Guthrie PS September 2024 Newsletter
Posted on 08/30/2024

Guthrie Public School Newsletter
September 2024

Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year, Gryphons!

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. 

 

Important Dates at Guthrie:

September 3 – Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8 first day of school

September 5- Junior Kindergarten students first day of school

September 13 – Oro Fair Day (paperwork will be coming home the first day of school)

September 24 – Elementary Turnaround Day

September 27- PA Day (Students do not attend)

September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (wear your orange shirt)

October 3 – school picture day

October – lunch program begins (order via LUNCHbox on SchoolCash online – if you’re new to School Cash Online information will be sent home later)

Elementary School Year Calendar: Click Here

 

 

Guthrie Public School Staff for September 2024-2025

 

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, Mrs. Oatway and Mrs. Baker

Grade 1:  Mrs. Aldridge, Ms. Minnings

Grade 1/2: Mrs. Sage

Grade 2: Mrs. Cillis, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Wand

Grade:2/3: Ms. Laframboise

Grade 3: Mrs. Davey, Mrs. Rutledge

Grade 4: Mrs. Grady, Mrs. Finney, Mrs. Jolliffe

Grade 5: Mr. Leonard, Mr. Murphy

Grade 6: Ms. Carter, Mrs. Leroux

Grade 7: Mr. Bulovs, Mrs. Therrien

Grade 8:  Mrs. Cain, Mr. Morris

French: Mme. Michieli, Mlle. Osmond

Planning Time: Mr. Knapp, Ms. Osmond,

Educational Assistants: Ms. Butler, Mr. McGrady, Ms. LaMarche, Ms. Savage, Mrs. D’Ambroso

Music: Mrs. Douglas

Librarian: Mr. Anderson

SERT: Mrs. MacIntosh, Mrs. Barkley

Custodial Team: Mr. Latour, Mr. Johnston, Mrs. Skippari

 

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 24th

 

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 you have sent a message to your child’s teacher so your child can be sent to the office at the designated time (please allow extra time for your child to pack up and make their way to the office). We are working 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!

 

Busing: Students must ride their own school bus to and from school and will not be permitted to ride a bus that is not their own except under special circumstances such as a family emergency. Our school buses are full and cannot accommodate students that are not assigned to the bus. As well, for safety and liability reasons, drivers must have an accurate list of students riding the bus in case of an emergency. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

 

Oro World’s Fair: It has been a longstanding tradition that on the second Friday of the school year (this year September 13th), 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.  Guthrie will be leading the parade this year, which is starting at 1:30 PM.  If we have students who cannot attend the fair 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. A paper copy of the fair permission/information form will be coming home on the first day of school so please watch for this information in your child’s backpack on Tuesday. We ask that all permission forms be returned by Monday, September 9th.

 

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.

 

Rainbows at Guthrie

Guthrie Public School will once again be offering a weekly support group for our students who are going through painful life transitions (e.g. separation, divorce, or death). Rainbows is an international, not-for-profit organization that fosters emotional healing among children. Staff members who have been trained with the Rainbows program will meet with small groups of students once a week during a nutrition/fitness break for 12+ weeks. If you would like your child to participate in Rainbows at Guthrie, forms are available at the office (or you can ask your child’s teacher to send one home). Please return them to the school by no later than Monday, December 9th. We hope to begin Rainbows in January. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Liedtke. Thanks!

 

Updating Student Information on File at the School:
Parents/guardians are responsible for advising their child’s school of any changes to student information on file. This may include but is not limited to:
• student’s legal or preferred name
• student’s primary address – property and mailing address;
• home phone number;
• parent/guardian information, including custody arrangements;
• parent/guardian email address; and,
• emergency contacts with a current phone number.
Please contact the school to advise of any changes to student information or to review information that is on file. 

 

The below information is for SCDSB families for the month of September.


Days of Awareness 2024-25
SCDSB days of awareness calendar on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.

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.


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
(elementary)
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 (elementary)
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.


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

 

 

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.

 

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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