Newsletter items for SCDSB schools
September 2024
The
below information is for SCDSB families for the month of September.
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.
Achievement
of learning outcomes in core academic skills (120 minutes)
Literacy
Grade 9 educators will collaborate on the continued implementation of the 2023
de-streamed Grade 9 English/Français courses, including the use of the SCDSB
Secondary Literacy instruction and assessment resources, and the SCDSB FSL de-streamed
resources.
Mathematics
Grade 9 educators will engage in math content knowledge learning related to
number/algebra concepts such as exponent laws 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.
Preparation
of students for future success (120 minutes)
Educators will engage in learning about equitable assessment practices and
creating a feedback-rich environment that supports student achievement and
well-being. They will action their learning using resources designed to support
the implementation of intentional feedback relevant to the courses they are
teaching in semester one.
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.
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:
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