CALVIN PARK UPDATE
Week of February 22-26, 2021
THIS WEEK AT CALVIN PARK
Monday, February 22 - Day 3
- Limestone GSA Meeting (for LGBTQIA+ students and allies - more information in the poster below).
Wednesday, February 24 - Day 5
- PINK SHIRT DAY - Wear pink to show your support for this message "Be Safe, Be Kind, Be You" This year's focus at Calvin Park is cyberbullying and digital citizenship.
Thursday, February 25 - Day 1
Friday, February 26 - Day 2
- Calvin Colours Day! Wear red and blue or your Calvin clothing and show your spirit!
UPCOMING DATES
February is Black History Month
March 8 School Council Meeting (Virtual) 6:00 pm
April 2-5 Easter Break
April 12-16 Spring Break (postponed from March)
We encourage our Calvin community to wear PINK on Wednesday, February 24, and join us to support anti-bullying awareness and education. Our focus this year at our school will be cyberbullying and digital citizenship.
CYBERBULLYING AND DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
As you know, in Grade 7 and 8 students love to engage with friends and are very conscious of their peers. The internet, when used appropriately is one tool that students have access to and use to connect and communicate with each other. But it can also be used negatively, and children can engage in inappropriate conversations and dangerous behaviours. People can misrepresent themselves on these platforms and children are not always aware of the dangers that exist. When used this way, the internet is often a source of stress for students and has negative impacts on their mental health and safety.
At school, students learn about appropriate internet use through the curriculum, however, frequently activity on social media and other platforms occurs outside of school hours. Legally, students need to be at least 13 years old to open most personal accounts or to play live action games. Parents/guardians are advised to monitor their child's contacts, follow their child's accounts, and check their posts regularly to help them to stay safe and make good choices.
The posters below have some valuable information from National Online Safety about the dangers of the different social media platforms and other internet tools, as well as what you can do to help keep your child safe online (www.nationalonlinesafety.com)
As well, the Kids Help Phone has many resources, not only for students, but also for parents and other caring adults. This article provides tips to help keep children safe online. Thank you for your partnership to help our students safe online.
BUS DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS
Co-Chairs:
Claudine Elvidge (claudine_elvidge@hotmail.com)
Krystle Holton ( krystleholton@hotmail.com )
Secretary/Treasurer: Sarah Phinney
Our next meeting is MONDAY, MARCH 8 at 6:00 p.m. New members are always welcome. The meeting link will be sent out to all Council Members by our Co-Chairs. New members are always welcome so please contact Claudine for the meeting link if you are a new member.
School Advisory Council Fundraising Initiatives
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE FROM KFLA PUBLIC HEALTH
KFL&A Public Health will be postponing the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act for this school year and will not implement suspension actions this spring. Nevertheless, we ask that parents report any required vaccine(s) that a student has already received by the proposed deadline of February 18th, 2021.
Students missing vaccines, can see their regular health care provider as soon as possible and then update their record with KFL&A Public Health. Students without a health card or doctor can book an appointment to receive free vaccines at KFL&A Public Health clinics. Go to kflaph.ca/Appointments to book an appointment.
We recognize this may be a stressful time however we encourage families to provide the requested information due to the heightened importance of protecting against vaccine preventable disease outbreaks in our school communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
GRADE 8 - 9 TRANSITION INFORMATION
Grade 8 students have completed their Grade 9 course selection and registration using the online tool, MyBlueprint Students can log into My Blueprint at home to review courses and explore the other features of My Blueprint, including education and career pathways, creating a cover letter and resume, etc.
More information about the Grade 8 to 9 transition process is available from your child's teacher or on the LDSB Website Grade 8-9 Transitions
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
Survey Seeking Feedback on Student Mental Health
The Limestone District School Board is currently working on its Mental Health and Substance Use Strategy for 2021-2024.This strategy helps the board make decisions about how to support student mental health and well-being at school.
Mental health and well-being are widely recognized as a complex issue requiring collaboration to meet the needs of students. Limestone continues to monitor and evaluate needs and provides evidence-informed services and resources to students, including those provided by the Ministry of Education and School Mental Health Ontario.
“Schools play an essential role in the promotion of mental health including early identification, reducing stigma, and providing pathways to both board and community-based supports for students who may be struggling,” says LDSB Mental Health Lead Laura Conboy. “Our mental health strategy provides a road map to help drive the work already being done in our system to best support students and families.”
School boards are required to develop a student mental health strategy every three years. To help Limestone develop its updated strategy, the board is engaging students, families, staff and community partners through a voluntary survey so that as many voices as possible inform our strategy development.
“Student and family voice and experience are key to helping us create a robust strategy,” says Conboy. “Our aim is to establish meaningful, relevant, actionable and measurable goals to support the mental health of students using appropriate resources and pathways of care.”
Students in Grades 7 to 12 and staff will receive the survey directly via their Limestone email.
Families can participate in the survey via this anonymous link. The family survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, a list of community mental health and substance use supports will be available; this is also available for those who choose not to complete the survey after clicking the link.
Board results will be shared with the public in the spring and fall of 2021. No individual or school will be identified. Thank you for providing your feedback.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
Please continue to check these Limestone District School Board platforms for the most up-to-date information from our Board.
LDSB Website https://www.limestone.on.ca/
LDSB Twitter: https://twitter.com/LimestoneDSB
LDSB Facebook https://tinyurl.com/wbhjtku
LDSB Instagram https://instagram.com/limestonedsb/
In addition, please follow our:
Calvin Park Twitter account: @CalvinPark_LDSB or https://twitter.com/CalvinPark_LDSB
Calvin Park Website: https://calvinpark.limestone.on.ca/
Calvin Park Public School Office: (613) 542-2796
Mrs. Christine LeClair, Office Administrator
Mrs. Elizabeth Suriyuth, Principal: suriyuthe@limestone.on.ca
Ms. Wilma Pettingill, Vice-Principal: pettingillw@limestone.on.ca
Calvin Park Public School
Email: calvp@limestone.on.ca
Website: www.calvinpark.limestone.on.ca
Location: 153 Van Order Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-542-2796
Twitter: @CalvinPark_LDSB