend the full day on Assessment and Evaluation that includes report card preparation/reporting of student achievement and learning skills, to be communicated with parents/guardians.
Reminders:
-Snacker the Cracker Drive: Our first cracker drive was so successful that we had crackers for all our students in 2023. We need your help again as our supply is running low. We are asking for help re-stocking our shelves with more boxes of crackers. Extra boxes of crackers will be stored so we can continue to provide snacks to students all year long. We kindly ask that donations be peanut-free! Donations can be fed to Snacker the Cracker Monster located near the school’s front entrance. Thank you for your continued support.
Free Workshops: The Dufferin Parent Support Network is again offering free workshops. Their flyer is posted on our website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/princessmargaret/dpsn-dufferin-parent-support-network-workshops/
Human Sex Trafficking webinar: The UGDSB is pleased to offer our parents and caregivers another webinar on Human Sex Trafficking. The webinar will include a presentation and a panel discussion.
Please see the attached flyer for more information, a link to view the webinar from last year if desired and a link to register. AHST Poster Winter 2024.pdf
Kindergarten Registration: An important reminder that all children born in 2020 can now register for junior kindergarten from January 9th-26th. Please see our school website for more information and to register online. Please tell your neighbours as well.
Cold Weather Information for Parents/Guardians: Every year we get questions on when it is too cold for the students to be outside. There is no real concrete answer. Decisions depend on the amount of wind, sunlight, length of time out, etc. We do expect students to come dressed for the weather and to be outside. Please label your child’s clothing.
Generally, we do not send the students out if the temperature is below -20. When it is cold outside we use our judgment and be aware of weather and wind conditions, the length of time spent outside, and the way children are dressed (we do have extra supplies in the office). In the morning, duty starts at 820am and that is the earliest students can be called in. We will monitor conditions throughout the day for outdoor learning and recess.
Hopefully, this is helpful so that we can enjoy the outdoors and our Canadian winter. Please visit the Environment Canada website for more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-health/uv-index-heat-wind-chill-products.html#toc7
Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk. The milk costs $1.00 each. Milk sale profits support our Student Council.
No Bus Days: We Are Open for Learning: A reminder that on no bus days, we are here for learning. A very small percentage of our students are bussed, so teachers carry on with a normal learning day. Our school is open for all who can safely make it here. If your child (ren) will not be attending school, you need to call in their absence please. This helps Mrs. Mckenize with her safe arrival procedures in a timely manner. Thank you for your help with this. Please note if a pizza day falls on a no bus day, pizza day will go ahead. More information can be found on the board’s website about inclement weather and procedures: https://www.ugdsb.ca/schools/inclement-weather-procedures/
Public Health Information Session: Youth Vaping: Concerned about the impact of vaping on youth? Join Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum for a free online session. Get more details and register here: https://bit.ly/48qSkOb.
Emergency Food Programs: The Dufferin & Area Food Access Guide lists many local emergency and community food programs serving Dufferin residents.The Dufferin & Area Food Access Guide lists many local emergency and community food programs serving Dufferin residents. Download it here: https://hillsofheadwaterscollaborative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dufferin-Food-Access-Guide-2024-11-x-8.5-in.pdf
Emergency Lunch and Recess Supervisors Needed: If you love working with wonderful children, who are enthusiastic, fun and engaging, Princess Margaret wants you as a Lunchroom/Yard Supervisor. We have an urgent need for supplies while our regular staff are away. We require individuals who are caring, energetic, and have the ability to ensure the safety and security of our students. The position requires a commitment of approximately 80 minutes per day (two 40 minute nutrition breaks: 20 minutes eating and 20 minutes outdoor recess time). This is a paid position, minimum wage per hour. Your responsibilities include: monitoring lunchrooms and outside recess. Our two nutrition breaks/ yard times are from 10:20- 11am and again from 12:30-1:10pm. Lunchroom supervisors are required to have a vulnerable sector criminal record background check. If you want to be part of a great school community with awesome students, please call me, Andrea Papavasiliou (Principal) at 519-941-3731 ext 223. Similarly, if you know someone who would be fantastic in this role, please pass this information along to them. Thank you.
Take care. See you tomorrow for another day of learning.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
Categories: News