| General Information - that you might find useful | http://inn.scdsb.on.ca/about-us/news/school-news/246 | General Information - that you might find useful | <p><strong>Keep connected with our school and with the SCDSB</strong><br><strong> </strong>It's important to get accurate information about what's going on at your school and at the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB):</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>you can subscribe to our school's website by visiting the 'What's New' section at http://inn.scdsb.on.ca. You can sign up to receive emails about school news updates and information during emergency situations. It's easy to subscribe – visit our website and click the 'Subscribe' link at the very top of the page. When you fill out your email and click Subscribe, an email will be sent to your inbox with a link to click to confirm that you want to subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of each email.</li><li>for Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) media releases and event information, visit the 'News' section under 'About Us' on the SCDSB's website: www.scdsb.on.ca. The SCDSB Education Centre can be reached at 705-734-6363.</li><li>follow the SCDSB on Twitter (@SCDSB_Schools), Facebook (facebook.com/SCDSB) and Instagram (instagram.com/scdsb). </li><li>through SCDSB's Sharing Simcoe blog (<a href="http://www.sharingsimcoe.com/">www.sharingsimcoe.com</a>), we share stories of our amazing staff, students and school communities. <br><br></li></ul><p>For school bus transportation information, visit the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium's website at: main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. And remember to bookmark the school bus information page at: simcoecountyschoolbus.ca for bus delay and cancellation information on inclement weather days.</p><p><br><strong>Procedures help keep our school safe</strong><br><strong> </strong>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:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>talking to them about the situations below</li><li>reminding them that emergencies are rare</li><li>telling them it's important to follow staff instructions in these situations<br> <br></li></ul><p>Parents should talk about the following emergency drills with their children:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><strong>Shelter in place</strong> 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.</li><li>A <strong>hold and secure</strong> 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. </li><li>A <strong>lockdown </strong>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. 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 do not go to the school. Information will be communicated through the school board social media sites (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/SCDSB">www.facebook.com/SCDSB</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/SCDSB_Schools">www.twitter.com/SCDSB_Schools</a>) and website (<a href="http://www.scdsb.on.ca/">www.scdsb.on.ca</a>), through local police and local media. </li><li>All schools have <strong>evacuation plans</strong> 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 will be informed about pick-up procedures by the school, school board and local media. </li><li>Elementary school main doors are locked during the school day. Visitors must use the <strong>intercom system</strong> to enter the building. <strong>Staff may not be available to answer the door immediately, please be patient.</strong> All visitors, including school volunteers, are required to <strong>sign in</strong> at the school office and wear <strong>visitor identification</strong>. </li><li>Staff and volunteers must complete a <strong>criminal record check</strong> before having contact with students. </li><li>We ask parents to contact us when their child will be absent from school as part of our <strong>Safe Arrival </strong>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.</li><li>At least two staff members in every school are trained in <strong>first aid and CPR</strong>. All Simcoe County District School Board schools <strong>have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)</strong>.<br> <br></li></ul><p>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.</p><p>It's important for you to know we'll always take whatever precautions are necessary to keep our school and students safe. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Student dress code</strong></p><p>Students are expected to respect the guidelines when dressing for school. Our school is a safe space. We work to be equitable and inclusive, and understand that students may choose to express themselves through their clothing choices. Student clothing cannot pose a safety concern or conceal identity. Exceptions are granted to students who wear head coverings or other garments/objects for the purposes of religious observance, medical or sensory needs, or other reasons protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code.</p><p> </p><p>The SCDSB dress code is available in the student agenda and online at <a href="http://www.scdsb.on.ca/">www.scdsb.on.ca</a>. If you have questions about the dress code, you can contact the principal or the SCDSB Equity and Inclusive Education Team at 705-728-7570.</p><p><br><br></p><p><strong>School bus 'Bus Tag' program helps students get to and from school safely</strong><br><strong> </strong>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 or guardian at their afternoon bus stop. </p><p>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 childcare centre to make sure they don't get on a bus in error. </p><p>For more information, visit main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca and click on the 'Safety' tab.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Safety reminder from the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)</strong><br><strong> </strong>A reminder to drivers as children return to school this fall, and school buses are back on the roads:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Take caution – be extra cautious in the vicinity of school buses and around school bus loading and unloading zones</li><li>Pay attention – Watch for school buses' distinctive chrome yellow colouring, flashing red lights and stoparms. <strong>Drivers travelling in both directions on a road without a median must stop for a stopped school bus</strong> that has its upper red lights flashing</li><li>Know the repercussions – Any driver that fails to stop for a school bus with its lights flashing is subject to a fine of up to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first time offence</li><li>Be empowered – Anyone who witnesses a driver failing to stop for a school bus can report the incident to the police</li></ul><p> </p><p>Visit the SCSTC web site at <a href="http://www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca/">www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca</a> and click on the 'Home' button then the 'Safety' tab for more details.<br> <br></p><p><strong>Pay for field trips, lunch days, etc. with SchoolCash Online</strong><br><strong> </strong>The SchoolCash Online program is available at our school. Parents can pay online for lunch days and other items. Parents who sign up will receive a notification when a new item becomes available for purchase. Items are personalized to each student. Parents use a secure online account to process payments, and can either make a one-time payment for each item as it occurs, or load money to carry a balance in the online account to make payments in the future. To create an online account, go to <a href="https://simcoecounty.schoolcashonline.com/">simcoecounty.schoolcashonline.com</a>. Please contact the school office with any questions.<br> <br></p><p><strong>Information about student accident insurance for the 2017-2018 school year</strong><br><strong> </strong>Student injuries at school, during school events, and extra-curricular activities (athletics, clubs, and out-of-province/out-of-country trips) are not covered by the board or its insurance company. While every precaution is taken to provide a safe learning environment, accidents can and do happen. The Simcoe County District School Board has selected the "insure my kids" program through Old Republic Canada as an option for students/parents/guardians to consider. This insurance offers a variety of plans and benefits at reasonable annual prices. Coverage can be purchased online at <a href="http://www.insuremykids.com/">www.insuremykids.com</a>. Please watch for your student accident insurance package along with a letter about requirements for extra-curricular activities and out-of-province or out-of-country trips. <br><br></p><p><strong>Parent Portal gives parents real-time access to attendance, grade information </strong><br>The SCDSB Parent Portal is a secure online tool that provides parents/guardians (of students less than 18 years of age) with quick access to their children's attendance and grades and includes the option to sign up for email notifications. To access the Parent Portal, parents/guardians will need their child's SCDSB Pupil ID Number, which can be found on the Student Information Verification Form, as well as an Access ID. The Access ID will be provided in a sealed letter this fall with instructions on how to create an account. If you lose the Access ID, you can visit us in the school office and we'll provide it to you after verifying your identity.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Register now for Before & After School/Childcare at our school </strong><br>Register now for before and after school programs/childcare. The Before and After School Program is for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 who need care before and/or after the regular school day hours. The fees are as follows:</p><p>Before and After School fee: $18.90<br> Before School only fee: $9.45<br> After School only fee: $13.80<br> PA day, holiday fee: $34.20</p><p>Please contact Michael at the YMCA (705 716 9504) to register your child(ren).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Want to volunteer at our school?</strong><br><strong> </strong>Current volunteers who do not submit an Annual Offence Declaration for Volunteers on or before December 31, 2017, will be deleted from the database on January 1, 2018, and will have to submit a new Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen. Please see the office for more information or if you have questions about volunteering in our school. <br><br></p><p><strong>There's still time to register for Night School</strong><br><strong> </strong>Night School courses for 2017-18 start Tues. Sept. 12 for semester one and Tues. Feb. 13 for semester two. Courses run on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Barrie Learning Centre, 320 Bayfield Street in Barrie. Each course offers a hybrid of in-class and online learning.<strong> </strong>For a list of available courses and to register, visit: <a href="http://www.thelearningcentres.com/adult-student/night-school">www.thelearningcentres.com/adult-student/night-school</a>. </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Career Centre provides job search help for free</strong><br><strong> </strong>Are you looking for work? Would you like help with your job search at no cost to you? The Career Centre is available to help. Visit <a href="http://www.barriecareercentre.com/">www.barriecareercentre.com</a> for more information.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Ideas for packing healthy school lunches</strong><br> A school lunch should give children the energy and nutrients they need to be ready to learn, be more alert and perform better at school. When planning lunches keep these tips in mind:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Include one serving from at least three of the four food groups from Canada's Food Guide </li><li>Rather than buying pre-made lunch kits, make your own healthy lunch kit with divided containers and small 'bite-sized cheese cubes, left over chicken chunks, veggie sticks or fruit slices </li><li>Get your kids to eat more veggies! Send cucumber coins, zucchini sticks and pepper strips with dip </li><li>Fill whole wheat or multi grain wrap/pits/tortilla shells with your child's favourite foods such as hummus and grated carrot or sliced turkey with honey mustard.</li><li>Water is the best option for hydration<br> <br></li></ul><p>Looking for more information to help keep you and your family healthy? Call <em>Health Connection</em> at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-5720 to speak with a public health nurse or visit the health unit's website at <a href="http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/">www.simcoemuskokahealth.org</a>.</p><p><em>Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit</em><br> <br></p><p><strong>School grounds are smoke free 24/7</strong> <br>Protect yourself and your children from the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Remember, it is against the law to smoke ANYWHERE on school property at ANY TIME. This includes smoking in your vehicle while picking up or dropping off students. It is also against the law to smoke or hold lit tobacco in a vehicle carrying anyone under age 16. The fine for ignoring the law is $250. For more information, contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or visit <a href="http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/">www.simcoemuskokahealth.org</a>.</p><p><em>Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit</em><br> <br></p><p><strong>How exercise can help with homework</strong><br><strong> </strong>It's the start of a new school year and students need to get back into the swing of things! Many students and parents adopt a similar philosophy for success – clear your schedule, buckle down and focus. Although the intention is great, by focusing solely on the books and neglecting the body, students are not actually reaching their full potential. Here are three reasons why exercise can make students more productive:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Better sleep – it's a fact that our brains work better with a good night's rest. Getting enough sleep contributes to the brain's capacity to store and retrieve information, complete tasks efficiently, maintain focus and manage stress – all of which will improve student success. </li><li>Stress release – exercise is proven to release endorphins that reduce stress. We all know how hard it can be to focus with an aching back, cramped neck or jittery leg. These physical distractions are often a result of excessive time spent in sedentary activities. A quick body break can relieve tension, stress and excess energy, making it easier to focus on the tasks at hand.</li><li>Retain more – blood pumping exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain making it more receptive to the flow of new information coming in. Studies prove that students who exercise three times a week or more get higher grades.<br> <br></li></ul><p>In addition to exercise, students should ensure they are eating healthy, staying hydrated and getting lots rest and fresh air. </p><p><em>Information provided by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka (</em><a href="http://www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/"><em>www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca</em></a><em>) </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><strong>Simcoe Community Services' Grandparent System Support Program</strong></p><p>Simcoe County is home to approximately 4,000 grand-families. The Grandparent System Support Program (GSSP) was established in response to the increased needs and unique challenges experienced by grandparents with the sole responsibility of raising their grandchildren. Caregiver fatigue, health concerns, aging, social isolation, financial strain, legal challenges and complex familial relationships can be some of the challenges faced by grandparents parenting again. The GSSP Support Groups often offer a place to share stories, information and resources in a nonjudgmental way and confidential environment. For more information about the support group, meeting dates/times or if you have questions about the GSSP, contact Trish Longo at <a href="mailto:gssp@simcoecommunityservices.ca">gssp@simcoecommunityservices.ca</a> of 705-726-9082 x2321.</p><p><em> </em></p> | | | |