Guthrie Public School September 2023 Newsletter
We hope you had a wonderful summer and that everyone is ready for another great year at Guthrie! As we all prepare for the first day of school, we wanted to share some information with you that may support your return to school.
Upcoming Important Dates at Guthrie:
September 5 – Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8 first day of school
September 7- Junior Kindergarten students first day of school
September 15 – Oro Fair Day (paperwork will be coming home the first day of school)
September 22 – PA Day (Students do not attend)
September 27- Elementary Turnaround Day
October 5 – school picture day
October – lunch program begins (order via LUNCHbox on SchoolCash online and information will be sent home later)
Elementary School Year Calendar: click here
As a reminder, our school day begins at 9:20 am and ends at 3:40 pm. Supervision begins on the yard at 9:05 am. There is NO supervision prior to 9:05 am
First Day of School Procedures: On our first day of school, staff members will be outside to greet students and to help them locate their classroom teacher. Classroom teachers will be on the yard holding signs for ease of visibility. Parents/Guardians are welcome to accompany their child onto the school yard on the first day of school. Following our safe schools policy, parents/guardians are not permitted on the school yard during the day after the first day of school.
Open Communication Policy: Please establish an open line of communication with your child’s teacher; ask questions, share concerns, and work together to support your child’s success! Please reach out if you have any questions.
Class Placements: As with every school year, class placements in September are tentative as we determine if there is a need to reorganize classes. If we are required to reorganize classes, we will communicate this with families prior to the turnaround date of September 27th.
New Safe Arrival system for SCDSB schools
Call 1-888-885-8065 to report an absence
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 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 the new system, please contact the school office.
Procedures for Appointments & Early Pick Up: Your child’s education is important to us! As much as possible please try to schedule appointments for outside of the school day so that instructional times are not interrupted. IF it is unavoidable and you need to pick up your child during the day, or need to pick them up early, please ensure that you have sent a message to your child’s teacher so that they can be sent to the office at the designated time. We are really trying to eliminate interrupting classes out of respect for the learning environment during instructional times. As such, we would ask that you please do not call the school regarding pick ups during the instructional day as it is both an interruption to the office and to your child’s learning. We appreciate your commitment to this collaborative effort!
Oro World’s Fair: It has been a longstanding tradition that on the second Friday of the school year (this year September 15th), Guthrie attends the fair and marches in the parade that opens the fair with the other Oro schools. We are excited that we will be able to continue that this year. In the past, parents, guardians, grandparents, etc have picked up children early from school (approximately 11:30 AM-12:00 noon) and taken the students to the fair and watched them in the parade. After the parade, students attend the fair with their families for the remainder of the day. The parade this year is happening at 1:30 PM. If we have students who cannot attend either with a family member or with someone else that is arranged by the family, please let us know and we will arrange coverage and alternative activities for them at the school. This is a community activity and if it can be arranged, it is an invaluable experience for the children to be able to experience the fair after the parade with their family or friends and see the exhibits that they have entered through their work during the first week of school. More information will be coming home regarding the fair on the first day of school so please watch for this information in your child’s backpack on Tuesday.
Medical Forms: Medical forms must be completed for any student who requires medication at school. These forms must be completed by parents/guardians and signed by a family physician, and will be kept on file along with the medications. If you require a medical form please let us know by calling the office or letting your child’s teacher know. We ask that any medical forms that were sent home in June for updating are sent back with your child during the first week of school.
Safe, Welcoming and Accepting School Expectations: Please remind your child that the SCDSB and Guthrie P.S. have a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate and unkind words and actions. Every child deserves a safe, welcoming, and accepting learning environment and we are committed to ensuring this is true for all students.
Technology / Cell Phones at School: The proper use of technology is expected of all students and while staff do supervise the use of technology, students are expected to access technology in a responsible way.
In following the SCDSB Appropriate Use Guidelines, devices, including cellphones, may only be used during instructional time under the following circumstances:
• for educational purposes, as directed by the classroom teacher, designated early childhood educator or educational assistant
If your child will be bringing a device with them to school (including cellphones) please review this policy with them prior to the first day. We will be directing students to have technology “Off and Away” at all times unless their teacher has given them permission during instructional times for educational purposes.
Guthrie Public School Staff for September 2023-2024
Principal: Mrs. Wright-Drzazga
Vice-Principal: Mrs. Aldersey
Office Staff: Mrs. Lund, Ms. Loffelman
Kindergarten: Ms. Masterson and Ms. Cubitt, Mrs. Liedtke and Mrs. Crossley, Mr. Knapp and Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Oatway and Ms. Popiuk
Grade 1: Mrs. Aldridge and Mrs. Kellner, Ms. Minnings, Mrs. Sage
Grade 2: Mrs. Cillis, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Wand
Grade:2/3: Mrs. Jolliffe and Mrs. Kellner
Grade 3: Mrs. Davey, Mrs. Martynyshyn, Mrs. Rutledge
Grade 4: Mrs. Grady, Mrs. Kellner, Mr. Leonard
Grade 4/5: Mrs. LeRoux
Grade 5: Mr. Murphy
Grade 5/6: Mrs. Finney
Grade 6: Ms. Carter
Grade 6/7: Ms. Thomas
Grade 7: Mrs. Therrien
Grade 7/8: Mr. Bulovs
Grade 8: Mr. Morris
French: Mme. Michieli, Mlle. Osmond
Planning Time: Mrs. McBride Mrs. Kellner, Ms. Osmond,
Educational Assistants: Ms. Butler, LTO, Ms. Kerr
Music: Mrs. Douglas
Librarian: Mr. Anderson
SERT: Mrs. MacIntosh, Mrs. Barkley
Custodial Team: Mr. Latour, Mr. Johnston, Mrs. Skippari
SCDSB 2023-24 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 2023-24 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.
Standard acknowledgment and permission form/student information computing technology appropriate use agreement 2023-24
The 2023-24 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 School Cash Online until Oct. 16. School Cash Online is our preferred method for forms. If you are unable to submit these forms electronically, please contact the office for paper copies.
Universal Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) screening process
The 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 needs 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 School Cash Online in September. If you require further information about the universal OLSAT screening process, please contact the school.
School council nominations for 2023-24 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.
Student Accident Insurance 2023-24
Student injuries at school during school events, extra-curricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs, etc.) and out-of-province/out-of-country trips are not covered by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) or its insurance company. While every precaution is taken to provide a safe learning environment, accidents can and do happen.
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 through at www.insuremykids.com or by calling 1-800-463-5437.
Participation in extra-curricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs, etc.) and/or out-of-province/ out-of-country trips require the purchase of this insurance, or other extended health and dental coverage.
Volunteering in schools during the 2023-24 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. Updating your email address in your Community Apps account will automatically update your email address in your Volunteer Portal.
If you are also a parent, check out our Parent Portal.
• 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 co-operatively 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.
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 through the school board social media sites (www.facebook.com/SCDSB and www.twitter.com/SCDSB_Schools) and website (www.scdsb.on.ca), through local police and local media.
• 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 (AEDs).
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 childcare centre to make sure they don’t get on a bus in error.
For more information, visit main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca.
September PA Day
Please note that Friday, Sept. 22 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 Sept. 22 PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Reading and Literacy, Social Studies, Assessment
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): School board staff and school administrators
Educators will participate in person to review the newly revised Language Curriculum, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8, Language, 2023, and new de-streamed English, Grade 9, and Français, 9e année courses and explore resources to support their implementation with students. Through group discussions and hands-on activities, elementary educators will learn about early reading instruction and the use of screening tools to help ensure that students with reading difficulties are identified and supported early. They will also explore and plan for literacy instruction across the curriculum, including the new Holocaust Education curriculum in Grade 6. Secondary educators will also engage in assessment activities and the collaborative planning of student tasks and opportunities to inform both course instruction and evaluation.
SCDSB launches updated character education program for 2023-24 school year
This year the SCDSB will begin implementation of the updated character education program. Rather than focus on one attribute each month, the program has been changed to reflect that character is a fluid concept that includes a variety of attributes.
The updated character attributes are:
Bravery Helpfulness Listening Responsibility
Caring Honesty Love Trustworthiness
Compassion Humility Loyalty Truth
Cooperation Inclusiveness Optimism Sharing
Courage Integrity Perseverance Wisdom
Empathy Kindness Respect
For more information on the updated character education program, visit the character education page on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/about/character_education.
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), X:@GuthriePublic
Days of Awareness 2023-24
www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.