Dear Mustang Families,
Thank you. What a wonderful feeling it was to have our families visit on Meet the Teacher night. I sensed how excited families are to start another school year. Thanks for coming and supporting your student(s). Didn’t the student work look great? Don’t forget tomorrow is our annual Terry Fox Run. Students need to come to school ready to walk and/or run. Sunscreen, comfy shoes and clothing, and a water bottle is a must!
We’ve had a busy week here at PMPS. Sports teams are back up and running, the 6/7 and two ⅞ classes visited island Lake for a team building day. Our soccer teams attend their county tournaments next week and we wish them the best of luck. Flag football is starting soon, cross country is ‘running’ strong, and choir is underway!
Tomorrow we will have completed all four of our drills or the fall (three fire alarms and one lock down drill). The students and staff did a good job exiting the building in a safe manner and have an excellent understanding of what to do in an emergency.
Our Princess Margaret website is https://www.ugdsb.ca/PrincessMargaret/ and our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps . Our school council also has a Facebook page and an Instagram page: @princessmargaretps. Staying connected during the school year is key.
Important Upcoming Dates:
-Our annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Friday, September 20th from 130-230pm in the last learning block. Please donate through School Cash Online if you are able.
-Friday, September 27th, 2024: Please wear purple to raise awareness about Rowan’s Law: Concussion awareness
-Wear orange on Monday, September 30th, 2024 for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
-October 1st, 2024: Picture day: Individual pictures (class pictures at a later date)
-October 1st, 2024: Grade ⅞ Town of Orangeville Fire Prevention presentations (more details sent home by homeroom teachers)
-October 3rd, 2024: Director and Superintendent visit to Princess Margaret
-October 3rd, 2024: School Council meeting 630-730pm in the library, all are welcome. (minutes are below from September’s meeting)
-October 3rd, 2024: Grade ⅞ Mr. Robertson’s Class: Skills Ontario Presentation (more details sent home by homeroom teachers)
-October 5th, 2024: World Teachers Day
New Procedure for Dropped Lunches: If you are dropping off a lunch, there will now be a lunch drop off table in the front foyer. Simply label your child’s lunch with their name and leave it there for pick up. Please let your child know that their lunch will be dropped off in the morning. The same procedure is for food service deliveries as well. Please let the driver know to label the lunch and please let your child know it will be dropped off in the morning. We are hoping this limits interruptions to student learning. Thank you.
Equity Update: I want to remind everyone of the Identity Based Harm button found on every school's website and on the main UGDSB webpage. The Report Identity-Based Harm and/or Bullying tool gives students and parents 24/7 access for reporting.
Safety Reminders (We’re still having trouble with the following):
-When dropping off and picking up kids, please remember that dogs must be leashed and kept on the sidewalk of our property. This is the expectation for all dogs (no matter the size or age). Some students have allergies, a fear, and there is the potential that someone could be scratched or bitten. Please do not argue with staff who ask you to follow this expectation as we are trying to reinforce board direction and keep everyone safe. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
-Please do not park in our front bus loop at any time. This includes our families who use the YMCA before and after school. Although we have limited bus students, we still have a couple of buses that carry students on them. The front parking lot is closed, except for those who have an accessibility permit.
Milk & Pizza Sales: Milk will be on sale soon. The company has increased their price and to break even (making very little to no profit) we needed to increase our cost to $1.25 for this school year. Students require cash to purchase. Pizza days start next week! Our first pizza day will be September 27th. Be sure to get orders in by the due date.
Parent Resources:
Dufferin Parent Support Network: Please check out https://www.dpsn.ca/ for free parenting workshops. The Dufferin Parenting Support Network is a great organization of parents supporting parents.
DCAFS Behaviour Solutions: DCAFS offers a wide range of services designed to meet the unique needs of each child and family. They believe that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, and they are committed to helping them do just that. If you're looking for support for your family within a safe and welcoming community, look no further than DCAFS! Please see the link for some different workshops and events: https://behavioursolutions.dcafs.on.ca/events/
Reminders:
Drop & Go: We know it can be tough, but once staff are out and on duty, please give your child a big hug and leave them with us. Staying behind, saying a long goodbye, or staying behind to watch or even return at recess, is often hard on our little ones who have trouble separating from you (their favourite people). A quick goodbye is often best and if your child is upset, we are able to calm them more quickly when parents and caregivers do not linger. Please know that we will communicate with you if this is not the case. Thank you for your trust.
School Volunteers: The UGDSB updated their School Volunteers Policy (205) a couple of years ago now. If you are volunteering in our school or plan to in the future, it is important to note that the following is required: a volunteer application, a volunteer agreement, an interview, a reference check and a vulnerable sector check (VSC) /offense declaration. A VSC will be required for field trip supervisors, volunteer drivers, classroom volunteers working with students, volunteer coaches/advisors. Please note: all volunteer drivers will need to complete a 508-3 Transportation of Students in Privately Owned Vehicles, a signed volunteer agreement, and a VSC/ Offense Declaration. This means that the school can no longer coordinate rides to sporting events unless we have parents/ guardians who have completed the VSC and other paperwork. Parents/ Guardians and family members must transport to games. The school will be able to provide letters that parents/guardians can use to apply for a VSC. Please note if you completed this process and we have your information on file, you will only need to complete an offense declaration. Please stop in the office if you are interested or ask your child’s teacher.
WOW Butter/ Peanut Butter Substitutes: Please do not send in peanut butter or peanut butter substitutes in your child’s lunch. We have a number of life threatening peanut and nut allergies, and these products create worry with staff and students, as they are hard to tell apart. Thank you for your cooperation.
We have a great day of learning on Friday planned. After Friday, I wish everyone an awesome weekend. I
’ll see everyone back on Monday for another great week of learning.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
School Council Minutes from Our September Meeting:
SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES - Princess Margaret Public School
September 12th, 2024
In attendance: Principal Andrea Papavasiliou, Meghann Christie (Teacher Rep), Billie Jo R., Emily M., Emily D., Rebecca L., Ida C., Justine O., Tracy P., Raquel, Arlene A., Lindsay F., Brittani S., Ashley H., and Vienna R.
Regrets: Sabrina F., Kiri L., Ashley T., Dave W.
1. Land Acknowledgement and Anti-Racism Statement
2. Principal's Report - Andrea Papavasiliou
Smooth start – thanks to staff and students; reorganization has happened; enrollment is 276
Safety drills will occur this fall (3 fire drills + 1 lockdown)
Student leaders are doing announcements, pizza day, Student Council elections, etc.
Choir, soccer, running club, band, etc. have begun
Parking lot is complete – it is now accessible and beautiful. Thank you to School Council for the financial support.
CYC will now work here 4x / week (an increase over the 2-3x / week previously). Also, we now have increased social worker support (UGDSB provides approx. 1 / 7 schools).
Curriculum – the UGDSB multi-year plan this year seeks to be a provincial leader in educational achievement (particularly math & literacy)
Meet the teacher night – Sept. 19
UGDSB Code of Conduct:
Key concepts – responsibility, civility, success, academic excellence
Ministry of Education has focused on “back to basics”
UGDSB has already had a BYOD policy outlining cell phone guidelines, and PMPS is continuing with this
Safety – new additions under social media and bullying
Appropriate dress guidelines
Progressive discipline guidelines
3. Council Business: Welcome new members! Confirmation of School Council election positions; signing new Vulnerable Sector Check forms for those who completed volunteer screening last year – new applications given to new Members; review of new School Council Bylaws; ensure that everyone is on Slack app and following our social media pages (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook)
4. Fundraising ideas / planning
Let’s plan for a Terra Cotta cookie fundraiser again this fall
5. Holiday Craft Fair
Billie Jo has been working on securing vendors. Just a few sports (tables) are left.
Overview of what we offer : vendors’ market, silent auction, KidPreneur market, kids’ only shopping area, cookie decorating, face painting, Café and Bake Sale
Next meeting:
Thursday, October 3rd, 6:30pm, School Library