Dear Mustang Families,
I am sending home the weekly blurb a little earlier this week so I can remind families of our spirit day tomorrow and our School Council meeting. Please read below for more information.
Students and staff have been taking some time this week to remember our courageous veterans and current military members who serve(d) Canada and protect(ed) our rights and freedoms. On Monday, students and staff will gather to honour our veterans during our assembly. Please note our flags will be lowered from sunrise until sunset on National Indigenous Veterans Day, which is Friday, November 8, 2024 and again on Monday, November 11th, 2024 for Remembrance Day.
Congratulations to our junior volleyball team who represented us this week at their tournament this past week. They played with pride, good sports’people’ship, and increased confidence. Well done Mustangs.
Stay Connected: 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.
A message from School Council: We would like to remind our school community that School Council meets on the first Thursday of each month (except in January ... we need a break after the holidays!), at 6pm in the school library for about an hour, and all parents/caregivers with children attending PMPS are welcome! We also have the option for you to join us via Google Meet. Please e-mail School Council Chair Emily Mallett at indianajane24@yahoo.ca if you would like the meeting code and/or more information about our meetings. Please note that if you do not have childcare during these meetings, you are welcome to bring your children along and they can plan quietly in the library break-out room. We hope to see you on Thursday!
The School Council would like to thank our school community for supporting our Terra Cotta cookie fundraiser. Thanks to you, we have raised $2,000 for the school!! This money will go a long way to support our students. Thank you!
Poppy: Please Make A Donation: All students will be provided with a sticker poppy on Monday to help recognize and honour Remembrance Day. Please consider making a donation. All donations go to the Canadian Legion. Teachers will collect the donations from now until Monday. Thank you.
Breakfast Program Wednesdays 810 am-830 am: Starting next week, we will start providing breakfast to students who are hungry and do not have access to breakfast at home. Students will simply come into the front of the school and enter the library at 810am. Options may include: cereal, bagels, fruit, and yogurt. We are always looking for more volunteers and to expand our breakfast program beyond one morning per week, so if you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact me, Mrs. Papavasiliou (PapaV).
Parent/Guardian Teacher Interviews: Progress reports will be shared with families on November 13th. I would like to invite all parents/ guardians in for an interview. Please read the following to learn more about interviews.
Online Signup for Parent-Teacher Interviews
The window to sign-up for an interview begins November 15th 8:30am and closes November 26th at 4pm. Please sign up for a parent-teacher meeting between these dates. Interview times are available either Thursday, November 28th from 3:00 - 7:00 PM and November 29th from 8:30 AM - 2:30PM. If a teacher is not available on the 28th, they will communicate alternate dates and times with you.
To sign up for a meeting:
1) Go to : www.ugdsb.on.ca/pti or use the UGConnect App - Parents
2) Enter your child’s OEN number (the OEN is on the progress report at the top) then their date of birth.
3) Select the teacher, day and time slot for your meeting
Important:
Once you have signed up for an interview, it will be assumed that a parent/guardian will be participating in person. Please email the teacher if a phone call is your preference. You may receive a call from the School/Unknown Caller.
If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. Mckenzie, our office coordinator at 519-941-3731 ext 221. Our staff look forward to meeting with you and talking about your child’s progress.
(a paper copy of this will also be coming home with progress reports)
Important Dates:
-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 sent home)
-November 21st: Officer Amy, OPP (Grades 7 & 8) (information 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
Upcoming Spirit Days:
November 7th : Tye Dye and Bright colours
-November 11th: Wear Red/Black/ White to honour those who protected our freedom
-November 22nd: Fantasy DAy: dress up like your favourite fantasy creature or character day
-November 28th: Comfy cozy day (no slippers)
Reminders:
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!
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
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.
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 great days of learning on Thursday and Friday planned. See everyone then!
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal