This month’s events at NPSS
December 10 – Link Crew Dinner
December 11 – Open Mic Night
December 13 – Staff Student Volleyball
Game
December 17 – Kempenfelt Cup @
Sadlon Arena
December 23 – January 3 – Holiday Break
Wishing all our families a safe and
happy holiday.
Days of Awareness 2024-25
As you prepare your
school’s newsletter package, please review the days of awareness calendar on
the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion. Please include what is relevant to your school
community in your December newsletter package.
Inclement weather and bus
cancellation information reminder
All information regarding cancelled
buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation
Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. Our school is in the CENTRAL ZONE.
When buses are cancelled, schools remain open for student learning, unless
otherwise noted. School staff are expected to plan for such emergencies in
order to transition students who are unable to attend due to inclement weather
to their online platforms (Google Classroom and/or SCDSBhub [Brightspace by
D2L]) and continue with academic programming. It is always a family decision
whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to leave for school under severe
weather conditions.
The Consortium and bus operators try
to make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and make every effort
to post announcements before 7 a.m. Inclement weather cancellations are
effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at
the end of the day. You can follow the Consortium on Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus
cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus
delay notifications here: scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
Provide
your feedback on the proposed SCDSB 2025-26 school year calendar
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB)
invites public school communities to submit input regarding the proposed school
year calendar for next year (September 2025 to June 2026).
Provide input by visiting scdsb.on.ca and selecting
‘Elementary’ or ‘Secondary’, then ‘Planning for School’ and ‘School Year
Calendar’.
All stakeholders including staff, parents/guardians,
students, and members of the school community are invited to provide feedback.
The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 15, 2025, to ensure the SCDSB meets
school year calendar development timelines set by the Ministry of Education.
High school information events for
Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school information
events will take place in person this winter! Student leaders and staff at
the school will give an overview of what’s new and what to expect. Learn about
courses offered, as well as information about teams and clubs. Please
visit the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/high_school_information_nights to find details on your
high school’s info night, and contact the school directly for more information.
Grade 1 French
Immersion information
The
Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) offers French Immersion (FI) at
select schools throughout Simcoe County beginning in Grade 1. The goal of the
FI program is to enable students to communicate in French with a high level of
proficiency, enabling them to function with ease in both French and English.
Upon graduation from the program, students will communicate in French with
confidence in a wide variety of real-life situations.
The
SCDSB board-wide electronic applications for the Grade 1 FI program for all
sites will open Monday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Entry into the FI program is
determined through a digitally randomized lottery system. Visit the SCDSB
website to learn more: scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=12587752
Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians
with Pine River Institute (PRI)
Mental
health and well-being continue to be a key strategic priority within the
SCDSB. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Centre for Family
Initiatives at Pine River Institute (CFI@PRI) to provide
several curated learning sessions focused on student mental health and
well-being to SCDSB families.
There are
four webinars planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this
school year. To join in this learning, please visit the SCDSB website to
register: scdsb.on.ca/about/well-being___mental_health/pine_river_institute_learning_series
Emotional
development
Dec. 5, 7-8
p.m.
Gain a new
perspective on how children maturate and its significance for mental health.
Learn how PRI views social and emotional development as crucial to well-being.
Learn more about PRI by visiting
their website at pineriverinstitute.com.
Subscribe
to Kindergarten Connections!
Will your
child be turning four in 2025? If so, the SCDSB invites you to subscribe to Kindergarten Connections! This is a
monthly enewsletter informing families of everything they need to know about
preparing their child for school, as well as registering them for Kindergarten
in the SCDSB. To learn more and subscribe, visit the Kindergarten page on the
SCDSB website: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video
series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within
school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch
all of these weekly episodes, and check out our recent video below featuring
Assikinack Public School’s Meet the Families Night!
When community becomes family! This fall, schools across the SCDSB hosted
‘meet the teacher nights’, where students have the exciting opportunity to
share their learning space with their families. These events create a strong
sense of community and belonging amongst SCDSB families. Watch as we highlight
Assikinack Public School’s Meet the Families Night: youtube.com/watch?v=VZxfIZjYRvA
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate speech and
language skills are critical to your child’s ability to read, write, and be
successful in school as well as to their ability to engage with their peers.
Free services are available to support you with your child’s development.
Preschool speech and language programs are located across the County of Simcoe.
Call 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a developmental screen. The
earlier we work together the better!
Licensed Winter Break school-age child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are
provided by independent, third-party child care operators in some SCDSB
schools. To support your child care needs, some operators offer child care on
PA days and holidays including over the Winter Break. Registration in advance
is required.
Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to
register. More information and contact numbers can be found by visiting: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Culminating Task
Days and Feedback, Recovery, and Improvement Days
At the end of each semester, all secondary
schools will run feedback, recovery, and improvement days for students.
Culminating assessments such as portfolios, essays, examinations, and
interviews will take place during instructional days and will be returned to
students with feedback.
Below is the process and schedule
for the culminating task days and feedback, recovery, and improvement
days that will occur at the end of the semester.
Culminating task days will take place on Jan. 22, 23, 24
and 27, 2025
·
There will be four culminating
task days.
·
Each day will begin
with a 120-minute period dedicated to students completing their
culminating task.
·
Culminating tasks come
in a variety of forms such as assignments, presentations, conferences,
interviews, and exams.
·
Teachers will determine
the method that best meets the requirements of the course and the needs of the
students.
·
The school day will be
structured into three periods.
·
There will be no
new learning or assessment and evaluation (other than the culminating
task) during these days.
Feedback, recovery, and
improvement days will take place on Jan. 28,
29 and 30, 2025.
- These will occur in the remaining three days of
the semester.
- Students can attend to complete assignment(s),
receive feedback, or improve an area of missed expectation.
- Students will be provided with a reflection
form that must be completed to attend these days. They will be asked
to reflect on their learning and develop a plan to improve their learning,
if they choose, based on specific areas of the course expectations.
- Teachers will be available to assist students in
completing the form, if necessary.
- All students have the option to attend the
feedback, recovery, and improvement days.
NPSS
Culminating Task Day Schedule
|
Day 1
January 22, 2024
|
Day 2
January 23, 2024
|
Day 3
January 24, 2024
|
Day 4
January 27, 2024
|
|
8:00-8:15
Wellness welcome
|
8:00-8:15
Wellness welcome
|
8:00-8:15
Wellness welcome
|
8:00-8:15
Wellness welcome
|
|
P1 8:15-10:15
|
P2 8:15-10:15
|
P3 8:15-10:15
|
P4 8:15-10:15
|
|
Lunch 10:15-11:30
|
Lunch 10:15-11:30
|
Lunch10:15-11:30
|
Lunch 10:15-11:30
|
|
P2 11:35-11:40
Land Acknowledgement &
National Anthem
|
P3 11:35-11:40
Land Acknowledgement &
National Anthem
|
P4 11:35-11:40
Land Acknowledgement &
National Anthem
|
P1 11:35-11:40
Land Acknowledgement &
National Anthem
|
|
P2 11:40-12:55
|
P3 11:40-12:55
|
P4 11:40-12:55
|
P1 11:40-12:55
|
|
12:55-1:05
Class Transition Time
|
12:55-1:05
Class Transition Time
|
12:55-1:05
Class Transition Time
|
12:55-1:05
Class Transition Time
|
|
P3 1:05-2:20
|
P4 1:05-2:20
|
P1 1:05-2:20
|
P2 1:05-2:20
|
School playground structures are closed for the winter
To ensure the safety of all users, playground equipment is closed and
off-limits until the protective surfacing is tilled in the spring. This is due
to winter hazards, icy equipment, and frozen ground conditions.
Every
winter, school playground structures are closed. Students are made aware of
this during school hours through announcements and staff reminders during
breaks. This may not be well known throughout the community, despite signs
indicating that playground structures are a winter hazard and are closed. The
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) regulations make recommendations for the
depth of ground cover required to minimize injuries (e.g., sand, pea gravel, or
wood chips). These surfaces cannot be maintained when the ground freezes.
Injuries from falling would be more significant on frozen ground. We
strongly recommend that you do not allow your children to play on any
structures while the ground is frozen.
Winter safety reminder
As winter approaches, we want to ensure the safety of all our students. Please
remind your child(ren) to wear appropriate footwear and follow staff
instructions to prevent any slips and falls. Additionally, snow and ice
should remain on the ground and not be thrown to avoid accidents or injuries. Thank
you for helping us keep our school community safe this winter season!
Experiential learning opportunity for students
The Simcoe County District School Board’s Adult and Continuing Education
Department in partnership with EduTravel is offering an experiential learning
opportunity for Grade 10,11, and 12 students who identify as African,
Caribbean, and Black, as well as those interested in social justice and equity
learning. Over the March Break, students will travel to Chatham, Windsor, and
Niagara Falls for four nights to learn about Black excellence and significant
Black Canadian history and culture while working towards the achievement of the
Deconstructing Anti-Black Racism (IDC4U) course credit.
For
more information, students can connect with a Graduation Coach for Black
students, the Adult and Continuing Education Department at 705-725-8990 ext.
45210, or visit the EduTravel website at https://edutravelforcredit.com/.
Support
your child(ren) in learning math
Families looking for ways to support their child(ren)
in learning math are invited to try Math at Home. Math at Home is an online
resource that is updated monthly with games, problems, and number talk
activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school each
month.
In December, activities in school and on Math at Home may include grade-level
tasks related to identifying, describing, and creating patterns, identifying
pattern rules, and extending patterns.
Visit scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome to support your child’s math learning at home!
Looking for an engaging online resource to
support your child’s learning at home?
TVO Learn is an online digital learning environment that offers comprehensive
resources to support learning for elementary (K-8) students. Access free and
engaging resources to support your child’s learning. Visit tvolearn.com and click on the grade, then select the subject area
and language for literacy activities to do with your child.
December cyber awareness topic: Keeping your information private
This month we want to highlight the importance of protecting your personal
information online. In our increasingly digital world, it’s crucial to
understand how to keep personal data secure. This topic provides practical tips
on managing privacy settings, avoiding oversharing on social media, and
recognizing the risks of public Wi-Fi.
It’s important to engage in conversations about these topics to ensure
everyone understands the significance of online privacy and how to protect it.
Open discussions can help reinforce good habits and make sure we are aware of
the latest threats and how to avoid them.
Access the ECNO cyber awareness tip sheet for December to stay
informed about this month’s theme: ecno.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ECNO-CAM-24-Infosheets-E-_Part4.pdf
Stay healthy this school year!
Respiratory infections, like a cold or
influenza, can spread easily from person to person. These germs can spread
quickly when someone coughs or sneezes directly on another person, or when
germs land on hard surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and keyboards. These germs
can then enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. The most important
thing you can do to keep from getting sick and stop the spread of germs is wash
your hands! Wash with soap and warm running water for at least 15 seconds (or
try singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice). If your hands are not visibly dirty you
can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 15 seconds. Also, make sure you and
your children are up to date with your immunizations, cover coughs and sneezes,
and stay home for at least 24 hours if you are sick.
For more tips to keep you and your family
healthy this school year, contact Health Connection at 1-
877-721-7520 or visit simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in need of foster
homes
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is in need of families in our communities to
open their homes to children and youth requiring foster homes. By opening your
home, you can make a difference in their lives by keeping them close to their
family, school, and community. Help us keep kids close to home. If you or
someone you know is interested in fostering, please visit familyconnexions.ca or check out a few of our videos to better understand
what it takes to become a foster care provider: familyconnexions.ca/fostering-resources.
Information
provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.