OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

 

Kiss ‘n Ride: 

Thank-you and Further Updates From the School

 

Thanks to everyone using the Kiss ‘n Ride demonstrating intentional patience and care each day. While most have worked hard to not get out of their car, there have been a few instances where cars have been left in the active lane without a driver during the afternoon pick-up. This practice stifles the safe progression of vehicles and creates frustration for everyone using the ‘live’ lane. If you need to leave your vehicle, please park your car in designated parking areas. Using the grassy areas in the parking lot to either idle or park your vehicle is not permissible. Thanks again for your patience and support to keep the students at school safe. Below is the original message sent to the school community. With the addition of many new students and families, some may not have had a chance to access this information.

 

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“Kiss & Ride” September update.

For many, this information will be a reminder of our school practice and for some this will be important new information.

• When dropping students off at the school, supervision of students begins at 9:15 a.m. For the safety of your children, please do not drop students off prior to this time.
• Enter the Kiss & Ride from the North entrance/exit and approach the designated drop-off and pick-up area in a single line of traffic – please remain in single file throughout the process.
• Please pay close attention to staff who are supervising and directing vehicle movement.
• Please do not pass any vehicles unless directed by school staff.
• Drop off/pick-up students in the designated area adjacent to the Main Yard gate. Have students wait in the vehicle until your vehicle is in the area and the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
• Whenever possible, the driver should remain in the car. A staff member is usually present and can assist opening and closing vehicle doors for younger students.

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  Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger side whenever possible.

   

• At drop-off specifically, students should be reminded to be aware of the busy parking lot they are entering and they should move in a focused manner to the main gate and the playground.
• Once students have been dropped off/picked up, vehicles should proceed forward and loop back to the north entry/exit. Please drive with care as this area is an active area with teachers, parents and some students. Slow, Slow, Slow!!
• If you need to escort your child(ren) please park your vehicle. There is limited parking on the school property but additional, short-term parking can be found across the street from the school at the 8^th Avenue Youth Centre (grey building). There is a cross-walk that can then be used to safely cross the road to the school.

   

  Safe Arrival and Early Dismissal

   

  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 and leave 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. 

• To avoid congestion and protect student confidentiality, we cannot have your child waiting for you in the office if you are picking them up early. We call them to the office when you (or an approved person) arrives and rings the door bell. For your child’s safety, we will not send students out to people we can’t see at the front door.
• Do notarrive after 3:30PM to pick up your child early. We do not call students to the office between 3:30-3:50.
• Avoid early dismissal when possible. It’s disruptive to learning if multiple dismissals are happening each day.
• Do not press 1 when you receive a safe arrival automated call. This information does not make it’s way to office staff. Instead, call the safe arrival line at 1-888-885-8065. We will continually attempt to connect with parents and emergency contacts until you report your child’s absence.

 

Terry Fox at Ernest Cumberland

The Ernest Cumberland Terry Fox Campaign was once again a huge success. On Thursday, September 28th, all students and staff took part in a run or walk - some classes stayed on the school grounds, while many of our grade 4-8 students took part in a 5 kilometre run/walk through the community. Although toonies and donations are still coming in, this year our school raised over $2 600.00 for the Terry Fox Foundation. That is outstanding work! Special thank you goes to our community partner, Zehrs for donating popsicles for our $500.00 incentive and to Giant Tiger for donating granola bars and apples for students on the run day. Giant Tiger also donated $250.00 to the Terry Fox Foundation in Ernest Cumberland Elementary School’s name. Thank you to all families, staff and students for continuing to support this worthwhile cause and create amazing school spirit here at Ernest Cumberland.

PA Day on October 20, 2023

Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Oct. 20 PA Day:

 

                                                                  Length:                                          Full day

                                                                  Topic:                                        Health & Safety, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Mathematics

                                                                  Host:                                              Simcoe County District School Board

                                                                  Presenter(s)/facilitator(s):        School board staff and school administrators and school leads

Educators will participate in a half-day Health and Safety digital learning session focused on health and safety incident reporting and investigations with a particular emphasis on the essential aspect of workplace violence prevention. The session will equip staff with the knowledge and tools to report incidents effectively and promptly, provide insights into the investigative and risk mitigation process, fostering transparency and accountability, and highlight the critical role staff play in preventing workplace injuries. Educators will learn about Somali, Latino, South Asian, and African Black Indigenous heritage. They will collaboratively plan within grades and divisions. Through this, they will celebrate identities and create environments that foster well-being and sense of belonging. Educators will choose learning related to the Knowledgehook digital math tool based on their readiness. Different learning pathways have been planned for new users, those with some experience, and those who are ready to extend their use of the math tool. All participants will learn about how to invite parents/guardians to view their child’s progress. Additionally, educators will engage in High Impact Instructional Practices in Mathematics learning modules that align with their school’s Achievement in Mathematics goal.

Licensed PA day and holiday school-age child care programs

Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, thirdparty 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.

Interested in learning more about the ways that the SCDSB supports students with special education needs and their families? Join us for a virtual special education outreach series

The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/caregivers in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs. The first session, IEPs and school-based assessments – information for parents/caregivers, will be held on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This virtual presentation will include an opportunity for participants to share some of their questions regarding IEPs and special education programming. Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about upcoming sessions and how to register on the SCDSB website: 

www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.  

 

Inclement Weather

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 South 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.

Ernest Cumberland Elementary School is in the SOUTH weather zone. 

Younger students must be met by an adult at the bus stop. 

For more information on busing visit: https://main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca 

School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC 

 

In order to receive delay and cancellation notifications, families can check the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or download the ‘BusPlanner Delays’ app from the Apple or Android app stores to receive delay notifications to their devices. Users would need to select Simcoe County STC as the transportation authority. The app will need to be forced closed, but you will be able to select your student(s) routes or school to receive delays.

 

The app will send a general notice for any cancellation in Simcoe County. You only need to know which ‘zone’ you’re in, so you would know which one to look out for in the app. You can find your student’s zone by visiting the School Bus Status page at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca and clicking the dropdown for the area you live in.

School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

 

School Bus Safety Week takes place Oct. 16 to 20, 2023. Please visit the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca for information on school bus safety and links to school bus safety resources. Oct. 19, 2023 is School Bus Driver

Appreciation Day in the province of Ontario. It’s a great opportunity for the school community to thank our bus drivers for all their hard work

Get on the move

There are many benefits to walking or wheeling to school. Walking or wheeling to school reduces traffic, helps students establish healthy lifestyles, is better for the environment and enhances community safety. Wherever possible, we encourage students within walking zones to get on the move and walk or wheel to school. For more information please visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website here: bit.ly/3OC4CJ9

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8 to 14

This year, the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™’, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, along with a wealth of resources to help promote the campaign locally, visit fpw.org.

 

Information from the National Fire Protection Association website

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Keep Connected!   It is important to get accurate information about what’s going on at school and Simcoe County District School Board.   Here are some ways to do that: Our school website: http://ern.scdsb.on.ca Sign up to receive emails from us. Provide your email, click Subscribe. A message will be sent to your inbox with a link to click to confirm that you want to subscribe. You can unsubscribe any time using the link at the bottom of each email. Sign up to receive SCDSB media releases by clicking Subscribe www.scdsb.on.ca Twitter @SCDSB_Schools Facebook/SCDSB Instagram.com/scdsb

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Parent Council Corner

Our First council meeting and elections are on Monday October 2, 2023  from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the school library. All nominees wishing to be voting members must be in attendance. Agenda items for the first meeting include: School Council goal setting, Fall Fling update, and School Updates. We hope to see all interested parents in attendance!

 

If you are a volunteer, please go onto your parent portal and complete an offense declaration prior to any volunteering in the school in the 2023-2024 school year. This is done yearly. 

Upcoming in-person Grade 1 French Immersion information sessions

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 English and French.

 

Information sessions for families who are considering entry into Grade 1 FI for the 2024-25 school year will take place at Ernest Cumberland on November 20th from 6:00-7:00pm and online applications will open in December 2023.

 

Entry into the FI program will be determined through a digitally randomized lottery system. A link to access the Grade 1 FI online application form will be available on the SCDSB website starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 until 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. For more information regarding French Immersion, visit www.scdsb.on.ca, then select ‘elementary’, and ‘French as a Second Language’.

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, staff and within the SCDSB’s broader school communities. 

 

There are eight webinars in the learning series specifically planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year.  

 

Oct. 26, 2023         Understanding and managing screen time, part one - gaming edition

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 evidenceinformed 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.

Revised 2023 Ontario Language Curriculum

Beginning this school year, all language programs for Grades 1-8 will be based on the expectations of the revised Ontario Language Curriculum. The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1 to 8: Language, 2023 outlines the knowledge and skills required for effective reading and writing, listening, and speaking so students can succeed at school and beyond. The curriculum has been revised partly in response to the recommendations outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read public inquiry report.

The 2023 curriculum now includes four strands:

1. Literacy Connections and Applications
2. Foundations of Language
3. Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
4. Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

For more information, visit www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/key-changes-language to view a guide for parents/guardians on the Ministry of Education website.

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 via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm.  

Have you met Sora?

Our digital ebook/audiobook collection contains over 4,000 titles waiting to be checked out by our SCDSB students. Students simply download the app, use their SCDSB login and start reading for free on their phone or tablet. The collection can be accessed at: meet.soraapp.com. 

Supporting  your child with math

Are you curious about how you can support your child’s growth as a mathematician?           Visit           the             Parents      Guide         to               Mathematics           at www.ontario.ca/page/new-math-curriculum-grades-1-8, where you can find a summary of the knowledge and skills your child will be learning as they progress through the grades, information about how you can support your child’s learning, and how the curriculum was developed. 

 

TVO Mathify offers free 1:1 online Grade 4-12 math tutoring to SCDSB students. Connect with an Ontario Certified Teacher of your choice. It is anonymous and secure, and can be used from a phone, tablet, or computer. Math tutors are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday to Friday, and 3:30 to 9 p.m. ET Sunday. 

 

Your child will not need to enter their OEN number or any identifying information when TVO Mathify is accessed through the SCDSBhub.

 

All SCDSB students from Grades 4-12 have been pre-registered for this amazing service. For quick access to TVO Mathify:

1. Find the link in your child’s Google waffle to the SCDSBhub.
2. Look for the TVO Mathify icon on their dashboard.

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MONDAY LUNDI	TUESDAY MARDI	WEDNESDAY MERCREDI	THURSDAY JEUDI	FRIDAY VENDREDI	SATURDAY SAMEDI	SUNDAY DIMANCHE
2 DAY 4 Booster Juice   Council Meeting 6:00pm - 7:00pm	3 DAY 5 Pizza Pizza	4 DAY 1 Subway	5 DAY 2 Champ Burger   Fall Fling 5:00pm - 7:00pm	6 DAY 3 Lunch Made Easy	7	8 Lunch & milk order due by noon
9	10 DAY 4 Pizza Pizza	11 DAY 5 Subway	12 DAY 1 Champ Burger	13 DAY 2 Lunch Made Easy Comfy Clothes Day	14	15 Lunch & milk order due by noon
16 DAY 3	17 DAY 4 Pizza Pizza	18 DAY 5 Subway	19 DAY 1 Champ Burger   Picture Day	20	21	22 Lunch & milk order due by noon
23 DAY 2 Grade 7: Immunizations		25 DAY 4 Subway	26 DAY 5 Champ Burger	27 DAY 1 Lunch Made Easy	28	29 Milk and lunch orders for next week are due by 12:00pm
30 DAY 2	31 DAY 3 Wear black/ white or your Halloween costume
			What’s for lunch? Order at www.schoolcashonline.com Orders are cancelled on inclement weather days.
			Spirit Days