PMPS Weekly Update October 14th
Good morning Mustang Families,
It’s been a great week here at PMPS. Students and staff participated in their first spirit day in honour of the Leafs Home Opener. Our grade three students completed their CCAT testing, and students continue to participate in a number of activities and sports teams including junior and intermediate volleyball. If we look back to the start of September, it is clear that students are making good progress. We’re proud of everyone’s efforts.
Upcoming Recognition/ Spirit Days:
October 21st: Diwali ( we only make a school wide flower chain to recognize this holiday)
October 28th: Inside Out Day
October 31st: Black/ Orange or Costumes (more information is below)
Upcoming PD Day: Just a reminder that Monday, October 24th is a PD day. Staff will be completing health and safety training in the morning and writing progress reports in the afternoon. There is no school for students.
IEPS Home on October 18th: Another reminder that if your child has an IEP, that a copy of it will be coming home on the 18th. There is a letter that is accompanying the IEP which explains more.
Emergency Lunch and Recess Supervisors Stll 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 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.
HALLOWEEN: Many schools celebrate Halloween with costume dress up and/or black and orange. Halloween is a day that is not observed by all students or staff. With this, it is considered a choice to participate as are all spirit days. Alternate and supportive accommodations are provided for students if school events take place (e.g. parade). Please reach out to your child(ren)’s teacher to speak more about accommodations.
Costumes: It is our responsibility to ensure that all school community members (e.g., students, staff, parents in our building…) avoid using identities and cultures as costumes. This includes appropriative costumes/cultural stereotypes (i.e. cultural garments), black/brown face, transphobic costumes (i.e. man dressed as a woman), body-shaming and objectifying costumes, and costumes that joke about situations that have caused harm (i.e. COVID pandemic). Such costumes perpetuate stereotypes and can cause harm that can further marginalize and oppress community members. We also ask that violent, scary, and bloody costumes are also not worn, as these costumes scare some students. All props and accessories stay at home as well, so they are not lost. If costumes violate the above criteria, students will be asked to remove their costume and parents/guardians will be notified. Thanks for helping to make our school a safe and inclusive environment for all. Teachers will provide more guidance about the details around Halloween (e.g. when costumes should be worn etc).
Illnesses at PMPS: With the recent school start and the change in weather we are seeing a lot of different illnesses in our school population. To diminish the spread of illnesses, families are reminded to screen their child(ren) before school daily, using the Ontario School and Child Care Screening tool and to follow its regularly updated guidance. The link to the screener is https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ .If your child(ren) will be absent from school due to illness or any other reason, please don’t forget to contact the school office and leave a message on the attendance line. Thank you.
Don’t forget you can also follow our school Twitter feed: @margaret_ps . I update our website regularly as well: www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ . We have so many great things happening at our school and I like to share with our community.
Thank you for all you do to support your child and our staff here at PMPS. Have a fantastic weekend.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
Categories: News