PMPS Weekly Update for February 24th

Posted February 23, 2023

Dear Mustang Families, 

Well that was a shorter week than we expected! Thanks to those families who were able to transition to remote learning yesterday. This week we had our junior and intermediate speech speak off in the library. I was so impressed with the pose, confidence, and knowledge of our speakers. Public speaking is an important skill and all of our students worked hard over the last two months to prepare and present their speeches. Our winners will represent our school at the Lions Club and/or Legion.

Our lost and found has been organized and displayed in our front foyer. Students will be taking a look with their classes. Parents/ guardians are free to come in and take a look before and after school. All items that are not picked up by March 2nd will be donated. 

Our Twitter account is full of updates, please check it out: @margaret_ps. I update our website regularly as well: www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ . Please take a moment once and while and check out all of our great news! 

 

Important Upcoming Dates:

-March 3rd: PD Day for students (No School) 

-March 6th: Next School Council Meeting (virtual 6pm)

-March 13th- 17th: March Break. No School for Staff and Students 

 

Reminders: 

-March 2nd: Live Free day is coming up on March 3rd, a PD day. So, on March 2nd, we are recognizing Live Free by hosting a cookie fundraiser to support our food program. $4.00 gets your child a sun smile cookie from Quest for Cakes  and a two dollar donation towards our food program. If you are not interested in a cookie, donations can still be made online. Thanks in advance for your support. All of the money raised goes right back to our snack bin program. Please donate if you are able. Toonies can be brought in on the day of the event, March 2nd. 

-Ongoing Grade ⅞ Trip Fundraising: Our intermediates are busy selling chocolates and popcorn to earn money towards their year end trip. Please support them if you are able to. Thank you. 

–Grade 8 Grad Wear:  It is now available online. Please use the link on our school website to order. 

Report Cards & IEPS: As with Student Progress reports in the Fall, the UGDSB is continuing to use the online report card system for the 2022-23 school year. If you previously accessed our Electronic Report Card system this year, no action is required at this time for you to access your child(ren)’s term one report.

Elementary reports will be available for parents to download from the Parent Portal on Thursday the 16th.

To access reports; 

IEPS (modified and alternative goals only) and attendance letters ( 20 or more absences, 20 or more lates) will be going home on the 16th as well. Please remember to read the IEP, keep it, but to send back the signed consultation page please. 

STRENGTHS TO GROW: A UGDSB APPROVED RESEARCH STUDY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS: Parents and guardians of elementary school children are invited to participate in the Strengths to Grow research study. This brief study is entirely online and can be completed at any time. Participants will complete two 10-minute surveys and the 30-minute Strengths to Grow program which helps parents identify and develop their child’s unique strengths. Every participant receives free access to the Strengths to Grow program and the first 400 participants receive a $5 Tim Horton’s gift card. For more information, follow this link https://bit.ly/strength-research

EQAO WEBINAR FOR CAREGIVERS OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS: There is a FREE live webinar to learn about EQAO assessment results and Ontario’s large-scale assessment program at the elementary-school level. 

  • March 28th @ 6:30pm 
  • April 4th @ 12:00pm.

EQAO will review highlights from the 2021–2022 assessment results. The session will also highlight how the Primary division (Grade 3) and Junior division (Grade 6) assessments have been modernized. The presentation will be approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a live Q & A session with EQAO staff. Registration: www.eventbrite.ca/e/451955981507 

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 no bus day falls on a food day (e.g. pizza), the food day will go ahead. 

Emergency Lunch and Recess Supervisors Still 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 are currently hiring for this position for the 2022/2023 school year. 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 wonderful students, please call Principal, Andrea Papavasiliou 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. 

Updated Screening Tool: 

The School and Child Care Screening Tool has been updated to align with recent recommendations from the Chief Medical Officer of Health. The link to the tool is above and can be found on Public Health’s website. Families and staff are encouraged to self screening before coming to work/school each day. 

Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk.  The milk costs $1.00 each. Milk sale profits support our Student Council. 

Popcorn Sales: Our intermediates continue to sell popcorn on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $2.00. This goes towards their year end trip. Thanks for supporting our intermediates. 

Have a great weekend. 

Mrs. Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal 

Categories: News