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Posted on 2026-09-27 22:44:49.591 +0000 UTC
HELLO JG SIMCOE PS FAMILIES,
It's hard to believe that this week marks the completion of our first month of the school year! We are so excited to see all the learning taking place. Teachers have been hard at work collecting beginning of the year data and strategically planning lessons geared towards students' needs. We are proud to welcome Steven Gillespie and Kaytie Coon as our Learning Partners once again this year, as they help teachers plan and deliver the most up-to-date math and literacy lessons. We look forward to seeing how students will continue to grow their skillsets between now and June.
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THIS WEEK
- Monday, September 28th: (Day 3)
- Girls Inc. after school
- Kingston Bright Futures tutoring starts after school for older students; please see the office for more information
- Tuesday, September 29th: (Day 4)
- Note: the Tuesday YMCA Program will start back up at the end of September. Forms will go home this week
- OPEN HOUSE: 3:00 - 4:30 (free hot dogs and snacks, milkshakes for sale, Orange Shirt Day activity, free books, etc.)
- Wednesday, September 30th: (Day 5)
- Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Grade 7 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school (off-site)
- Thursday, October 1st: (Day 1)
- Grade 8 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school
- Friday, October 2nd: (Day 2)
- Spirit Day: School Spirit! Wear blue, yellow, or any Simcoe gear!
- Custodian Appreciation Day
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
- Monday, November 16th: Picture Retake Day and Class Photo Day
2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
OPEN HOUSE - THIS TUESDAY FROM 3:00 - 4:30!
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 :)
CUSTODIAN APPRECIATION DAY - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2ND
- Please join us in showing our gratitude to Scott Dwyre and Rachel Lewis, the kind, caring, dedicated custodians at JG Simcoe PS. They keep our building operating smoothly, in addition to completing a million tiny tasks each day. Thank you, Scott and Rachel!
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 9th
- 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
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
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT) SUPPORT
DATA VERIFICATION FORMS
- Wow! Thank you to everyone who has already updated their student's data verification forms and returned them to the school. This information helps keep our school system up to date
- Please let us know if you need another copy of your form or if you haven't yet received one. Also please let us know if you received an incorrect form in error. Thank you!
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
Time | Activity/Learning Block |
8:15am – 8:30am | Arrival and outside time |
8:30am – 10:10am | 100-minutes of instruction |
10:10am – 10:50am | Recess and nutrition break |
10:50am – 12:30pm | 100-minutes of instruction |
12:30pm – 1:10pm | Recess and lunch break |
1:10pm – 2:50pm | 100-minutes of instruction |
2:50pm | Dismissal |
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 are the links to pronunciations: Ojibwe word https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/ozaawaa-vii and Mohawk word https://www.firstvoices.com/kanienkeha-mohawk-en/words/f68883b0-a5b5-4db8-ba4a-5a8416f4358c
- Orange Shirt Day: On September 30, students and staff are encouraged to wear orange as we recognize Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We are extremely grateful for a beautiful donation of 190 Every Child Matters orange T-shirts in all sizes from Mrs. Youden (Shannon Youden's mother, an EA in the LDSB). This means every student who needs a shirt will be offered one on September 30th to wear as a school community. This day serves as an important opportunity to honour Residential School Survivors and their families, learn about the lasting impacts of residential schools, and reflect on our collective responsibility toward reconciliation. At J.G. Simcoe Public School, we are committed to fostering a culture of respect, understanding, and belonging where all students feel valued and supported. We will continue all year with our "52 Ways to Show Reconciliation in Our Classrooms Challenge".
- 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!
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
