The Simcoe Star - April 27th to May 1st

Dear Simcoe Star Families,

As we wrap up the month of April, it’s hard not to notice the energy and growth all around us - longer days, warmer weather, and students continuing to shine in their learning and friendships. As we head into May, we are entering an important and exciting stretch of the school year. These final two months are a time to stay focused, keep pushing forward, and celebrate the incredible progress our students are making each and every day.

We are also thrilled to wish 22 of our students the very best as they participate in the primary/junior Special Olympics! We are so proud of their effort, sportsmanship, and courage, and we know they will represent our school community beautifully.

Here’s to making the most of the sunshine, staying engaged, and finishing the year strong - Go Stars! 🌟

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THIS WEEK:

• Monday, April 27th: (Day 1)
• • Girls Inc. after school
  • Special Olympics at LCVI
  • Milkshake Day for those who purchased them
  • Spirit Day! Wear blue, yellow, or any JG Simcoe PS gear. You can buy Simcoe swag here: https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/JGSIMCOESTORE/
• Tuesday April 28th: (Day 2)
• • YMCA Group for Grade 3 and 4 students after school from 3:00-5:00pm
• Wednesday, April 29th: (Day 3)
• • Grade 7 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school (off-site)
  • Running and Reading after school from 3:00-4:50pm
  • Neurovibes @ 5:00pm (see flyer above)
• Thursday, April 30th: (Day 4)
• • Choir at afternoon recess
  • Grade 8 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school
  • Grade 5-8 SIS Trip for Indigenous Students
• Friday, May 1st: (Day 5)
• • Dance Club at afternoon recess

UPCOMING DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE

• May 21st:
• • Dessert Bingo Fundraiser!

STAFFING UPDATE:

• Please welcome Ms. Krista Davis back to JG Simcoe PS! Ms. Davis will be teaching JK/SK B for the remainder of the school year. Thank you to Ms. Mazurkiewicz for all her hard work, compassion, and encouragement throughout this school year.
• Please note that Ms. Morris will be off for the remainder of this school year. We will notify families once her replacement has been hired. Ms. Morris is committed to working with this teacher to ensure a smooth transition for students. All her students are excitedly making lists of baby names to pass along to her :)

SPRING RUNNING CLUB BEGINS THIS WEEK:

• Running Club Practices will be held during morning and afternoon recesses; it will be different from week to week.  Students will practice rain or shine and must come prepared with comfortable/active clothing and proper running shoes. This is different from the Running and Reading Program that is hosted at the school after hours. Students in Grades 1 - 8 are invited to participate.
• Multiple teachers and support staff will be involved in coaching running practice and supporting student goals and efforts!
• A permission form has gone home or will go home with your child. This form will also serve as permission to participate in practices for Track and Field that may also include sprinting, jumping, and throwing. A different form will go home for students grades 4-8 who are selected to complete at our regional track meet on June 1st, 2026. Please sign and return the Extracurricular Permission to Participate form for your child to begin participating. 
• Any questions about forms and participation can be directed to Ms. Rodgerson, Intensive Support Teacher, rodgersonk@limestone.on.ca 

UPCOMING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND CLIMATE SURVEY:

• The Limestone District School Board is inviting families to take part in the Family Engagement and Climate Survey. This survey gives families an opportunity to share their experiences with their student’s school and with the school board. The feedback helps us understand what is working well and where we can improve. It also supports schools and school councils in building welcoming, safe, and supportive school communities.
• The survey includes questions about: How schools communicate and share information Whether families feel welcome, included, and connected; Barriers to taking part in school activities, such as time, childcare, language, accessibility, or cost; Safety and bullying, including reporting and follow‑up; Licensed Before and After School Programs; Some questions ask about family background to help us better understand different experiences across our communities 
• Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Families may skip any questions they choose. No names or identifying information are collected. Results are shared only as grouped summaries and are used to support learning, planning, and improvement at the board, school, and school council levels.
• The survey will be open from May 1 to May 11 and will be available online. Families will receive an e-mail on May 1 with a link to the survey. Paper copies will also be available at your school’s administrative office starting May 1.
• The survey was developed with input from families and advisory committees, including the Parent Involvement Committee, to reflect a wide range of perspectives. Families are encouraged to watch this short video about the survey. Thank you for sharing your voice and helping strengthen our schools and school communities.

FIFTH DISEASE:

• We would like to share that there have been cases of Fifth Disease (also called Parvovirus B19) in our community. Fifth Disease is a common childhood illness that often causes mild cold-like symptoms and sometimes a “slapped cheek” rash. For most children, it is mild and they recover well. We are sharing this information so families can be informed, particularly those who may be pregnant or have health conditions that could make exposure more concerning. If you have questions or concerns, please connect with your healthcare provider.
• You can find more information here: https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/fifth_disease

DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC EVENTS:

• In response to tragic events, locally or globally, students may experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, worry, or questions about what they may be hearing from others. Students may react in different ways depending on their age, experiences, and how connected they feel to the situation. With time, reassurance, and support from caring adults, these reactions often ease.
• We encourage families to keep lines of communication open at home, to invite questions, and to offer reassurance as needed. If you have concerns about your student or would like support, please refer to the following resources:
• • Supporting Your Child’s Well-being
  • Caring for yourself while caring for others: A parent’s guide to self-care
  • By Your Side (parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning)
  • Maltby Centre
  • One Stop Talk
  • Kids Help Phone (Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text “Connect” to 686868)
  • 2-1-1 Ontario
• If you are worried about your student’s immediate safety, or the safety of others, please seek urgent assistance by calling 9-1-1, your local mobile crisis service (613-354-7388), or by going to the nearest emergency department.

STUDENT PICK-UP AND DROP OFF AND BUS ZONE SAFETY:

• Please only park on the school side of the street. Bus drivers are having difficulty getting down the road when cars are parked on both sides. That side is a No Parking zone. Thank you!
• Our parking spaces are VERY limited. For ease of drop off and pick up, we would encourage you to do so on Drennan Street. There is a crossing guard to ensure student safety, and using this street will eliminate congestion in front of the school
• **Important**: We have designated bus and student loading zones. Please do not park between the pylons so we can safely load/unload our students into vehicles and onto buses
• To ensure student safety and ease of flow, please wait on the main sidewalk along the road when picking up Grade 1/2 students from the kindergarten area. This will allow our kinder team to better hand-off our kindergarten students in a safe and calm fashion
• Thanks for keeping our students safe!

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:

• Kindergarten registration is now open! https://www.limestone.on.ca/kindergarten You can also ask at the office for a paper registration form :)
• Registering early helps us ensure we staff for the correct number of students. Please register ASAP and stay tuned for the kindergarten open house date

A NOTE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH:

THE IMPORTANCE OF ARRIVING ON TIME AND STAYING ALL DAY

• At JG Simcoe PS, we believe every student deserves the best chance to reach their full potential - and that starts with great attendance and being on time!
• Did you know that missing just 20 minutes of class a day adds up to 100 minutes a week, 400 minutes a month, and over 4000 minutes a year? That’s equal to 66 hours—or 11 full school days of lost learning time!
• Did you know that missing 20 school days is the equivalent of missing a month of learning? Let's help set all students up for success by getting them on a good routine :)

FOOD SHARING PROJECT:

• Let us know if you would like your student added to our list to receive free lunches. Thanks!

GRADUATION:

• Our Grade 8 graduation will be on Wednesday, June 24th :) We cannot wait to celebrate our graduates!

SO THANKFUL TO PLAY! CHARITABLE GAMING ASSOCIATION!

• Did you know that our school benefits greatly from Play! Charitable Gaming Association? Through Kingston Play!, we can afford sporting and outdoor equipment, additional craft supplies and books, additional Lexia accounts, and more! We are SO THANKFUL to this community partner for supporting our Simcoe Stars in so, so many ways!

SMOKING AND VAPING

• Please do not smoke or vape on school property. You must be 20 metres away from school property. We have many staff and students with asthma, other respiratory disorders, and who are medically fragile. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!

 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SEXUAL HEALTH

• As part of LDSB's commitment to ongoing transparency and communication with families, please follow the link to Form 325-D on the LDSB website. It outlines the Human Development and Sexual Health curriculum expectations for Grades 1-8.
• Families can request to have their child or children exempted from instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by completing and returning an exemption form for each child (Form 325-B) five school days before the start of instruction.
• Prior to instruction, your child's classroom teacher will inform parents/guardians when the expectations related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations in Strand D will be covered.

INSURANCE

• The LDSB requires that students have student accident insurance in order to participate in extra-curricular activities. Before students will be allowed to participate in these events, parents/guardians must confirm their own coverage for items not covered under the Provincial Health Plan, or purchase an insurance plan (www.insuremykids.com).

 ALLERGEN AND SCENT AWARENESS

• Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.
• We have some staff and students alike who get migraines triggered by strong scents. Please avoid wearing perfume and cologne and using strong scented laundry detergent. Thank you!

 LICE CHECKS

• Note: We have heard of active cases of head lice amongst students - please check students thoroughly and reach out if you need support.
• Head lice are common among school-aged children, and early detection and treatment help prevent them from spreading to others. Regularly checking your child’s hair and treating right away avoids unnecessary discomfort.
• By working together as a school community, we can keep everyone healthy and comfortable. Please reach out to the school if you have any questions or need assistance.

 INDIGENOUS SELF-IDENTIFICATION

• The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) invites students to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify as Indigenous. Elementary and secondary students with First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit ancestry can self-identify.
• School board self-identification is based on any degree of Indigenous ancestry (Status, Non-Status, Métis citizenship, etc.). Self-identification can be withdrawn at any time. LDSB, in accordance with the Ministry of Education, Ontario, does not require proof of identity to self-identify.
• https://www.limestone.on.ca/indigenous-self-identification

INDIGENOUS NEWS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Language Class Update: Anishinaabemowin programming will be paused as the Indigenous Team hires a new teacher. Ashley, our current Anishinaabemowin teacher, has begun her maternity leave earlier than expected as she welcomes a new baby into the world. We are very excited for Ashley and wish her all the best during this special time.

• Akwe:kon is for Indigenous youth aged 7-12 and provides a space where our youth can feel safe to be themselves and accepted for the wonderful little humans they are. Join us!  Questions? Contact Dakota Oliver at dakota.oliver@kncln.ca. 1(613) 544-306

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES