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Start of School, September 2016
ENCLOSED IS YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL PACK FOR 2016-2017
Please ensure you read all attached information.
Please complete, sign and return following:
Permissions and Acknowledgement Form
Student Accident Insurance Acknowledgement Form
Oro Fair Day Permission Form
ALL FORMS DUE BACK TO SCHOOL ON OR BEFORE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH
M. Hornik D. Bradley Principal Vice-Principal
Welcome to another amazing year: 2016-2017 at Guthrie!
Start of School
September 2016
UP-COMING DATES Sept. 8 First day of class for JK Sept. 12 Back to School pack forms due Parent Council Meeting at 7pm in the Library. All are welcome to attend. Sept. 16 Oro Fair Day! (Details & Permission Form attached) Sept. 23 Terry Fox Run Sept. 28-30 Book Fair Sept. 29 Pizza Q, Meet the Teacher Night 5pm-8:30pm Sept. 30 Picture Day Save the Date: October 27 Family Math Night (a fun and interactive evening of Math activities and learning tools) 6:30pm-9pm
PARENT ENGAGEMENT MATTERS Study after study has shown us that student achievement improves when parents play an active role in their children's education, and that good schools become even better schools when parents are involved. Get involved. Join our crew of spectacular Guthrie Volunteers. Op-portunities and details can be found in this Newsletter. You can also contact Guthrie’s office for more information 705-487-2532.
BELL & BREAK TIMES 8:55—9:00am Buses Arrive
9:10 am Entry Bell
9:10-10:50 Instructional Time
10:50 am 1st Nutrition Break
11:10—11:30am Outdoor Break
11:30-1:10 Instructional Time
1:10 pm 2nd Nutrition Break
1:30—2:00 pm Outdoor Break
2:00-3:40 Instructional Time
3:40 pm Dismissal
3:45—3:50 pm Buses Leave
The school yard is supervised beginning at 8:55am. Should you need to be in contact with or pick up your child during the school day, we ask that you do so during break times or at the end of the instruc-tional day so as not to interrupt the instructional day. Please call our SAFE ARRIVAL line anytime your child will be absent or late: 705-487-2532, press “1” Address: 22 Line 5 South, Oro-Medonte L0L 2E0
Start of School, September 2016 2
CURRENT SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND STAFF: Principal: Ms Hornik Vice Principal: Mr Bradley Office staff: Mrs Lund and Mrs Loffelman Custodians: Mrs Fildey, Mr Van Huis, and Mr Hughes
Kindergarten: Miss Masterson & Mrs Johnson, Mrs Liedtke & Ms Loomans, Miss Minnings & Mrs Baker Grade 1 Mrs Sage and Mrs Wand/Mrs MacKinnon Grade 1/2 Ms Teoh Grade 2 Mrs Lee/Mr Knapp Grade 2/3 Mrs Zancaner Grade 3 Mrs Patrick and Mrs Rutledge Grade 4 Mrs Cillis and Mrs Rose Grade 5 Mr Leonard and Mrs Wright Grade 6 Ms Beer and Mrs Coutts Grade 7 Ms Muffitt Grade7/8 Ms Robinson Grade 8 Mr Munn SERTs: Mr Bradley, Mrs Harris, Mrs Williams, and Mrs MacIntosh French Mdm Laverdiere and Ms Boudreau Planning Time: Mr O’Shea, Mrs McBride, Mr Knapp Teacher Librarian: Mrs Carter Educational Assistants: Mrs Chambers, Mrs Sherman, Mrs Johnson, and Mrs Janhunen
LEADERSHIP TEAM MESSAGE Welcome back everyone to a brand new school year at Guthrie Public School — and what an amazing year it will be! We are so excited about our year and look forward to meeting and working with all of our families, especially those new to our school community. We would also like to welcome back our staff and extend a special welcome to the many new students attending our school for the first time in junior kindergarten or who have moved into our area over the summer. At Guthrie we strive for excellence in collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Focused, intentional instruction around literacy and numeracy, knowing students strengths and needs and promoting increased student learning and achievement will continue to be a priority. We believe all students can learn and achieve success and we are committed to working closely with parents and the community to make it happen. The first few weeks of September is a time when we often need to do some adjustments in school and class organiza-tion. At this time, please remember that all class placements are tentative and subject to change based on enrolment. With potential new registrations, and students moving over the summer there are times when it may be necessary to shuffle not only students, but teachers as well. We appreciate your patience and understanding over the next couple of weeks. We look forward to working with all members of our school community this year. Please feel free to contact us throughout the year should you have any questions or feedback. We value open communication to ensure that all our community members feel valued. Together, we can make a difference!
M. Hornik and D. Bradley
GUTHRIE IS ON TWITTER
Stay connected with the most up-to-date news and information by following @GuthriePublic and @_Guthrie_P. Many teachers have also created class accounts to highlight the great things happening in their classrooms.
STAY CONNECTED! Have the Guthrie Gazette Newsletter delivered straight to your inbox each month. Subscribe free at http://gut.scdsb.on.ca/subscribe then add us to your VIP list to ensure our email lands in your in-box, not your junk mail. Visit our website: http://gut.scdsb.on.ca/ for details.
SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE THE
GAZETTE IN YOUR IN-
BOX EACH MONTH. Guthrie’s monthly news-letter is available for sub-scription online. In an effort to reduce waste and con-serve resources, we will no longer send a hard copy home with students each month. Should you wish a hard copy, please ask your student to pick one up at the office at the beginning of each month, or send a note in your child’s agenda. A digital copy of the Gazette is also posted on our website each month: gut.scdsb.on.ca under “Newsletters”. Subscription details below.
Start of School, September 2016 3
SCHOOLCASH ONLINE Guthrie P.S. uses the SchoolCash Online program to pay for field trips, the lunch program, special events, and many other items. The program is intended to eliminate - as much as is possible - the use of cash at our school. Your child’s STUDENT NUMBER is required to sign up for SchoolCash Online. This num-ber is found under your child’s name on the Student Information Verification form which will be sent home with each student. Please record that number in order to regis-ter for SchoolCash Online. To create an online account, go to simcoecounty.schoolcashonline.com Once signed up, parents will receive notifi-cation via email as new items become avail-able for purchase. Items are personalized to each student. Parents will use a secure online account to process payments, and can either make a one-time payment for items using a credit card or e-cheque, or can load money into an “wallet” and use that pre-loaded money to purchase items.
Mark your Calendar for our Annual
Festival of Crafts Saturday, November 19th, 2016
9am—3pm
50 + Unique Vendors, BBQ Lunch, Bake Sale, Gift Basket Raffle, Silent Auction
GUTHRIE’S LUNCH PROGRAM Guthrie PS has a fantastic Volunteer run lunch pro-gram where families can order healthy and fun lunches for students, starting in October. Our pro-gram includes Pitas on Mondays, Nicholyn Farms hot lunches on Wednesdays, Domino’s Pizza on Fridays, and fresh popped popcorn for a snack on Tuesdays. All ordering is done online using School Cash Online. Lunch items will be available to order on or before the first of each month. New this year: lunch orders are always due online on the 19th of the month (though you’re welcome to submit them earlier). It is our hope that a consistent due date will help everyone as we cannot accept late orders. Sorry folks, no exceptions: no late orders. If you haven’t yet signed up your student for School Cash Online, please take a moment to do so now. Your child’s student number, which you will need in order to register, is listed on the Student Information Verification form. More information about Lunch Program dates and ordering will be sent out later this month. If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the lunch program, please contact Sarah German [email protected].
VOLUNTEERING: GIVE BACK TO YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Volunteers are an important part of what makes Guthrie P.S. a great place to learn and grow. We value and appreciate the support of our volunteers. There are many opportunities available including school council, the lunch program, reading help, field trip supervisors, assisting in the classroom or library, even volunteering to help coordinate our volunteers! If you’re in-terested in giving the gift of your time to our school, please contact our office 705-487-2532 (or drop by anytime). There will also be an opportunity to sign up for specific volunteer positions at Pizza Q on September 29th. Here are some of our popular volunteer opportunities: Lunch Program volunteers Popcorn helpers Reading with students Classroom helpers Festival of Crafts Volunteers Library helpers Fundraising Project Coordinators Office help Club Coordinators (want to run a club? Let us know!) Volunteer Coordinator Opportunities to Volunteer abound. Let us know your interest area. Everyone who volunteers in a school must have a criminal record check (Vulnerable Sector Screening), and forms are available at the office. Please visit the office for more information.
SCHOOL COUNCIL: TIME TO GET INVOLVED!
Parents and guardians play the first and most important role in their children’s edu-cation, and are key partners in building a quality education system. School councils play a vital role in the education system in Ontario. They provide a form through which parents and community members can con-tribute to improving student achievement and school performance. We need you to get involved. Guthrie’s first school council meeting for the 2016-2017 school year will be Monday September 12th at 7pm in the school library. See you there!
Start of School, September 2016 4
PROCEDURES PARENTS/GUARDIANS SHOULD KNOW TO HELP KEEP OUR SCHOOL AND STUDENTS SAFE
The safety and well-being of students is our top priority. 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 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 build-ing. The ventilation system may be shut off.
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 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. Doors are locked, lights are shut off and blinds are drawn. Stu-dents 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 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. Each school has an evacuation site. Ours is initial site is The Northway Restaurant at 2493 Highway 11 North. Our secondary evacuation site is Eastview Secondary School at 397 Grove Street East in Barrie. 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 will be informed about pick-up procedures by the school, school board and local media.
General Safety Items Parents & Guardians need to know:
Intercom: Elementary school main doors are locked during the school day. Visitors must use the intercom system to enter the building. Staff may not be available to answer the door immediately, please be patient. Sign In: All visitors, including school volunteers, are required to sign in at the school office and wear visitor identification. Sign Out: All students must be signed out if leaving before the end of the school day. Picking up students: When picking up children at the end of the school day, we ask that parents wait quietly in the lobby or outside (at the exit doors for your student’s class). Please do not go down to the classrooms. Yard supervision: Begins at 8:55 am. Parking: Please do not park in front of the school during bus times (8:40-9:20 am, 3:00-4:00pm) Medication: if your child needs to take medication (prescription or over-the-counter) while at school, you must contact the office. Medication must be kept in the office, and administered by the Principal (or designated office staff). There are also forms for parents to fill out. Criminal Records Check: Staff and volunteers must complete a criminal record check before having contact with students. Safe Arrival: We ask parents 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 ab-sence. First Aid/CPR: Two or more staff members in every school are trained in first aid and CPR. (Guthrie has a at least six trained staff.) All Simcoe County District School Board schools have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
When parents are at school during a drill or emergency event, they must follow direction from school staff, police, fire and/or emergency personnel. Parents 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 care. It’s important for you to know we’ll always take whatever precautions are necessary to keep our school and students safe.
Start of School, September 2016 5
PEANUTS/TREE NUTS Many children and adults have allergies. Some have allergies that are life-threatening: an allergy so severe that even touching or inhaling a trace amount can trigger a life-threatening reaction. We ask Guthrie families to please pay careful attention to the ingredient list on packages, and avoid sending food to school where the ingredient list states “contains peanut or peanut products” or “may contain trace(s) of peanut or peanut products”. In addition, if your child eats nut products in the morning before coming to school please be sure face and hands are washed and teeth are brushed thoroughly. Thank you for your cooperation!
GIFTED SCREENING Parents of a student in Grades 3 to 8 who wish the school to consider their child for gifted screening are asked to contact Mrs. Harris at the school by September 26th.
ORO WORLD’S FAIR DAY: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH The 164th Oro World’s Fair takes place next week (September 16th & 17th). Friday September 16th is Oro School’s Fair Day. For Guthrie families who are new to the community, we’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about the Fair. Each year Oro-Medonte students, their families and friends are invited to attend the Oro World’s Fair on Friday afternoon. It is a day arranged to provide education and enjoyment together for school children in Oro-Medonte. This is an excellent oppor-tunity for students and families to participate in celebrating Oro’s rural heritage, and engage in fun activities that highlight the importance of agriculture in our lives. Guthrie students join together to
march in the parade leading to the opening of the fair. (Parents are welcome to march too!) Wear your school colours! (Black and Gold.) On Friday September 16th, parents who wish their children to attend the fair will pick up their kids (pick-up schedule details are on the permission form) and take them to the fair to enjoy the afternoon together. Permission forms with timing and details have been sent home with students and should be returned to the school no later than Monday September 12th.
BUSING PROCEDURES Student transportation is a privilege. Each student is allowed one bus stop. All bus arrangements are to be made through our Vice Principal, Mr. Bradley. If you have to make alternative ar-rangements, it is important that the
request is made in writing prior to the expected accommo-dation date. With nearly five hundred children using the buses, a last-minute request would be difficult to accommodate and could create confusion that might lead to a dangerous situa-tion for students. Please provide requests a minimum of one business day in advance of the date required.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS & ALLERGIES
If your child has a specific medical condi-tion or allergy, it is imperative that we are aware of this as soon as possible (ideally, before the start of school). A completed Student Medical Form (FORM A1420-1) is required each school year in order to authorize the admin-istration of prescribed medication to students who require it during school hours. Specific to asthma, every student is now permitted to carry his or her asthma medication if the student has his or her parent’s or guardian’s permission. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that a cur-rent, completed Student Medical Form is signed by a phy-sician and on file at the school. Some students may experience severe life-threatening al-lergic reactions to bee, hornet, wasp or other flying insect stings or to certain food ingredients such as peanuts. For students with life-threatening allergies, it is recommended that two doses of an epinephrine auto-injector are availa-ble on site at school. Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you have any questions.
SCHOOL CLEANLINESS First, a big THANK YOU to our Custodi-ans: Mrs. Fildey, Mr. Van Huis, and Mr. Hughes for their hard work during the
summer months. Guthrie PS looks great! We appreciate all their hard work! We ask that all students respect our school, and the hard work of our Custodians. Students can show their respect by wearing indoor shoes, placing backpacks neatly on their hooks, putting outdoor shoes neatly against the wall, and picking up after themselves. Let’s all work together to help keep Guthrie sparkling!
Start of School, September 2016 6
GETTING YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child’s education , or about education in general, we are hap-py to help! Here are some tips to help address questions you may have during the school year:
If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your son or daughter, the first person to talk to is your child’s teacher. If possible, arrange a personal interview with the teacher to discuss your concerns and attempt to resolve the matter. You child’s teacher or principal can also give you more information about specific strategies be-ing used to monitor your child’s progress.
If you need extra help, or have more general questions, your school principal is there to assist. Your school principal can help if you have been unable to resolve the issue with your child's teacher.
If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education.
If you have questions about special education programs or services, contact the Education Centre at 705-734-6363 and ask to speak with someone in the Special Education Department.
Your local school trustee is elected to represent your interests and is always ready to hear and discuss your suggestions or concerns. If you don't know the name of your trustee, check the SCDSB public website at: http://www.scdsb.on.ca/Board/Pages/Trustees.aspx. Still have questions or concerns? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions on the SCDSB’s website (go to www.scdsb.on.ca and click on ‘About Us’ and then ‘FAQs’) or call the Education Centre at 705-734-6363. You can also use the ‘Contact Us’ form on the website to submit your question and it will be directed to the appropriate person.
TRIPPLE P PARENTING
The Ontario Early Years Centres in partnership with the Simcoe Muskoka District Heath Unit are offering FREE seminars with parent discussions for parent/caregivers of
children 2-10 years
Brian Orser Arena, Orillia Seminars:
Power of Positive Parenting: Wednesday October 19th, 10am-Noon Competent and Confident Children: Wednesday October 26th, 10am-Noon
Raising Resilient Children: Wednesday November 2nd, 10am-Noon
Parenting Discussions: Disobedience: Wednesday November 9th, 10am-Noon
Bedtime Routine: Wednesday November 16th, 10am-Noon
Register Online, by following the Recreation Program Registration Link at www.Orillia.ca . Phone Registration is not accepted at this time.
Questions and/or concerns regarding registration: please call the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department at 705-329-7250
Start of School, September 2016 7
Start of School, September 2016 8
Start of School, September 2016 9
2016-2017: 003 FORM 1
MEMORANDUM
To: Student, Parent, or Guardian From: Principal Date: September 2016 Subject: STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE 2016-2017 Please consider Student Accident Insurance for your child. Accidental injuries can result in substantial expenses that are not covered by provincial health care or employer group insurance plans. As a student, parent or guardi-an, you become responsible for these expenses. The Simcoe County District School Board has selected Old Republic Canada to provide Student Accident Insur-ance for the 2016-2017 school year. This program offers a variety of plans and benefits at affordable annual pric-es. Student Accident Insurance can be the only insurance you have or it can be an enhancement to other benefits programs. For example the Old Republic Canada “Insure my Kids” program offers dental coverage that is unlim-ited for 10 years, which greatly exceeds the limits on most workplace dental plans. Coverage may be purchased any time throughout the year although all policies run from the date of payment until September 30, 2017. As the cost is very competitive, it remains the same regardless of when it is purchased. The best value for parents exists when purchased in September to enjoy the maximum benefit of coverage. Student Accident package options can be seen in the pamphlet accompanying this letter or online at www.insuremykids.com Student Accident Insurance is recommended for all students. It is mandatory for students to have extended health and dental (e.g. a parent’s benefits plan) or student accident insurance to participate in extra-curricular activities (athletics, clubs) or out-of-province or country trips. The insurance agreement is between the parent and Old Republic Canada. The Simcoe County District School Board is not compensated in any way by Old Republic Canada regardless of the number of students participating in the insurance program. Our only interest is to protect our students and their families, resulting in healthier and more financially secure communities. Please complete and return the attached acknowledgement form to your child’s school. Sincerely, M. Hornik Principal
Start of School, September 2016
2016-2017: 003 FORM 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
SCHOOL NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________ STUDENT NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________ The Simcoe County District School Board requires that all students who participate in extra-curricular activities (athletics, clubs) or out-of-province/out of country trips MUST indicate the purchase of student accident insurance or indicate that there is other existing health and dental coverage in place.
This is a mandatory condition of participation. Student Accident Insurance is recommended, but optional, for students participating only in the regular school day program. It is not mandatory that insurance be purchased through the board-approved student accident insurance company. Student accident insurance can be obtained through any carrier of your choice. Alternatively, extended health and dental plans may provide the additional coverage. I/We have purchased Student Accident Insurance
Or
I/We have Extended Health and Dental coverage through another insurance carrier/or workplace plan.
______________________________________________ Signature of Parent/Guardian or Student [if age 18 or older] ______________________________________________ Date _________________________________________________ Printed Name of Parent/Guardian or Student [if age 18 or older]
Please return this signed form to the student’s homeroom teacher
Start of School, September 2016
Oro Fair Permission
