Dear Wolverine Families,
It has been great to build some continuity over the last few weeks and to have students at school regularly! In April, we participated in Earth Month, had students represent at the Area and County Chess Tournaments, began our junior basketball seasons, and every student in the school received an HT Pink Shirt that reminds us that kindness matters, always. We also hosted our annual Equity Arts Night. It was so great to see so many families join us to tour the school and take in the art installations throughout the building. If you missed it, there are some photos of the event posted on Facebook on our school page.
We are excited for May and all of the amazing things happening here!
May 5 – 9 – Education Week & Mental Health Week
May 5 – Grad photo retakes
May 5 – Red Dress Day
May 5 – School Council Meeting
May 7 – Grade 7 Immunizations
May 9 – Junior Girls Area Basketball Tournament
May 12 – Junior Boys Area Basketball Tournament
May 13 – Elementary Sport Festival (TLSS)
May 14 – Final day for Krispy Kreme Orders
May 15 – Anything but a Backpack (School Spirit Day)
May 15 – Welcome to FI Night (4pm)
May 15 – Welcome to Kindy Night (4pm)
May 15 – Wellness Event – Come Play With Us! 4-6pm (yoga, math games, Sweet Charity dogs, pickleball, etc)
May 16 – Jump Rope for Heart
May 23 – Drill Day (fire drill, hold & secure, lockdown)
May 29 – Krispy Kreme delivery
June 2 – School Council Meeting
June 5 – Family Fun Night
June 6 – PA Day
Wolverine Outfitters: We need clothing for Wolverine Outfitters. If you have any girls' clothing, sizes 4 – 7/8, or women sized clothing (XS-XL), especially comfy pants, we would be very appreciative! Our stock for boys is also low in sizes 4-6. As spring is here, and our yard should open soon, we anticipate more mud and changes of clothes needed. If you have donations, please drop them off at the office. Thank you!
Krispy Kreme Fundraiser: We are selling Krispy Kreme donuts until May 14th. They are $12 a dozen and can be ordered through school cash online. Be sure to ask your friends, family, and co-workers if they would like to order donuts too! Donuts will be delivered to the school on May 29th. All proceeds go toward playground enhancements.
There will be one final Kidney Clothes donation drop at Harriett Todd in early June. Keep collecting and saving those textiles!
Kindly,
Elaine
Early Dismissal
If your child needs to be signed out early, please communicate this (up to 24 hours in advance, or by mid-morning on the day of) by emailing the office directly at [email protected]. Please do not email or message the teachers directly because the office may not receive your messages to coordinate pick-up and sign-out. The office will advise the teachers of an early pick-up time. Once you arrive at the school, please ring the front doorbell and we will call your child down and a staff member will escort them to the front doors for pick up. Refrain from calling the office for early dismissal unless it is an emergency.
2024-25 SCDSB Student Census
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed to creating a culture of belonging, engagement, and success for all. As part of this commitment, we are conducting the 2024-25 SCDSB Student Census so that we can learn more about the students and families that make up our school communities. Information from the census also helps us to determine how to best utilize resources and plan appropriate programming, learning opportunities, and events.
Parents/guardians of children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will receive an email invitation to complete the census on their child or children’s behalf. Students in Grade 7 to 12 will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the census during class time between May 6 and 30.
The census is confidential and voluntary.
If you would like more information about the census, please visit scdsb.on.ca/census. If you have questions regarding the SCDSB Student Census, please contact the Research and Decision Support department at [email protected].
Indigenous Education flag
The SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department is excited to announce the new Indigenous Education flag. This flag was created by Indigenous members of the SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department in collaboration with local Indigenous community members. This flag will be raised at all SCDSB schools and the Education Centre from June 16 to 20 to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is also the summer solstice. Families and community members are invited to join in recognizing and celebrating the vibrant cultures and histories of Indigenous Peoples.
The flag represents the rich cultures and contributions of diverse Indigenous Peoples in Simcoe County and includes symbols such as:
- the Medicine Wheel to signify First Nation communities
- the Infinity symbol to represent citizens of the Métis Nation
- the Inukshuk to symbolize Inuit communities
Surrounding these symbols is sweetgrass, signifying unity and respect among Indigenous Peoples.
Every Child Matters flags will be respectfully acknowledged during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 in recognition of survivors and our deep commitment to reconciliation in education, honouring survivor’s legacy, and truth.
To learn more about Indigenous education in the SCDSB, visit: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/indigenous_education
Parenting Unplugged: A Session for SCDSB Parents/Guardians
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) invites parents/guardians to join the upcoming session of the Connected Parenting learning series, hosted by the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC). This in-person event, facilitated by counsellor and coach Ulrica Jobe, will focus on effective strategies for discussing technology with teens, setting boundaries without conflict, and finding a healthy balance between screen time and face-to-face interactions.
Date: May 20
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: SCDSB Education Centre
For more information and to register, visit scdsb.on.ca/connections.
Math at Home blossoms with new activities this May
Families looking for ways to support their child(ren) in learning math are invited to try Math at Home, an online resource featuring games, problems, and number talk activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school each month.
In May, activities in school and on Math at Home may include grade-level tasks related to collecting, sorting, organizing, comparing, and displaying data.
Visit scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome to support your child’s math learning at home!
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch all of these weekly episodes, and check out our recent video below featuring the Simcoe County Regional Science and Technology Fair.
Ever wondered what’s involved in creating an award-winning project for the Simcoe County Regional Science & Technology Fair? Join us as we follow two SCDSB students on their journey from start to finish as they prepare their projects for the 2025 Science Fair: youtube.com/watch?v=VNK-_fZ3GkQ&t=2s.
Kindergarten registration for September 2025 is open!
Kindergarten is the beginning of a wonderful journey of learning, and we want your child to begin their journey in an SCDSB school! Do you have a child who is turning four in 2025? If so, we invite you to register your child for Kindergarten. To register online or for more information visit: scdsb.on.ca/ kindergarten
Kindergarten orientation
Kindergarten orientation sessions will be held throughout the SCDSB in the spring of 2025. These sessions provide families with the opportunity to engage with their school community as their children prepare to enter school. Learn more about the sessions and find out when your child's school is holding theirs: scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=8385299.
Licensed summer school child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, third-party child care operators in some SCDSB schools. To support your child care needs, some operators offer child care over the summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found at scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Summer learning programs in the SCDSB
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) continues to support student achievement and well-being throughout the summer months by providing a range of elementary summer learning programs. This summer, the SCDSB is offering programs for students in Grades 1-8, as well as multilingual learners and students with learning disabilities who use assistive technology at school. The programs will focus on foundational reading and math skills. They will be delivered through both a virtual synchronous learning format (Google Classroom) and in person at West Bayfield Elementary School in Barrie, Regent Park Public School in Orillia, and Worsley Elementary School in Wasaga Beach. The programs will run from July 7 to 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.
Interested families are asked to contact their children’s school principal for further details and registration information. Registration opens on Monday, April 28 and can be accessed through the SCDSB website: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/summer_learning. The deadline to register is Friday, May 16.
Join the SCDSB for a virtual special education information series
During the 2024-25 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
Please join us for the upcoming session:
Every day mental health strategies
May 13
We all want our children to feel mentally well, grow up happy, and learn how to navigate life’s challenges. Virtually join members of the SCDSB Mental Health and Well-Being and Special Education teams as we share resources from School Mental Health Ontario (smho-smso.ca) to support students of all ages with their mental health.
Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about each session and how to register on the SCDSB website: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.
Get caught reading this month!
This campaign seeks to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. Here are some ideas to
start spreading the joys of reading at home:
- Read comic/graphic books together. These books are fun to read aloud together, especially when you take turns doing different voices. A curated list of comics and graphic novels can be found on Sora, the SCDSB’s digital library. To access the desktop version, visit soraapp.com/welcome or use the Sora app.
- Create a ’family picks’ book list. Ask family members and friends for recommendations of their most beloved and cherished books. As you read these books, encourage your child to discuss favourite characters, moments, and quotes with their family and friends. This is a great way to share a love of reading with others.
- Drop everything and read (DEAR). As a family, pick a schedule that works for you and drop what you are doing to read together.
- Visit your local library for events and to explore books.
May cyber awareness topic: Digital wellness – Using technology in a healthy way
As technology becomes a bigger part of our lives, it's important for families to use it in a healthy way. This month's tip sheet offers simple advice on managing screen time, building good online habits, and spotting signs of too much tech use.
Talking about digital wellness with your children can help them find a good balance with technology. Open conversations can make the topic less scary and ensure everyone uses technology in a way that supports their well-being.
Access the ECNO Cyber Awareness Tip Sheet for May to stay informed about this month’s theme and explore additional resources: ecno.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ECNO-CAM-24-Infosheets-E-_Part8.pdf
The CANImmunize app
CANImmunize is a free mobile app to help parents/guardians easily track students’ immunization records all in one place. The app allows you to share your child’s immunization records directly with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). Sharing your child’s record with the SMDHU using the CANImmunize app means that parents/guardians don’t have to go online and report to the SMDHU every time their child receives a vaccine; the app will do the work for you!
The CANImmunize app:
- sends reminders to keep your family up-to-date on routine immunizations.
- provides access from many devices, ensuring your records are always available, no matter where you are.
- ·offers a secure web portal for those who prefer managing their records online.
Once you have agreed to share your child’s record with the SMDHU in the CANImmunize app, the app will provide updates to the SMDHU each time you enter a new vaccine.
To create an account, visit CANimmunize.ca or download the app on IOS or Android. For more information, contact the Immunization Program at 705-721-7520 ext. 8827 or toll-free at 1-877-721-7520 or visit our website at simcoemuskokahealth.org. Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit