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Posted on 2025-11-16 23:07:18.318 +0000 UTC
DEAR SIMCOE STAR FAMILIES,
We hope you all enjoyed a nice long weekend and had an opportunity to review students' progress reports that were sent home on Thursday. We are proud of all the learning that has been happening, and we are looking forward to a great week!
THIS WEEK
- Monday, November 17th: (Day 1)
- Grade 7 Immunizations
- Kanyen'kéha and Anishinaabemowin classes continue this week
- Girls Inc. after school
- Spirit Day! Wear Purple for World Prematurity Day!
- Senior volleyball at morning recess
- Junior volleyball game at Molly Brant ES at 3:15pm
- Candy grams go on sale for $2 and get delivered on Friday. Proceeds go towards Grade 8 graduation :)
- Tuesday, November 18th: (Day 2)
- YMCA Group for Grade 3 and 4 students after school
- Junior volleyball at morning recess
- Tutors from Queen's University are offering free tutoring at our school from 3:00 - 4:00pm: Let us know if you are interested! Note: the tutoring is 1:1, so if you sign up on a Tuesday, you will have to wait until the following Tuesday to start sessions so the company can send enough tutors. Sorry for any inconvenience!
- Wednesday, November 19th: (Day 3)
- Girls STEM Lunch and Learn Program for Girls in Grade 4 and up (every Wednesday for six weeks during second lunch/recess)
- Grade 7 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school (off-site)
- Running and Reading after school
- Senior volleyball game at Rideau Heights PS at 3:15pm
- Grade 5-8 Field Trip to Kingston Frontenacs Game
- Thursday, November 20th: (Day 4)
- Senior volleyball at morning recess
- Choir/karaoke at afternoon recess
- Grade 8 Off-Property Day
- Girls Inc. after school
- School Advisory Council at 3:30pm
- Friday, November 21st: (Day 5)
- Junior volleyball at morning recess
- LDSB's Pink Shirt Day
- Dance Club at afternoon recess
- 7/8B and 5/6B off to Gould Lake!
UPCOMING DATES OF SIGNIFICANCE
- **This weekend!!** November 22nd:
- Operation Warm Feet ($2 boots at KCHC)
- November 24th:
- Student Census Opens (closes on the 28th)
- November 26th:
- Kindergarten and Grade 1/2 Snow Plow Safety Presentations
- December 2nd:
- Picture Retake Day and Class Photos
- December 4th:
- Holiday Luncheon for Students (prepared by KSS culinary students)
- December 8th:
- Grade 7 and 8 Immunizations (continued from Nov. 10th)
- March 2nd:
- Grade 8 Graduation Picture Day
**THIS WEEKEND** - OPERATION WARM FEET - NOV. 22ND
- New boots for $2 (one pair per child born in 2007 or after; bring identification for proof of age)
- Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 from 9:00am to 1:00pm
- KCHC, 263 Weller Avenue
- Limited supplies
- For more information, contact Stephanie at 613-449-6225 or stephaniew@kchc.ca
**MONDAY, NOV. 17TH** - WORLD PREMATURITY DAY- WEAR PURPLE!
- Monday, November 17th, is World Prematurity Day!
- 1 in 10 babies is born premature
- Approximately 1 in 100 of those babies is born before 30 weeks
- This is Amaya-Lynn, one of our fabulous students!
- She is 1 in 10, she is also 1 in 100. Amaya-Lynn was born at 27 weeks weighing 1lb 8oz, being considered a micro preemie
- Amaya-Lynn is the strongest and most determined 5 year old. She spent 113 days in the NICU at KGH learning how to breathe, how to eat, how to regulate her temperature, etc. She also had to learn how to suck, swallow and breathe all together so she could eat
- She endured so much in the NICU from a brain bleed to as little as daily pokes on the heel for blood work. Despite those challenges she has come out on top! Thriving and stronger than ever!
- She has her challenges due to her extreme prematurity but she doesn’t let them keep her back.
- To support Amaya-Lynn and all the other preemie babies, we will be wearing our purple on Monday! 💜 They are the tiniest fighters!
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!
- We understand that mornings can be busy and that appointments or unexpected situations come up. Still, arriving on time and staying for the full day helps students build strong learning habits, stay connected with friends, and feel confident in their progress.
- Thank you for helping your child start each day ready to learn—on time and all day, every day! Together, we can make every minute count.
FREE TUTORING AFTER SCHOOL!
- A group of Queen's University students founded a free tutoring service called 'Bright Futures Kingston', and they are offering their services at our sites on Tuesdays from 3:00pm - 4:00pm.
- Please let us know if you would like to sign your student up for extra support. Note: the tutoring is 1:1, so if you sign up on a Tuesday, you will have to wait until the following Tuesday to start sessions so the company can send enough tutors. Sorry for any inconvenience!
STUDENT CENSUS
- Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall.
- The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.
- Important information for families:
- The survey is optional.
- Responses are confidential and students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer.
- Students will complete the survey during class time.
- Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.
- Families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact their school principal by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.
- By better understanding students’ identities and experiences, we can remove barriers and better support students in accessing what they need to succeed.
- Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census
**THIS WEEK** SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
- Our next School Advisory Council Meeting will be on Thursday, November 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!
- 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
