Centennial Connection Sept. 5, 2022
An update for families from Centennial Public School
A Note From the Principal
As the new principal, I want to extend a very warm welcome to all Centennial students and families. Whether you have been here for many years, or are a newcomer yourself, this is a great school and a wonderful community to be a part of.
I welcome feedback from families. Please use the school email to reach out with any suggestions or concerns. The school email is cente@limestone.on.ca I hope that as many parents and guardians as possible will consider joining the School Council. It is a great venue to get to know others and to find out about the school. More information about the School Council is below.
I will usually be sending out a weekly communication to families, usually on Sundays. Check for it in your email box.
I am so excited to meet students and families tomorrow and look forward to working with you this year!
-Deborah Thompson
Principal
1 More Sleep!
A reminder to arrive on the yard between 8:50am and 9:05am. Staff will be available to greet students and families before students enter the school with their class at 9:05am.
This will be an exciting year ahead and we are looking forward to working together with families.
Parking Zones
Please also do not park directly in front of the school as that is a bus loading zone. There are parking spaces available along Norman Rogers drive to the east and west of the school, and along a number of side streets close to the school.
Thank you for helping to ensure that students can arrive safely to school and that there is parking for staff in the lot.
We Are Expecting Lots of Students!
Should there be reorganization of staff and students, information will be shared with families. Classes and staff changes take place based on actual enrollment, which is sometimes different from the projected enrollment that staffing is based on in the spring. Student and family moves impact how many students are at Centennial. We will do our best to minimize disruption to student learning and will take direction from the LDSB should changes be required. Changes may be needed if classes are too small or too large, based on Ministry of Education class size requirements, which are mandated from the province.
Once school starts, class numbers will be reviewed by a central committee of the LDSB to determine what, if any, changes need to be made. Any reorganization will happen after the second week of school.
Thanks to all Centennial students and families, in advance, for your understanding and flexibility as we determine class sizes and placements.
All families should have received an email or call on Friday to let you know who your child's teacher will be to start the year. Please check your junk/spam folder if you didn't receive it. If you aren't sure who your child's teacher is, please come to the front of the school on Tuesday and you will be directed to the correct classroom. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Kindergarten Staggered Entry
JK students with last names A-H will attend Tuesday September 6
JK students with last names I-P will attend Wednesday September 7
JK students with last names Q-Z will attend Thursday September 8
All JK students will attend Friday September 9th. Also, all SK students will be full time starting Tuesday September 6th.
Should the staggered entry be a hardship for any family, please contact the school at 613.546.5517
Daily Screening Still Required
Insure My Kids
School Board Policy states that participation on school sports teams (both elementary and secondary) is conditional on obtaining at least the basic student accident insurance coverage for the student or proof of external private coverage through your family plan. The cost of basic coverage is approximately $17.00 per year. This covers the student while attending school during the school day. The time spent by students participating in school-sponsored teams is considered part of the school day, even if the games and/or practices are held outside of the regular school hours. It is recommended that all parents consider this program. Visit www.insuremykids.com to get this inexpensive and highly recommended insurance.
School Trips & Volunteers
Tri-Board Student Transportation
if your child rides the bus, Tri-board should have sent confirmation of your child's route. If you were on a bus last year, you are set up for busing this year. You can also sign up for bus status alert emails at the Tri-board website to ensure you are notified of any late runs or cancelled routes.
If you are new to Centennial Public School and require transportation, you will need to fill out the bus form at https://triboard.ca
Please visit https://triboard.ca/covid19/ for the latest protocols and expectations for riders and families.
Recess & Nutrition Breaks
Students will have 2 recesses and 2 nutrition breaks. Recess is outside on a particular yard (we will flip/flop the space each day so students in Grades 1-6 have the opportunity to play on both parts of the yard each day). All staff will be wearing safety vests so they are easily recognizable. Nutrition breaks happen in classrooms.
We have several students with life-threatening allergies. A reminder that our school is nut aware: please ensure that your child's snacks and lunch do not contain any nut products. Classroom teachers will communicate any additional food allergies that families will need to be aware of. Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe!
School Advisory Council
It's that time of year! School Advisory Council (Parent Council) elections for Executive Positions are coming up very soon! The first Parent Council Meeting of the 2022-2023 school year is on Monday September 19th at 6:30pm in the gym. All parents/guardians are welcome!
Please use the link below to submit nominations. Nominations are anonymous and you can nominate yourself or someone else for a position. If you are nominating someone, please ensure they are up for the position and have agreed to your nomination. The person you nominate must be available to be present at the meeting. Your nomination does not count as a vote; you must be present to vote. Nominations are due by 11am on Monday September 19th.
Positions for election are:
Chair
Represents, works with and provides support to all school community and council committee chairs. This person works closely with the school principal and VP, school staff and parents to enrich the education of all students. Additionally, they preside over and conduct monthly council meetings, set agendas and schedule meetings (in consultation with the Principal). The chair promotes discussion amongst council members and the community, receives and reports on correspondence sent and received by council. Acts as coordinator between the school board and council. Receives documentation from board and keeps council advised of board decisions, activities etc. Supports programs, initiatives and activities led by other council members and contributes to the monthly council newsletter.
Vice Chair/Co-chair
Presides at meetings in the absence of the chair or upon the incumbent’s inability to serve. Responsible for overseeing all sponsored events and programs.
Treasurer
Works with the council and coordinators in developing an operating budget, keeps a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures and serves as the liaison with the Board of Education. Additional responsibilities include depositing/disbursing funds on behalf of the council, the preparation of monthly financial statements, and the preparation & filing of all necessary financial reports.
Secretary
Attends scheduled council meetings, records, maintains and distributes minutes of meetings, keeps non-financial records of council.
Indigenous Representative
This is a newer position with the SAC and will evolve and grow organically.
Member at Large (Divisional reps)
Attends meetings and participates in many aspects of council activities, as prescribed by council. Voting member. Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior positions available should there be enough interest.
Fundraising Coordinator
Plans, manages fundraising activities of council. Works closely with treasurer.
Everyone who is part of our Centennial family is welcome to attend any of our meetings this year. Meeting dates will be shared out after our September 19th meeting.
Please use the nomination link here: https://forms.gle/CL7c9LW4NSQTX23j8
The pathway between Johnson Street and Norman Rogers Drive is open! Thank you to the LDSB and the City of Kingston for the joint effort to create this pathway for the community!
Some of the beautiful bulletin boards already up in the halls at Centennial PS!
School Supplies
Please also bring a reuseable water bottle (labelled with the student's name) as the water fountains are water bottle filling stations only. We do not have water bottles to give out to students.
Labelling all student belongings is very helpful!
What To Bring
- resuseable water bottle with student's name clearly marked
- healthy lunch and snacks that are nut free please
- outdoor shoes appropriate for running and play (please no flip flops)
- indoor shoes with non-marking sole
- masks - if you wish to wear
- sunhat
- a positive attitude
What Not To Bring
Please do not bring:
- valueables
- electronics/devices (students who bring a cellphone will place it in the lockbox in the classroom for the day)
- medication, drugs or alcohol
- anything scented (including scented hand sanitizer - please leave that at home)
- toys and stuffies
Thank you for understanding that we are not responsible for lost or broken belongings.
Getting Ready For School - A Few Tips
Positive Messaging: Children will be looking to adults to determine how they should react to situations, to provide reassurance and to answer questions/concerns they may have. Do your best to share positive messaging about the challenges ahead and be mindful about what personal worries and concerns you share.
Practicing: Begin or continue to practice mask wearing and/or physical distancing in the community and in social gatherings. Continue to establish and practice hand-washing/sanitizing routines at home before/after transitioning to new places and spaces. We will be washing/sanitizing our hands a lot during the school day!
Seek Support: Reach out to other families to share ideas and strategies for preparing students for school. Access community resources to support your child's mental health and well-being or to access support for yourself. Email or call the school if you have specific questions/concerns related to your child - our whole team is here to help!
School Times - FYI
Daily Schedule:
8:50-9:05am – Supervision on yard
9:05-10:45am – 100 minute block
10:45-11:25am – Recess & Nutrition Break
11:25-1:05pm – 100 minute block
1:05-1:45pm – Recess & Nutrition Break
1:45-3:25pm – 100 minute block
The school office is open from 8am - 4pm
Phones are answered throughout the day; however, there are times when you may have to leave a message and your call will be returned.
Parent/Guardian Drop Off & Pick Up
Student pick up happens at the exterior doors of the school at 3:25pm.
The map below indicates where classes enter the school at the beginning of the day.
A friendly reminder that dogs and pets are not allowed on the school grounds at any time.
Arriving & Departing by Bus
Arriving on the bus:
- As students are welcomed off the bus by a staff member, they will walk directly to their designated class line up. Staff will be present to support students in finding their line up and to supervise the lines. Kindergarten students and students with special needs will be accompanied by a staff member. Students will wait in their class line until the bell rings at 9:05 and then be met by their first period teacher into the school directly to their classroom.
Departing on the bus:
- Students will be escorted by their teacher to their bus line and supervised by a staff member as they wait to board the bus
School Year Calendar
The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. Provincial regulations require that the school year shall start on or after September 1 and end on or before June 30. Every school year shall include a minimum of 194 school days.
The following key dates have been approved:
- First Day of School: Tuesday, September 6, 2022
- Winter Break: December 23, 2022, to January 6, 2023
- March Break: March 13, to March 17, 2023
- Last Day of School: Thursday, June 29, 2023
A printable 2022-2023 School Year Calendar is available here
Medical Forms
Parents/guardians of students with known medical plans of care will receive a package with a medical plan of care to update during the first week of school. These need to be updated and returned as soon as possible.
If you are new to the school, or do not receive the package, to help us gather important medical information about your child, we ask that you select the correct Plan of Care form below, complete it and return it to the school as soon as possible. If you require us to administer daily medication, you will also need to complete the necessary paperwork for us to be able to do this. Completed forms can be faxed to 613.546.9228 or scanned and emailed to cente@limestone.on.ca
Daily medication will need to be dropped off by a parent/caregiver at the school and will be stored at the office. Students can not carry medications in their backpack, at any time. You may drop of labelled medication this week, or on the first day of school.
**Be sure to also include the supplementary forms if medication may need to be administered by school staff.
Health and safety of our kids is our first priority. Thank you for helping us stay informed on your child's medical conditions and Plan of Care.
Click below for necessary supplementary forms needed including:
Staff at Centennial PS for 2022-2023
Early Childhood Educators
Ghina El Haj
Elaine Locke
Jessica Hollywood
Educational Assistants
Sarah Hogan
Christine Berry
Jackie Ellerbeck
Jessica Hachey
Dylan Davis
Dorothy Evans
Abby Caldwell
Maggie Young
Custodial & Office Staff
Jeanette Williams, Head Caretaker
Evening Caretaker TBD
Janet MacWhirter, Office Administrator
Teachers
Jennifer Lalonde
Shelley Farndon
Brittany East
Tara Murphy
Christine Joannette
Emily Hetherington
Judy Beardall
Bev Hennessy
Catherine Byers
Keith Cahill
Skot Caldwell
Lesley Graham
Zunaira Munir
Lauren Honcoop
Kim Bigelow
Michelle Girard
Dan Blair
Anna Schukei
Deborah Thompson - Principal
E-Store
Safe Arrival - How Do I Report An Absence?
How to report your absence:
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
Stay Up To Date!
Stay Up To Date! Please check the following regularly...
Centennial PS Twitter https://twitter.com/centennial_ldsb?lang=en
Centennial PS Website https://centennial.limestone.on.ca/
LDSB Website https://www.limestone.on.ca/
LDSB Twitter https://twitter.com/LimestoneDSB
LDSB Facebook https://tinyurl.com/wbhjtku
LDSB Instagram https://instagram.com/limestonedsb?igshid=1epyma6c0g5qd
Centennial Public School
Email: cente@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://centennial.limestone.on.ca
Location: 120 Norman Rogers Dr, Kingston, ON K7M 2R2
Phone: 613.546.5517
Twitter: @Centennial_LDSB