Welcome to a NEW school year!

In this newsletter there is information that will require some time for review and items to send back to the school. We appreciate your attention to these details as having up to date information is critical to our working collaboratively to support your child.

• Please ensure any medical information is brought to the office.

• We have ordered math and reading programs your child can access from home; SIGN UP!

• By installing School Messenger on your phone we can track attendance with ease.

• Signing up for School Cash on Line will allow you to make seamless payments for anything going on at school including hot lunches.

• If you would like to volunteer please fill out the form and send it to the office.

Do not hesitate to call the school if you have any questions.

Thank you

Rachelle Duffus

Attached is our February newsletter.

Welcome Spring; how times have changed,

These are unprecedented phases of our lives and they call for unprecedented measures.  Everything Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is implementing is directed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.   More than ever, please make sure you stay connected to KPR at http://www.kprschools.ca/en/COVID-19.html.

Be safe and be well QE,  

Rachelle Duffus 

Dear QE Community,

We are excited to start distance learning with your child(ren) Monday.  Every member of our staff has contributed to provide students and families with all they need to continue learning. 

This is a journey we are taking together.  There are going to be bumps in our learning curve as we enter in to the new world of distance learning.  It is uncommon ground for you, or students and our teachers.  Please be patient with yourselves and us. 

You can help.  First, set time and physical work space aside for your child(ren) to learn every day.  Set up a schedule and adhere to it.  Reach out to your teachers’ and or myself if you need any support.

Second it is important that we are all respectful and mindful of the physical distancing measures in place to safeguard our health.  Both schools and all public libraries have Wi-Fi hotspots.  When you use a hot spot, please respect social distancing.   Do not gather in groups over five and stay apart by two meters.

We are in this together,

Be well QE,

Sincerely,

Rachelle Duffus

Summer Program for Children with Autism 

KPR families with a child between the ages of 5 to 8 with an Autism diagnosis are invited to register for a free summer program, “Social Detective: Social Skills Group.”

Facilitated by Grandview Kids, the program consists of weekly one hour sessions on Tuesdays (4:00 – 5:00pm) at Grandview Kids’ Bowmanville Health Centre site beginning July 4th.

Participants will learn the power of observation, reading environmental contexts, analysing clues they see within their environment, and the power of choice on how to respond, all while also creating and learning new ways to think about their social relations.

More information about the program and eligibility is included in the attached flyer. To register, visit the following link: https://grandviewkids.ca/social-detective/

Dear KPR families, 

Welcome back to another exciting school year in KPR!  

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and senior administration, we are pleased and excited to welcome students, staff and families back to our elementary and secondary schools on Tuesday, September 5.  

We hope during the summer that our students and families have found ways to rest, recharge and spend time together. There is nothing that brings us greater joy than welcoming thousands of students back to our schools, and sharing in their excitement and energy. 

Our schools are safe, inclusive and vibrant places where we set high expectations for success. We continue to focus on seeing all students as capable learners, sparking their curiosity and elevating their voices. We know how important it is for students to feel seen, heard and reflected in the learning resources, spaces and people around them.  

Together, we will continue our work to create equitable conditions for positive learning, well-being and success for ALL students.  We remain committed to our mission in all we do - we inspire our students to excel in learning, succeed in life, and enrich our communities.  

As you prepare your child and your family for the excitement of the first day and all of the learning and firsts for the year ahead, please know that we are as excited as you are, and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership to support student success.  

Well-being is just as important as learning, and is foundational to all types of success. In closing we are sharing the Mentally Healthy School Support Package, as a valuable resource to support student mental health and well-being as we enter the 2023-24 school year. 

Please check out the KPR website, or contact your school office, if you have questions about school or need more information. If you are on social media, you can follow us @kprschools. 

Best wishes for the year ahead!  Together #WeAreKPR 

Sincerely, 

Steve Russell                                                Rita Russo 
Chairperson of the Board                         Director of Education 

KPR NEWS 

Student Busing 

As you may know, bus driver shortages have been an ongoing issue for many school boards for several years, including here at KPR. 

We are very excited that our bus operators have shared that, at this time, all KPR bus and transportation routes currently have drivers for the start of the school year, and that they continue to recruit and hire spare drivers. This good news is thanks to a targeted recruitment campaign, to attract more bus drivers in our area.  

Our thanks to staff at Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) who have been working with bus operators on a regular basis and throughout the summer to monitor ongoing recruitment and training efforts. 

We are pleased to be in this positive position as we begin the school year. For more information about bus routes and transportation, please visit the Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario website. 

PA Day Learning 

Throughout the upcoming school year, we will be sharing more information about how KPR staff are learning and working together on Professional Activity (PA) Days to support students’ success.   

Staff at elementary and secondary schools will be engaged in a full day of learning during the August 31 PA Day.  Among the areas of learning for staff on this day are: School Improvement Planning, Workplace Violence Awareness, Curriculum Implementation and Mental Health. 

Further details on PA Day plans can be found on our website.  

The learning focus for the month of September is Truth and Reconciliation. To access weekly activities, reflection questions and resources to support your learning, visit the resource at the following link: September Passport to ReconiliACTION - Google Slides

Hello everyone,  

Just two weeks into the new school year, students are becoming more familiar with routines and school is back in full swing. I have had the pleasure of visiting schools over the last couple of weeks and I continue to be inspired by the curiosity and determination of students, and the innovation and passion of staff. KPR truly is an awesome place to be! 

The start of the school year provides many opportunities for students to make new connections, build meaningful relationships and get involved in their school and community. Participating in activities at school and learning new skills can contribute to student well-being in many ways.  

Next weekend, KPR is participating in the Peterborough Pride Parade. Everyone is welcome to join us to show pride and allyship, and to support and celebrate people of all sexual orientations and gender identities; to honour those who have paved the way for equal rights; and to contribute to building accepting attitudes, safe and inclusive spaces in our schools and communities. Peterborough Pride Parade is Saturday, September 23, at 1:30 pm, beginning at Peterborough City Hall.  

Lastly, with several important days of significance coming up in the days ahead, including two Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and Powley Day recognized by Métis communities, I invite you to visit KPR’s Events Calendar to learn more about these important observances and others.  

Wishing you a lovely weekend. 

Take care, 

Rita Russo 
Director of Education 

KPR NEWS 

Curve Lake Pow Wow 

The 70^th annual Curve Lake Pow Wow takes place tomorrow and Sunday. Everyone is welcome to attend the annual celebration of ceremony, dance, and song. The Curve Lake Pow Wow website contains important cultural information to inform your participation. 

Annual Parent Conference 

Save the date – KPR's Annual Parent Conference is returning the morning of Saturday, October 21 as a virtual event, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Jean Clinton!  

Through the context of building resilience and healthy relationships, Dr. Clinton will share practical strategies to empower parents and caregivers to support their children during important transitions and create conditions to help them thrive throughout their educational journey and beyond!  

More details and registration information are coming soon!  

Report IT! 

The Office of the Commissioner of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility (COHREA) is fully accessible and available to all students, staff and families to report any issues of concern, and in particular human rights-based issues of discrimination and harassment that involve a breach of the Human Rights Code, and barriers to accessibility under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The Commissioner’s Office promptly reviews, assesses and determines necessary next steps for addressing all complaints.   

While we continue to encourage students, staff and families to first address concerns directly with those involved in the situation, e.g. the teacher, principal, manager or superintendent, concerns may also be reported confidentially, through the online reporting tool – Report IT!  More information about the COHREA is available on the Board website or by contacting the office directly at cohrea@kprdsb.ca  

New Language Curriculum Grade 1 to 8 – A Guide for Parents 

Ontario’s language curriculum for Grades 1 to 8 was updated last spring by the Ministry of Education for implementation beginning this September. The parent guide below provides an overview of the knowledge and skills that students will learn in each grade. Language, Grades 1 to 8: a guide for parents (gov.on.ca)  

Grade 9 English – A Guide for Parents 

A new de-streamed English curriculum was recently released. More details about the new Grade 9 English course are available on the Ministry of Education website.