This Week’s News at SIB!
Dear SIB families,
December is finally here! We just want to take this time to thank every family at SIB for doing their part in helping us get the school year started off so well. Time is really flying by and we look forward to the remainder of the school year. Here are this week’s important announcements. Also, be sure to check out the story on a great achievement by one of our very own grade 7 students!
#1 Switching to remote School has taken place. Students whose families completed the survey at the end of October indicating that they would like to switch to remote learning have left our school and joined the UGDSB’s Remote School this week. We wish them all the best in their new adventure! We also encourage all families to continue watching these newsletters plus our website https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/ for all updated information on when the next opportunity to change to remote learning will be made available. If you have questions please contact us at the school.
#2 Important changes on bus cancellation days and inclement weather days in the UGDSB These changes affect our school. Please read the information included in the link carefully: https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/2020/11/20/important-changes-on-bus-cancellation-days-and-inclement-weather-days-in-the-ugdsb/
#3 What happens if there is a SYSTEM SHUTDOWN and SIB is closed? On the rare occasions when schools and board sites are closed to staff and students (e.g. power outages, weather closures formerly known as “System Shutdowns”), all students will pivot to remote learning for the day and will be supported by their teacher. Teachers will plan for the possibility of emergency school closures and will be prepared to pivot to remote learning. Teachers will share their plans with families through email and the Google Classroom.
#4 Winter Boot Season is Here – Please send indoor shoes to school with your child(ren).
#5 Parent/Teacher Interviews took place last week. Thank you to everyone who took the time to have a conversation with their child’s teacher as the information shared during the meetings are really helpful in setting direction for the remainder of the school year. If you have not connected with your child’s teacher please call the school and we can help set up an interview.
#6 Congratulations to one of our very own Gr 7 students for being recognized by the Canadian Parliament for organizing a Food Drive! Read the full information here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/2020/11/26/sib-student-recognized-by-canadian-parliament-for-organizing-a-food-drive/
#7 Parent Information: Monitoring and Managing COVID-19, this is an important reminder from Public Health about how we can all work together to help stop the spread. Click the link for information: https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/2020/09/18/parent-information-monitoring-and-managing-covid-19/
#8 A Holiday Message from SIB Staff: We are very fortunate that every year at this time we receive many wonderful gifts from our students. This year as a staff we are asking that in lieu of a traditional holiday gift, families consider donating to a charity of their choice if possible. An option is the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington whose mission is to empower children and youth by connecting families with opportunities to build hope for lifelong change and break the cycle of poverty https://www.childrensfoundation.org/ways-to-help/donate . Thank you for considering this and Happy Holidays!
#9 SAFETY @ Kiss’N’Drive: A general reminder to everyone who uses the before and after school Kiss’N’Drive that cars cannot pass each other in the line or parking lot. We need everyone to be as safe as possible when using this area but we need everyone’s support to make it happen. Also a reminder that all children need to be secured safely in their car seats or seat belts at all times. More information on car seats and children can be found here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/choose-car-seat.shtml
#10 Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week has come and gone but SIB is not stopping there. SIB will continue to participate in a series of daily discussions as a school and individual classrooms on the topics surrounding bullying to build awareness and skills to handle bullying situations. Parents are encouraged to read more Bullying Prevention through the Ministry of Education’s website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html and this specific document on Cyberbullying and how parents can be aware: https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/2020/11/16/cyberbullying-parent-resource/
#11 Absent or Late? Please let us know with a call: Please call the office regarding student absences, pick up/drop offs and late arrivals as we cannot guarantee emails will be received in a timely manner. Thanks!
#12 DROP OFF AND PICK UP – PLEASE WEAR A MASK: To help ensure that everyone is safe at SIB we are asking that ALL students and parents/guardians please wear a mask at all times while on the school grounds (tarmac, sidewalks, grass areas, etc.) during DROP OFF (AM) and PICK UP (PM). We also encourage students to not arrive on the school grounds before 8:35am to help avoid unorganized large groupings. We have many people in this area and this will help protect everyone. Parents/guardians we also need your help reminding your children the importance of staying socially distanced from peers inside the school and outside on the school grounds. If we are all reminding students of this important measure it will really help. Thanks!
#13 Dress for the weather: Teachers K to Gr 8 are taking their students outside as much as possible and to be ready for that we are asking that students come to school prepared to be outside. The weather has turned to winter and wet/cold days are on their way, so please ensure that enough clothes are packed to get your child through the day. Also, we can now add a pair of dry indoor shoes to items brought to the school so no one has to have wet feet. So please feel free to pack an extra pair of shoes on those rainy days. Snow and rain won’t stop us from having fun and learning outside!
News regarding school is constantly being updated. SIB will continue to communicate with families step by step with information when it becomes available as we move through the school year. Please continue to check your email, twitter and our website https://www.ugdsb.ca/sibps/ daily for updates.
Stay a safe distance and stay positive!
Categories: News • Newsletter