PMPS Weekly Update November 2nd, 2023
Good evening Mustang Families,
It’s been a busy week here at PMPS. Orange and Black Day/ Wear your costumes to school was a hit! It was fun to see the kids enjoying fall activities and getting into the spirit. Students are working hard and enjoying volleyball, choir, and craft club. We are proud of all of our Mustangs for getting involved and trying their best. I post lots of updates to our school Twitter feed: @margaret_ps . Our school council also posts to Instrgram @princessmargaretps. I update our website regularly as well: www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ . Please take a moment to have a look.
Upcoming Recognition/ Spirit Days:
November 3rd:Comfy Clothes Day
November 10th: Wear Red and Black for Remembrance Day. Wear poppies
November 17th: Anything but a backpack day (purse, grocery bag/bin, luggage)
Thursday November 23rd: Pink Day – Anti Bullying
Important Dates:
-November 2nd: School Council meeting in person, new members are welcome always welcome. We meet at 6pm in the library and try to keep the meeting to one hour.
-November 2nd: Curling program at PMPS: Grades 1-8 (no cost to students)
-November 6th to 10th: Treaties Recognition Week
-November 8th: Indigenous Vetern’s Day (Flags at Half Mast)
-November 9th: Superintendent Denise Heaslip visit, Grade 8s to Career Pathways Event
-November 10th: Remembrance Day Assembly (Flags at Half Mast)
-November 14th: Grade 7 Vaccine Clinic at School (consent online)
-November 16th: Progress Reports Go Home (Interview info comes home with reports)
-November 20th to November 24th: Bullying Prevention Week
-November 21st: Picture Retake Day & Class Photo Day
-November 23rd: Dallas Squire visiting grade 6/7 & ⅞ classes
-November 23rd: Interview evening 3pm-7pm (more information to come)
-November 24th: PD Day: No School Parent/Guardian Interviews (info will be coming)
-November 28th: K-3 Dairy Farmer Presentations
-November 30th: Grade 8 Information Night at ODSS
-December 2nd, 2023: Holiday Craft Fair
Fall Illness: UGDSB’s website for illness prevention strategies: https://www.ugdsb.ca/blog/management-of-illness-in-schools-key-protective-measures/ and to follow our Daily School Absence Reporting Dashboard to see trends in schools across our district: https://www.ugdsb.ca/board/daily-school-absence-reporting/
November Communications Newsletter : The November Communications Newsletter is out! This is the monthly public-facing newsletter from the communications department, so please feel free to share with your communities.
In this month’s issue we have information about:
- Promoting Positive Relationships in school communities
- Opportunities to provide input on draft policies
- A reminder of our Reporting Identity Based Harm tool
Download the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/communications/communications-newsletter/
Strengths to Grow Study: 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. For more information, follow this link: https://bit.ly/strength-research
Terra Cotta Cookie Fundraiser: This is one last friendly reminder about our Terra Cotta Cookie Dough Fundraiser! Thank you so much to all of our families who have ordered cookies so far. All orders must be received by this Sunday, November 5th. Each cookie box comes with 40 pre-made/pre-proportioned cookie dough drops that can go straight from the freezer to the oven, easily making delicious cookies to share with your friends and family! There are 12 cookie flavours to choose from, all of which are peanut and nut-free, including 2 gluten-free choices and a vegan option! There are no paper forms required! You can easily sell and order cookies through the fundraising webpage designed just for our school: https://fundraising.terracottacookies.com/current-fundraisers/princess-margaret-public-school-orangeville-2023/ Every box of cookies sold raises funds for the needs of PMPS! The cookie dough boxes will be available for pick-up in the school library from 3pm-5pm on Thursday, November 16th. Thank you for supporting our school!
School Board Trustee Position: The Upper Grand District School Board is accepting applications to fill the vacant trustee position representing the Town of Orangeville. This position is for the term of December 2023 to November 2026.
About School Board Trustees:
The UGDSB has ten elected trustee members who represent the municipalities within the counties of Dufferin and Wellington. Trustees are accountable to UGDSB communities and to the province for continuous improvement in the level of student achievement in their schools.
School board trustees hold no individual authority. Individual trustees are given no authority through the Education Act. Once the Board of Trustees has voted, individual trustee members are legally bound by the majority decision, regardless of whether they supported it during debate or voted in opposition.
Trustees are responsible for setting board policy and priorities. They are responsible for ensuring that the board’s funding allocation is spent in keeping with the board’s budget and within the framework of provincial legislation and policy.
For more information on the application process, see the posting on the UGDSB website.
Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week: From November 20 to the 24th, the Upper Grand District School Board will be participating in Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (BAPW). During BAPW students, staff and guardians are encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effects on student learning and well-being. For a parent who is dealing with a bullying incident there are many resources on the UGDSB website to support.
Resources and Links:
- https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Reminders:
Community Recognition Board: We are #MargaretProud. If your child 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 Mrs. PapaV. We have a board celebrating our amazing PMPS students across from the gym.
Sporting Teams & Participation: We have a number of sporting opportunities available to all of our students. Once a student tries out for a team, it’s important to read and sign the Athletics Code of Conduct. Coaches will send it home. All athletes will be given three grace incidents and then will not be allowed to try out or stay on the school team. It is important to understand that academics at school are the athlete’s first priority and that they must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the board’s code of conduct. This has already been discussed with the intermediate division and teachers/coaches will clearly outline to the student when they have received a warning that courts as a grace incident. Thanks for your support.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY: PARENT VIRTUAL INFO SESSION FOR myBLUEPRINT:
Parents and Caregivers have an important role to play in supporting students with career/life planning and course selection. We are inviting them to join us for a virtual information session around maximizing the 7-12 myBlueprint Digital Pathways Planning Tool on November 7 at 7pm as a key tool to support success with this.
Parents and caregivers are invited to register for this session via this link: https://shorturl.at/euQZ8 . A meeting link and additional details will be sent to registrants.
Weather & Being Dressed Appropriately: 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). We can help.
Cracker Donations: Thank you for your generosity so far! We are still in need of boxes of crackers! We are asking for students to bring in a box of crackers to help our snack program. Boxes can be brought to the front office to be fed to Snacker the Cracker monster. Thank you for all your support towards our snack program where we eat to fuel our minds. Any questions, ask Mrs. Larsen in the library! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
Milk Sales: Student Council continues to sell milk, Monday to Friday 1st break only for $1.00. Milk sale profits support our Student Council.
CANADA DENTAL BENEFIT: Applications for the second period of the Canada Dental Benefit are open. Eligible families can receive up to $650, to help with expenses for their children under 12 who receive dental care between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. canada.ca/dental
Attendance/ Pick Ups During the Day: It is very important that students attend school for the full day if they are well. Having consistent attendance helps to build childrens’ stamina, sense of routine, and academic success. If your child is having trouble attending school regularly please give me a call and I will help.
Thank you for your continued support. We’ll see everyone on Friday at 830am sharp for school, before we head into another weekend. Don’t forget the clocks fall back this weekend.
Mrs. Andrea Papavasiliou (PapaV), Principal
Categories: News