Bear Blast
Week of Sept 2, 2024 (Welcome Back!)
Working together; succeeding together.
As Treaty people, we take this moment to honor the lands of Treaties 4 and 6, and all they have provided to us and our families across many generations. These lands have long served as traditional meeting grounds, gathering places, and traveling routes for the Cree, Dene, Nakota, Dakota, Saulteaux, and Ojibway peoples since time immemorial. We also recognize these lands as the homeland of Métis Nation Eastern Region II.
We honor the ancestors whose footsteps have shaped these lands. We acknowledge that our use of these lands has come at a profound cost, including the impacts of colonialism and the residential school system. With this recognition, we commit to working together toward reconciliation and forging a path forward that honors the past and builds a better future for all.
Welcome Back
I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing summer. The weather certainly provided ample opportunity to enjoy all that nature has to offer.
The start of a new school year is always an exciting time. Some students are eager to get back into routine, while others might still prefer the laid-back atmosphere of summer. Regardless, everyone is both excited and a little nervous as they enter the new territory that each school year brings.
To our new students—eight of you!—welcome to the Bears family. While you may miss the school family you're leaving behind, I assure you that you’re joining one of the best. We’re thrilled to have you with us.
To our new and returning staff, welcome to, or back to, the greatest team in the world. We are fortunate to have some of the most talented, caring, and empathetic educators, and we're excited to create the best learning experience possible together.
To the rest of our Bears family, welcome back! We’re ready for another #wondeFULLyear at PPCS.
Finally, I’d like to address the upcoming changes to our Personal Device Policy, which you may have heard about from last month’s announcement. When the Minister initially outlined these changes, we believed they would closely align with our existing plans, resulting in only minor adjustments. However, upon further review, we realized the differences were more significant than anticipated.
While we at PPCS firmly believe that these changes will foster a more distraction-free learning environment, we acknowledge that the rapid implementation timeline is challenging. What would typically take a year to fully integrate, we’ve been asked to accomplish in just a few short days. Although we would have preferred to give our students and families a more substantial voice in shaping this policy, the circumstances did not allow for it.
We’ve worked diligently to develop policies and procedures that comply with the ministerial order while also respecting our students. The resulting policy is more stringent than in the past, and we understand this will be difficult for some. We anticipate that it may cause anxiety, frustration, and other emotions among our students and families. We are committed to implementing this policy with both firmness and empathy.
We hope that within a few weeks, students will recognize the benefits and start to adapt to the new reality created by this order. We thank our families in advance for their support and understanding as we navigate these changes together.
Looking for Coaches
Bears Athletics is looking for coaches for the upcoming school year, mainly Sr. Boys Basketball, Track and Field. and an assistant for Girls Volleyball but if you are interested in others let us know. Please contact Mr. Bloski for details.
Around PPCS
September Family Calendar
Around the Community
Porcupine Plain Minor Hockey Registration is Open
Visit 2024/25 Hockey Season | PORCUPINE PLAIN MINOR (spordle.com) to register your son or daughter for the 2024/2025 PPMHA season.
Registrations are due Sept 13.
Hot Lunches
Check Your Punch Card Balance
Please note, as we get used to this new system, please be aware that punch card balances may be up to 1 week behind.
Once you click the link below and find your child's account number, you will see a number to the left of their account number (i.e. 17). That number will not change, so you only have to remember that number going forward.
We hope that this will help our families.