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School News
Nominations are open for the 2024-2025 School Council.
Please see the email sent to all parents and guardians on September 5 for details. Nominations close on September 18. Elections (if required) will occur on September 23 from 8:30-5. Our first meeting will be September 30 at 6 pm in the staff room.
This year’s School Council meeting will be held on September 30, October 21, November 18, January 20, February 24 and May 26.
Parking expectations remain in effect
We are grateful that the vast majority of our families are following these rules to keep our children safe. For those we need a reminder, please remember that no personal vehicles are to enter or exit the parking lot or driveway between 8:30 and 9:00 am and 3 and 3:45 pm. Please park and walk to the schoolyard if you are dropping your children off or if you are coming to pick someone up during these times. Please do not walk across the front of the school during bus times. We ask that you avoid last-minute early dismissals after 2:45 as it can be very challenging to coordinate. Please work with us to keep our pedestrians and bus travelers as safe as possible.
Attendance
School attendance is very important. We urge all healthy students to attend school every day. Please refer to your child’s report card from June. How many days did your child miss? Chronic absenteeism (otherwise referred to as persistent absenteeism) is defined as missing 10% or 19 days of the school year.
If there is anything preventing your child from attending school regularly, please reach out to us so we can help. We urge all students to aim for attendance of at least 90% (no more than two days a month absent). Working together, we can improve the attendance of students in our school.
Mindful Morning
All students are welcome to attend Mindful Mornings brought to our amazing parent/guardian and staff volunteers. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 8:45 students can join us in the front hall and gym for healthy food items and time to relax before beginning a busy day of learning. Special waffle mornings happen sporadically throughout the year. We thank our volunteers and donors. If you are interested in donating to support this program or would like to volunteer, please contact the school office.
Nuts and Peanuts
Please do not send food items with nuts or peanuts to school. We have children with food allergies who could have a very serious allergic reaction. Please remember that products like Nutella contain nuts. Do not send these products to school. Anyone wishing to send something to school to celebrate an event must remember that items must be store-purchased and nut-safe. We are not able to accept and distribute homemade food items. Please talk to your child’s teacher before sending in food for the class.
Fido and friends can’t come to school
Although we know that our furry friends are a big part of our families, we cannot have them on school property. If you need to bring your dog with you when delivering your children to school, please say goodbye to your children on the public sidewalk. It is very crowded on our property and small children and dogs are unpredictable. We never want to have an incident happen between a dog and one of our community members. You will see Rita, our St. Bernard, on the property. She has special privileges due to her specialized training and assignment at the school.
Staffing updates
We have many new staff again this year. Welcome to:
Ms. Finlay, Clerk Steno
Ms. Both, DECE
Mr. Cook, Grade 5 Teacher
Mrs. Foley, Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Frutti, DECE
Ms. Kaeja, Special Education Resource Teacher
Mrs. Mekhail, Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Dionne, Grade 6 Teacher
Ms.Vella, Primary Planning Timet
Upcoming Dates
September 17 First Sub/milk Day of the year
September 18 First Pizza/milk Day of the year
September 20 Waffle Day
September 20 9:00 a.m. Terry Fox Run (see below)
September 26 4:30-6:30 Open House and Book Fair 4:30-6:30
October Fall Fair Parade Friday, October 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Terry Fox Run
Dear Parents/Caregivers:
We are excited to announce that our school will be proudly taking part in the 2024 Terry Fox School Run, scheduled to take place Friday Sept 20th @ 9:00. Students are asked to dress accordingly and bring water bottles with them for the run.
The Terry Fox Foundation has created an online fundraising page for our school. Here are some of the ways you can support your child for this year’s Terry Fox event:
Donate by sending in a TOONIE for Terry to school with your child.
Donate online at https://schools.terryfox.ca/68163
Or donate using this link, but first search for our school name. Huronia Centennial https://tffschools.crowdchange.net/ There is no minimum donation, every dollar counts!
Receipts are issued immediately to donors by email.
All donations due by Friday September 20th.
We are very excited to be a part of this year’s Terry Fox event. This is our opportunity to “Try Like Terry” and go the distance for this year’s event. Please join us to support cancer research while building incredible school spirit for all of our students. Thank you in advance for your support!
Picture Day
Fall Photos: Monday October 21 2024
Retake Friday November 22 2024
IEP Consultation forms
If your child is on an Individual Education Plan (IEP), all paperwork will be completed digitally this year. Your child's Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) will be digitally sending IEP Parent Consultation forms this week. You will receive an email from [email protected]. This is NOT considered junk mail or spam. Your child's IEP will not be ready or available until mid-October and you will receive an email from [email protected].
Here are the steps to opening your child's IEP in mid-October:
1.Open the email from [email protected]
2. Click on the blue link to open the IEP
3. Choose a phone number to receive a log-in code.
4. Enter the authorization code within 15 minutes
5. Entering this code will bring you to your Parental Portal “dashboard” where you will see “Signature - Last Locked IEP - Document Signature Request for (your child)”
6. Click on the “Respond” link to proceed
7. Under “Document” you can “Click to view” the IEP. You can also save a PDF version of the IEP at this point.
8. After reviewing the IEP, type in your name, and sign using a mouse, or touch screen to write in the box provided. Click submit.
Daily Announcements
Parents and caregivers can access our daily announcements by clicking on this link.
Elmvale Fall Fair
We encourage our students to participate in the Junior Fair Competition. It’s a great chance for students to show their skills in a wide variety of ways to a larger audience. Students will be doing some activities at school for submission to the fair, but this is a chance for them to do activities on their own time and share them at the fair. It is always exciting for children to see their work displayed at the fair. Follow this link for more information.
Days of Awareness and Celebration
The students and staff of the SCDSB including Huronia Centennial represent a rich diversity of faith, tradition, heritage, culture, and beliefs. Learning about, recognizing, and/or celebrating holy days, holidays, heritage days, and days of awareness that are relevant to our school community helps to build a culture of belonging and engagement. We would love to have conversations with you regarding how we can better address this in our school community. Please reach out to Mrs. Lethbridge [email protected] Keep an eye out for a survey that will be coming to your inbox sometime soon.
Family Game Library
Two years ago, School Council chose to use their Parent Engagement funding to purchase family-friendly board games that support literacy, numeracy and social development. If you still have one of the games and your family is finished with it, please return it to the school. If your family would like to borrow a game, pop into the office or send us a message.
School Board News
September PA Day
Please note that Friday, Sept. 27 is a PA Day for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2024-25 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Sept. 27 elementary PA Day:
Date: Sept. 27, 2024
Length: Full day, in-person
Topics: Literacy, mathematics, and student engagement and well-being
Entity hosting: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): School board staff and school administrators
Descriptions:
Literacy (100 minutes)
Kindergarten educators will learn about embedding literacy within each of the four frames of learning and will apply their learning through collaborative planning. Grade 1 to 8 educators will focus on the continued implementation of the revised language curriculum, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8, Language, 2023, early reading screening, and the planning of responsive data-based interventions in Grades 1 to 3. They will also learn about the use of literacy data to support effective, equitable instruction and assessment practices in Grades 4 to 8.
Mathematics (100 minutes)
All educators will engage in math content knowledge learning related to number concepts as well as how universal design for learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction can be used to support all learners in the math classroom, but specifically those with special education needs. Educators will apply their learning using the concepts of UDL and differentiated instruction to plan responsive instruction.
Student engagement and well-being (100 minutes)
All educators will engage in learning and discussion about cell phone and vape use and their impact on students’ mental and physical health. They will review how to support students with prevalent medical conditions, such as anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy. Educators will also engage in learning about artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on cyber safety, online privacy, and safe use.
SCDSB 2024-25 Student Handbook
The SCDSB student handbook contains a variety of information that the SCDSB is required to share with all students and families. This September, schools will be distributing the student handbook to all families via email. The SCDSB 2024-25 Student Handbook can also be found on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent and on school websites under ‘students’. If you have questions, please contact the school.
School board communication with parents/guardians
The SCDSB is committed to ensuring consistent and reliable information is made available to parents/guardians and acknowledges the positive impact of parent/guardian engagement on student achievement. Visit the SCDSB website to learn how the SCDSB and your child’s school will communicate with you, to review the SCDSB service commitment, and learn how you can communicate your appreciation or concern. You can also find information about how to support your child’s education in the Ministry of Education’s Your Child’s Education: A parent guide to our school system: www.ontario.ca/page/your-childs-education-parent-guide-our-school-system.
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! Watch the video linked below showcasing the 2023-24 school year.
Over the course of the 2023-24 school year, there were so many extraordinary moments captured that showcased talented students, dedicated staff, events, and connections to the community! We invite you to celebrate highlights of these special moments with us! Take a look: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S1S6zYzPgA
Mobile devices in schools
Personal mobile devices are a significant distraction for students at school, especially in the classroom. They can lead to students being disengaged from their learning and isolated from their peers.
In September 2024, based on direction from the Ministry of Education, a new policy regarding mobile devices in school will be reflected in the SCDSB Code of Conduct. As such, students and families need to be aware of the following expectations:
Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6
Personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day except under the following circumstances:
For educational purposes, as directed by an educator;
For health and medical purposes; and/or,
To support special education needs, as documented in the student’s IEP.
Students in Grade 7 to 12
Personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time except under the following circumstances:
For educational purposes, as directed by an educator;
For health and medical purposes; and/or,
To support special education needs, as documented in the student’s IEP.
Parents/guardians may contact the school’s main office to convey a message to their child.
Please be aware that after considering mitigating factors, and after multiple reminders by school staff, progressive discipline may apply if a mobile device is not stored out of view.
For more information, please visit the SCDSB website.
Universal Otis-Lennon School Ability Test screening process
The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is a standardized group test of ability. The results of this test will help us gain a better understanding of students’ areas of relative strength and need as related to their verbal and non-verbal abilities so that we can plan our programs and supports accordingly. Results may also be used to inform identification (e.g., intellectual, gifted).
Students who display an advanced degree of general intellectual ability may require additional program support to reach their educational potential. This support may be through enhancing the curriculum, differentiated instruction, and through providing program extensions and enrichment. This type of programming is important to engage, motivate, and challenge students who are identified as gifted in either the regular classroom or in an elementary gifted classroom placement.
A consent form examining the universal OLSAT screening process in greater detail will be sent to parent(s)/guardian(s) of students in Grade 3 via SchoolCash Online in September.
If you require further information about the universal OLSAT screening process, please contact the school.
Safe Arrival system for SCDSB schools – call 1-888-885-8065 to report an absence
The Simcoe County District School Board’s (SCDSB) Safe Arrival system will support us in continuing to improve our home-to-school communication process and streamline absence reporting. To report a student absence, call 1-888-885-8065. Callers will be prompted to identify the school before leaving a message. Parents should include the student’s name, teachers’ name, dates, and reason for the absence. When schools do not hear from a parent/guardian, and a student is absent, the school will call home to find out the reason for the absence. If you have questions about this system, please contact the school office.
Keep connected with our school and with the SCDSB
It’s important to get accurate information about what’s going on at your school and at the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB). Here are some ways to do that:
Sign up to receive SCDSB media releases by clicking the ‘Subscribe’ button at scdsb.on.ca.
· Follow the SCDSB on X (@SCDSB_Schools), Facebook (facebook.com/SCDSB) and Instagram (instagram.com/scdsb). Follow Huronia Centennial on Facebook Huronia Centennial or visit our website at https://huc.scdsb.on.ca/
Licensed PA Day and holiday 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, March Break, and during summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after
School council nominations for 2024-25 school year
School council is a committee made up of elected parents/guardians, community representatives, staff, and sometimes students that help to provide the community voice and parent/guardian perspective on important school topics. School council is a good way for parents/guardians to get involved in their child/children’s education while playing an important role in the partnership between home and school.
School council nominations take place every fall. If you are interested, please watch your email for upcoming communication and for more information visit www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent/school_councils.
Annual notice to adult students or parent(s)/guardian(s) of students under the age of 16
A completed Student Medical Form (FORM A1420 - 1) is required each school year, or when a medical need is identified, or when the student transfers to another school, in order to authorize medical response plan development and the administration of prescribed medication to students who require it during school hours, or when the medication and/or dosage requirements change. Specific to asthma, every student is now permitted to carry their asthma medication if the student has their parent’s/guardian’s permission. Parent(s)/guardian(s) and adult students are responsible for ensuring that a current, completed Student Medical Form is on file at the school. Parent(s)/guardian(s) and adult students are also to complete a Plan of Care for students with prevalent medical conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma, type 1 diabetes, or epilepsy/seizure disorder.
Some students may experience severe life-threatening allergic reactions to bee, hornet, wasp, or other flying insect stings or to certain foods or food ingredients such as peanuts. The best way to reduce the risk of accidental exposure for these students is to respectfully ask parent(s)/guardian(s) to avoid sending peanut butter or products with peanuts and/or tree nuts listed in the ingredients to school. For students with life-threatening allergies, it is recommended that two doses of an epinephrine auto-injector are available on site at school. Please do not hesitate to contact the school with any questions you may have.
Standard acknowledgment and permission form/student information computing technology appropriate use agreement 2024-25
The 2024-25 Standard Acknowledgment and Permission Form and Student Information Computing Technology Appropriate Use Agreement are required forms for all Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) students. The forms have been made available electronically through SchoolCash Online until Oct. 14. SchoolCash Online is our preferred method for forms. If you are unable to submit these forms electronically, please contact the office for paper copies.
Student accident insurance
The SCDSB does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises, at board-sponsored events, or during school extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs). However, accidents can and do happen. Injuries can result in substantial expenses that are not covered by the SCDSB or provincial health care. If families do not have existing or sufficient extended health or dental coverage, a variety of plans and benefits at reasonable annual prices can be found through either:
StudyInsured at www.studyinsuredstudentaccident.com or by calling 1-833-560-0527; or,
Insure my Kids at www.insuremykids.com or by calling 1-800-463-5437.
Participation in extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs, etc.) require the purchase of this insurance, or other extended health and dental coverage.
Volunteering in schools during the 2024-25 school year
Volunteers are an important part of what makes our schools great places to learn and grow. We value and appreciate the support of our volunteers. Volunteers have various roles at our schools including:
School event volunteer
Hot lunch day organizers
Field trip supervisors
Classroom helpers
Please contact your local school’s office if you are interested in volunteering and would like to know more about the opportunities available.
To become a volunteer in a Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) school, you must complete accessibility training and submit a current (dated within six months) Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). Schools require all VSCs to be in their original form and emailed directly to the school for processing. Please note, volunteers are unable to upload VSCs directly to the volunteer portal. Each potential volunteer must create an account within the volunteer portal. Please remember to choose the school you wish to volunteer with.
If you do not have a computer or require assistance, please contact the school.
Current volunteers
Current approved volunteers must keep their Community Apps account/Volunteer Portal information up-to-date with email address changes. Communication is sent throughout the year to the provided email address with respect to timelines, necessary requirements, etc. regarding your volunteer status. Instructions on how to change your email address in Community Apps can be found here: www4.scdsb.on.ca/app/CommunityPass/Help/Docs. Updating your email address in your Community Apps account will automatically update your email address in your Volunteer Portal.
Current volunteers should:
· Complete an annual offence declaration through the SCDSB Community Apps – Volunteers page for up to four years to continue volunteering.
· Submit a new VSC at the beginning of the fifth year.
· Be responsible for the cost of the VSC.
· Be responsible to the principal and work under the supervision of teaching staff.
· Work cooperatively as part of a team to support and supplement school programs.
· Respect the confidentiality of the relationship to the school, ensuring that staff issues and student work and behaviour issues are held in confidence.
· Adhere to established SCDSB and school procedures.
· Communicate regularly with staff.
· Be prompt, dependable and regular in attendance, and give advance notice to teachers when unable to attend.
If you are also a parent, check out our Parent Portal: www.scdsb.on.ca/cms/one.aspx?pageId=371986.
Procedures help keep our school safe
We have a number of procedures in place to keep our school safe. You can help your child understand and feel safe by:
talking to them about the situations below
reminding them that emergencies are rare
telling them it’s important to follow staff instructions in these situations
Parents/guardians should talk about the following emergency drills with their children:
Shelter in place is used when there is an environmental or weather-related situation, like a chemical spill outside the building, or a major storm. Activities continue inside the school. Students and staff are not allowed to leave the building. The ventilation system may be shut off temporarily.
A hold and secure is used when there is a situation in the community, not related to the school, like a bank robbery nearby. Activities continue, but all exterior doors are locked. No one is allowed to enter or exit the school.
A lockdown is used when there is a major incident or a threat of violence related to the school. Students and staff move to secure areas, away from doors and windows. Interior doors are locked, lights are shut off and blinds are drawn. Students and staff remain quiet. We practice lockdown drills at least two times per year. In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown situation, police ask that parents/guardians do not go to the school. Information will be communicated directly to families by email using the email address on file at your child’s school.
All schools have evacuation plans in case of gas leaks, bomb threats or fire incidents that would require everyone to leave the school. We hold drills to practice our evacuation plan. In a real evacuation, students and staff may go to the evacuation site, depending on the situation. Parents/guardians will be informed about pick-up procedures by the school, school board and local media.
When parents/guardians are at school during a drill or emergency event, they must follow direction from school staff, police, fire, and/or emergency personnel. Parents/guardians may not have immediate access to their children during drills or emergencies. They may need to wait until the situation is resolved and school staff and/or emergency personnel release students into parent/guardian care.
It’s important for you to know we’ll always take whatever precautions are necessary to keep our school and students safe.
Please note the following:
Elementary school main doors are locked during the school day. Visitors must use the intercom system and wait for assistance. Staff may not be available to answer the door immediately, so please be patient.
Staff must complete a criminal record check before having contact with students.
We ask parents/guardians of elementary students to contact us when their child will be absent from school as part of our Safe Arrival program. When we don’t hear from a parent/guardian and a student is absent, we will call home to find out the reason for the absence.
At least two staff members in every school are trained in first aid and CPR. All SCDSB schools have automated external defibrillators (AED).
Student dress code
Our board’s dress code is one way that we embed the principles set out in the SCDSB and Ministry of Education documents, Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario and Equity and Inclusive Education, to ensure safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for all of our students. In SCDSB schools, we believe that students should be able to learn in a safe and caring space that is free of bias and discrimination. When making choices about what to wear to school, we respect your individuality. To ensure that our learning environments are safe and respectful spaces, our board has consulted with students and staff to develop a set of shared standards for student dress.
The SCDSB dress code is available on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/dress_code. If you have questions about the dress code, contact your school principal.
School bus ‘Bus Tag’ program helps students get to and from school safely
The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium’s Bus Tag program supports safety for JK/SK and other school-identified students. The program helps match students to their assigned afternoon school bus and identifies that they must be met by a parent/guardian at their afternoon bus stop.
The program provides a colour-coded bus tag with the assigned p.m. route number, to be attached to the student’s backpack, and a colour-coded route card with route number in the windows of the school bus that the bus tag is matched to. The program can also provide tags for students who are walkers and/or who remain at an on-site child care centre to make sure they don’t get on a bus in error.
For more information, visit main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca.
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 www.familyconnexions.ca or complete the form here: familyconnexions.ca/contact/.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions
Tips for a smooth start back to school
- Routines help: pack lunches together, pick clothes the night before, relax before bed without screens.
- Encourage a positive outlook by asking about what they enjoy about school and what they can look forward to.
- It is normal for there to be back-to-school worries. Validate their feelings and help them to think of ways to manage situations. Offer reassurance and remind them that there are adults at school to help.
- Spend time together, be outdoors, learn ways to relax, support well-being.
- Talk about road safety and routes to school. For younger children, practice route to school (or bus) together.
For more information, call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Walk or wheel
Walking or cycling to school is a great way for your child to get the 60 minutes of daily physical activity that’s needed for good mental and physical health. It also builds responsibility and independence and helps them feel more connected to the community. More walkers mean less traffic around schools, which helps keep students safe and improves outdoor air quality. Even one day a week of walking or cycling to school can make a big difference!
To find out more about how to support active and safe routes to school through School Travel Planning, visit: www.ontarioactiveschooltravel.ca/school-travel-planning/.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit