September Newsletter
Bath Public School
Growing, Learning and Achieving Together
Welcome back to the 2018-2019 school year! We are having a wonderful first week back at school. September is always an exciting time of year as we welcome back returning families and meet new students and their families. We are looking forward to our School Open House, which will be held on Thursday, September 27 – please save the date!
A warm welcome to new staff who will join the Bath Public School team this year. Ms. Valin, Mr. Parker and Ms. Brown join us in the role of Educational Assistant.
This week your child has brought home many notices and forms for you to read and return. By completing these forms as soon as possible, you will be assisting us to provide a safe and positive educational environment for students. Thank you for taking the time to do so during these busy first few weeks, as everyone is getting back into the routine of school.
Classes have been tentatively organized for the school year. We may be required to re-organize if our actual enrollment is significantly higher or lower than our projected enrollment. We will be notified by the Limestone District School Board what our final school organization will be for the year by the end of the second week of school. More information will be coming soon if we need to re-organize.
The school looks fabulous thanks to our caretaking staff – Ms. D. Knox, Ms. T. Cassibo and their fabulous team for their work over the summer weeks. Classrooms are refreshed and ready to go thanks to our committed teachers and support staff.
Parents and guardians are valued partners in education and we look forward to working together with you for a successful school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions during the school year.
Mrs. Brigid Steele, Principal
Mrs. April Bell-Asselstine, Vice-Principal
Important Information Sent Home
A package of information has been sent home with each student. Three items in particular deserve special mention:
1. STUDENT DATA VERIFICATION FORM
Please review and update carefully all four pages of the printed information on your child’s Data Verification Form, and return it as soon as possible. We cannot stress enough that the information on this form is essential for us at the school to respond properly to emergency situations. If your child takes medication at school or has a medical condition that we need to be aware of, please note it in the “Medical” section. If any information changes over the course of the year (address, phone number....anything), please be sure to notify us promptly so that if an emergency should occur, we can respond with accurate, up-to-date information.
2. STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Some parents/guardians may have Dental/Health insurance coverage through their employer, but many of these plans are limited in one way or another. The Limestone District School Board makes available, without any gain for itself, a Student Accident Protection Program. Various plans are available, but the Basic is around $8.00 per year. A recent claim under the $8.00 plan was the result of a child sliding down a snowbank on the way to school. Immediate dental treatment was $2,980 and future dental costs could reach $4,600. Information is contained in the Student Accident Insurance envelope in this package. The Limestone District School Board policy requires insurance coverage for every student who is on a sports team in any school under the Board’s jurisdiction.
3. COMPUTER USE AGREEMENT
All students at Bath Public have an opportunity for supervised access to the Internet. The Internet provides information and activities that enhance and support the curriculum. It is an important resource tool that students need to learn how to properly use. In order for a child to use the Internet at school, a permission form must be signed by the parent or guardian and the student. Please review the attached Computer Use Agreement with your child, sign it, and return it to the school as soon as possible.
BATH PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF, 2018-19
JK/SK - Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Viau
JK/SK - Mrs. Hogle and Mrs. Schembri
Grade 1 - Mrs. Kingston
Grade 1/2 - Mrs. Bauml
Grade 2/3 - Mrs. McGrath
Grade 3 - Mrs. Vanderschoor & Ms. Baetz
Grade 3/4 - Mrs. Hay
Grade 4/5 - Mrs. Sparrow
Grade 5/6 - Mr. Nickel
Grade 6/7 - Mrs. Morrisey
Grade 8 - Mr. Kyte
Music - Ms. Baetz
French - M. Cameron
French - Mme. Dowling
Student Support Teacher - Mrs. Vanderschoor
Educational Assistant - Mrs. Cahoon
Educational Assistant - Ms. McGregor
Educational Assistant - Ms. Valin
Educational Assistant - Mr. Parker
Educational Assistant - Ms. Brown
Principal - Mrs. Steele
Vice-Principal & SST - Mrs. Bell-Asselstine
Office Administrator - Ms.Main
Daytime Custodian - Mrs. Knox
Evening Custodian - Mrs. Cassibo
Yard Duty Supervisor - Mrs. Reid
Bath Public School Schedule
8:55 - 9:10 Supervision on the schoolyard
9:10 School Starts
9:10 – 10:50 Learning Block
10:50 -11:05 1st Nutrition Break
11:05 -11:30 1st Recess
11:30 - 1:10 Learning Block
1:10 - 1:25 2nd Nutrition Break
1:25 - 1:50 2nd Recess
1:50 - 3:30 Learning Block
3:30 Dismissal
IMPORTANT DATES
Please note these dates on your calendar:
Wed, September 12 - Parent Council Meeting 6:30pm
Thu, September 20th - Picture Day
Fri, September 29th – P.A. Day (No School)
Mon, October 9th – Thanksgiving (No School)
PARENTS/GUARDIANS PLEASE NOTE!
Parents/guardians occasionally pick up their child/ren at school at the end of the day. Parents who are picking their children up after school are asked to wait outside the main door of the school. The students will be escorted to the door at 3:30 and a staff member will see that your child meets you outside the door. If you have school related business or an appointment, please ring the bell at the front door and we will admit you. We then ask that you sign in at the office and wear a visitor or volunteer badge. Thank you for your help in keeping all of our students safe!
Interruptions During the School Day
In an effort to keep the instructional time protected for all students, we would remind you to please send a note to the teacher whenever possible, when your child needs to be picked up at school early (before 3:30) or at dismissal time, unless of course we have already been made aware that they are picked up on a regular basis. We really do teach until the end of the day and if we need to advise your child’s teacher of a last-minute change in plans for after school, it will be communicated at 3:25 so that all students get as much uninterrupted learning time as possible.
SCHOOL-WIDE INFORMATION HOME
For families with two or more children attending our school, we reduce paper usage by sending home only one copy of school-wide notices. We will send mail home with the youngest sibling.
For students whose parents do not live together, we are happy to send home two copies of newsletters, notices, and mailouts in order for both parents to stay informed about their child’s education. If you would like this to happen, please contact the school office and let us know.
BATH PS NEWSLETTERS ARE PAPERLESS!
We are pleased to once again be able to offer our school newsletters via email through our Constant Contact system. This will be the only paper newsletter this year.
To receive newsletters via email go to our school website (http://bath.limestone.on.ca) and press the blue “Sign up to receive Emails” button. This will launch Constant Contact where you can add your email address. If receiving newsletters by email is not an option for you, please contact the school to request paper copies.
ALLERGEN AWARE SCHOOL!
Students in a classroom with a student/students with allergies will receive a letter with more specific details and other safety information. If you require more information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the office. Your cooperation with this matter is greatly appreciated.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
Students from grades 4 to 8 may choose to become school volunteers. There are many opportunities to become involved in making our school a better place. Apply to be a lunch time classroom monitor, a canteen helper, or a playground P.A.L. Each of these positions offers leadership opportunities to our students. Please listen to morning announcements for more information.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HELP US WITH YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY
Please, if you are dropping off students between 8:55-9:10am, pull off Church Street by the sidewalk leading to the south playground (by the kindergarten room) and let your child safely enter the playground via the sidewalk. The south driveway is for buses and fire vehicles only, in order to keep students as safe as possible.
We would like to remind parents/guardians to please sign in at the office and wear a visitor pass when volunteering at the school.
Student safety is paramount. If you are at the school to drop off or pick up your child during the day, please sign in at the office and wait in the front foyer. We will arrange for your child to come to the office area to meet you, or to be escorted to the classroom if need be. At dismissal time, parents are kindly cooperating with our safety protocol by waiting outside the main door for their child to be escorted to them.
Thank you!
A reminder that school begins at 9:10am and supervision on the school yard begins at 8:55. Please do not send your child to school earlier than this, unless of course they are attending the Before & After School Program.
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES!
PRESCRIPTION and NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
On rare occasions, school personnel are asked to administer medications such as antibiotics to students.
Authorization forms, including one which needs to be signed by your physician are required with such requests. To make this easier, we suggest you fill out the form and drop it at your doctor’s office for them to read, sign and fax to our school office at 613-352-1048. We do our best to administer medication on time, but would prefer if periodic medications such as antibiotics could be administered before and/or after school by the child’s parent or caregiver.
Students are not permitted to carry Advil, Tylenol, Midol, Benadryl and such on them or in their school bags. This must be submitted to the office with the appropriate form signed by their parent as per LDSB policy. Thank you for your cooperation in this.
HOT LUNCH & MILK
ANNUAL TERRY FOX WALK
The entire staff and student body of Bath Public School walk for Terry Fox every year. Our walking route takes us through the village and the golf community behind the school. More information will come home regarding how you can support this very important cause.
LARC BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
GUITAR LESSONS
Register your child for private weekly guitar lessons at Bath Public School with an experienced instructor!
Matt Baetz has been teaching guitar lessons for over 15 years at Renaissance Music and at other schools in the Kingston area. He also performs regularly as a guitarist, operates a local recording studio, and teaches digital recording to students in the SEEDS program at Queen's. With his experience as performer, music producer and instructor, Matt is able to offer a creative approach to guitar lessons, drawing from a variety of musical styles, and tailoring lessons to meet individual needs and interests.
For details and to register for the school year, contact Matt by email: longshotrecords@gmail.com or by phone: 613-449-7935.
BATH PUBLIC SCHOOL
Email: bathp@limestone.on.ca
Website: bath.limestone.on.ca
Location: Bath Public School, 247 Church Street, Bath, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-352-7543
Twitter: @BathPS_LDSB