Guthrie Public School Newsletter
June 2025
Principal’s Message:
It is hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end! Once again, it has been a busy year and our staff and students have been working hard. We have had so many wonderful events and activities this year and we look forward to our School Fun Fair taking place this Thursday. We hope to see many families there!
It is with mixed emotions that I officially share that I will be leaving as the Principal of Guthrie as I am opening the new school in Oro-Medonte, Horseshoe Heights P.S. While I am looking forward to this new adventure, I have truly enjoyed my time at Guthrie and will miss the staff, families, and all the students. Thank you so much to the Guthrie community for your support over the last three years. It truly has been a wonderful school to be a part of.
Guthrie will also be saying goodbye to several of our staff members who are moving to Horseshoe Heights. We wish the best of luck to the following staff as they embark on this new adventure: Mrs. Minnings, Mrs. Barkley, Mrs. LeRoux, Mr. Morris, Mrs. Cain, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Finney. As well, Mr. Letour, our Lead Custodian, will be moving to Horseshoe Heights. I am excited that these staff as well as some of our students will be joining me as we open the new school but I know they will be missed here at Guthrie!
Each year, we often have retirements, and this year is no different as Mrs. Lee will be retiring. Mrs. Lee’s smiling face and energy will be greatly missed around the halls of Guthrie. We wish her the very best and congratulate her on a wonderful career. Additionally, Mrs. Woods will be leaving Guthrie at the end of this year as she is off to another school.
We will also be welcoming two new staff to Guthrie for next year who will be our Grade 8 teachers. Welcome to Ms. Watson as well as Mr. Trafford, who will be replaced by an LTO for next year as he is continuing his work in a central role at the board office. We also will continue to have Mr. Norris as our Principal this spring, supporting all of our changes.
We truly have had a wonderful year at Guthrie and we are looking forward to our end of year events including our Grade 8 graduation. We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe summer! For those families moving to other schools and for all our Grade 8 graduates and staff who are moving on, we wish you the best of luck.
Mrs. Dianna Wright-Drzazga
Guthrie School Organization 2025-206 School Year:
Kindergarten – Mrs. Liedtke & Mrs. Crossley
Kindergarten – Mrs. Oatway & Mrs. Baker
Kindergarten / Gr. 1 – Mrs. Masterson
Gr. 1 – Mrs. Sage
Gr. 1/2 – Mrs. Aldridge
Gr. 2 – Mrs. Cillis
Gr. 3 – Mrs. Laframboise
Gr. 3 – Mrs. Rutledge
Gr. 4 – Mrs. Grady
Gr. 4/5 – Mr. Leonard
Gr. 5 – Mr. Murphy
Gr. 5/6 – Mrs. Jolliffe
Gr. 6 – Mrs. Carter
Gr. 7 – Ms. Gaudet
Gr. 7/8 – Mr. Bulovs
Gr. 8 – Ms. Watson
Gr. 8 – LTO (to be hired)
FSL – Mme. Micheli & Mme. Osmond
PT – Mrs. Wand & Mme. Osmond
SERT/Learning Centre – Mrs. MacIntosh
Music – Mr. Knapp
Library – Mrs. Davey
Important Dates at Guthrie:
June 2 -4 Grade 6 EQAO; Grade 7’s to Kandalore; Grade 8’s to Brock
June 5 Spring Carnival 5:00PM – 7:30PM (rain date June 12)
June 6 PD Day (students do not attend school)
June 9 Jump Rope for Heart (rain date June 13)
June 10 Track and Field at Eastview S.S.
June 17 Kindergarten End of Year celebration
June 20 Report Cards home
June 23 Grade 8 Graduation
June 26 Last Day of School
Days of Awareness 2024-25
As you prepare your school’s newsletter package, please review the days of awareness calendar on the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion. Please include what is relevant to your school community in your June newsletter package.
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 Facebook (facebook.com/SCDSB/), Instagram (@scdsb), and X (@SCDSB_Schools).
Reminder: Complete the 2024-25 SCDSB Student Census
Parents/guardians of children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are invited to complete the 2024-25 SCDSB Student Census on behalf of their child or children by June 27. The census may be accessed through an email invitation or by visiting https://tinyurl.com/SCDSBStudentCensus.
Information in the census helps us to determine how to best utilize resources and plan appropriate programming, learning opportunities, and events. The census is confidential and voluntary.
If you would like more information about the census, please visit scdsb.on.ca/census. If you have questions regarding the SCDSB Student Census, please contact the Research and Decision Support department at [email protected].
Online learning graduation requirement and opt-out options
Students are required to earn two online learning credits to graduate from secondary school, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year. The online learning graduation requirement now also applies to adult learners, beginning with those that entered the Ontario secondary school system in the 2023-24 school year. The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.
Opting out
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the mandatory online learning credits required for graduation. To opt out, a parent/guardian must submit the Secondary Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-out Form: www4.scdsb.on.ca/app/Questionnaires/SCDSB/ELEARNING_OPT_OUT. Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:
- the parent/guardian of the secondary student
- students who are 18 years of age or older
- students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control
Check with your local school if you have questions regarding the registration or opt-out process.
Student Achievement Plan
In alignment with the Education Act (Subsection 169.1(4)), school boards are required to use the Student Achievement Plan (SAP) Public Reporting Template to publicly report on the progress made with respect to provincially established student achievement priorities.
The Public Reporting Template is available on the SCDSB website (scdsb.on.ca/about/goals_reporting/student_achievement_plan). The SCDSB is consulting with committees of the board and collecting feedback on the SAP. If you wish to provide feedback, you can send an email to [email protected].
Indigenous Education flag
The SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department is excited to announce the new Indigenous Education flag. This flag was created by Indigenous members of the SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department in collaboration with local Indigenous community members. This flag will be raised at all SCDSB schools and the Education Centre from June 16 to 20 to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is also the summer solstice. Families and community members are invited to join in recognizing and celebrating the vibrant cultures and histories of Indigenous Peoples.
The flag represents the rich cultures and contributions of diverse Indigenous Peoples in Simcoe County and includes symbols such as:
- the Medicine Wheel to signify First Nation communities
- the Infinity symbol to represent citizens of the Métis Nation
- the Inukshuk to symbolize Inuit communities
Surrounding these symbols is sweetgrass, signifying unity and respect among Indigenous Peoples.
Every Child Matters flags will be respectfully acknowledged during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 in recognition of survivors and our deep commitment to reconciliation in education, honouring survivor’s legacy, and truth.
To learn more about Indigenous education in the SCDSB, visit: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/indigenous_education
Use of student information to transition from elementary to secondary
As students progress from elementary school to secondary school, important personal student information is shared which eases each student’s transition. Sharing this information also improves our ability to program effectively to benefit all students. The collection and use of personal student information for such purposes is authorized under the Education Act. Please note that all information used for the transition process is limited, secure, and protected at all times. Please contact (Peter McLean), Superintendent of Education, if you would like more information about the transition process at (Eastview Secondary School).
Shelter in place
SCDSB schools and worksites have established safety procedures which are in place to keep students and staff safe in emergency situations, such as a shelter in place. A 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. During a shelter in place, activities will continue inside the school, but students and staff will not be allowed to leave the building, including for bussing or pick-up by parent(s)/guardian(s). It’s important for you to know that the safety of our students is our top priority. If you have any questions or concerns, as always, please contact the school.
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch all of these weekly episodes, and check out our recent video below featuring Education Week in the SCDSB.
Each year, the SCDSB recognizes Education Week at the beginning of May. Education Week provides us with an opportunity to celebrate education and recognize the contributions of SCDSB staff throughout the year. Together, we all contribute to creating environments where students can learn, grow, and succeed.
The SCDSB is truly fortunate to have over 7,000 passionate, supportive, and dedicated staff members. Thank you all for making the SCDSB the place to be! Watch as students from Regent Park Public School share letters of appreciation to SCDSB staff members who have made a difference in their lives: youtube.com/watch?v=OCD2Jzw0buc&t=1s
Kindergarten orientation
Kindergarten orientation sessions will be held throughout the SCDSB in the spring of 2025. These sessions provide families with the opportunity to engage with their school community as their children prepare to enter school. Learn more about the sessions and find out when your child's school is holding theirs: scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=8385299.
Licensed summer school 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 over the summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found at scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Spend a fraction of your time on math!
New math problems, games, and activities are added to Math at Home monthly! Visit www.scdsb.on.ca/MathatHome to find fun, engaging ways to support your child in learning math.
In June, activities in school and on Math at Home involve consolidating the year’s learning, mental math, and math facts! Looking for ways to continue supporting your child’s learning at home during the summer months? Visit Math at Home for summer learning inspiration!
Join the SCDSB for a virtual special education information series
During the 2024-25 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has hosted virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
Please join us for the upcoming session:
Every day communication strategies
June 17
We understand that life is very busy, and we want to help support families incorporate communication into every day activities that are already happening at home. In this virtual session, join members of our SCDSB Speech and Language Team as we focus on communication strategies such as verbal and visual modelling, expanding communication, and creating opportunities to communicate.
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 each session and how to register on the SCDSB website: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.
Sora Sweet Reads
Sora is the SCDSB’s digital ebook library which is available to all students from K-12. Each year, Sora has a collection of diverse ebooks and audiobooks (juvenile to young adult) curated into a collection called “Sora Sweet Reads”. From May 12 to Aug. 25, students can access these books using either the Sora app or desktop version: soraapp.com/welcome.
The best part of this collection is that each title is simultaneous use, meaning that there are unlimited copies available so there are no holds on these titles! Students simply use their school Google login and password to access the library. We hope that this collection will encourage students to stay engaged in reading even when the weather gets warmer! Happy reading!
June cyber awareness topic: Summer cleanup
As the school year wraps up, it’s a great time to do a little digital cleanup! This month’s tip sheet shares easy steps families can take to tidy up their devices, accounts, and online habits before summer break.
Doing a summer cleanup can help protect your family’s personal information and keep devices running smoothly. It’s also a good chance to talk with your children about safe and smart tech use during the summer months.
Access the ECNO cyber awareness tip sheet for June to stay informed about this month’s theme and explore additional resources: ecno.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ECNO-CAM-24-Infosheets-E-_Part10.pdf.
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in need of foster homes
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is urgently seeking caring families to open their homes to children and youth in need of short-term foster care. By opening your home, you can make a difference in their lives by keeping them close to their family, school, and community.
For more information, please visit www.familyconnexions.ca. Watch our videos to understand what it takes to become a foster care provider: https://familyconnexions.ca/fostering-resources/.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions
Screen time and social media
Are you concerned about the amount of time your child is spending on screens? As a parent/caregiver, the key is to get involved, pay attention, and model positive screen time habits. This resource from Caring for Kid’s has some tips and strategies to help families learn to manage their screen time: caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/preteens-and-teens/screen-time-and-digital-media.
For more information visit simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
June PA Days
Please note that Friday, June 6 is a PA Day for SCDSB elementary students, and Thursday, June 26 is a PA Day for SCDSB secondary students. Friday, June 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: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the June 6 elementary PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Evaluation and Reporting
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Educators will be working to complete the second provincial report card. This report card will reflect students’ achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from February to June of the school year, as well as students’ development of the learning skills and work habits during that period. This process includes both evaluation and reporting. Elementary report cards will go home to parents/guardians on Friday, June 20, 2025.