Good Evening Mustang Families,
Happy New Year! Welcome back! We hope you and your family had a great holiday season. We’re glad to have our students and staff back, they have settled back in nicely. We have a number of great things going on here at PMPS. Some examples include our curling team starting practicing and competing next week as well as our badminton team, our grade 8s will have an ODSS visit for grade 9 course selection, and Family Transition Place have started their series of presentations and workshops with our juniors and intermediates. Thank you to our School Council for supporting this important work and for already helping us book this programming for the 2025/2026 school year as well. We have an amazing School Council! Thanks to all our families who support our fundraisers such as cookie dough and Holiday Craft Fair which helps Council support our school.
Important Dates:
-January 7th-31st : 2025/2026 kindergarten registration is open for children born in 2021. Please see our school website for more information and to register online. Please tell your neighbours as well.
-FTP program starts for ⅘ to 8: January 8th, 15th, 22nd, and February 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th
-January 16th: ODSS guidance visits grade 8 students about course selection
-January 17th: PMPS Grad (Grade 8) Photo Day
-January 24th: PD Day (full day report card writing for teachers)
-January 27th to 30th: Curling materials at PMPS
-January 31st, 2025: Last day to apply for OOA and OOD to open schools.
-February 6th, 2025: OPP Online Safety Presentation at PMPS 6-7pm (information below)
-February 12th, 2025: Reports go home/ IEPs (modified and alternative goals also goes home)
Upcoming Spirit Days January:
-January 10th: Dress like your favourite hobby (artist, sports, star, musician...)
-January 17th: Dress like a tourist (fanny packs, hat, sunglasses etc)
-January 23rd: Dress like your favourite animal
-January 31st: Division colours ( JK/K, Gr 1,2,and 3: red, grade 4,5,and 6: Blue, grade 7& 8: black, staff: Tye Dye)
OPP Presentation for Parents/Caregivers in Person at Princess Margaret PS February 6th, 2025 at 6pm with Officer Amy-Lynn Pitton: I am pleased to share that our OPP community engagement officer will be coming to Princess Margaret on February 6th at 6pm to host a one-hour parent/caregiver information evening about how to keep your child(ren) safe online from bullying and predators. The officer will also take questions. All parents/caregivers are welcome to attend from PMPS, CMES, PEPS, PCPS, and ILPS . Children are not welcome to attend at the request of the officer, because of the subject matter. Please RSVP by email to: princessmargaret.ps@ugdsb.on.ca by February 3rd at 3pm with the number of parents/caregivers attending, so we can plan accordingly. Thank you.
SUPPORTING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT: UPCOMING WEBINAR ON SCHOOL AVOIDANCE: The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB), in collaboration with the Wellington Catholic District School Board and Pine River Institute, is inviting families to join a vital conversation about school avoidance. As more youth face challenges staying engaged in school, this free webinar will explore what motivates students to attend and offer actionable strategies for parents and caregivers to help.
Event Details:
Topic: School Avoidance - What Motivates Kids to Attend and How Can Parents Help?
When: Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Online (details provided upon registration)
This session is part of Pine River Institute's Positive Parenting Webinar Series and will provide insights and practical tools to support students in overcoming school avoidance and fostering a love for learning. Mark your calendars and join us in creating a supportive environment for student success. Parents and guardians can register here.
IMPORTANT: Ability to Send Emails from School Messenger Coming to an End: Thank you to those families who read my weekly emails. I currently send those emails using School Messenger. The board will be ending its contract with School Messenger at the end of January. I am currently participating in a pilot program to investigate other programs to send emails. Stay tuned. In the meantime, please make sure that you check for my weekly updates by:
-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 .
-checking our NEW Princess Margaret websiteonce per week: 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.
Staying connected during the school year is key. I, along with a volunteer, work hard to update our social media pages and school website each week.
Volunteers Needed: Breakfast Program: We are looking to fill a volunteer position with our school's breakfast and snack food programs. These programs are so important for our students, as full tummies help to fuel learning! We need assistance on Wednesdays at 8am, with both the breakfast and snack trays, and on Thursday at 8:45am, with just the snack trays. All food is already at the school and our volunteers prepare the breakfast options for our students in the library and help to clean up as school begins. For the snack trays, volunteers collect the trays, wash them, prepare the day's snacks, and deliver them to the classrooms. There will be another volunteer present to assist on both days. This commitment would run for the remainder of the school year. If you are interested in helping out, please call the office for more information. Thank you.
FYI: January Communications Newsletter: The January Communications Newsletter is out!. In this month's issue we have information about:
Kindergarten Registration
High school course selection for Grade 8s
A new process for Out of Area/Out of District attendance
And more!
You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/communications-newsletter
No Bus Days: We Are Open for Learning: A reminder that on no bus days, we are here for learning. A very small percentage of our students are bussed, so teachers carry on with a normal learning day. Our school is open for all who can safely make it here. If your child (ren) will not be attending school, you need to call in their absence please. This helps Mrs. Mckenize with her safe arrival procedures in a timely manner. Thank you for your help with this. Please note if a pizza day falls on a no bus day, pizza day will go ahead.
Period Equity Products: A reminder that period products continue to be available here for any students who need them. Our machine can be found upstairs in our use for all bathroom (single stall) or students can ask any staff member.
As a reminder we are still in need of Emergency Lunch and Recess Supervisors. If you love working with wonderful children, who are enthusiastic, fun and engaging, Princess Margaret wants you as a Lunchroom/Yard Supervisor. We have an urgent need for supplies while our regular staff are away. We require individuals who are caring, energetic, and have the ability to ensure the safety and security of our students. The position requires a commitment of approximately 80 minutes per day (two 40 minute nutrition breaks: 20 minutes eating and 20 minutes outdoor recess time). This is a paid position, minimum wage per hour. Your responsibilities include: monitoring lunchrooms and outside recess. Our two nutrition breaks/ yard times are from 10:20- 11am and again from 12:30-1:10pm. Lunchroom supervisors are required to have a vulnerable sector criminal record background check. If you want to be part of a great school community with awesome students, please call me, Andrea Papavasiliou (Principal) at 519-941-3731 ext 223. Similarly, if you know someone who would be fantastic in this role, please pass this information along to them. Thank you.
Parent Resources:
Parent Support Network: Please check out www.parentsupportnetwork.ca for free parenting workshops. The 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/
DCAFS Walk In, Talk In Clinic: Open to Everyone!
Talk-In Clinic is your primary gateway to essential mental health support. Talk-In Clinic is open Wednesdays between 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (last appointment at 5:30 p.m.). Please come as early as possible to ensure an appointment. If you prefer, you can call ahead at 519-941-1530 to provide some basic information. This is support for children, youth, and families.
Take Care. We’ll see everyone on Friday for another great learning day!
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal