September News

Posted September 6, 2022

DownloadWelcome to the 2022/2023 school year! It was a beautiful day here at Winegard and a wonderful start to the school year.  Students did well transitioning into classes, connecting with friends and teachers and getting back into routine.  Please remember to reference the Parent Information that is posted on the school and board website that will highlight back to school information. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions and creative suggestions on how to enhance your child’s school experience.

DownloadMARK YOUR CALENDARS

September 6 – First Day of School

September 9 – Pizza and Milk orders due online

September 15 – All forms returned to homeroom teachers

September 22 – Meet The Teacher 5:30-6:30

September 23 – Terry Fox

September 27 – 7:00 School Council Meeting – Virtual

September 28 – Rowan’s Law Day Wear Purple

September 30 – Orange Shirt Day

COATS’ CORNER

Pizza and Milk are back! Orders must be placed online by Friday, September 9th at midnight. This order covers the period from September 12th through December 21st for milk and September 14th through December 21st for pizza. (excluding PA days and holidays) 

Please go to ugdsb.schoolcashonline.com to place your order.   LATE ORDERS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. 

Communication with the School

Communication between school and home will continue to be very important.  We will use the school website, email and phone message as a means to share important school and board information.  As items come up, they will be posted in our News and Announcements section of the school website.  Our website and the school board is an important link to have in your favourites to stay on top of what is going on at the school.  Please check it often at www.ugdsb.on.ca/winegard and https://www.ugdsb.ca/.  There is a link on our website to follow us on Twitter (@williamcwinegardps).  Please consider downloading UGConnect from the App Store/Google Play.

Classroom teachers will be using GoogleClassroom to support home and school communication. Teachers will be providing specific details on this with you.

Forms Coming Home

Student accident insurance information (white) – additional information below

Community walking form (blue–to be completed and returned)

Consent to share personal information (green–to be completed and returned)

Consent personal information routine uses and/or disclosures (goldenrod)

Digital tools notice statement (white)

Please return all forms to homeroom teachers by September 15th

Arrival and Departure

Our student entry bell rings at 8:40 AM.  Please note there is no supervision on our yard before 8:25 AM.   Students should not be on the property until after 8:25. Kindergarten students will line up in the kindergarten fenced area for entry.  

Kiss and Ride

The Kiss and Ride zone is meant as a drop and go area.  Cars are not to be parked and left unattended.  If you need to park, pull into a parking spot or park on the available side streets.  We need to keep the parking lot clear and the bus area. 

Safe Arrival Program 

Your child’s safety is one of our primary concerns. If your child is going to be absent or late for school, please contact the school prior to 8:30 am. We have an answering machine which allows you to call the school at any time, day or night. If your child is absent and you have not contacted the office by 9:00 am, we will attempt to contact you first at home, then at work and, if necessary, we will contact your emergency contact person. As a last resort, the police will be called. The school number is 519 824-3661 ext. 100. In order to stay in contact, please help by making sure we have your most up to date home, work, cell and emergency contact telephone numbers. 

School Times

8:40 First Bell and Entry
8:40 – 9:30 Period 1
9:30 – 10:20 Period 2
10:20 – 10:40 Nutrition Break
10:40 – 11:00 Nutrition Break
11:00 – 11:50 Period 3
11:50 -12:40 Period 4
12:40- 1:00 Nutrition Break
1:00 – 1:20 Nutrition Break
1:20 – 2:20 Period 5
2:20 – 3:00 Period 6
3:00 Dismissal

 School Messenger App

We continue to use a School Messenger App as a parent communication tool.  Designed to streamline communication between schools and the communities they serve, the Upper Grand Mobile app provides parents with a simple interface with up to date information including news, calendars and social media feeds.

The Upper Grand Mobile App is available today for free at either the Google Play Store or at iTunes. Use the search term “Upper Grand” to find the app.  Once you have the Upper Grand app on your device, go into “Settings” within the app and select William C. Winegard Public School.   Information from our website can be seen in the News section of the app and our calendar details will show up there too.

School Cash Online

School related expenses such as pizza, milk, field trips, spirit wear, yearbooks, etc. will be available for online purchase.  Please take a few minutes to register so you can enjoy the convenience of online shopping now and into the coming school years.

Here’s How to Register for Online Payments

Step 1:  Go to this website  – ugdsb.schoolcashonline.com

Step 2:  Register by selecting “Get Started Now” and follow the steps

Step 3:  Respond to the confirmation email, select the “click here” option, sign in and add each of your children to your household account

School Organizations 

Schools have built class lists based on their tentative organizations. Changes may be necessary at your child(ren)’s school in order that our Board remains compliant with Ministry parameters (see below). Any changes would be implemented by Monday, September 19th. Principals do not have the option of changing the school organization that is set by the District Staffing Committee of the Board. If changes affect your child(ren), you will be informed by the school.

Ministry of Education Parameters 

  • Full Day Kindergarten Class Size Average for the Board is 26 students 
  • 90% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with 29 or fewer students 
  • 10% of Full Day Kindergarten classes with up to 32 students, under certain circumstances 
  • 90% of the Board’s primary classes with 20 or fewer students 
  • 10% of the Board’s primary classes up to a maximum of 23 students 
  • Grade 3/4 classes have a cap of 23 students 
  • Junior/Intermediate Class Size Average for the Board is 24.5 students

William C. Winegard Staff  2022/2023

KA – Allie Golding, Rebecca Campbell

KB – Melanie Bevington, Paula Moniz

KC – Catherine Blevins, Pam Beecraft

KD – Robin Doty

1 – Nicole Connors

1 – Amanda MacDowell

1 – Marsha Heeley

2 – Susan Hopkins

2 – Sarah Demers

2/3 – Marcia Piquette

3 – Katie Enders

3 Ashleigh Lewis/Jessica Upper

3 – Gary Barton 

4 – Scott Hopkins

4/5 – Jenn Wilson

5 – Katherine Scott

5/6 Steve Rane

6 – Jesse Morris

6 – Sarah Rossier

7 – Terra Humphries

7/8 – Brandon Rees

8 – Csilla Farkas

Resource – Julie Donegani, Meghan Barry, Kristin Alie

Core French – Laura Alexander, Erica Nickels , Laurissa Di llio

Library – Jessica Upper

Planning Teachers – Leanne Pinkney, Julie Donegani,  Amy Williams, Laurissa Di llio

EA’s – Amanda Vanos, Lu Lee, Carly Battler, Carli Vokes, Marie Dunkel, and Robyn Whiteside

CYC – Gayton Fairfield

Custodial Team – Aaron Karn, Troy Baker

Vice Principal – Kristin Alie

Principal – Rochelle MurrayCako

 

Plans Of Care

Please connect with Ms. Coats or Ms. Rimkus in the office if you have a child with a life threatening allergy or medical concern.  We need to ensure we have all pertinent medical information up to date in the office.

Healthy Snacks Program

We have again received funding through Food and Friends to continue a healthy snack program.  By the third week of school, snack bins will be available in each classroom.

ImagesSchool Council

School Council is an excellent opportunity for parents to become involved in school life.   It is an opportunity to discuss school programs, support the purchase of resources through fundraising, and be an advisory group for the administration and staff at the school.   Anyone can be involved.  We will have approximately seven general evening meetings throughout the year, plus committee meetings if you are interested.   Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 27th at 7:00 PM – virtual.

Skateboards, Bikes etc

Skateboards, roller blades, and roller shoes are not permitted on school property at any time.  If students are riding bicycles or scooters to school, they must be walked on the property and locked at the bike racks.  They may not be stored anywhere in the school.

Dogs on School Property

We appreciate that there are several families who like to walk their dogs when they bring their children to/from school.  As with past practice, if you must walk your dog at these times, we ask that the dog be on a leash and that they stay on the sidewalk when you arrive at school. In order to prevent a potential concern for our students and staff, please do not bring your dog onto the school tarmac where the students are gathering, we have a number of students and staff who have allergies and some who are timid of dogs.  Please note that this does not apply to “Service Dogs”.

Report Bullying Information Bullyingtool2

We take all incidents of bullying seriously. If your child is the victim of bullying or sees bullying behavior at school, please encourage them to speak with someone at school or use our board’s online reporting tool. 

Distinguishing Between Conflict and Bullying

Conflict occurs when two or more people have a disagreement, a difference of opinion, or different views. Conflict between students does not always mean it is bullying. Children learn at a young age to understand that others can have a different perspective than their own, but developing the ability to gain perspective takes time and the process continues into early adulthood. In conflict, each person feels comfortable expressing his or her views, and there is no power imbalance. How people deal with conflict can make it positive or negative. 

Conflict becomes negative when an individual behaves aggressively by saying or doing hurtful things. Then the conflict is an aggressive interaction. Conflict only becomes bullying when it is repeated over and over again and there is a power imbalance. Over time, a pattern of behaviour may emerge where the person who behaves aggressively in the conflict may continue or even make it worse. The person who is the recipient of the aggressive conflict may feel less and less able to express his or her point of view and feel more and more powerless. That is when negative conflict may turn into bullying. 

A school will respond to bullying and conflict differently. For example, in the case of a conflict, a school staff member may try to have the students come together to tell their side of the story and help them resolve the situation together. In the case of bullying, a principal will consider progressive discipline, which may include suspension or expulsion.

Smoke and Vape-Free Environment

The Upper Grand DSB provides a smoke and vape-free environment for its students, staff and others while on Board property, in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and Board policy 208.  This policy refers to all forms of tobacco, and any processed form of tobacco that may be smoked, inhaled or chewed, including e-cigarettes. 

Smudging is the tradition of using sacred smoke from sacred medicines (e.g., tobacco and sage) that forms part of the indigenous culture and spirituality.  Smudging is allowed in schools under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.  Parents will be informed using the school’s usual forms of communication when smudging is going to occur in our school.  Participation by staff and students is optional in a smudging ceremony.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the principal.

Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions

UGDSB Policy 518: Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions, outlines the roles and responsibilities for all in the educational community to support students with possible life-threatening medical conditions.  The prevalent medical conditions covered under this policy are Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders.  If your child has one of these, or any other life-threatening medical conditions, please visit: www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy (and look for Policy 518) or contact the school as soon as possible.  We will work with you to develop a Plan of Care to support your child.

Life-Threatening Allergies

We have children in our school with potential life-threatening allergies (called anaphylaxis) to various foods and other materials.  Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that can cause death within minutes. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. Although this may not affect your child’s class directly, we are letting you know so that you are aware that we aim to create an allergy safe environment at our school. If your child is in a classroom with an anaphylactic child, or your child has anaphylaxis, you will be informed by the classroom teacher. Our school has procedures in place for the prevention and management of anaphylactic reactions. If your child has health concerns of any kind, please tell your child’s teacher or the office and we will take the necessary health protection steps. Thank you for your understanding in ensuring an allergy-safe environment for all of our students. 

School Emergency Response Training and Annual Drills

We are writing to provide you with some information regarding emergency drills that we will be conducting this school year.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.  Although we hope that an incident that requires a response from emergency personnel will never occur in our school, we must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively in case it does.

Each year our school must conduct drills to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of a real emergency. 

The following number of drills are required each school year:

  • Three (3) fire drills in the fall and three (3) fire drills in the spring
  • Two (2) lockdown drills
  • One (1) tornado drill
  • One (1) bomb threat drill

For each of these drills, there is an education component to explain why they are necessary.  All drills are conducted in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of our students.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Parents and guardians are responsible for expenses related to student injuries on school premises or during school activities. Accidents can and do happen and the costs involved might not be fully covered by Provincial health care or employer group insurance plans. 

The Upper Grand District School board is empowered under The Education Act to offer Accident and Life Insurance for students. 

A letter from the Upper Grand District School Board will be sent home with students containing information with respect to two Programs available for the purchase of Student Accident Insurance.  The Insuremykids Program is offered through Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada and the Study insured Program is underwritten by Certain Lloyds’s Underwriters through AON Insurance. 

Each program offers a variety of options, including family rates at affordable prices. The cost must be paid by the parent or guardian.  Paper copies of the application are no longer available.  Purchase is done directly on line or by contacting the Provider: 

www.insuremykids.com or call toll free 1-800-463-5437 

www.studyinsuredstudentaccident.com or call toll free 1-833-560-0527.  

For today’s active children, especially those who participate in field trips, co-curricular and other school activities outside the school day, Student Accident Insurance is valuable.

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