VINCENT MASSEY P.S.

NEWSLETTER

A Peanut & Nut Safe School

Bev Assinck, Principal                                                             Jackie Robinson, School Council Chair    Beverly_Assinck@kprdsb.ca                                                 stillscrappin@yahoo.ca          

Lenore O’Rahilly Acting Principal

DATES TO REMEMBER

October 1 – World Habitat Day

October 2 – International Day of

Non-Violence

Simchat Torah

October 2  – Junior Soccer at Clarington Fields – Cancelled see Oct. 10

October 4 – Cross Country at Courtice Secondary

Oct 5 – Orange Shirt Day

October 5 – World Teachers Day

October 8 – Thanksgiving Day/School Closed

October 9 - Intermediate Soccer at Clarington Fields

Pizza Day

October 9 – German Pioneers Day

Navratri begins

October 10 – Jr. Soccer at Orono Fields

October 15 – Room 111 to Wilmot Creek

October 16 – World Food Day

October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

October 18 – Persons’ Day

Dussehra

Navratri ends

October 22 – Bus Safety

October 24 – United Nations Day

October 24 - Jr. Flag Rugby at Clarington Fields

October 26- Intermediate Flag Rugby at Clarington Fields

October 26 – Picture Retake Day

October 31 – Hallowe’en

DATES TO LOOK FOR

Nov 1 – Gr. 7 Immunizations

Nov 2 – Dental Screening

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

The days of fall are indeed upon us with the beautiful array of colour on our neighbourhood trees!
Throughout the month of September, the staff and students worked together to establish and settle into effective routines and positive relationships, it is our hope that these efforts will support success in learning and happiness in living as we continue to build community here at Vincent Massey PS.  
Our Open House was very well attended - it was great to see and meet so many families as they visited classrooms and mingled with staff.  I hope that during your visit you were able to visit your child’s class, learn something new and meet the educators that work closest with your children. Thank you for taking the time to share the evening with us!
During Safe and Caring School Week our school community practiced a number of emergency responses - we will continue to practice periodically throughout the school year. Our goal is to work together to make

VINCENT MASSEY P.S.

NEWSLETTER

A Peanut & Nut Safe School

November 2018

Bev Assinck, Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Jackie Robinson, School Council Chair   

Beverly_Assinck@kprdsb.ca                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   stillscrappin@yahoo.ca                               

Lenore O’Rahilly                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Acting Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Principal’s Message

Dear Families of Vincent Massey PS,

November already!  It is hard to believe that we already have two months of school under our belts and the time for our first reporting period is upon us. Progress Reports will be sent home on November 8^th and if not already done so, your child’s teacher will be sending information about conferences as well.

At this time, I would like to express my personal thanks to the Vincent Massey Public School community for a tremendous first ‘leg’ of our learning journey.  Thank you staff and students for your enthusiasm in and outside the classroom - you are awesome!   The many volunteers who help out daily in so many ways are an invaluable asset to our students and school and we are especially thankful for their on-going support and involvement. And as always, our School Council continues to support our efforts in so many ways—thank you!

The month of October ended in proper fashion with a Fall and Hallowe’en celebration...  By all appearances, a good time was had by staff, students alike!

This month we will focus our attention as a school community on three very important events.  On November 9^th we will assemble for our Day of Remembrance where we will honour and show our respect for the men and women that served our country during history’s most trying times.  As a sign of our appreciation and respect, each student will be given and be wearing a poppy for our assembly. This flower is a very significant and respected symbol for this day - it is also an important way of reminding us that every one of these brave Canadians is never to be forgotten. To this end, a small, voluntary, monetary donation will be gratefully accepted on November 9^th in support of our local legion – Bowmanville #178.  Our Assembly will begin at 10:45 a.m.  Please join us if you are able.

On Saturday, November 11^th, a wreath donated by our school, will be laid at the Cenotaph at the Bowmanville Remembrance

VINCENT MASSEY P.S.

NEWSLETTER

A Peanut & Nut Safe School

December, 2018

Bev Assinck, Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Jackie Robinson, School Council Chair   

Beverly_Assinck@kprdsb.ca                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           stillscrappin@yahoo.ca

VINCENT MASSEY P.S.
NEWSLETTER
A Peanut & Nut Safe School
January 2019
Nicholas Shea, Principal Jackie Robinson

NEW & IMPORTANT

When dropping off

and picking up students.

If busses are present

in the main

parking lot

vehicles will not be

permitted to enter

Please obey no parking signs!

Check out the New Canada Food Guide

Please enjoy the attached February Newsletter

It is that time of year!

If you require out of boundary bussing or sitter/childcare requests for 2019-2020, please read the attached document.

BATTERY RECYCLING PROGRAM

Vincent Massey is starting a battery recycling program.  We encourage students to bring in any old batteries.  There is a white pail just outside the office for them to go in. Please put tape on the positive and negative ends of the battery

Help us Help the Environment!

Vincent Massey Spirit Wear Shop is Now OPEN!

Visit http://vincentmasseypsbowmanville.entripyshops.com/ to register. Shopping at this site works like any other online shopping site, with orders shipped directly to you. Vincent Massey will receive a 10% rebate on all purchases through this site. We will be using these funds to purchase new jerseys.  

Go online and register today to discover the variety of items available. There are many different logo designs available and options to personalize items in different ways. There are even some special logos for our Grade 8 Grads.

Vincent Massey is sharing our new jersey design so personalized jerseys can be purchased and used for sports teams. The jersey shirt will be a black ATC Pro Team Tee (Youth, Men’s and Ladies sizes are available). Choose the same logo shown in the picture (on back), along with a number for the back, the words: “Be Awesome” in white on the right shoulder and students may choose to add their name above the number (as seen in the example shown on back).

See the attached document for more information

VINCENT MASSEY P.S.
NEWSLETTER
A Peanut & Nut Safe School
March 2019

ATTENTION YOUTH: Are you interested in having a voice in your #community? You  can join and benefit by receiving: community service hours, gaining skills and experience, helping to develop #youth social media, connecting with other youth and receiving FREE training opportunities! Visit durham.ca/youth for more information or to join. #YouthEngagement

VINCENT MASSEY P.S.

NEWSLETTER

A Peanut & Nut Safe School

May 2019

Please find attached the June newsletter

Starting next school year, we can use School Messenger to send tests to families who opt in!  This is a quick and easy way to receive important information about school events, attendance, and more.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Order your VMPS Spirit wear on our very own website and the school will receive 10% back on every order submitted. Visit the website below: …https://vincentmasseypsbowmanville.entripyshops.com

Parent Volunteers Needed: Contact Mr. Shea for more INFO!!

Dear Parents/Guardians and Community members,

                Research has shown that reading the same text for several days in a row helps children retain new words and allows them to gain confidence in their ability to read. As a response to this idea, Vincent Massey Public School is excited to announce the start of a new Volunteer Reading Program. This program will allow students to read with an adult on a daily basis. We are hoping to invest 10 minutes a day so that your child can become a better reader and a life-long learner.

We are asking for volunteers who can come and support our Volunteer Reading Program. The minimum time requirement is an hour one day pre-week. (Please let us know if you can do more than an hour or more than one day as this would help us with scheduling and benefit more students.) Please fill in and detach the bottom portion of this letter and have your child hand it to their teacher, and their teacher will pass it on to Mr. Shea.

Thanks so much for volunteering and we are looking forward to working with all of you in supporting our young readers to become life-long learners.

Who do you call?? Please call Mr. Shea at 905-623-5502 or email nicholas_shea@kprdsb.ca

Please help us collect donations for Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services.

Kaps4Kids

On Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Vincent Massey will be encouraging our students to wear their KAPS.  In exchange for a $1 donation students will be permitted to wear their hat, cap, scarf, etc.  Funds raised will go to the OPACC (Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer).

This fundraiser is to support a student at Charles Bowman who has been fighting Leukemia since August 2016.  He will be taking his final medication at a hockey game with his team to celebrate his beating Cancer.  One of our Vincent Massey students is part of the team and we are excited to support him and his teammate.  Remember our school motto.

“I am because we are…together we are a community”

VINCENT MASSEY’s

HOLIDAY MARKET

Calling all Maker Moms (& Dads)!!

Looking to our community for parents interested in renting a table in our upcoming Holiday Market

Priority will go to our parents

One vender per product type will be accepted.

Event: December 11^th from 4-8pm

Tables are available for $50.00

Email to book:

Vmpsholidaymarket@gmail.com

Please see the water testing letter for KPRDSB buildings

New Phone Number, Web Address, Phone App Coming for Reporting Absences

At KPR, student safety is our highest priority, and we thank families for adopting the automated safe arrival system to help ensure students arrive safely at school each day. 

Starting this September, we will be introducing a new automated Student Absence Reporting System.  Therefore, you will need to create a NEW account to report your children’s absences online. 

You will receive an email in August with instructions on how to create your new account and download the mobile app.  You also will receive a magnet in September with the new Student Absence Reporting System details.  Unfortunately, since ownership of the reporting software has changed, we cannot simply transfer your child’s information to the new system.

Watch for more information in the summer.

Many parents and guardians have been wondering what effect the legalization of marijuana will have on  KPR schools. In short, KPR schools will treat cannabis in much the same way they treat alcohol: students of any age will not be allowed to use marijuana at schools, on school buses or field trips. 

 Once the new federal law comes into effect this October 17:

• non-medical marijuana use will be legal only for those age 19 and older 
• any student, at any age, could be suspended for possessing or being under the influence of cannabis at school
• any student who shares marijuana with others younger than 19 could be expelled from school
• it will be illegal for adults to use cannabis on, or within 20 metres of, school grounds
• it will be illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, and drivers age 21 or under will not be allowed to have any cannabis in their system.

 If you have any questions about cannabis at school, please speak with your principal or vice-principal.  Further information on the new law is available at Ontario.ca/cannabis.  Information on how to talk to your child about cannabis can be found at Cannabis Information – CAMH.

KPR wishes everyone a happy holiday. We hope that this time allows for some much needed rest for students, staff, parents and guardians, and allows families opportunities to celebrate together.

While the holidays can be joyous, they can also be difficult for some.  We wanted to provide families with some resources you may find useful over the holiday season. Our mission is that all students remain safe, and this includes their mental and physical well-being.

Mental health is a state of well-being; it is relevant to all of us.  According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health crisis or illness.  It is important to us that we remind everyone to use resources that are accessible to all.  These include:

• the Be Safe App, a free mobile app that aims to help young adults make healthy decisions during a crisis; it can be downloaded onto cell phones from https://besafeapp.ca/
• Kids Help Phone, also available 24/7, at 1-800-668-6868 or text “CONNECT” to 686868
• Four County Crisis line, available 24/7 for Northumberland and Peterborough County residents at 1-866-995-9933
• Durham Mobile Crisis Services, available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis, at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
• Connex Ontario Mental Health Helpline, provides information about mental health services in Ontario 24/7, at 1-866-531-2600 or www.connexontario.ca
• Ontario 211, a free helpline that connects people to community and social services in your area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 2-1-1.

Your family also has access to your closest hospital, as well as to regional supports serving specific areas of KPR.

Let's keep our mental health and the mental health of those we love and care about in the forefront.  We encourage you to use community support services if you ever find yourself or someone near and dear to you struggling and in need of assistance.

Once again, we wish everyone season’s greetings, a Merry Christmas, and safe holidays.

Grief Resources

Is your child experiencing loss and grief?  Here are some resources recommended by our School Board Counsellors:

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/grief.html

Do you have concerns about your child’s social, emotional or mental health that may be hindering their ability to thrive at school?

KPR schools have skilled clinicians who can support your child and you in finding answers. School Board Counsellors have professional degrees and specialize in work with children, youth and families. Please contact your School Principal for more information.

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/schoolboardcounsellorservices.html

Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being.  Students experiencing mental health issues may have problems with mood, focus, behaviour and their ability to relate to peers, maintain friendships, do well in school and participate in activities.

But where can parents and guardians go for help if they are concerned about their child's or teen's mental health?  For more information, and suggestions for helpful resources, visit: 

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth.html

Hey, KPR Family: We missed you! We're looking forward to seeing everyone back at school September 3. If you moved over the summer, or have questions for school staff, please contact the school office between August 22-29. Otherwise, September 3 is the big day for KPR students to get back into the swing of things!

We want to provide this update to inform our parents of ongoing negotiations with our transportation providers.                                                                       

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) manages transportation services for 26,100 students every day on behalf of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Daily service is delivered by local school bus companies contracted by STSCO, and we have been in discussion with our providers for a number of months to reach new contract terms.

Negotiations are continuing and we are working towards reaching an agreement with local school bus operators for the coming school year.

It is our goal to arrive at new contracts that recognize the important and professional service our bus drivers provide in transporting our students safely to and from school.

We remain optimistic that normal bus service will be in place for students for the start of the school year. Should this situation change, we will inform parents/guardians as soon as possible.

Regular updates on this matter will be posted by STSCO at stsco.ca and on Twitter at @stsco_ca and shared by the school boards and local media. 

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) and local school bus companies contracted by STSCO have reached a tentative agreement on new contract terms.

As a result, there will be normal bus service for students for the start of the school year.  Please visit stsco.ca for further information.

The KPR Board is committed to providing safe learning environments for all. When students behave inappropriately, principals use progressive discipline to change behaviour. When student behaviours pose a potential threat to safety or serious harm, KPR’s Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol helps principals take immediate steps to protect student well-being.  While such incidents are rare, the VTRA outlines how we work with local police, mental health providers and community agencies to keep students safe. Read more about the protocol, including notification requirements, in the Safe, Caring and Restorative Schools section of kprschools.ca .  As always, student safety is our first priority.  Should you have any questions, please speak with your principal.

Calling all parents and caregivers: join us the morning of Saturday, October 19 at Port Hope High School for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference! Dr. Michael Ungar, world renowned expert on building resiliency in children and youth, will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear his engaging advice, while also enjoying free child minding for ages two and older, light refreshments and information booths staffed by local organizations serving families. Stay tuned for more information and registration details later in September at www.kprschools.ca

KPR welcomes parents of students ages 12-17 to register for a free, two-day Mental Health First Aid course, September 23-24 in Peterborough.  Space is limited. For details and registration, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mental-health-first-aid-tickets-71846457689  

Now’s your chance to register for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference, featuring internationally renowned resilience researcher Dr. Michael Ungar!

Registration continues until October 11 at www.kprschools.ca for:

2019 Parent Conference

The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them

Saturday, October 19

9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Port Hope High School, 130 Highland Dr., Port Hope

With Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Ungar

Plus light refreshments, child minding for ages 2 & older, & booths by agencies serving families

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear Dr. Michael Ungar, a funny and engaging speaker who is considered one of the top experts on resilience in Canada and internationally.

It’s all FREE. If you need assistance, have questions or if there are accommodations that would make the conference more accessible for you, please call 705-742-9773 or toll-free 1-877-741-4577, ext. 2001, or email judy_malfara@kprdsb.ca

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Parent Update: CUPE Strike Action – School Closures

Further to our message yesterday, and after extensive consideration, we are writing to inform parents that if a provincial agreement is not reached over the weekend, and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) staff begin their announced full withdrawal of service, schools will be closed to students on Monday, October 7, 2019. 

We share your concern and disappointment with this possibility, and wanted to provide an update on our plans as soon as possible to allow parents to make alternative arrangements if needed.

Student safety is always our first priority. This decision has been made because we do not believe we can provide safe and secure learning environments for all students in the event of a full CUPE strike.

Our considerations include:

• supervision of students;
• medical supports and care for all students;
• safe operation of water and sanitation systems, including legislated water flushing;
• conditions of school buildings and classrooms, and
• overall safety and security.

We are pleased that negotiations have been reported to be continuing on Friday. We remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached this weekend to avert disruption to our students and families.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will provide confirmation to parents about school status for Monday as soon as we are able. This will likely be on Sunday evening, through:

• School Messenger
• Local news media
• Our website and social media platforms: www.kprschools.ca, @kprschools on Twitter, and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Diane Lloyd, Chairperson of the Board
Jennifer Leclerc, Director of Education

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is excited to offer three travel for credit courses in July 2020. The first course, Civics and Careers, is offered to students currently in grade nine. The second course, English, Grade 11, University Preparation, is offered to students entering grade eleven. The third course, French immersion and core is offered to students entering grade eleven. You are invited to attend an information session in your region for more information.

RSVP to the meeting at: www.eftours.ca/creditinfo

Contact: John Ford 1-877-741-4577, ext. 3124

…to register for KPR’s Parent Conference coming to Port Hope HS Saturday, October 19, 9-11:30 a.m. The child minding service is full, but there are still some seats left for the adults to hear world-renowned resilience expert Dr. Michael Ungar. A funny and engaging speaker, he will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Register by October 15 from our home page at kprschools.ca

All families and community members are invited to attend three free events being held in honour of KPR's 3rd annual Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month. 

Each evening event is a film screening followed by a panel discussion, as follows:

  Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m.
  Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute, Peterborough 
  Screening & discussion of Colten Boushie Documentary

  Thursday, November 21, 7 p.m.
  Port Hope High School 
  Screening & discussion of Rumble

 Thursday, November 28, 7 p.m.
 Bowmanville High School 
 Screening & discussion of Our People Will Be Healed

Pre-registration is not required.  Drop in at these free events!

Parents and caregivers:

Registration opens November 8 for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Parent Workshops on Kids Have Stress Too!  

The workshops will run from 10-11:30 a.m. at three locations:

              Friday, November 29 at the Education Centre in Peterborough

              Tuesday, December 10 at KPR’s Kirby Professional Learning Centre in Clarington

              Tuesday, March 31 at Port Hope High School

Visit kprschools.ca after November 8 for details and to register for one of these workshops!

Meet HGTV star Kate Campbell while learning about opportunities in the skilled trades at Women in Trades & Technology. This event, of particular interest to female students in Grades 7-12, will take place at Fleming College in Peterborough as follows:

Tuesday, November 19
6 p.m.
Kawartha Trades & Technology Centre, Fleming College

Meet successful skilled tradespeople and have your questions answered, tour the Trades & Technology Centre, and listen to advice from HGTV star carpenter and keynote speaker Kate Campbel, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.

To register, visit https://flemingcollege.ca/women-in-trades-and-technology