The Simcoe Star - September 29th to October 3rd

DEAR SIMCOE STAR FAMILIES,

It promises to be a busy and exciting week at JG Simcoe PS!

THIS WEEK

• Monday, September 29th: (Day 4)
• • Soccer at Morning Recess
  • Running Club at Afternoon Recess
  • Spirit Day! Wear blue, yellow, or any JG Simcoe PS gear
  • You can buy Simcoe swag here: https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/JGSIMCOESTORE/
  • Girls Inc. after school
  • Bus Safety Presentations
• Tuesday, September 30th: (Day 5)
• • Soccer at Morning Recess
  • Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • School Assembly and Guest Speaker: Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuck (a Metis culture expert, fiddle player, and educator)
  • YMCA Group after school
• Wednesday, October 1st: (Day 1)
• • Grade 3 to 8 Lacrosse Workshops with Jordan Brant (a Mohawk Lacrosse player from Tyendinaga Wolfpack)
  • Soccer at Morning Recess
  • Running Club at Afternoon Recess
  • Grade 7 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school
• Thursday, October 2nd: (Day 2)
• • Soccer at Morning Recess
  • Running Club at Afternoon Recess
  • Choir at Afternoon Recess
  • School Custodian Appreciation Day
  • Grade 8 Off-Property Day
  • Girls Inc. after school
• Friday, October 3rd: (Day 3)
• • Dance Club at Afternoon Recess
  • Indigenous Education Trip to Gould Lake

UPCOMING DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE

• October 16th:
• • IEPs Sent Home
• October 16^th and 17^th:
• • KFL&A Public Health Dental Screenings for JK, SK, Grades 1, 2, 4, 7
• October 24th:
• • Halloween Glow Dance from 4:00 - 6:00pm!
• October 27^th:
• • Picture Day
• November 10^th:
• • Grade 7 Immunizations
• December 2^nd:
• • Picture Retake Day and Class Photos
• March 2^nd: Grade 8 Graduation Picture Day

ORANGE SHIRT DAY AND NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

• September 30th is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this day, we wear orange to honour Indigenous children who were taken from their families to attend residential schools, and to remember that “Every Child Matters.”
• It is also a time to reflect, learn, and talk about the importance of respect, kindness, and fairness for all people. Together, we recognize the past, support healing, and commit to building a better future where every child feels valued and safe.

RUNNING AND READING

• The awesome Running and Reading Program will be starting back up at our site on Wednesdays from 2:50pm - 4:50pm.
• This year, they prefer if you sign up Online: https://activitymessenger.com/p/QnFn2jt 
• Paper packages will be available at the school, but it is first come first served, so online is best.

• Program details:
• • Capacity: 40 students (a waitlist will be kept if spots fill or a child leaves the program)
  • Open to Grades 1–6 (with a focus on Grades 3-6)
  • Registration deadline: October 15, 2025. Intake may stay open until November 12, 2025 depending on numbers.
• Criteria: Interested students should be able to manage longer days, work well in teams, and would engage in an afterschool learning program.
• We are so thankful for the opportunity to host this engaging program at our school!

RUNNING AND READING ONLINE PROGRAMS

• Did you know Running and Reading has some online programs?
• They have two virtual programs: 1) Brainworx for students in grades 1-6, twice a week for 30 minutes; and 2) the Junior Coach program for students in grades 7 & 8, once a week on Mondays for 1 hour. 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 volunteer 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

FREE LUNCH!

• You can sign your student up for FREE lunch every Thursday thanks to the Food Sharing Project. Lunch comes with a main, milk, and fruit of some sort.
• You can sign up here (https://foodsharingproject.store/) and paper sign up sheets were sent home, as well.
• If you signed up by September 19^th, your student will get lunch on the 29th and every Thursday thereafter. If you signed up the week of September 22nd to 29th, they will get lunch the first Thursday in October and every Thursday thereafter.

GLOW DANCE

• Exciting news! Our School Council is hosting a GLOW DANCE on Friday, October 24^th from 4:00-6:00pm in our gym! Entry is $3 per person.
• You can wear costumes and will be given a glow stick! Additional glow sticks, hot dogs, snacks, drinks and raffle tickets will be for sale. All family members are welcome! Students in Grades 5 and below must be accompanied by an adult.

DATA VERIFICATION FORMS – PLEASE RETURN ASAP

• Data verification forms have been sent home. Please update phone numbers, email addresses, addresses, and those contacts who have permission to pick up your student from school, as needed. Please have your student return the form to their teacher. Thank you! **If you didn’t receive a form, please let us know.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

• Our next School Advisory Council Meeting will be on Monday, October 20th at 3:30pm. If you want to come but can't make this date or time, please let us know at jgsim@limestone.on.ca. Thanks! ALL ARE WELCOME!

BUS ZONE SAFETY

• We have put in a request to get our bus zone painted. Please avoid parking in front of the garden and main doors of the school so students can be safely loaded onto bus transportation. Thank you!

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).

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

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

• 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

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES