Bayridge Bulletin

School Council is so excited to DANCE with all of you this Wednesday, March 27th at 5:30 p.m. in the gym!

The DANCE will feature DJ Earl, a photo booth, a body break space in the library with board games and a canteen where you may purchase refreshments and snacks as well as water bottles ($8 each or 2/$15) and glow sticks!

If you would like to volunteer to help out during the dance (for as little as half an hour or for the duration) please contact Meg Redmond at megcarrharris@hotmail.com

There is no school for staff and students on Friday, March 29 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 1 (Easter Monday). We are wishing all staff participating a Happy Easter!

On Monday, March 25th, Term 2 IEPs will be distributed to families. This is an important time to review accommodations, modifications, and alternate programs for your student. Your input is valuable so please sign and return the consultation log (last page) and provide any feedback. We are happy to meet with families about their student's IEP and update them as needed as they are a working document. We will be reaching out to families about scheduling an IPRC meeting, unless it has already been had or waived for this school year.

We are looking forward to welcoming back Mme Amy, Core French Teacher, on Monday, March 25th! We want to thank Mme Rankin for filling in during her time away.

On Tuesday, March 26th is Epilepsy Awareness Day. Staff and students are encouraged to wear purple to show support for those individuals with Epilepsy.

Additionally on Tuesday, our Kindergarten and Grade 1 students will be participating in Fluoride Varnish from the Kingston Health Unit first thing in the morning. Letters and consents had gone home previously with students. If you do not wish for your student to participate, please reach out to your student's teacher or our general delivery mailbox at: bayri@limestone.on.ca

On Tuesday, our Grade 8 students will be participating in a BRAVE Education workshop about Bullying, Conflict, and Relationships with Ms. Gemma. A huge thank you to our SAC for funding this opportunity for our students before they head to high school!

Our Grade 3 & 6 students will be engaging in EQAO assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics sometime between May 8th and June 12th. We will be working with our in-school EQAO team soon to determine the schedules and dates for BPS.

Last week, we celebrated Neurodiversity Celebration week and World Down Syndrom Day. Many classes participated in learning about Neurodiversity through resources and engaged in conversations. Many of our classes als participated in activities about World Water Day on Friday! So many students access our water fountains each and every day and continue to learn the importance of this life-saving resource. The focus for 2024 is "Water for Peace."

Detective Braun and Officer Brent from the Kingston Police came to help us with the second lockdown practice of the year. Our staff and students did an exceptional job with this emergency protocol - we were commended for our efforts. Ask your student in Grade 5/6, 6/7, 7/8, and 8 what Kingston Police spoke about and questions asked by students! Once the weather improves, we will have a Fire Drill. Advanced notice will be given to staff, students, and families and protocols will be reviewed.

As the weather got cold and the snow came back, our climbers are CLOSED! Please note that indoor shoes are needed for all students in every grade to avoid bringing mud, dirt and wetness into classrooms and common learning spaces (i.e., the gym).

BPS follows LDSB's Concussion Protocol. If your student has an injury to their head, face, or neck, (with or without symptoms of a suspected concussion) you will be receiving a phone call home. If your student has symptoms of a concussion, we will advise families to:

• seek medical attention for the injured student and,
• ask you to come and pick up your student (we understand this is not always possible, so we will monitor students and be in touch if symptoms worsen)

For the remainder of the day, your student will not participate in gym, DPA, or recess and will require your permission to take the bus or walk home.

Students with symptoms will need to return Form 142-4 in order for them to participate in physical activity when they return to school with no diagnosed concussion.

If your student has a diagnosed concussion by a medical professional, Form 142-5 (return to learn and return to physical activity) needs to be completed with home to school communication each step of the way. Thank you for your continued support with these protocols.

Our Grade 6/7, 7/8, and 8 classes have a no cell phone policy during the school day. Cell phones are locked away safely and returned at dismissal time. Students are welcome to call their family if needed by coming down to the office with form from their teacher and asking to use the school phone. We appreciate family support with this policy.

If you would like to volunteer at our school, or work in an emergency capacity, a valid CPIC with vulnerable sector is required.

Have a great week!

Ms. Stephen, Ms. Swan-Pressnell, and The BPS Team

On Monday, April 8th (PA Day), a Total Solar Eclipse will pass through Ontario, with Kingston area being in the path of totality, where the Sun will be completely blocked by the Moon. The last total eclipse in Kingston was almost 700 years ago.

All of our Grade 1-8 students have participate in Solar Eclipse Workshops presented by Queen's Science. This week, our Grade 8 students took their learned skills from the Solar Eclipse Workshops to teach the Kindergarten students about it and make pinhole cameras this week!

Queen’s University has arranged for LDSB students and staff to have Eclipse glasses for the event, to ensure people are as safe as possible. Some students received their Solar Eclipse Glasses this week, while others will receive them between April 3rd-5th.

Back by popular demand is the virtual Parent Workshop Series!

The Parent Workshop Series is a program for parents and/or guardians of grade 7 and 8 students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD across Ontario. Based on the parent component of RARC's long-running STEPS (Successful Transition from Elementary to Post-Secondary) program, the Parent Workshop Series will offer parents this same valuable content in a virtual format.

The goal of this free program is to provide parents:

• Information and support to understand their child’s experience and potential more fully
• Skills to navigate the school system
• Ability to provide timely and targeted support
• Help plan for the transition to Grade 9
• Support to know they are not alone.

The program will consist of 4 weekly virtual sessions. The dates for these sessions will be May 15, 22, 29, and June 5, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 pm.

Registration closes on April 26, 2024. There is no cost to the program, however parents must commit to attend all 4 sessions. You can find more information, as well as a poster for families and our registration forms, on our website: https://www.queensu.ca/rarc/transitions/parent-workshop-series

We are looking for "Emergency" staff at BPS to be added to our "Emergency Staff" list:

• Teachers
• Educational Assistants
• Early Childhood Educators
• Lunch & Yard Supervisors

If you are interested please email bayri@limestone.on.ca with your availability and we will be in touch. You must have a CPIC with vulnerable sector and an updated resume. We look forward to meeting you!

Monday, March 25th (Day 4):

• BPS Attendance Meeting
  
• Term 2 IEPs Distributed to Families
• Moscrop - Let’s Talk Science Matter Matters Workshop (1:45-3:00)

Tuesday, March 26th (Day 5):

• Holi
• Epilepsy Awareness Day - Wear purple!
• Kinder & Grade 1 Health Unit (Fluoride Varnish) @ 9:10 am
• Welcome to Queen’s ITT Teacher Candidate, Rajni Chhabra (working with Ms. Hamilton)
• Grade 8s BRAVE Workshop with Gemma (Overvelde & Wolsey's 8s) @ 11:25-12:25 - thank you SAC!

Wednesday, March 27th (Day 1):

• Chess club, grades 5-8, 2nd recess - final one!
• SAC Family Dance Night at 5:30-7:30 pm in the gym! $1.00 Admission/Students must be accompanied by a caregiver

Thursday, March 28th (Day 2):

• Yard Pals Training with Lara Paterson - Grade 5s in the gym
• Milkshake Day
• Lunch: Subs

Friday, March 29th:

• Good Friday - no school for staff and students

A reminder that we are offering hot lunch once per week and milkshakes once per month. All orders must be placed on School Day (www.school-day.com) - please contact the office if you need assistance or you need your 10-digit secure match code. Any profits raised will be used for student activities. Please note that we are unable to accept cash from students to purchase a hot lunch or a milkshake as we are a cashless school. Thank you for your understanding.

March 28th: Subs (order by Sunday, March 24)

UPDATES:

• Beginning for March, hot lunch and milkshake orders must be placed by the Sunday prior to the order date.
• For example, if hot lunch is on Friday, March 1st, you will need to order by Sunday, February 25th. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept late orders at this time.

Milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry) will be available on the last Thursday of every month (except for the month of February - as milkshake day was February 15th):

• March 28th (order by Sunday, March 24)
• April 25th (order by Sunday, April 21)
• May 30th (order by Sunday, May 26)
• June 27th (order by Sunday, June 23)

A huge thank you to Mrs. Graham for all of her hard work with every hot lunch and milkshake day and Mr. Klein and the intermediates for the delivery help!

March 31: Easter Sunday / National Indigenous Languages Day

April 8: PA Day (moved from April 12)

April 16: Tech 'N Tinker Trailer (STEM) to BPS

April 17: Tech 'N Tinker Trailer (STEM) to BPS

April 24: SAC Meeting 5:30-6:30 pm in staffroom @ BPS - everyone welcome!

April 30: Domino's Pizza Fundraiser Night

May 28: Domino's Pizza Fundraiser Night

May 29: SAC Meeting 5:30-6:30 pm in staffroom @ BPS - everyone welcome!

June 19: Ms. Woogh, Ms. Hessell, and Ms. Hart to Queen's U ARC

Welcome to Kindergarten! This is an exciting time for both you and your student. Kindergarten is a wonderful experience and your student’s next phase on their journey of learning.

We are now accepting new student registrations for this September 2024. If your student is four or five by the end of December, now is the time to register.

Kindergarten offers a wonderful new world of learning and growing. We learn how to read, how to write and we make new friends. At Bayridge Public School, we offer English Kindergarten programs that help children get the best possible start in school.

In Kindergarten classrooms, a teacher and an early childhood educator work together as a team. This partnership helps to create a nurturing learning environment; giving every student the opportunity to learn in the way that is best suited to their individual strengths and needs. Our caring team of educators is with them every step of the way!

We are excited to announce that Limestone District School Board will now be accepting applications for open boundary Kindergarten registrations for the upcoming school year. LDSB encourages students to attend their area school, but we understand selecting the right educational setting for your new student is a significant decision. In accordance with Board policy, by default, students will be enrolled in the school designated within their boundary area, based on their home address.

Students may be permitted to attend any school within the board when there is available student space, upon submission and approval of the proper application. The Board will not be held responsible for the provision of any transportation for students outside of their regular school boundary area.

We want everyone to see themselves in Limestone. You can feel confident your student will be cared for in a safe and inclusive environment.

We are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our dedicated staff are here to assist you throughout this process. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the school.

There are three options for families to use to report a student's absence:

• SchoolMessenger App on your phone.
• SchoolMessenger website portal.
• call the automated attendance phone line at 1-855-257-9349

**Always enter "lates" as a full day even if the child will only be absent for half a day. It will adjust automatically once the student arrives.

For more information on how to report an absence please watch the video below or contact Mrs. Graham in the office.

Email: bayri@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://bayridgeps.limestone.on.ca
Location: 1066 Hudson Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-389-6900
Twitter: @BayridgePS_LDSB