The Simcoe Star - October 5th to 9th

HELLO JG SIMCOE PS FAMILIES,

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open House! It was wonderful to welcome so many families into the school and celebrate our amazing Simcoe community together.

We also shared a beautiful Orange Shirt Day, taking time to recognize and honour the true histories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples and to renew our commitment to reconciliation. 🧡 A heartfelt thank you to the Youden family for generously donating orange shirts for every student, and to Ms. Cassidy for leading so many meaningful activities throughout the school.

Most importantly, thank you to our Simcoe Stars for reminding us through their words and actions that every culture deserves to be honoured, every person deserves to be treated fairly, and we all have a responsibility to lead with kindness, compassion, and respect.

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THIS WEEK

• Monday, October 5th: (Day 3)
  • Girls Inc. after school from 3:00-5:00
  • Kingston Bright Futures tutoring from 3:00-4:00
  • World Teachers' Day
• Tuesday, October 6th: (Day 4)
  • YMCA Program will start back up this week from 3:00-5:00 for those who returned their forms last week
• Wednesday, October 7th: (Day 5)
  • Grade 7 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school (off-site) from 3:00-5:00
• Thursday, October 8th: (Day 1)
  • Grade 8 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school from 3:00-5:00
• Friday, October 9th: (Day 2)
  • Spirit Day: School Spirit! Wear blue, yellow, or any Simcoe gear!

 UPCOMING DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE

• Monday, October 12th: Thanksgiving - School is closed for the day
• Wednesday, October 14th: Bus Safety Presentations
• Thursday, October 15th: Grade 7 and 8 Immunizations; IEPs are sent home
• Friday, October 16th: Harvest Feast Celebration
• Wednesday, October 21st: Running and Reading Starts!
• Friday, October 23rd: Glow Dance!!
• Monday, October 26th: PA Day - School is closed for the day
• Wednesday, October 28th: Picture Day
• Friday, October 30th: Youth Symposium
• Monday, November 16th: Picture Retake Day and Class Photo Day

 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

WORLD TEACHERS' DAY

• A heartfelt thank you to our 17 incredible teachers for the dedication, compassion, energy, and commitment they bring to Simcoe each and every day. They do so much more than teach - they build relationships, create belonging, celebrate strengths, spark curiosity, and help every child see what is possible. We are so grateful for the care, creativity, patience, and heart they pour into their work. Our Simcoe Stars shine brighter because of our awesome teachers!

RUNNING AND READING

• Running and Reading sign up is open now for students in Grades 1-6!!
• Paper sign up packages are available at the office, or you can sign up online here: https://activitymessenger.com/p/gS3Mzaa
• Running and Reading will be on Wednesdays from 2:50-4:50
• Students in Grade 7 and 8 should see Ms. Propper if they would like to be Jr. Coaches

JG SIMCOE PS CLOTHING AND SPIRIT WEAR

• School clothing is sold online at this link: https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/JGSIMCOESTORE/ Items can be delivered directly to the school :)

FREE THURSDAY LUNCH: SIGN UP NOW FOR THE LUNCH IS READY PROGRAM

• Great news! The "Lunch Is Ready" program is starting back up! Paper registration forms have been sent home, or you can sign up online at this link: https://foodsharingproject.store/
• Registration closes on Friday, October 9^th 
• Every child will get a sample lunch on Thursdays for the next 3 weeks!! We are so thankful to our partners at The Food Sharing Program

E-SCOOTERS

• This information was shared by the City of Kingston: E-scooters are easy to find, but they aren't toys and aren't designed for kids. In Ontario, you must be at least 16 years old to ride wherever e-scooters are permitted. 
  
  In Kingston, e-scooters are not currently permitted. The City is developing a Micromobility Regulations Strategy — with updated rules around e-scooters, e-bikes and other lightweight, rideable transportation — to support safe, accessible and sustainable travel around Kingston. The strategy, which considers public engagement feedback and research into best practices, will be presented to Council for consideration later this year. 
  
  Find out more at Micromobility Regulations | Get Involved Kingston by Communications & Public Engagement.

ONLINE AFTER-SCHOOL LEARNING:

• Below is Information about our Brainworx and Junior Coach Leadership programs, and the posters. 

• Both programs are run by live, trained volunteers and are offered at no cost to families - it is FREE to join.
• 📌 Who are these programs for?
  • Students in grades 1–8
  • Those looking for extra literacy support
  • Families seeking fun, free after-school learning opportunities
• ✨ What can families expect?
  • Live storytelling to spark engagement
  • Vocabulary-building activities to support language development
  • A dynamic approach of movement, games, reading, and discussion
  • Mentorship and meaningful connections
  • Support for student growth through social-emotional learning (SEL)
• 👉 Families can register here: brainworx.start2finishonline.org/student/signup

SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

As students navigate the school year, they experience a wide range of emotions and situations. Help is accessible through community resources. We encourage families to check in with their students, offer opportunities to talk if needed, and reach out for support whenever necessary. We also have a Student Support Counselor at our site from Monday-Thursday who can help support your student while collaborating to see which resources will be most useful. Please contact the office with inquiries.

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 
• 211 

REPORTING ABSENCES

• There are four options for families to use to report a student's absence:
  • SchoolMessenger App on your phone
  • SchoolMessenger website portal
  • call the automated attendance phone line at 1-855-257-9349
  • call the school at 613-544-4087
• On the apps, always enter "lates" as a full days even if the student will only be absent for half a day. It will adjust automatically once the student arrives and signs in at the office
• For more information on how to report an absence, please watch this video: https://youtu.be/IW205rwkYsc

 TRIBOARD

• To apply for bus transportation, please go to www.triboard.ca and click on the "Apply" tab and choose "Apply Online". Please let us know if you require assistance submitting the request
• Sign up on the Triboard website to receive bus delays and cancellations. They will get emailed or text directly to you. This will be especially important during snowy weather.  

MEDICAL PLANS OF CARE

• Our primary goal is to keep our students safe. If a student requires medication at school (daily medication, inhalers, EpiPen, etc.) or if a student has medical needs that we should be aware of (allergies, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, etc.), please connect with the office right away to complete the necessary paperwork 

 OUR SCHEDULE

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Each week, we will share our "Words of the Week". You can check them out by clicking on the links below:
  • Here is the link to pronounce the word in Ojibwe: https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/aniibiish-ni
• Smudging: Each morning, our Indigenous Education Teacher, Cassidy Pilutti, leads a voluntary smudge that is open to any students and staff who would like to participate. Smudging is a traditional Indigenous practice that involves the burning of sacred medicines and is used as a way to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, encourage positive thoughts, and prepare for the day ahead. We are grateful to Ms. Cassidy for providing this welcoming opportunity for our school community to gather, reflect, and begin the day in a good way.

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

CONCUSSION PROTOCOL

• Every school board has a concussion protocol to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Please check out LDSB's protocol here: https://www.limestone.on.ca/concussion_protocols
• 2025 11 03 Concussion Code of Conduct for Interschool Sports Parent Guardian
• 2025 11 03 Concussion Code of Conduct for Interschool Sports Students

CELL PHONES

• Just like last year, students are not permitted to use cell phones during school hours (this is a province-wide mandate). If needed, students can use the office phone to call home, and you can call the office at 613-544-4087 if you need to pass along a message to your student 

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 AWARENESS

• Our school is NUT FREE
• Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class, just in class there is a student-specific allergy

SCENT-FREE SCHOOL

• Please note that we are a scent-free building, and all staff and students should refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, or using strong fabric softener. We have multiple members of our school community who get migraines and/or other ailments when they are around strong scents. Thank you for keeping our community safe!

CROSSWALK

• Please remind students to:
  • dismount their bikes, scooters, and skateboards, and to walk them across the crosswalks
  • hold balls securely when walking across the crosswalks
  • follow the instructions of the crossing guard and wait until it is an appropriate time to cross
  • walk at a normal pace without running or skipping
  • treat crossing guards kindly and with respect
• Thank you!

PARKING

• Please avoid parking in the red or yellow zones as noted in the image below. This will help us keep our students safe :) Please remember to drive slowly through our zone and allows buses time to load students appropriately. Thank you for helping to keep our Simcoe Stars safe!

SO THANKFUL TO PLAY! CHARITABLE GAMING ASSOCIATION!

• JG Simcoe PS is proud to be part of Charitable Gaming. Funds raised at Play! Gaming & Entertainment Centre help support our programs and make a difference in our community. #CharitableGaming #CGaming #OntarioCharities #Ontario
• 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!

 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES