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SAFE ARRIVAL
New Safe Arrival system for SCDSB schools – _call 1-888-885-8065 to report an absence (elementary).
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has a new Safe Arrival system at elementary schools.
This 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 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 the new system, please contact the school office.
PAY WITH SCHOOLCASH ONLINE
We have made it easy for parents to make their school purchases from the convenience of their own home. Whether it’s lunch days, field trips or school wear, we have it online for you!
Follow these three steps to get started:
1. Go to simcoecounty.schoolcashonline.com or visit our school website and click on ‘Pay Fees’
2. Register and add your child to the newly created account
3. View and purchase items through bank transfer or credit card It’s safe, fast and convenient!
Contact the office with any questions at [email protected].
Fall Fun Fair
The Intermediate students will be planning and running a school-wide fun fair on October 27th! Stay tuned for a flyer coming home about pricing for tickets (don't worry - there will be both free and paid
games). Happy fall!
October PA Day
Please note that Friday, Oct. 20 is a PA Day for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2023-24 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 Oct. 20 PA Day:
Educators will participate in a half-day Health and Safety digital learning session focused on health and safety incident reporting and investigations with a particular emphasis on the essential aspect of workplace violence prevention. The session will equip staff with the knowledge and tools to report incidents effectively and promptly, provide insights into the investigative and risk mitigation process, fostering transparency and accountability, and highlight the critical role staff play in preventing workplace injuries.
Educators will learn about Somali, Latino, South Asian, and African Black Indigenous heritage. They will collaboratively plan within grades and divisions. Through this, they will celebrate identities and create environments that foster well-being and sense of belonging.
Educators will choose learning related to the Knowledgehook digital math tool based on their readiness. Different learning pathways have been planned for new users, those with some experience, and those who are ready to extend their use of the math tool. All participants will learn about how to invite parents/guardians to view their child’s progress. Additionally, educators will engage in High Impact Instructional Practices in Mathematics learning modules that align with their school’s Achievement in Mathematics goal.
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 www.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: https://scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
In order to receive delay and cancellation notifications, families can check the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or download the ‘BusPlanner Delays’ app from the Apple or Android app stores to receive delay notifications to their devices. Users would need to select Simcoe County STC as the transportation authority. The app will need to be forced closed, but you will be able to select your student(s) routes or school to receive delays.
The app will send a general notice for any cancellation in Simcoe County. You only need to know which ‘zone’ you’re in, so you would know which one to look out for in the app. You can find your student’s zone by visiting the School Bus Status page at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca and clicking the dropdown for the area you live in.
School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
School Bus Safety Week takes place Oct. 16 to 20, 2023. Please visit the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca for information on school bus safety and links to school bus safety resources. Oct. 19, 2023 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in the province of Ontario. It’s a great opportunity for the school community to thank our bus drivers for all their hard work transporting students to and from school safely.
Get on the move
There are many benefits to walking or wheeling to school. Walking or wheeling to school reduces traffic, helps students establish healthy lifestyles, is better for the environment and enhances community safety. Wherever possible, we encourage students within walking zones to get on the move and walk or wheel to school. For more information please visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website here: bit.ly/3OC4CJ9
Upcoming in-person Grade 1 French Immersion information sessions
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 English and French.
Information sessions for families who are considering entry into Grade 1 FI for the 2024-25 school year will take place at Ferndale Woods, November 14th at 6:00pm, and online applications will open in December 2023.
Entry into the FI program will be determined through a digitally randomized lottery system. A link to access the Grade 1 FI online application form will be available on the SCDSB website starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 until 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. For more information regarding French Immersion, visit www.scdsb.on.ca, then select ‘elementary’, and ‘French as a Second Language’.
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8 to 14
This year, the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™’, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, along with a wealth of resources to help promote the campaign locally, visit fpw.org.
Information from the National Fire Protection Association website
Parents’ Guide to Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting
Learn to navigate the world of assessment, evaluation, and reporting with this new guide for parents/guardians. Created to support parents/guardians understanding of assessment, this guide was designed to effectively empower you to actively engage in your child's educational journey. The guide has been posted to the Simcoe County District School Board’s website and can be accessed via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm.
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.
Interested in learning more about the ways that the SCDSB supports students with special education needs and their families? Join us for a virtual special education outreach series
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/caregivers in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
The first session, IEPs and school-based assessments – information for parents/caregivers, will be held on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This virtual presentation will include an opportunity for participants to share some of their questions regarding IEPs and special education programming.
Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about upcoming sessions and how to register on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.