CAMERON STREET
November Newsletter 2023
Cameron Street School Council Update for November
We are off to a great
start this year with lots of planning going on for fun events and fundraising!
Don't
miss out on the following great events:
Wed November
1st - 1st Annual Pumpkin Stroll - 5:30pm to 7pm
·
Bring your carved pumpkin and
light it up
·
Wear your costume!
·
Vote for your favourite
pumpkin in the class carving contest
·
Stroll through the pumpkins
·
Enjoy refreshments
·
Donate school supplies
·
All pumpkins will be donated
to the pigs at Cedar Creek Farm
Collingwood
Santa Claus Parade
We are looking for
families interested in joining us to be a part of the Collingwood Santa Claus
parade. Please email [email protected] if you are
interested.
Poinsettia
Fundraiser
Keep an eye out for
upcoming information on our Poinsettia Fundraiser in mid November.
Pizza
Days
Every Tuesday is Pizza
Day at our school. Sign up through School Cash Online. Each slice is
$3.10. This is a great ongoing fundraiser at the school.
Backpack
Program
In November, we will be
launching a Backpack Program to support families at our school who are
experiencing food insecurity. The Backpacks will go home each Friday and
provide meals, condiments and hygiene products. If you would like to help
support the Backpack Program, there is a Donation button
on School Cash Online.
School
Supplies
Do you have a box of
school supplies that are collecting dust in your home? We would love to take
them off your hands. You can drop them off at the office or send them to school
with your kids and they can drop them off in the donation box in the
fishbowl.
We are also always
thrilled to receive new items like pencil crayons, markers, crayons, sharpies,
dry erase markers, kleenex, paper towels, hand soap, etc.
Please
reach out to your School Council representatives at [email protected] to find out more
information.
Days of Awareness 2023-24
As you prepare your school’s newsletter package, please review the Days
of Awareness (NM1) www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion. Please include what is relevant to your school
community in your November newsletter package.
November PA Day
Please note that Friday, Nov. 17 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 Nov. 17 PA Day:
Elementary
Length: Full-day parent/guardian-student-teacher conferences
Topic:
Communication to parents/guardians about student progress
through
parent/guardian-student-teacher
conferences
Host:
Simcoe
County District School Board elementary schools, including
Grades 7 and 8 in Grade 7-12
secondary schools
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): Elementary
educators
Elementary educators will meet with students
and parents/guardians to discuss student progress thus far this school year,
including areas of strengths and next steps for improvement.
Communication
to families regarding inclement weather days
Please note that APM A3020 – Inclement Weather,
3.1.2 states that “parents/guardians are to be reminded, in writing at
appropriate times (October and January) each school year, that it is their
responsibility to decide whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to
leave for school under severe weather conditions.”
Inclement
weather and bus cancellation information reminder
All information
regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County
Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. Our
school is in the WEST zone. When buses are cancelled, schools remain
open for student learning, unless otherwise noted. School staff are expected to
plan for such emergencies in order to transition students who are unable to
attend due to inclement weather, to their online platforms (Google Classroom
and/or SCDSBhub [Brightspace by D2L]) and continue with academic programming. It
is always a family decision whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to
leave for school under severe weather conditions.
The Consortium and
bus operators try to make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and
make every effort to post announcements before 7 a.m. Inclement weather
cancellations are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the
morning will not run at the end of the day. You can follow the Consortium on
Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus
cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus
delay notifications here: https://scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
Parents’ Guide to Assessment, Evaluation and
Reporting
Learn to navigate the
world of assessment, evaluation, and reporting with this new guide for
parents/guardians. Created to support parents’/guardians’ understanding of
assessment, this guide was designed to effectively empower you to actively
engage in your child's educational journey. The guide has been posted to the
Simcoe County District School Board’s website and can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm.
Subscribe to Kindergarten
Connections!
Will your
child be turning four in 2024? If so, the SCDSB invites you to Kindergarten Connections! This is a
monthly enewsletter informing families of everything they need to know about
preparing their child for school, as well as registering them for Kindergarten
in the SCDSB. To learn more and subscribe, visit the Kindergarten page on the
SCDSB website:www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten.
EarlyON Child and Family
Centres
The foundation for lifelong
learning and health is built in the early years. EarlyON Child and Family
Centres across Simcoe County offer programs for children prenatal to six years
of age and their parents/guardians and caregivers. They offer access to play-
and inquiry-based learning supported by How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the
early years, information on child development and developmental screening
including Early Referral Identification Kits (ERIKs), parent/guardian
education, referrals to community resources, nutrition information, and
post-natal resources. Check with your local EarlyON provider: https://linktr.ee/earlyonsimcoe
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child
developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate
speech and language skills are critical to your child’s ability to read, write,
and be successful in school as well as to their ability to engage with their
peers. Free services are available to support you with your child’s
development. Preschool speech and language programs are located across the
County of Simcoe. Call (705) 739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a
developmental screen. The earlier we work together the better!
Licensed Winter Break 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. Registration in advance is required.
Please contact the child care operator directly to
discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found
by visiting: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians
with Pine River Institute
Mental health and well-being continues to be a key
strategic priority within the SCDSB. We are pleased to continue our
partnership with the Centre for Family Initiatives at Pine River Institute
(CFI@PRI) to provide several curated learning sessions focused on student
mental health and well-being to SCDSB families.
There are eight webinars specifically planned for parents/guardians and other
caregivers during this school year.
Nov. 9,
2023 Understanding
and managing screen time, part two - social media edition
Nov. 30,
2023 Helping
parents align
Jan.
11, 2024 Sleep
hygiene
Feb. 8,
2024 Self
regulation for kids
Feb. 22, 2024 Self
regulation for teens
March 28, 2024 Building
parents' resiliency
April 18, 2024 Vaping,
weed, and alcohol
We
hope you save these dates in your calendar and join us for these learning
opportunities. For more information and to register, please visit the SCDSB
website: https://bit.ly/3jGaC74.
Pine River Institute is
a live-in treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth aged 13
to 19 struggling with addictive behaviours and often other mental health
issues. Combining therapy with a fully-accredited education program, PRI
reinforces the healthy life skills required for a successful future. CFI@PRI
extends PRI’s knowledge, experience and evidence-informed treatment approach to
families and care providers in the community to support youth mental wellness
and prevent the need for more intensive interventions. Learn more about
PRI by visiting their website at www.pineriverinstitute.com.
High
school information events for Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school information
events will take place in-person this winter! Student leaders and staff at
the school will give an overview of what’s new and what to expect. Learn about
courses offered, as well as information about teams and clubs. Please
visit the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school to find details on your
high school’s info night, and contact the school directly for more information.
Looking for Employment? Join Our Team!
Curious
about what employment opportunities are available at the Simcoe County District
School Board (SCDSB)? The SCDSB is hosting several job fairs throughout Simcoe
County during the month of November; come by and speak with one of our
representatives at any of the following events!
YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka Employment Services (Midland)
Thursday,
Nov. 2, 2023
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Job Seekers
| YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka (ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca)
TRACKS Employment & Resource Service (Collingwood)
Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
TRACKS Employment Services -
One-stop resource centre for Employment Ontario Services | Located in
Collingwood and serving Georgian Triangle communities of Clearview, Wasaga
Beach, and Town of the Blue Mountains
FOCUS Employment Services (Alliston)
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Job Seekers - FOCUS Community
Development Corporation (focuscdc.on.ca)
Agilec Employment Services (Orillia)
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023
12 to 5 p.m.
Employment Services - Agilec
For more information about employment opportunities at the SCDSB, visit:
www.scdsb.on.ca/joinourteam.
Grade 1 French Immersion information
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) offers French Immersion
(FI) at select schools throughout Simcoe County beginning in Grade 1. The goal
of the FI program is to enable students to communicate in French with a high
level of proficiency, enabling them to function with ease in both French and
English. Upon graduation from the program, students will communicate in French
with confidence in a wide variety of real-life situations.
Grade
1 FI family information nights are held annually in advance of the application
process for the following school year. This year, FI family information nights
will be held in-person throughout the month of November at the respective FI
school locations. The designated Grade 1 FI site for our school is CAMERON
STREET SCHOOL. The information night for this school will be MONDAY,
NOV 20TH AT 6PM.
The
SCDSB board-wide electronic applications for the Grade 1 FI program for all
sites will open Friday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. Entry into the FI program is
determined through a digitally randomized lottery system.
Nov. 28 is Eat Well to
Excel Day in Simcoe County
Eat Well
to Excel is a Simcoe County non-profit community partnership that supports our
school’s student nutrition program. The funding provided by Eat Well to Excel
allows us to supply students with access to healthy snacks during the school
day.
The pandemic and increasing food costs have caused a significant
financial strain on many families in our region and new data shows that 1 in 3
kids in Canada are at risk of going to school hungry. Kids that are hungry
struggle to retain knowledge and keep focused throughout the day. They are also
at an increased risk of experiencing poor mental health and a compromised
immune system. With your support we can maintain and hopefully improve our
program to provide a consistent supply of healthy food to our students.
You can make a donation by visiting eatwelltoexcel.ca. You can either
support the county-wide program or direct your donation to our school. Please
include our school name in the comment box to ensure the donation goes directly
to our program. A tax receipt will be emailed to you.
For more information about Eat Well to Excel visit eatwelltoexcel.ca.
Knowledgehook math
tool
Knowledgehook
is a digital math assessment and practice tool that has been purchased for all
K-10 SCDSB classrooms. This tool is accessible to students at home so that they
can practice math skills, either assigned by their teacher or on their own. Ask your child about how they use Knowledgehook in class and learn
more at: www.knowledgehook.com.
Supporting oral language
development at home
Within the revised language curriculum,
there is a focus on supporting students to acquire the knowledge and skills
relating to the foundations of language. Oral and non-verbal communication are
foundational components of language skills. Over the years, students develop their
listening and speaking abilities using a variety of strategies and skills,
including word choice and syntax, to become effective communicators.
Here are
some ways you can support oral language development at home:
·
Engage your
child in conversations about things that interest them
·
Talk to
your child and listen responsively
·
Ask and
answer questions
·
Share oral
stories
·
Read aloud
to your child
·
Talk about
the books you read together
·
Singing and
playing together
Mental health promotion strategy of the month
Well-being is a strategic priority
in the Simcoe County District School Board, and our mental health and
well-being department provides monthly strategies to support student and family
well-being.
This month’s strategy is Let It Go.
This practice helps students focus their attention, calm feelings of anxiety,
and manage stress. To practice Let It Go
at home, have your child/youth sit comfortably and take a deep breath. Share
the following exercise with your child/youth:
● Use your fingers to gently massage the top of
your head
● Still in massaging motion, bring your fingers
to your forehead, eyebrows, temples, around your eyes, cheeks, and jaw
● If you notice tension anywhere – let it go
● Finally, massage each of your ears and end by
gently pulling your earlobes
Keep in
mind to take your time with each area, especially where you hold the most
tension.
Practicing Let It Go can be done any
time of the day or at regular times, such as at mealtime or before bed. You may
try this technique on your hands using a massaging motion to focus on each
finger, thumb, and palm. Consider doing Let
It Go with your child/youth to model the strategy.
Visit the links below for Let It Go posters from School
Mental Health Ontario:
Elementary - https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SEL-Posters-Let-It-Go.pdf
Secondary - https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SEL-Posters-Secondary-Let-It-Go.pdf
Find more
easy and fun mental health activities to do at home visit: https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/easy-and-fun-mental-health-activities-for-home/
Follow
the mental health and well-being social media accounts (@SCDSB_MHWB) to see how
well-being is being supported in our schools.
Dental screening and services for kids ages
0-17
Good dental health is an important part of
your child’s general health. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Oral
Health Community Program offers free dental screenings in daycares, schools,
and health unit offices for children and youth aged 0 - 17 years. Dental
screening can identify and inform families that their child has a dental
concern.
Health unit
staff can also help children/youth and their families access free preventive
services and treatment through the Healthy Smiles
Ontario (HSO) Program. For more information regarding these services
visit: www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/Dental.
Information
provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit