Centennial Connection Oct 20, 2024

An update for families from Centennial Public School

Dear Centennial Families -

After a long Thanksgiving of rest, we have been back at it learning and laughing. Students have been so engaged and there has been a lot of excitement in the school. Many classes are taking advantage of the beautiful apple crop this year with trips to the orchard, using apple themes for literacy, numeracy and visual art, as well at some cooking adventures with buddy classes. The school smells amazing!

This week we had 5 students represent Centennial at the District Cross Country Finals. What amazing representation and students demonstrated terrific results! Many congratulations to the athletes and coaches! While the season is officially over, we encourage students to keep running and keeping up their fitness levels. Track & Field begins in the later part of the spring.

The week ahead is bus safety week. We encourage all parents and guardians to remind students about safety on the bus - remaining seated with quite voices. This helps the driver to remain focused on driving the bus. Wednesday is Bus Driver & Monitor Appreciation Day. Thursday is also Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day and we say a huge thank you to Ms Ghina, Mrs Aylesworth and Mrs Sharpe for all of their hard work and for being such important members of the Centennial team!

Individual Education Plans went home for some students on the 17th. What is an Individual Education Plan or IEP? The plan sets out some instructional, environmental, and/or assessment strategies that a student may require that is different from what the class may be doing. Often the IEP stems from assessment data or diagnosis. For example, a student who has a diagnosed learning disability may require some different programming such as accommodations or program modifications. The majority of students do not have IEPs but for some students it is necessary to document the supports and/or resources and/or strategies that they may need to access the curriculum. The IEP is always a working document and changes over time. IEPs are updated each term and are sent home for review approximately 6 weeks into the term. Parents/guardians are welcome to reach out with questions or suggestions. The IEP is also sent home with Achievement Reports in February and for term 2, in June.

In the next week or so, all families will receive a notice of the "Acceptable Use Agreement" through their School Day account. Now that almost all families are linked to School Day, we will be sending out school-wide notifications for various things. The Acceptable Use Agreement outlines for families and students the expectations for using school devices such as ipads and chromebooks. Please take a few moments to review the agreement and electronically sign. Thank you!

A reminder that the School Council is hosting a Halloween Dance for families on Tuesday October 29th. All families are welcome to attend. A reminder that students must be accompanied by an adult, that weapons and masks need to remain at home, and that this is a cash-only event. See the poster below for more details. This family event has been well attended in the past and we are looking forward to having lots of fun on the 29th!

Finally, a huge thanks to all families who have participated in the Dielemans Fundraising already. Catalogues went home a couple of weeks ago and all orders are done online. You don't need the catalogue to order though! Just go to the Dielemans website and input the Centennial PS school number: 7947. All proceeds from fundraising go to supporting student learning at Centennial, in particular with experiential and hands on learning. Thank you for your support!

We hope all families have a wonderful weekend enjoying the beautiful fall weather! See you on Monday!

-Deborah Thompson, Principal & the Centennial PS Team

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday October 22nd - Grade 2 (Beardall) to Market Square and Wolfe Island

Wednesday October 23rd - Museum of Healthcare workshops in various classes

Wednesday October 23rd - Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Thursday October 24th - Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day

Friday October 25th - Queen's Conservation Workshops for various classes

Tuesday October 29th - School Council Halloween Family Dance (see poster below)

Wednesday October 30th - Kinder classes (Farndon/Aylesworth & Mennie/ElHaj) to Little Cataraqui Creek

Wednseday October 30th - Travers/Battler & Byers classes to Loughborough PS Penpal trip

Thursday October 31st - Black & Orange Day

Friday November 1 - Diwali

Monday November 4 - Grade 5/6 (Girard) Trip to Grand Theatre

Monday November 11 - Remembrance Day ceremony in the gym - time TBD

Tuesday November 12 - Photo Retake Day & Class Photo Day

Friday November 15 - Progress Report Cards go home

Friday November 22 - PA Day - no school for students

November 26 & 27 - Dental Screening for JK, SK and Grade 2 students

Click here for Dielemans Fundraising! Lots of products & gifts! School # is 7947

When to stay home?

Click Here for a list of KFL&A exclusions. As a reminder, children should stay home until they have no fever and their symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if they have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea). Once symptoms start improving, they are encouraged to return to school, if they are well enough to do so.

Click Here for Great Math Ideas for Families!

Halloween Party @ Maltby

MALTBY is hosting a not-so-scary Halloween Party. Children on the autism spectrum (or with

sensitivities) will learn about and practice trick-or-treating in a sensitive, friendly environment

without loud sounds, scary environments, or bright flashing lights. So whooo’s in? Registration

is required and space is limited. Sign up to register here.

Hot Lunch

Hot Lunch - Orders Due by Sunday Noon

Once again this year we are using LunchBox to provide families with some options for hot lunch, should they wish to participate. Orders are due by NOON on Sunday for orders being delivered the following week.

Just a reminder that should buses be cancelled, hot lunches are also cancelled and credit will be provided to account.

To create an account and order hot lunches, use the guide below and linked here: Get The Guide

Parking!

Just a reminder that if you are bringing your child to school or picking up, that there is no parking on the north side of Norman Rogers Drive. Last week we were out reminding parents and guardians of this. Cars that are parked on the north side are subject to a ticket and we don't want you to get one! Please park on the south side of Norman Rogers to the east or west of the school. There is no parking in front of the school as that is a bus loading zone.

The parking lot is for staff only. Please do not drive into or through the parking lot. Walkers are encouraged not to walk through the parking lot, for safety reasons.

There are many places to park on neighbouring streets that only take a few moments to walk to the school from. Thank you for your help with this important safety matter.

Attendance Matters!

We will be working hard to promote regular attendance, at Centennial and all across the Limestone District School Board. We will be sharing information about how to set up healthy habits and we will be reaching out to families as attendance concerns arise. We want to work with you to promote regular attendance at school. If there is a way we can help you, please let us know!

Parking Zones

We have experienced significant growth in our school population, including staff. As such, we are kindly requesting that parents and guardians do not park in the school parking lot at any time during the hours of 8am and 4pm.. We have some part time staff who arrive at various times throughout the day and they need to be able to park and get into the school to begin teaching on time. Please note that there is one entrance and one exit to the parking lot to ensure safety and flow of traffic.

Please also do not park directly in front of the school as that is a bus loading zone. There are parking spaces available along Norman Rogers drive to the east and west of the school, and along a number of side streets close to the school.

Thank you for helping to ensure that students can arrive safely to school. There are crossing guards on both Johnson Street and Norman Rogers Drive to help families cross these busy road ways. We appreciate their hard work!

Recess

Students go outside for 2 recess breaks, and sometimes are outside with their class for various learning activities. Students are encouraged to wear sunscreen during the warmer months, and have a sun hat outdoors.

We go outside for recess rain or shine and as such, students should come to school prepared to go outside even if it is lightly raining. In the event of heavy rain we will remain indoors, but we try to be outside for recess whenever possible.

Nutrition Break & Lunches

Students have the opportunity to eat twice during the day at school. Lunches and snacks must be nut free please. This includes no peanut butter or nutella, or any kind of granola bar with nuts in it.

A reminder that Centennial participates in "Boomerang Lunch" which means that everything a child brings to school in their lunch bag, is returned home at the end of the day. In this way, parents/guardians can easily see what a child has or hasn't eaten in a day. Wrappers, containers, etc., will be sent home.

Insure My Kids

School Board Policy states that participation on school sports teams (both elementary and secondary) is conditional on obtaining at least the basic student accident insurance coverage for the student or proof of external private coverage through your family plan. The cost of basic coverage is approximately $17.00 per year. This covers the student while attending school during the school day. The time spent by students participating in school-sponsored teams is considered part of the school day, even if the games and/or practices are held outside of the regular school hours. It is recommended that all parents consider this program. Visit www.insuremykids.com to get this inexpensive and highly recommended insurance.

School Trips & Volunteers

Throughout the year, we may ask for parent/guardian volunteers on school trips or for various classroom and school activities. The wait time for obtaining a CPIC (background check with vulnerable sector screening) can be lengthy. As such, if you think you would be willing to assist with a trip or school event in the future, please consider obtaining a CPIC with vulnerable sector screening completed, beforehand.

To get a Vulnerable Sector Check you may be required to provide a letter from the school indicating that you will be volunteering. We can send this to you! Just email us at cente@limestone.on.ca and we are happy to provide you with the letter.

Link to City of Kingston Police Check Request Here

Recess & Nutrition Breaks

Students will have 2 recesses and 2 nutrition breaks. Recess is outside on a particular yard (we will flip/flop the space each day so students in Grades 1-6 have the opportunity to play on both parts of the yard each day). All staff will be wearing safety vests so they are easily recognizable. Nutrition breaks happen in classrooms.

We have several students with life-threatening allergies. A reminder that our school is nut aware: please ensure that your child's snacks and lunch do not contain any nut products. Classroom teachers will communicate any additional food allergies that families will need to be aware of. Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe!

What Do I Need To Bring? What Should Stay At Home?

All school supplies that students need for their learning and work will be provided by Centennial Public School. Sometimes students prefer to have their own pencil case with pencils/markers, but it is not a requirement.

Students do need to come to school with:

- Indoor, non-marking athletic type of shoes

- Water bottle with child's name clearly marked (we have bottle filling stations, not fountains)

- Nut-free snacks and lunch

Please label all items!

Sometimes students want to bring items to school to show friends, or have things stored in backpacks that need to remain at home. This is just a reminder that students should not bring the following items to school:

- items of value (sentimental or monetary)

- any kind of weapon (for example, a Swiss Army knife)

- any kind of toy that could be a replica weapon (for example, a toy gun)

- electronics of any kind

- jewelry

- make-up

- anything scented

- anything with nuts (please ensure all lunches and snacks are nut-free)

- toys and stuffies

Thank you for keeping these items at home. Sometimes a quick check of a backpack can ensure that treasures do not come to school. Thank you for understanding that we are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen personal items.

Parent/Guardian Drop Off & Pick Up

Students are to come onto the school yard between 8:50am and 9:05am each morning. Families are reminded that they are not to arrive earlier than 8:50am as there is no supervision on the yard before that time. Parents/guardians who drive students must park on the street as there is no/limited parking in the school parking lot. Please note that there is no entrance on the west side of the school. That is for pedestrians only.

Student pick up happens at the exterior doors of the school at 3:25pm.

Indigenous Self-Identification

Please see the link below for more information and to self identify, if you wish.

https://ldsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9U2iaUl9GIFILb0

Oliver's Labels

Do you need a way to label your things that stay labelled? Do you need a way to show what's yours? Need a way to label your child's things so they don't get lost or mixed up? Support Centennial Public School Council by purchasing through the link. The school receives 20% of your purchase! All funds raised go to support School Council initiatives including student activities. Thank you!

http://www.oliverslabels.com/Centennial

E-Store

Want to look spiffy and show off your pride in being a Centennial PS Comet? Check out all of the clothing and accessories available at the Centennial Public School e-store at: https://specialtytrophies.ca/centennialps/

Safe Arrival - How Do I Report An Absence?

Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If you child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day absence.

How to report your absence:

1. Toll-free telephone

Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.

2. School Messenger App

Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.

3. SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Website Portal

Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.