Good evening Mustang Families,
What a busy week! We held a basketball tournament for our junior and intermediate players at PMPS, completed special education meetings with awesome parents and students, and tomorrow we wrap up the week with Police Officer Amy presentations for grades 1-3!
In the next couple of weeks, we will start with our spring safety drills that are mandatory. This spring, we have to complete three fire drills, one lockdown drill, one evacuation drill and a tornado drill. Officer Amy will be invited to participate in the lockdown drill at our school. This helps the officer learn the layout of our school.
Over the last couple of weeks, students have noticed that we have had new lights and signs installed in anticipation of a new lockdown system that is automated. This is a great addition to our school because sometimes places like the shop, the gym, or library may be too loud for announcements. The lights alert students and staff to stop and listen to directions. Staff will receive training in the coming weeks. We are also in queue for a new front door system that will have our front door locked during the school day, but with an intercom buzzer system that allows parents and volunteers access. We are in phase 2 of this project so the change will be happening in the next year or so. More information will come as we receive our date of installation.
April Communications Newsletter: The April Communications Newsletter is out! This is the monthly public-facing newsletter from the communications department. In this month's issue we have information about:
Practicing gratitude
Free dental health services
And more!
You can view the newsletter here: https://www.ugdsb.ca/page/communications-newsletter
Dogs on School Property: As the weather slowly starts to improve, please remember that dogs are not allowed on school property. Some of our students have a fear of dogs. Please wait with your dog off school property for your child(ren). Thank you for your support.
School Council Donut Fundraiser: Have you heard?! School Council is selling delicious donuts with our local Quest for Cakes Bakery! We will be sending a colour flyer home with students later this week, so you can see them for yourself! We are selling packs of 12 small donuts, featuring 3 flavours: chocolate dip, celebration vanilla dip (with sprinkles) and maple dip. These donuts are nut free, Kosher dairy, and the full ingredients will be listed on each pack. This fundraiser is live NOW through School Cash On-Line and and will run until Thursday, April 24th. The donuts will be available for pick-up at the end of the school day on Friday, May 9th. School Council fundraisers help to support our school with things like important student programs, sporting events and gym equipment, and outdoor education materials, to name a few. Thank you for your support!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: JK Orientation This email went home to all of our new JK students for next year. Please pass along to friends who may have missed it: Thank you for pre-registering your child for junior kindergarten September 2025 at Princess Margaret Public School. We are excited to welcome them! Please see the attached link for important information on our Kindergarten Orientation that is coming up on June 17th, 2025.We hope to see everyone then!
2025 kindergarten orientation information
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13YUPVAn1eYSqaofYs9WoV91BDdgYIwvy9Q3vHnExwpU/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you.
The PMPS Kindergarten Team
Please remember to stay connected in the following ways:
-Downloading 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 website once https://uppergranddsbon.sites.thrillshare.ca/o/pmps.
-Our Twitter/ X page is: @margaret_ps, we also have a Facebook and Instagram page.
-your phone messages and text messages
Important Dates:
School Council Donut Fundraiser: Friday, March 28th to Thursday, April 24th. Pick up May 9th- more details to come. Thank you for your support.
-April 11th: Grade 8 Grad retakes at PMPS (please let your child’s teacher know if they need a retake)
-April 11th: Officer Amy; presentations to grades 1 to 3 (letters sent home)
-April 15th: Kindergarten Town of Orangeville library visits (more information to come)
-April 15th: Intermediate basketball tournament at ODSS(more information to come)
-April 18th- 21st: Easter weekend for those who celebrate
-April 22nd: Earth Day Assembly ((Mrs Ellis is organizing)
-April 23rd: OC Appreciation day! Thank you for all that you do Mrs. Mckenzie!
-April 25th: CMHA presentations: grades ⅞ (letters going home)
-May 1st: School Council meeting 6pm in the library
-May 2nd: GET Real Presentation at PMPS (grades 4-8) (letters going home)
-May 5th to May 9th: Education Week and Mental Health Week
-May 9th: Whole group grade 8 visit to ODSS (more information to come)
-May 13th: Bike Roadeo at PMPS (more information to come)
-May 13th, 20th, and 27th: Grade 3 and Grade 7 Swim to Survive program(more information to come)
-May 14th: Special Olympics, Board Wide Event (more information to come)
-May 15th: Chess tournament at CMES
-May 16th: EA & CYC Appreciation Day: We have the best team at PMPS hands down! Thanks for all that you do!
-May 16th: Jump Rope Kick Off Event!(more information to come)
-May 19th: Victoria Day, no school
-May 20th: Grade ⅘ & ⅚ in Library from 115-215pm: Moccasin Identifier Program
-May 22nd: Catch up vaccination at PMPS(more information to come)
-May 22nd: Kindergarten Officer Amy presentations (letter coming home)
-May 21st to June 3rd: EQAO at PMPS grades 3 and 6: All students need to be at school well rested and ready to go! Our students will do great! (more information to come)
-May 28th: Intermediate track and field standards day
-June 2nd: Bursting with Pride School Event & Flag Raising
-June 3rd: Arts Night and Family Fun Night 5-7pm(more information to come)
-June 5th: Grade 8 Intermediate Trip to Niagara Falls
-June 5th: Last School Council meeting of the year: Elections for 25/26 6pm
-June 6th: PD day-No school for students (more information to come)
-June 9th: Compass Run at School(more information to come)
-June 13th: Jump Rope Event
-June 16th: Healthy SchoolS School Wide Play Day (morning two blocks)
-June 17th: JK Orientation-9-12pm approximately (more info to go home)
-June 19th: Track and Field Board event (more information to come)
-June 23rd: PMPS Grad!!! (more information to come)
-June 25th: Public Health Fluoride Varnish #2 (more information to come)
-June 25th: Intermediate walk to Island Lake
June 26th: Term 2 report cards go home & Last day with students
June 26th: Last Day morning assembly, intermediate bbq and dance
June 27th: PD day: No school for students
Upcoming Spirit Days April:
-April 11th: Wild and Creative Outfit Day!(Wear wild and creative hats,
socks, and clothing!)
-April 17th: Easter Colours and Accessories! (Wear pastel colours and accessories!)
-April 22nd: Earth Day (Dress like the world! Wear brown, blue, and green!)
Earth Day Challenges!!!
- Walk with your division around the school.
- Learn with the lights off.
- Outdoor Learning (Spend as much time learning outside as possible).
Reminders:
After school games: We are asking that only siblings of players stay for the after school games that are hosted by our school. Our gym space is limited and we want parents who have left work, made special plans etc. to be able to come into the gym and watch their child play. Intermediates and former PMPS students are not to enter the gym unless they have a sibling playing. This also assists our coaches who are often refereeing and coaching. Monitoring the behaviour of non players is hard to do on top of the refereeing and coaching as well. Thanks for supporting our parents who want to be able to come into the gym to see their child play and our coaches.
Milk Sales: Our wonderful Student Council continues to sell milk. The milk costs $1.25 each. Milk sale profits support our Student Council.
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.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my weekly emails and your continued support. We’ll see everyone on Friday for another day of great learning before the weekend.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal