Hi everyone,

Hopefully you've had a chance to check out our FlipGive fundraiser.  So far we've raised $55 from it!  It has LOTS of potential for this holiday season.  

Anyone can sign up to support our fundraiser, and there is zero cost for them.  It is literally just starting at the FlipGive website or app, and clicking through to the retailer's website.  All shopping/transactions are done through the retailer themselves.  

You can also purchase digital gift cards. Today for example, I purchased a "gift card" for Swiss Chalet when we were ordering lunch. It was delivered to my email inbox within seconds, and we earned 7% of it back to our fundraiser!

To sign up:

Either go to www.flipgive.com/teams, scroll down a bit and search for "Hampton Junior Public School" or download the app in Google Play or The App Store. If you need an invite code, use ""DQSYSV"

Your support continued support is appreciated!

Please note:  Our local Conservation authorities are once again asking us to remind students to stay away from streams, creeks, culverts and all bodies of water over the coming days due to dangerous conditions caused by expected heavy rainfall. 

Thank you.

What a great team!

Thank you for making this happen here at Hampton Jr. PS!!

Wow! Thank you to everyone who has donated these last two days.

10 more days of Holiday Train Donations!!

Do you see what I see?

Hampton Jr students  are committed to the 12 days of donations and exceeding our expectations.

The Holiday Train is accepting donations of food, toys and other gift items until Thursday, December 19th. Another  great time to drop off a donation would be when you arrive for the Sing-A-Long!

All food donated will be going to our local Clarington East Food Bank. All toys and other gift items will be donated to Bethesda House, a shelter for women and children who have experienced violence. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support to help ensure everyone has a Happy Holiday.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support to help ensure everyone has a Happy Holiday!

We look forward to the next 7 days .

Our BEAUTIFUL and stuffed dream baskets are located in the school lobby for your bid!!

Please stop in to the school during school hours-9:30 to 4:00-and check out the exciting prizes your bid could win!

You may also place your bids during the sing-a-long on the 18th.

Thank you for your continued support of our fundraising efforts,

Your School Council

Wednesday, December 18 Sing-A- Long Itinerary:

1. JK/SK-Ms. Grove/ Ms. Goldman – “Nice, Nice Christmas”
2. JK/SK-Ms. Edey/ Ms. Colagiacomo – “Happiest Christmas Tree”
3. JK/SK-Ms. Cutler/ Ms. Kearns – “Reindeer Hokey Pokey”
4. Gr 1-Ms. Robinson – “Up On The Housetop”
5. Gr 1-Ms. Campbell – “Must Be Santa”
6. Gr 1/2-Ms. Fisher- “Santa Is His name-O”
7. Gr 2-Ms. Morris –“It’s A Marshmallow World”
8. Gr 2-Ms. Ling – “Jingle Bell Rock”

As we anticipate large numbers for the evening sing-a-long, we are encouraging families to attend the afternoon if possible. This will provide other families an opportunity to sing with us who are only able attend in the evening.

With limited parking, please consider walking or carpooling.

Please sign out your student from their classroom (portable students from the library) upon leaving.

We look forward to hearing your voices in our holiday sing-a long!

Hampton Staff and Students.

School Council is happy to announce that Kernels Popcorn will continue and is now available for purchase through School Cash On-line.

Popcorn will be distributed on the following Fridays:

*February 7, 14, 21 & 29

*March 6 & 27 (13th & 20th March Break)

*April 3 & 17 (10th is a holiday, 24th is a PA Day)

*May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

*June 12 & 19 (5th is a PA Day)

Popcorn orders will be handed out during first break.

Orders are due Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

Late orders or purchasing the day of cannot be accepted.

Popcorn is $2 per bag and is available in Butter Salt, White Cheddar and Dill Pickle.

Proceeds will be going to support classroom programs and trips.

For allergen information please visit https://www.kernelspopcorn.com/pages/ingredients-and-allergens.

Popcorn Orders for February, March, April, May & June are due: January 15, 2020

School Cash On-Line Instructions:

Step 1: Register

a) If you have not registered, please go to the School Cash Online home page https://kprdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ and select the "Get Started Today" option.

b) Complete each of the three Registration Steps

*For Security Reasons your password, requires 8 characters,

one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter and a number.

Step 2: Confirmation Email

A registration confirmation email will be forwarded to you. Click on the link provided inside the email to confirm your email and School Cash Online account. The confirmation link will open the School Cash Online site prompting you to sign into your account. Use your email address and password just created with your account.

Step 3: Find Student

This step will connect your children to your account.

a) Enter the School Board Name.

b) Enter the School Name.

c) Enter Your Child’s First Name, Last Name and Birth Date.

d) Select Continue.

e) On the next page confirm that you are related to the child, check in

the Agree box and select Continue.

f) Your child has been added to your account.

Step 4: View Items or Add Another Student

If you have more children, select "Add Another Student" and repeat the steps above. 8 children can be added to one parent account. If you do not wish to add additional children, select "View Items For Students" option. A listing of available items for purchase will be displayed.

2020-2021 Kindergarten Registrations:

We are currently accepting Kindergarten registrations for the 2020-2021 school year. Registration is taking place NOW at Hampton Jr PS for Junior and Senior Kindergarten programs starting in September 2020.  Kindergarten is an exciting time, when a child learns through structured play. If your child turns the age of 4 by December 31, 2020 your child is eligible for Junior Kindergarten. If your child turns the age of 5 by December 31, 2020 your child is eligible for Senior Kindergarten.   If you are aware of any families within the Hampton School Community who have eligible children for the 2020-2021 school year, please have them contact the school.

Registration packages are available at the school office; alternatively, you can visit www.kprschools.ca, and click on School Registration to find your local school with our online maps and complete the registration form online. You will need the following to register – proof of age, proof of address and copy of immunization. Check out the wealth of videos and tip sheets we have to help you prepare your child for school.

Questions? Please call us at 905-263-2252 or call the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board at 1-877-741-4577.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Local Conservation Authorities have once again issued a Water Safety Statement and are asking us to share the following alert with students:

“In addition to dangerously high flows and slippery banks, water temperatures are extremely cold. It is most important, therefore, that area residents and visitors stay SAFE by Staying Away From the Edge of all watercourses/waterbodies – lakes, canals, rivers, streams, creeks, wetlands and drainage ditches.”

Good afternoon parents/guardians:

If you are interested in ordering Pita's for your student and have not received an order form envelope from the school, please stop by the office or have your student pick one up at the office.

This order form is for the following dates:  February 13, February  27, March 12 and April 2.

Orders are due: February 6, 2020

Thank you.

March Break: March 16 to 20

See the pdf for:

1. March Break with Clarington Camps.
2. March Break Swim Schedule
3. March Break Public Skate and Shinny Schedules

School Council is excited to announce the launch of our Epicure Fundraiser!

There are 3 Collections to share with your friends and family:

Extraordinary Trio $25-Three of Epicure's bestselling products! Each blend is super versatile, and can be used to season any meal or transformed into a delicious dip.

Weeknight Dinners $20-Put five healthy, delicious meals on the table fast. Simply add a few raw ingredients and you've got dinner covered for the week.

Healthier Desserts $20-Three crowd-pleasing desserts that are decadent, delicious, quick to make, and made with good for you ingredients.

All Epicure products are 100% gluten and nut free. 

40% of all Collections sold will go directly to the School Council, and we are raising funds for our School Trip to GoldiRocks this spring.

Order forms will be going home with your student on Friday, February 7.

Orders must be placed on School Cash Online by Tuesday, February 25, 2020. No cash or credit orders accepted.  (When ordering multiples of one item, please add to cart separately.)

Orders will be available for pick up at the school on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact the School Council at hamptonschoolcouncil@gmail.com 

Thank you in advance for your support!

Epicure orders have been extended to Friday, March 6-cash orders; please send in your orders with your student.

Just in case you missed receiving an order form for the epicure fundraiser, it is attached for your convenience.

Thank you for your support!

Hampton Jr Public School acknowledges Black History Month in February with a bulletin board outside the library.

Thank you to Ms. Williams!!

We are excited to announce that the ROM's Travelling Planetarium will be coming to Hampton Jr PS in May!

With funds raised by School Council, the entire school will have the opportunity to participate in this activity in the gym.

Discover the wonders of the universe in the Royal Ontario Museum's Travelling Planetarium!

A unique way to learn about the universe in an immersive learning environment! The planetarium experience is inter-disciplinary, fun, and linked to the Ontario curriculum.

The Travelling Planetarium is an inflatable dome with a digital projector that recreates the sky during different seasons & times of day from the perspective of any point on Earth. Projections include realistic stars, labelled constellations, and different cultural interpretations of the constellations (available in a variety of languages).

Check it out! :)
https://www.rom.on.ca/en/learn/travelling-programs/travelling-planetarium  

Thank you for your ongoing support of our fundraising initiates allowing us to provide these opportunities for our students of Hampton Jr PS!

A dental screening is a quick look at the teeth and gums with a dental mirror. Elementary schools receive screenings from a registered dental hygienist every year. 

The dental hygienist is looking for obvious dental conditions that are causing or may cause pain in the near future. They also tell parents if their child has a serious dental condition, or if they have any recommendations for additional services.

A dental screening does not replace a regular check-up by a dentist.

Dental screenings inform families and help them access dental care. Data from the dental screenings help the Ministry of Health understand the oral health status of Ontario's children. The Ministry uses this information to create programs like Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO).

The Hampton Jr Public School & School Council Presents

2020 Winter Spirit Week Fundraiser

Dress up and show your spirit for Hampton Jr Public School and your School Council.

We are suggesting a minimum $5.00 sponsorship towards your child for Spirit Week.

All sponsorships can be made through School Cash Online.

100% of all monies raised will go directly back to supporting ongoing School Programs and Activities at the School.

Monday, March 9, 2020 - Pajama Day

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - Favourite Fictional Character Day

Wednesday March 11, 2020 - Favourite Sports Team Day

Thursday March 12, 2020 - Vacation / Tourist Day

Thank you in advance for your support and showing your School Spirit!

Hampton Jr PS Day at Brimacombe Ski Area

Brimacombe

4098 Regional Road 9, Orono, ON L0B 1M0

Spend the day on the slopes with your classmates, friends and family and raise money for our school.

Brimacombe will donate $6 from every All Day & Night lift Ticket purchased online in advance to our school.

All Day & night Lift Ticket -$29.99 (reg.$44.99) plus $6 from every purchase supports out school.

Order online now at www.bit.ly/HamptonJR

Available until Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 11:59 pm

Parents/Guardians:

Please note our lost and found is overflowing. Please come and check out the items for any that belong to your family.

All unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the day on Thursday, March 12.

Thank you!

From Healthy Hunger: We will be proceeding with the refunds for all schools affected by the school closures. At this time due to the high volume of cancellations, we will be working in chronological order to process the refunds, with our priority being to process any lunches scheduled within the upcoming three weeks. We have confirmed receipt of your request for cancellations, but it may take some time before your account reflects the changes. We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to action your request in a timely manner. Parents will receive an email confirmation when their refund has been processed.

Kind regards,

Customer Support Healthy Hunger

The following link has been provided to us by the Durham Health Department. This website offers places where families can go if they need help and are facing food insecurity. 

https://www.durham.ca/en/regional-government/covid-19-community-resources.aspx#Food-Security-Food-Banks

Keeping our community in our thoughts.

Stay safe

Happy World Autism Awareness Day to everyone, particularly to those families in our community that have been influenced by and blessed to love individuals with autism and who are neuro diverse.

Traditionally on this day, people wear the colour blue or clothes with images of puzzle pieces or butterflies which both have been used by members of the autism community to represent autism awareness. If you have a moment today, have a discussion together as a family or read something to help you learn more about people who have autism. For those who might feel uncomfortable explaining what exactly autism is, I will post a video below that does a good way of explaining in general terms with analogies that kids and adults all can understand.

Topics of conversation to cover might be:
-What are some misconceptions that people might have about those with autism?
-How can we address or change the perception of others or our own perceptions? (Educate ourselves through reading, get to know people of all abilities, have open conversation and ask questions, accept different perspectives)
- How can we (And why is it important to) make sure to celebrate the contributions of people with autism or who are neuro diverse within our communities and families?

Video link:
https://youtu.be/6fy7gUIp8Ms

Have a good day! 👕🧩🦋
(Thank you to Mrs. Graham, teacher at ST Worden PS in Courtice, for sharing this with us)

We know that not all KPR students and families have access to WiFi. As we work to support our communities in these challenging days, we have designated all our schools as public WiFi hotspots.

Members of the public may access the Internet at no charge from outside our buildings. In using this resource, we encourage everyone to follow public health directives and maintain physical distancing.

Please note that WiFi signal strength may vary from site to site.

To connect to our public WiFi network on an iPhone:

1. Tap on “Settings”
2. Tap on “Wi-Fi”
3. Select “KPRDSB-OpenWifi”

To connect to our public WiFi network on an Android device:

1. Swipe down and select and hold Wi-Fi Symbol
2. Tap “KPRDSB-OpenWifi” and connect

To connect to our public WiFi network on a PC:

1. Bottom right hand corner on taskbar
2. Left click on the Wi-Fi Symbol
3. Select “KPRDSB-OpenWifi” and hit connect

To connect to our public WiFi network on a MAC:

1. Top Right hand corner of taskbar
2. Left Click on Wi-Fi Symbol Select “KPRDSB-OpenWifi” and connect

We all miss all of you and are so excited to touch base!

Looking forward to our distance learning together.

Amazon today canceled the subscription of books and audio stories for children and students of all ages as long as schools are closed, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

New Phone Number, Web Address, Phone App Coming for Reporting Absences

At KPR, student safety is our highest priority, and we thank families for adopting the automated safe arrival system to help ensure students arrive safely at school each day. 

Starting this September, we will be introducing a new automated Student Absence Reporting System.  Therefore, you will need to create a NEW account to report your children’s absences online. 

You will receive an email in August with instructions on how to create your new account and download the mobile app.  You also will receive a magnet in September with the new Student Absence Reporting System details.  Unfortunately, since ownership of the reporting software has changed, we cannot simply transfer your child’s information to the new system.

Watch for more information in the summer.

Many parents and guardians have been wondering what effect the legalization of marijuana will have on  KPR schools. In short, KPR schools will treat cannabis in much the same way they treat alcohol: students of any age will not be allowed to use marijuana at schools, on school buses or field trips. 

 Once the new federal law comes into effect this October 17:

• non-medical marijuana use will be legal only for those age 19 and older 
• any student, at any age, could be suspended for possessing or being under the influence of cannabis at school
• any student who shares marijuana with others younger than 19 could be expelled from school
• it will be illegal for adults to use cannabis on, or within 20 metres of, school grounds
• it will be illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, and drivers age 21 or under will not be allowed to have any cannabis in their system.

 If you have any questions about cannabis at school, please speak with your principal or vice-principal.  Further information on the new law is available at Ontario.ca/cannabis.  Information on how to talk to your child about cannabis can be found at Cannabis Information – CAMH.

KPR wishes everyone a happy holiday. We hope that this time allows for some much needed rest for students, staff, parents and guardians, and allows families opportunities to celebrate together.

While the holidays can be joyous, they can also be difficult for some.  We wanted to provide families with some resources you may find useful over the holiday season. Our mission is that all students remain safe, and this includes their mental and physical well-being.

Mental health is a state of well-being; it is relevant to all of us.  According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health crisis or illness.  It is important to us that we remind everyone to use resources that are accessible to all.  These include:

• the Be Safe App, a free mobile app that aims to help young adults make healthy decisions during a crisis; it can be downloaded onto cell phones from https://besafeapp.ca/
• Kids Help Phone, also available 24/7, at 1-800-668-6868 or text “CONNECT” to 686868
• Four County Crisis line, available 24/7 for Northumberland and Peterborough County residents at 1-866-995-9933
• Durham Mobile Crisis Services, available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis, at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
• Connex Ontario Mental Health Helpline, provides information about mental health services in Ontario 24/7, at 1-866-531-2600 or www.connexontario.ca
• Ontario 211, a free helpline that connects people to community and social services in your area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 2-1-1.

Your family also has access to your closest hospital, as well as to regional supports serving specific areas of KPR.

Let's keep our mental health and the mental health of those we love and care about in the forefront.  We encourage you to use community support services if you ever find yourself or someone near and dear to you struggling and in need of assistance.

Once again, we wish everyone season’s greetings, a Merry Christmas, and safe holidays.

Grief Resources

Is your child experiencing loss and grief?  Here are some resources recommended by our School Board Counsellors:

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/grief.html

Do you have concerns about your child’s social, emotional or mental health that may be hindering their ability to thrive at school?

KPR schools have skilled clinicians who can support your child and you in finding answers. School Board Counsellors have professional degrees and specialize in work with children, youth and families. Please contact your School Principal for more information.

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/schoolboardcounsellorservices.html

Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being.  Students experiencing mental health issues may have problems with mood, focus, behaviour and their ability to relate to peers, maintain friendships, do well in school and participate in activities.

But where can parents and guardians go for help if they are concerned about their child's or teen's mental health?  For more information, and suggestions for helpful resources, visit: 

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth.html

Hey, KPR Family: We missed you! We're looking forward to seeing everyone back at school September 3. If you moved over the summer, or have questions for school staff, please contact the school office between August 22-29. Otherwise, September 3 is the big day for KPR students to get back into the swing of things!

We want to provide this update to inform our parents of ongoing negotiations with our transportation providers.                                                                       

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) manages transportation services for 26,100 students every day on behalf of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Daily service is delivered by local school bus companies contracted by STSCO, and we have been in discussion with our providers for a number of months to reach new contract terms.

Negotiations are continuing and we are working towards reaching an agreement with local school bus operators for the coming school year.

It is our goal to arrive at new contracts that recognize the important and professional service our bus drivers provide in transporting our students safely to and from school.

We remain optimistic that normal bus service will be in place for students for the start of the school year. Should this situation change, we will inform parents/guardians as soon as possible.

Regular updates on this matter will be posted by STSCO at stsco.ca and on Twitter at @stsco_ca and shared by the school boards and local media. 

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) and local school bus companies contracted by STSCO have reached a tentative agreement on new contract terms.

As a result, there will be normal bus service for students for the start of the school year.  Please visit stsco.ca for further information.

The KPR Board is committed to providing safe learning environments for all. When students behave inappropriately, principals use progressive discipline to change behaviour. When student behaviours pose a potential threat to safety or serious harm, KPR’s Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol helps principals take immediate steps to protect student well-being.  While such incidents are rare, the VTRA outlines how we work with local police, mental health providers and community agencies to keep students safe. Read more about the protocol, including notification requirements, in the Safe, Caring and Restorative Schools section of kprschools.ca .  As always, student safety is our first priority.  Should you have any questions, please speak with your principal.

Calling all parents and caregivers: join us the morning of Saturday, October 19 at Port Hope High School for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference! Dr. Michael Ungar, world renowned expert on building resiliency in children and youth, will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear his engaging advice, while also enjoying free child minding for ages two and older, light refreshments and information booths staffed by local organizations serving families. Stay tuned for more information and registration details later in September at www.kprschools.ca

KPR welcomes parents of students ages 12-17 to register for a free, two-day Mental Health First Aid course, September 23-24 in Peterborough.  Space is limited. For details and registration, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mental-health-first-aid-tickets-71846457689  

Now’s your chance to register for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference, featuring internationally renowned resilience researcher Dr. Michael Ungar!

Registration continues until October 11 at www.kprschools.ca for:

2019 Parent Conference

The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them

Saturday, October 19

9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Port Hope High School, 130 Highland Dr., Port Hope

With Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Ungar

Plus light refreshments, child minding for ages 2 & older, & booths by agencies serving families

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear Dr. Michael Ungar, a funny and engaging speaker who is considered one of the top experts on resilience in Canada and internationally.

It’s all FREE. If you need assistance, have questions or if there are accommodations that would make the conference more accessible for you, please call 705-742-9773 or toll-free 1-877-741-4577, ext. 2001, or email judy_malfara@kprdsb.ca

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Parent Update: CUPE Strike Action – School Closures

Further to our message yesterday, and after extensive consideration, we are writing to inform parents that if a provincial agreement is not reached over the weekend, and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) staff begin their announced full withdrawal of service, schools will be closed to students on Monday, October 7, 2019. 

We share your concern and disappointment with this possibility, and wanted to provide an update on our plans as soon as possible to allow parents to make alternative arrangements if needed.

Student safety is always our first priority. This decision has been made because we do not believe we can provide safe and secure learning environments for all students in the event of a full CUPE strike.

Our considerations include:

• supervision of students;
• medical supports and care for all students;
• safe operation of water and sanitation systems, including legislated water flushing;
• conditions of school buildings and classrooms, and
• overall safety and security.

We are pleased that negotiations have been reported to be continuing on Friday. We remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached this weekend to avert disruption to our students and families.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will provide confirmation to parents about school status for Monday as soon as we are able. This will likely be on Sunday evening, through:

• School Messenger
• Local news media
• Our website and social media platforms: www.kprschools.ca, @kprschools on Twitter, and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Diane Lloyd, Chairperson of the Board
Jennifer Leclerc, Director of Education

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is excited to offer three travel for credit courses in July 2020. The first course, Civics and Careers, is offered to students currently in grade nine. The second course, English, Grade 11, University Preparation, is offered to students entering grade eleven. The third course, French immersion and core is offered to students entering grade eleven. You are invited to attend an information session in your region for more information.

RSVP to the meeting at: www.eftours.ca/creditinfo

Contact: John Ford 1-877-741-4577, ext. 3124

…to register for KPR’s Parent Conference coming to Port Hope HS Saturday, October 19, 9-11:30 a.m. The child minding service is full, but there are still some seats left for the adults to hear world-renowned resilience expert Dr. Michael Ungar. A funny and engaging speaker, he will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Register by October 15 from our home page at kprschools.ca

All families and community members are invited to attend three free events being held in honour of KPR's 3rd annual Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month. 

Each evening event is a film screening followed by a panel discussion, as follows:

  Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m.
  Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute, Peterborough 
  Screening & discussion of Colten Boushie Documentary

  Thursday, November 21, 7 p.m.
  Port Hope High School 
  Screening & discussion of Rumble

 Thursday, November 28, 7 p.m.
 Bowmanville High School 
 Screening & discussion of Our People Will Be Healed

Pre-registration is not required.  Drop in at these free events!

Parents and caregivers:

Registration opens November 8 for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Parent Workshops on Kids Have Stress Too!  

The workshops will run from 10-11:30 a.m. at three locations:

              Friday, November 29 at the Education Centre in Peterborough

              Tuesday, December 10 at KPR’s Kirby Professional Learning Centre in Clarington

              Tuesday, March 31 at Port Hope High School

Visit kprschools.ca after November 8 for details and to register for one of these workshops!

Meet HGTV star Kate Campbell while learning about opportunities in the skilled trades at Women in Trades & Technology. This event, of particular interest to female students in Grades 7-12, will take place at Fleming College in Peterborough as follows:

Tuesday, November 19
6 p.m.
Kawartha Trades & Technology Centre, Fleming College

Meet successful skilled tradespeople and have your questions answered, tour the Trades & Technology Centre, and listen to advice from HGTV star carpenter and keynote speaker Kate Campbel, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.

To register, visit https://flemingcollege.ca/women-in-trades-and-technology  

KPR is seeking comments from students, parents, guardians, staff and community members regarding the proposed school year calendar for 2020-21. Three possible options are being considered, and KPR would like to know which option our stakeholders prefer. Please review the proposed calendar options and comment online at www.kprschools.ca by Friday, December 6. If you are not able to access the online survey, please contact your school office for a paper copy.

Saving money for your child’s education after high school may seem impossible. But there is money available from the Government of Canada that can help.

When you open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for your child, the government can add money to it, to help you save. For example, the Canada Learning Bond is available for children from low-income families, born in 2004 or later. It pays up to $2,000. To receive it, you just need to name your child as a beneficiary in the Registered Education Savings Plan. You don’t have to contribute additional funds of your own into the RESP if you are not able to do so.

Other government money may also be available. If you do contribute additional funds into the RESP, you may also qualify for a Canada Education Savings Grant.

Having a RESP will help you save for your child to attend a trade school, apprenticeship program, college or university after high school. There are lots of options. You can find out more at Canada.ca/education-savings, by calling 1-800-622-6232, or by visiting a Service Canada Centre near you.

Families: now’s the time to register your child for Kindergarten! If your child will turn four before the end of December, make sure you register online at www.kprschools.ca/kindergarten 

We also encourage you to take advantage of the coming regional Kindergarten Information Session closest to you. Sessions will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. as follows:

Tuesday, February 11 – C.R. Gummow Public School, 311 Cottesmore Ave., Cobourg

Wednesday, February 19 – Harold Longworth PS, 350 Longworth Ave., Bowmanville

Tuesday, March 3 – Duke of Cambridge PS, 47 Liberty St. N., Bowmanville

Tuesday, March 10 – Otonabee Valley PS, 580 River Rd. S., Peterborough

The sessions are free, and pre-registration is required, to ensure sufficient take-home resources for every participating family. The evening will offer you a peek into the Kindergarten classroom and give you resources to help prepare your child for school. You also will be able to meet with community agencies and partners that serve families in your area.

Reminder: Parents of KPR Elementary Students

This note is a reminder to parents that, as a result of a one-day full withdrawal of service by elementary teachers, all our elementary schools will be closed to students tomorrow, January 28.

Intermediate schools (Grades 7-8) within secondary schools will also be closed to students.

In addition, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced today they will be escalating rotating strikes throughout the province beginning next week if central labour agreements are not reached by the end of January.

As part of this action, KPR teachers are scheduled to participate in two full withdrawals of service next week:

• Wednesday, February 5 (rotating one-day strike locally)
• Thursday, February 6 (province-wide one day strike)We understand and appreciate that these are challenging and difficult days for everyone, and we remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached soon.
• We will continue to follow this situation closely and are committed to providing you with accurate and timely information as soon as we are able.

Secondary Exams Continue

Tomorrow – Tuesday, January 28 – will be a regular exam day at all of our secondary schools. Students will write their exams as scheduled.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

To All Parents/Guardians and Staff:

The purpose of this communication is to provide you with some information regarding the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our main priority.

We are following this issue closely, and we are working in close cooperation with our local health units. As we do when addressing all broad-based community health issues, we rely on local health authorities for advice, counsel and guidance as we move forward.

We understand, however, that there may be heightened apprehension or concern in our school communities.

We want to reassure you that:

• We are ready and able to take whatever action regional health authorities recommend to reduce the risk to our school communities. At this time we have been given no additional or specific directions regarding the operation of our schools. Normal school days and activities are in effect.
• Our schools are emphasizing with students, as we always do during the seasonal flu season, the importance of regular, thorough hand washing and good personal hygiene.
• Our custodians always provide very thorough and effective cleaning and disinfecting of schools. In schools with higher rates of absence due to illness, additional sanitation procedures are put in place.
• We are encouraging everyone to wash hands well and often with soap and warm water, and use “cover your cough” techniques. This includes coughing into your sleeve or arm.

As always, we are asking students and staff who are ill to remain at home until they are feeling better. If you are experiencing severe flulike symptoms, please contact a health professional.

Along with this letter, you may find further information on this issue online on our website, www.kprschools.ca, including a letter from Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer for the province of Ontario, which contains important information about the current public health response to the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

As Dr. Williams says in his letter, “Students, parents and school communities should rest assured that the province is working together in close cooperation with its partners in both the education and health care sectors to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of students and staff.”

You may wish to contact your local public health unit for additional information specific to your communities. Several webpage links are included below. Most importantly, students who are sick should be kept home, and not attend either regular school or before/after school programs until they are free of symptoms. Together, we will work to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Leclerc
Director of Education

Ministry of Health
https://www.ontario.ca/page/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
http://www.hkpr.on.ca/

Peterborough Public Health
https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/

Durham Public Health
https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/health-and-wellness.aspx

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
https://hpepublichealth.ca/

Trustees have approved the 2020-2021 School Year Calendar for submission to the Ministry of Education for final approval.

Highlights of the approved calendar include:

1^st day of classes – Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Last day of classes – Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Winter Break – Monday, December 21, 2020 to Friday, January 1, 2021 (Monday, January 4, 2021 will be the first day of classes)
March Break – Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19, 2021

Important Update for Secondary Students, Parents & Guardians:
Secondary Schools Closed Tuesday, February 4

As a result of a full withdrawal of service by secondary teachers in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, all KPR secondary schools will be closed this Tuesday, February 4, 2020.  Parents may expect picketing at secondary school sites. 

The closure is in response to rotating strikes across Ontario announced by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). Student safety is our top priority, and KPR does not believe we can provide safe environments if our teachers are not present.

Important note: Intermediate schools (Grades 7 and 8) within secondary school sites, and all elementary schools, will be open and operating as normal on February 4.

Following the one-day closure on February 4, secondary schools are expected to return to normal operations for the rest of next week.

We understand that these are challenging days for everyone, and we remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached soon. We will continue to keep parents informed of any further developments, through School Messenger and the Labour Update section of our home page at kprschools.ca 

Important Update for Elementary Parents & Guardians:
Elementary Schools Closed February 5 and 6

As a result of full withdrawal of service by elementary teachers in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, all KPR elementary schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 6.

Intermediate schools at secondary school sites will also be closed to students February 5-6 (Grades 7-8 only).

The closure is in response to rotating strikes announced by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) if provincial-level negotiations did not result in a new agreement by the end of January. Since no agreement was reached by the weekend, ETFO has confirmed the strikes will proceed. In KPR ETFO’s case, the elementary strikes will take place this Wednesday and Thursday.

As always, student safety is our first priority, and we cannot provide safe learning environments without our teachers.

We understand that these days have been extremely difficult and challenging for everyone, and we remain hopeful that the provincial issues can be resolved soon.

Before and after-school programs operating in KPR elementary schools may choose to offer full-day programming on these days, and we encourage families using these programs to check directly with the childcare operator. While there may be picketing at school sites, our local teachers’ federation has indicated that parents accessing childcare facilities will not be delayed.

We are monitoring the provincial labour situation closely, and we remain committed to providing you with accurate and timely information as soon as possible, through School Messenger and our home page at kprschools.ca 

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Parent Update: ETFO Strike Action February 11 and 14

As you know, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has been holding rotating, one-day full withdrawals of service at various school boards across the province, and province-wide.

As part of this action, KPR elementary teachers are scheduled to participate in two days of strikes next week:

• Tuesday, February 11 (province-wide, one-day strike)
• Friday, February 14 (rotating one-day strike locally).

As a result, all KPR elementary and intermediate schools will be closed to students on February 11 and February 14.

Secondary students will attend school as usual on those days.

We understand that this situation is difficult for everyone.

We encourage families using before- and after-school programs located in our schools to check directly with the childcare operator about the possibility of full-day programs on those days. Parents may expect picketing at school sites. Our local elementary teachers’ federation has indicated that parents accessing childcare facilities will not be delayed.

We are hopeful that provincial negotiations will continue and will result in a new agreement. In the meantime, we will monitor provincial developments closely and, should this situation change, we will provide updates to parents and guardians through:

• School Messenger
• Local news media
• Our website and social media platforms: www.kprschools.ca, @kprschools on Twitter, and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Diane Lloyd                                      Jennifer Leclerc
Chairperson of the Board        Director of Education

Three community events organized by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board for Black History Month are being postponed.  Documentary screenings and discussions originally set for February 18 at Bowmanville High School, February 19 at Adam Scott CVI in Peterborough and February 27 at Campbellford District HS, will be rescheduled to allow for more full and rich dialogue between our schools and communities.

KPR’s Black History Month events are meant to nurture important dialogue between our staff and all the communities we serve. The three evenings will be rescheduled to a time when KPR can anticipate more staff presence for the vital discussions we feel are needed for sustained progress in addressing the important issues of race and equity in our schools and communities.  Watch for new dates and details.

Parent Update: Provincial strike day – secondary and elementary teachers: February 21

As you know, secondary and elementary teachers have been holding rotating, one-day full withdrawals of service at various school boards across the province.

As part of this action, we have been informed that all secondary and elementary teachers are scheduled to participate in a province-wide strike on:

Friday, February 21, 2020

As a result, all KPR schools will be closed to students on that day.

We encourage families using before- and after-school programs located in our schools to check directly with the childcare operator about the possibility of full-day programs on those days. Parents may expect picketing at school sites. Our local elementary teachers’ federation has indicated that parents accessing childcare facilities will not be delayed.

We are hopeful that provincial negotiations will continue and will result in a new agreement.  In the meantime, we will monitor provincial developments closely and, should this situation change, we will provide updates to parents and guardians through:

• School Messenger
• Local news media
• Our website and social media platforms: www.kprschools.ca, @kprschools on Twitter, and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on Facebook.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

To All Parents/Guardians and Staff:

We wanted to provide this update on our continued monitoring and planning for novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

We understand and appreciate that this issue is on the minds of our students, parents and staff.

First and foremost, please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our main priority.

We are following this issue closely, and we are working in cooperation with our local health units. As we do when addressing all broad-based community health issues, we rely on local health authorities for advice, counsel and guidance as we move forward.

We understand, however, that there may be heightened apprehension or concern in our school communities.

Here are the latest updates on this issue:

• We are ready and able to take whatever action health authorities recommend to reduce the risk to our school communities. As of yesterday, Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, has stated that there remains a low risk for Ontarians to contract COVID-19.
• On Friday of last week, the Government of Canada released a Public Health Guidance for Schools (K-12) and Childcare Programs to support the prevention and management of COVID-19 in schools and childcare settings. We have reviewed this document closely and our school operations continue to be in line with this guideline. Most importantly, the guideline recommends:

“that schools take standard respiratory illness precautions, the same precautions that are recommended every year for cold and influenza season.”  

• Hand hygiene – the most important recommendation from health authorities is to be vigilant in regular hand washing. As we always do during the seasonal flu season, we continue to emphasize with students the importance of regular, thorough hand washing and good personal hygiene.
• We are encouraging everyone to wash hands well and often with soap and water, and use “cover your cough” techniques. This includes coughing into your sleeve or arm. We ask all our parents to please reinforce that message with children at home.
• Increased Cleaning Measures – Our custodians always provide very thorough and effective cleaning and disinfecting of schools. To respond to the current situation, we are putting in place increased cleaning measures, specifically on high-touch surfaces.  As part of our planning, we have also confirmed with our cleaning product supplier that the disinfectant we use in our schools is effective against a wide variety of viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19. 
• Monitoring student and staff absences - As always, we are asking students and staff who are ill to remain at home until they are feeling better. If you are experiencing severe flulike symptoms, please contact a health professional. As is our normal practice, we continue to monitor student and staff absences daily. We initiate additional sanitation procedures in schools whenever there are higher rates of absences. To date, we have not experienced school absences beyond the normal pattern of seasonal illnesses.

Further information on this issue is available online on our website, www.kprschools.ca, including connections with local and provincial health units.

Most importantly, students who are sick should be kept home, and not attend either regular school or before/after school programs until they are free of symptoms. Together, we will work to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Leclerc
Director of Education