Weekly Update for October 21st
Good morning Mustang Families,
It’s been a great week at PMPS again this week. Our volleyball teams are busy practicing, our garden club is cleaning out the gardens for winter, and our choir sounds great. We had Superintendent Denise Heaslip and Executive Superintendent Brent McDonald visit our school this week. Our students and staff were eager to share all of their learning with them.
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.
IEPs: If your child has an IEP, please remember to return the consultation page to your child’s teacher.
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.
Upcoming Recognition/ Spirit Days:
October 28th: Inside Out Day
October 31st: Black/ Orange or Costumes
Video Surveillance Reminder:The purpose of video surveillance at UGDSB schools is to serve the safety and security needs of the board and is not intended to infringe on anyone’s right to privacy. Please take some time to read the policy. Policy 203
Milk & Popcorn Sales: We are excited to announce that our wonderful Student Council is selling milk again, Monday to Friday 1st break only for $1.00. Milk sale profits support our Student Council.
Popcorn will also be available Monday to Friday at 2nd for a cycle of time, before we take a pause. The cost is $2.00 per bag. The popcorn sales benefit our grade 8 year end trip.
Weather & Being Dressed Appropriately: It’s that time of the year when it feels like summer on some days and winter on others. 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.
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
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.
Attendance/ Lates:If your child is not going to be at school, please call our school office and report the absence on our attendance line. Please also do this if your child is going to be late. If a student is late, they must check in with the office and get a late slip. This allows the teacher to know that the student has checked in with the office, so attendance can be accurate. Our school day is from 830am to 250pm every day and it is important that students arrive on time, as there are important routines and announcements that they will miss if they are late. Thank you for your help.
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.
Thank you for your continued support. I hope you have a great weekend, the weather looks great! Remember, Monday is a PD day, so we’ll see everyone back at 830am on Tuesday.
Mrs. Andrea Papavasiliou (PapaV), Principal
Categories: News