It’s hard to believe that we’ve arrived at the last week of the 2023-24 school year. Our amazing Polson staff have worked hard to move students forward in their academic achievement and to provide opportunities that enriched their experience at Polson. Our students participated fully in the life of our school, and parents and caregivers have supported them in their efforts.

We are so fortunate to have such an active and engaged school advisory council and parent volunteers who have strengthened our school community with family engagement events, volunteer work, and fundraising support for student activities and school enhancements. Special thanks to Chair, Sarah Etienne for her leadership this year.

Thank you also to our wonderful office administrators, Marie Campbell and Lisa Shaw for all their hard work over the year, and to our custodians, Tom Breeden and Tyler Brown who keep our school safe and clean and always are willing to help staff and students. We have also very much appreciated the work of our casual support staff members and paid supervisors who have supported our students this year. We hope to see you at Polson next year.

The first day of the 2023-24 school year is on Wednesday, September 5, 2024. The main office will be open during the week of August 26th. More information about school start up will be shared during the last week of August and class placements will be shared by email at that time.

On behalf of our staff at Polson, thank you for a fantastic school year. We wish everyone a a safe and happy summer!

Sincerely,

Anna Pacheco, Principal

This time of year comes with mixed emotions as we say farewell to members of our current staff team and welcome new additions to our staff.

Best wishes to our departing teaching staff, Tracey Wallis, Samantha Taylor, Ashley Morrow, Sabine Munro, Tiffany Scott, Patrick McEneany, Chris Schukei, Lauren Honcoop, Stephanie Gillespie-Doucet, Stephen Tiffany, Lee Michaud, Nicole Penny, and Danielle Pendergast and Matt Ayleworth, as well as departing support staff Danielle Pendergast, Nicole Penney, Lee Michaud EAs) and Emily Landon (SSC). We are so grateful for your contributions to Polson and we wish you all the best in your new positions next year. also to Tammy Wilson, Brayden Wilson-Hale, Amber Ward, and Mme Caroline Robitaille-Murphy, who are currently casual support staff whom we hope to see back at Polson next year! Best wishes also to Mme Underhill who is awaiting her baby's arrival and will be on leave next year. Félicitations !

We are also saying goodbye to Vice Principal Mark Ryan and congratulate him on his retirements! Next year, we will welcome Sara Wellwood as Vice-Principal and French SST at École Polson Park Public School.

A highlight of this past week was our Grade 6 Celebration. To our departing, we are so proud of all your accomplishments and leadership at Polson. We know you will have so much to contribute at your new schools next year. Bonne chance!

Below you will find the tentative school organization for our English and French Immersion classes. This organization is based on projected enrolment numbers and is subject to change depending on our actual enrolment in September. Classroom placements will be shared by email prior to school start up in September.

English

Kendra MacGillivray & Rebecca Simkins ECE FDK

Laura Winslade 1/2

Sarah Rowbotham 1/2

Diane Blommesteyn 2/3

Kevin Collins 3/4

Jamie Asselstine 4/5

Heather Nicholson & Megan Collins 5/6

Kelsey Smith 6

Carolyn Trepanier SST

Rachel Hanson & Katie Shultz EFI

TBD: Core French & IST

French Immersion

Cheryl Fischer & Michelle Carrier ECE FDK

Astrid Wils & Connie Killoran ECE FDK

Todd Ormiston & Kelly Dale ECE FDK

Meg Ormiston 1

Stephanie Carroll & Jennifer Martin 1

Evelyn Marshall 1/2

Eric Jacques 2

Samantha Moore and Mme Lehoux 3

Meaghan Toumishey 3/4

Kirsten Scott 4/5

Emilie Turner Term1 Sabrina Carew Term 2 5/6

Jennifer Ducharme 6

Rachel Hanson & Katie Shultz: English to French Immersion

Anna Pacheco, Principal

Sara Wellwood , Vice-Principal & SST

As always, this organization is based on projected numbers and may change when actual enrolment is confirmed in the fall. We are also continuing to interview and staff for some positions including Core French and Intensive Support Teacher. We will update staffing assignments in the fall.

JUNE: Pride Month & Indigenous History Month & Brain Injury Month

June 23rd National Victims of Terrorism Day

Monday, June 24th Day 4

• Primary Division to Lake Ontario Park postponed
• Emily Landon's last day at Polson

• Sound Bath Workshop(Carew and Scott)

Tuesday, June 25th Day 5

• Student Council Celebration-2nd Recess
• Tiffany and Jacques to Lake Ontario Park
• Primary Play Day reschedule date-Dress for active outdoor activities
  
• Mme Astrid/Mme Connie 2:45 End-of-year celebration (Butterfly garden)
  

Wednesday, June 26th Day

• International Olympic & Sport Spirit Day! With Copa America, Euro Cup and the upcoming Summer Olympics, it's a time to celebrate sport and heritage with some national and international fan style!
  
• Primary classes to Lake Ontario Park (1-3 except for Tiffany and Jacques)
  
• Hot Lunch Day
• Mr. Tiffany party for families at community garden on Norman Rogers - AM
• Reports go home
• Fischer & Carrier class celebration in front of tennis courts 2-3:30
• Grade 6s: Bowling
• DD Classroom Open House (All are welcome!) 4-6pm
• Rain Date for Primary Lake Ontario Park

Thursday, June 27th Last Day of Classes

• Last day of classes
• Beach Day-Wear your hat and sunglasses or beachy style on the last day of school to celebrate summer!
• Year-end assembly at 10 am

FRIDAY June 28th PA Day

• PA Day-no classes

Looking Ahead:

July 1st -Happy Canada Day! Summer holidays begin!

Following consultation with parents, students, staff and community partners, our school hours change submission was submitted and approved by the Board. Our timetable for next year is outlined below. It will help alleviate some concerns with supervision coverage and bus schedules. School bus transportation schedules will not be affected.

June is also a time when staff are planning for transitions for next year. We will share information about school organization and staffing later this month. If you have any specific questions about your child's placement for next year, please reach out to our school team. If you are moving, please communicate this information to your child's teacher and the main office. We would like to support your child's transition to their new school. We look forward to celebrating our outgoing grade 6 students on June 20th! Report cards will go home on June 26th

Thank you to Ms MacGillivray's kinder class, the DD program, and student council for running our Freezie Day in support of the inclusive Playground Project. They raised over $600 and donations are still being accepted until Monday, June 3rd. Thank you for your support!

Polson students made us very proud with their respectful and focused behaviour throughout the day. They were a true team, supporting each other throughout the highs and the lows of a long day of competition. Hats off to all of our relay teams who are advancing to the Finals next Tuesday Congratulations to the following students who place in the top 7 overall in their divisions:

Atom Girls : Isla Adams (4th), Miracle Yang (7th)

Atom Boys: Theo James (2nd)

Bantam Girls: Julia Pennell (1st),

Bantam Boys: Mason Venditti (1st), Jake Archibald (6th)

We also had many students who placed top 5 in their events and will be competing on Tuesday at the District Championships. Thank you to all the staff coaches for supporting our athletes and to Coach Ormiston for all the extra time organizing this year's team events!

It's a very busy time in the morning, and we want to make sure students arrive safely and are accounted for correctly in attendance. Students arriving during morning supervision should be dropped off on the school yard. Students arriving late, should report to the main office. If you are dropping off a younger student after the bell, please report to the main office. Please do not proceed into the school building beyond the main office unless an office administrator has directed you to do so and you have followed the visitor protocol of signing in and receiving a visitor tag. Thank you for following our visitor protocols!

Parents and caregivers should meet students at dismissal (3:40 pm) at their designated dismissal location on the yard. Please do not request early pick-ups at the main office unless you have an emergency or a scheduled appointment. Thank you for communicating appointments in advance.

Thank you for making sure our students are safe by observing traffic rules and parking restrictions during arrival and dismissal times. If you drive, please be patient, watchful and alert!

A few reminders:

• Please do not park on the grass near portables or in no-parking zones!
• The parking lots have limited space; please do not linger and keep watchful for student who may be near parking areas at dismissal.
• Please remember that accessibility spots are for families with permits only.
• The area in front of the school is a Bus Zone. No parking, idling, or drop-offs are permitted.
• Yard supervision begins at 8:55 am. The school day begins at 9:10 am.

Our office administrator is Marie Campbell and assistant office administrator, Lisa Shaw are happy to help you. If you need any assistance, please call 613-542-5926 between 8:00 am-4:00 pm or email the school at polso@limestone.on.ca and we will get back to you!

Email: polso@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://polsonpark.limestone.on.ca/
Location: 165 Robert Wallace Drive, Kingston, ON K7M 1Y3, Canada
Phone: 613-542-5926
Twitter: @PolsonPark_LDSB