Dear Mustang Families,
Happy Halloween and Happy Diwali to everyone who celebrates! It’s been a busy week here at PMPS. Orange and Black Day/ Wear your costumes to school was a hit! It was fun to see the kids enjoying fall activities, celebrating Diwali, and getting into the spirit this week. Our staff dressed up as skeletons and surprised the kids with a flash mob skeleton dance in the gym today. It was a alot of fun! Students are working hard and enjoying volleyball, choir, and craft club. We are proud of all of our Mustangs for getting involved and trying their best.
Free Jacket, SnowPant, Hat & Mitten Pick Up: Thanks to the generous donations from our community, we find ourselves with a good problem; a great inventory of winter wear including various sizes of new and used snow jackets, snow pants, hats and mitts. Please note the hat and mitts are new and some of the jackets and snow pants are new. If the snow pants and jackets have been slightly used, they have been washed. On Friday, November 1st we will set up a table with these free items. If your child needs something, please come in and pick it up before the cold weather sets in or before heading to the store. The items will be in the front hallway on a table and parents and caregivers are welcome to come in from 810am to 310pm to pick up any items that their child(ren) need.
Cracker Donations: Thank you for your generosity so far! We are still in need of boxes of crackers! We are asking for students to bring in a box of crackers to help our snack program. Boxes can be brought to the front office to be fed to Snacker the Cracker monster. Thank you for all your support towards our snack program where we eat to fuel our minds. Any questions, ask myself or Mrs. Mckenzie.! Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
The November Communications Newsletter is out! I n this month's issue we have information about:
Grade 8 Student Parent Info Nights
Download the new mobile app!
Parenting webinar on cellphones and vaping
And more!
You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/communications-newsletter
Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week: From November 18th to 22nd, the Upper Grand District School Board will be participating in Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (BAPW). During BAPW students, staff and parents/guardians are encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effects on student learning and well-being. For families who are dealing with a bullying incident there are many resources on the UGDSB website to support. Resources and Links:
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan | Upper Grand District School Board
Get support with these mental health resources - Kids Help Phone
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.
Our NEW Princess Margaret website is: https://uppergranddsbon.sites.thrillshare.ca/o/pmps. Our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps . Our school council also has a Facebook page and an Instagram page: @princessmargaretps. Make sure your UGDSB mobile app is up to date! Download the new mobile app - it’s everything Upper Grand in your pocket. For the latest updates, please sign up for notifications! Download for Android https://aptg.ca/V7pmln Download for iPhone https://aptg.ca/370LCh . Staying connected during the school year is key.
Important Dates:
-November 4th to 8th: Treaties Recognition Week
-November 4th; Acadience Early Reading Screener results must be sent home (SK-grade 2 teachers)
-November 6th: Take Our Kids to Work Day (Prearranged prior through principal)
-November 7th: School Council 6pm
-November 11th to 15th: Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week
-November 11th: Remembrance Day
-November 13th: Progress Reports Go Home
-November 14th: Get Real: Anti- Black Racism Presentation (Gr4-8s) (information sent home)
-November 19th: Picture Retakes and Class Photos
-November 20th: Officer Amy, OPP (Grades 4,5, & 6)- information will be sent home
-November 21st: Officer Amy, OPP (Grades 7 & 8)-information will be sent home
-November 21st: Extra School Meeting for Holiday Craft fair 6pm
-November 22nd: Superintendent Visit
-November 25th: Book Fair opens at PMPS
-November 26th: Fire Prevention: Landry and Hickey (information coming home)
November 27th: Dairy Farmer Presentations ( K- Grade 3) (information coming home)
-November 28th: Fire Prevention: Fendley & Westlake (information coming home )
-November 28th, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM: Orangeville District Secondary School (ODSS) will be hosting its Grade 8 Information Night
-November 28th: Interview evening 3-7pm (more information to come)
-November 29th: PD Day, interviews 830am-230pm - no school for students
Reminders:
Poppy Flag: Beginning on October 25th until the end of day November 11th, we will be flying the Poppy Flag of Remembrance at the school. We are flying the Poppy flag as a tribute to the sacrifices of veterans and those who served to protect our freedoms. The flag honors the courage, commitment, and resilience of our veterans and current service members and reminds us of our shared responsibility to remember and support those affected by conflict.
Community Recognition Board: We are #MargaretProud. If your child has done something wonderful in our community or accomplished a big goal, please send in a picture and a short note and/or a clipping from the newspaper or online site to me, Mrs. PapaV. We have a board celebrating our amazing PMPS students across from the gym.
Sporting Teams & Participation: We have a number of sporting opportunities available to all of our students. Once a student tries out for a team, it’s important to read and sign the Athletics Code of Conduct. Coaches will send it home. All athletes will be given three grace incidents and then will not be allowed to try out or stay on the school team. It is important to understand that academics at school are the athlete’s first priority and that they must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the board’s code of conduct. This has already been discussed with the intermediate division and teachers/coaches will clearly outline to the student when they have received a warning that counts as a grace incident. Thanks for your support.
Attendance: Do you know as of October 17th, we have averaged 2.62 absences per student and 1.59 lates per student? It is important to address attendance concerns early. Attendance letters with more information about support will be coming home shortly. If you have concerns or we can help, please reach out to myself or your child’s teacher.
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).
Milk Sales: Student Council continues to sell milk, Monday to Friday 1st break only for $1.25. Milk sale profits support our Student Council.
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/
We have a great day of learning on Friday planned. If your child is going trick or treating tonight, I hope they have fun! Happy Diwali to our families who are celebrating today as well. I hope your celebration is full of light. Don’t forget the clocks fall back this weekend as well.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal