View All News
Posted on 2025-11-30 23:50:37.881 +0000 UTC
DEAR SIMCOE STAR FAMILIES,
It's the most wonderful time of year! We are excited to usher in December with our holiday lunch and the Jingle Bell Run, Walk, or Wheel this week. Please see below for more events:
THIS WEEK
- Monday, December 1st: (Day 1)
- Kanyen'kéha and Anishinaabemowin classes continue this week
- Girls Inc. after school
- Spirit Day! Wear blue, yellow, or any JG Simcoe PS gear. You can buy Simcoe swag here: https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/JGSIMCOESTORE/
- Tuesday, December 2nd: (Day 2)
- Picture Retake and Class Photo Day
- YMCA Group for Grade 3 and 4 students after school
- Tutors from Bright Futures Kingston on site from 3:00-4:00pm (Note: this is the final session until January)
- Wednesday, December 3rd: (Day 3)
- Grade 7 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school (off-site)
- Running and Reading after school
- Thursday, December 4th: (Day 4)
- Holiday lunch for students - turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, and a cupcake! Halal options are available. This lovely meal is paid for by our School Advisory Council and prepared by KSS culinary students. Ms. Matson is preparing the 215+ cupcakes! Thank you!
- Choir/karaoke at afternoon recess
- Grade 8 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school
- Friday, December 5th: (Day 5)
- Dance Club at afternoon recess
- Special Olympics Sporting Event
- KFL&A Jingle Bell Run, Walk, or Wheel Event ((hosted during the day at our site; students will all be given a bell)
- Spirit Day: Hat, Headband, or Toque Day - Perfect for the Jingle Bell Run, Walk, or Wheel!
UPCOMING DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE
- December 8th:
- Grade 7 and 8 Immunizations (continued from Nov. 10th)
- December 9th:
- KSS Grade 8 Family Information Night from 6:00 to 7:30pm
- Calvin Park PS's Choices at 7 Information Night at 6:00pm
- December 10th:
- No Running and Reading this day
- December 11th:
- Holiday Concert!!
- December 15th and 16th:
- JG Simcoe PS Holiday Market - students can shop for family members at our school's market of donated goods. A donation of $1 is encouraged and will go towards Grade 8 graduation
- March 2nd:
- Grade 8 Graduation Picture Day
HOLIDAY CONCERT -THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
- 5:00 - doors open and a light dinner is provided in each classroom
- 5:30 - showtime!
- 6:15 - approximate end time
- We look forward to seeing poetry, song, and skit performances! Thanks to Mme Morgan for organizing!
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!
**ATTENTION GRADE 6 STUDENTS**! CHOICES AT 7 PROGRAMS
- The Limestone District School Board's Choices at 7 programs offer opportunities for students entering Grade 7 to participate in a variety of unique learning environments.
- Depending on the availability of places in the programs, students currently in Grade 7 may also apply to join a program for their Grade 8 year. The Choices at 7 programs that are offered include:
- ATLAS (Applying Technology for Learning, Aptitude, and Success)
- Challenge (Gifted and Academic Enrichment Program)
- LEAP (Limestone Education through the Arts Program)
- Extended French Immersion Program (for students entering Grade 7 only)
- If you are interested in finding out more about these programs, you are invited to attend the information nights that are being held at each site (dates and times are listed below). For detailed information about any of the Choices at 7 programs, please visit the Choices at 7 webpage.
- Application Process: The application form for the ATLAS Program, the Challenge Program, LEAP, and Extended French Immersion for September 2025 will be open from December 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. until January 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Application information and links will be available on the Choices at 7 webpage.
Choices at 7 Information Nights:
- Calvin Park Public School - ATLAS, Challenge, LEAP and CORE Choices at 7 Program Information Night
- Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
- Loughborough Public School - Challenge Program Choices at 7 Program Information Night
- Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
- Ernestown Intermediate and Secondary School - Grade 7 and 8 Challenge Program Information Night
- Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
- Harrowsmith Public School - Extended French Immersion Program Information Night
- Monday December 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
- Module Vanier - Extended French Immersion Program Information Night
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
- Module L’Acadie - Extended French Immersion Program Information Night
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
- If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at choicesatseven@limestone.on.ca. Ms. Propper used to work at the Calvin Park PS site and can answer many of your questions about LEAP, Challenge, and ATLAS.
GOULD LAKE SUMMER PROGRAM
- Registration will tentatively open on December 8th for these amazing opportunities at Gould Lake this summer!
FEEDBACK ON OUR FREE LUNCH DAYS AND THIS WEEK'S MENU
- We’re now over halfway through our Free Lunch Program Lunch is Ready!, and we’d love to hear your feedback on how things are going! We are hoping the program gets extended.
- Parent Survey: Please share this with parents and guardians, via your weekly newsletters. To encourage participation, we’re including a giveaway draw for parents/guardians who complete the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/21VcZxFnJr
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!
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!
- As the weather changes, more families may choose to drive to and from school. Please remember that stopping in school bus loading zones or no-stopping areas can result in high parking fines. We encourage families to respect posted signage and use alternative locations for pick-up and drop-off.
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
