Centennial Connection Feb 26, 2023
An update for families from Centennial Public School
Showing kindness, caring, empathy and support - Centennial Comets are amazing!
Centennial Connection - Update for Families - February 26, 2023
Dear Centennial Families -
With the heavy snowfall this week, we are reminded that it is still winter! Students continue to go outside for 2 recesses every day. Just a friendly reminder that a change of socks and mittens can be really helpful as often these get wet when playing outdoors. As we start to think of spring, we will continue to enjoy the outdoors even on days with light rain. We remain indoors for recess breaks when the temperature is below Public Health guidelines, or when there is such heavy rain that play would be difficult. Rain showers are part of the spring and we will enjoy them at recess outdoors throughout the next few months.
Although it was a short week with the Family Day holiday, and some students away due to bus cancellations, there was still so much happening at Centennial. The halls were buzzing with excitement about seeds sprouting and plants growing, using the new LED grow light in the main foyer. Thanks to the Scott Environmental Fund and the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, we were given a $500 grant to purchase the grow light. Students are also continuing to to set goals for Term 2 as they reflect on their growth and progress in Term 1.
The School Council will meet on Monday at 6:30pm in the gym. Meetings are 75 minutes in length and all parents/guardians are welcome to attend.
We are grateful for the support of families and the community! We hope you are enjoying the long weekend!
-Deborah Thompson, Principal & the Centennial PS Staff
Other Reminders:
- KFL&A Public Health is offering Immunization and Vaccination Clinics: you may access detailed information using the following link: http://kflaph.net/routine-bss
- KFL&A Public Health is offering some information sessions around Social Media and Body Image next month - detailed information can be found below
- For updated information about free, online tutoring for students in Grades 1-8, please visit the LDSB website: https://limestone.on.ca/cms/one.aspx?pageId=27481883
- Online Kindergarten Registration has begun! Please complete the registration for any of your children who will begin Full Day Kindergarten next year! You will find detailed information on the LDSB website: https://www.limestone.on.ca/programming/kindergarten___early_learning
Upcoming Dates
This Week:
Monday - School Council at 6:30pm
Tuesday - Hot lunch for those who ordered
Wednesday - Hot lunch for those who ordered
Wednesday - Pediculosis checks for staff and students
Wednesday - Workshop for parents of children registering for Kindergarten (see below)
Thursday - Hot lunch for those who ordered
Upcoming Dates:
March 11-18 - March Break
Lunch & Nutrition Break Supervisors Needed
School Council
This is a great way to get to know more about Centennial, and to offer your feedback and ideas.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
School Council - Everyone Welcome!
The School Council meeting dates for the new year are:
* February 27th
* April 17th
* May 15th
* June 12th
Supporting Students with Special Needs in Kindergarten
Transition to Kindergarten: Supporting students with special education needs:
If your student has special education needs and will be entering school for the first time this September 2023, you may wish to participate in the T2K Parent & Family Virtual Workshop Thursday, March 1 from 9:30 am. – 12:00 p.m. The workshop provides families with information and resources to help prepare their child for the transition to school. Effective advocacy for your student, a peek inside a Kinder classroom, as well as parents’ perspectives on school transition and planning tips will all be discussed. And there will be lots of time for questions after the presentations. This meeting will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams. For more information contact the school, or visit https://bit.ly/T2K2023
Hot Lunch
All orders are due by 12noon on Sunday for the week. You can order in advance for future weeks!
*A reminder that when buses are cancelled, hot lunch is also cancelled and accounts are credited.
Special Education Review
A beautiful message from Kindergarten chidlren
Art & Poetry in the Primary Hall
Junior students creating light up cards as part of their electricity science inquiry
Kinder and junior buddies learning together
Messages of encouragement from Grade 3/4
Mr Cahill's Grade 4/5 class sharing their symmetry masterpieces
Grade 6 students attended LCVI for science workshops
Incredible watercolour art in the junior hallway
Hot Lunch now available weekly at Centennial!
We are happy to share that Lunchbox by SchoolCash Online will be offered at Centennial for the remainder of the 2022/2023 school year.
Lunchbox is a convenient, online ordering platform featuring local vendors. An ordering calendar has been coordinated for the school community at www.lunchboxorders.net.
How to Order:
1. Go online at www.lunchboxorders.net and click “ORDER LUNCH”.
2. New to Lunchbox Orders? Click “Create an Account” to register your family’s account.
3. Already registered? Please login directly with your current username (e-mail address) and password.
4. Add your child to your account by clicking “add a student” and register your child with their new teacher and grade for the current school year. **Please ensure the correct teacher and grade are selected to prevent errors on delivery days.
5. Click “Order Now” (beside your child’s name) to access the school’s ordering calendar.
6. Proceed with ordering your child’s lunch by clicking on the blue date for the scheduled vendors.
7. All orders are submitted on the website and payment is processed on-line by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Debit MasterCard or Visa Debit. Visa and MasterCard prepaid cards are also accepted.
All orders are done online - they are not done through the school office or classroom teacher.
Important Dates:
• Lunch delivery is scheduled to begin Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
• Orders may be placed weekly or in advance, for the full length of the program.
• Sunday, February 12, 2023 at NOON (12:00 PM) is the ordering deadline for the first scheduled LUNCH delivery.
Things to Remember:
• The ordering deadline is Sunday at 12 PM (NOON) for the upcoming week’s deliveries.
• New orders will not be accepted after the Sunday deadline.
• If buses are cancelled due to inclement weather, lunches will be canceled and credited.
• If there is a school closure, lunches will be cancelled, and a credit will be issued to your Lunchbox account within 3 business days.
Items Just For Home
- items of value (sentimental or monetary)
- any kind of weapon (for example, a Swiss Army knife)
- any kind of toy that could be a replica weapon (for example, a toy gun)
- electronics of any kind
- jewelry
- make-up
- anything scented
- anything with nuts (please ensure all lunches and snacks are nut-free)
- toys and stuffies
Thank you for keeping these items at home. Sometimes a quick check of a backpack can ensure that treasures do not come to school. Thank you for understanding that we are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen personal items.
School Day
Many families are signed up for School Day! If you haven't yet, please sign up as soon as possible as moving forward all permissions and payments will be done using this online system.
Each student has received a notice that has a code specific to them, for sign up. Just a reminder that an O with a line through it is actually the number and not the letter.
If you need any help signing up for School Day just let the office know!
Please note that School Day is the only way that permissions and payments will be possible moving forward. We can no longer accept cash payments or paper permission forms.
Kindergarten at Centennial Public School
Welcome to Kindergarten!
This is an exciting time for both you and your student. Kindergarten offers a wonderful new world of learning and growing. We learn how to read, how to write and we make new friends. At Centennial Public School we offer an English Kindergarten program that help children get the best possible start in school. Your student will be challenged and encouraged to do their very best.
We are now accepting new student registrations for September 2023. If your student is four or five by the end of December, now is the time to register.
The Kindergarten program allows children to develop emotionally, socially and physically: to grow creatively, and to engage in rich oral language opportunities and celebrate their learning. In Kindergarten classrooms, a teacher and an early childhood educator work together as a team. This partnership helps to create a nurturing learning environment; giving every student the opportunity to learn in the way that is best suited to their individual strengths and needs. Our caring team of educators is with them every step of the way!
We typically welcome new families to orientation events in May or June of each year. We will share more about these opportunities with families who register.
We want everyone to see themselves in Limestone. You can feel confident your student will be cared for in a safe and inclusive environment.
Starting Kindergarten is an exciting time for everyone, and we are ready to welcome your student to a wonderful new world of learning and growing. Thank you for choosing Centennial Public School - it is a wonderful place and community.
School Safety - from the City of Kingston
Back to school means more students and families on our roads. As a community, we can all do our part to help everyone travel safer.
Start by driving with extra caution near schools, obeying parking restrictions, and consider walking, rolling, or taking the school bus or transit where possible. New this year are increased fines for stopping, even briefly, in designated “No Stopping” and “School Bus Loading Zones” in school areas. Parking regulations are designed with safety in mind and ignoring them is illegal and creates safety hazards for everyone. Learn more how everyone can help keep our students safe at: cityofkingston.ca/SchoolAreaSafety
Tutoring Information
Limestone Tutoring Resources January 9 – March 30
Monday – Thursday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
As part of the Ministry of Education Tutoring Grant, LDSB is extending an afterschool drop-in Virtual Tutoring Program through the winter months for Limestone students in Grades 1 to 10.
Grade 1 to 6 - Build literacy and/or math skills. 3 tutors per night. (20 min sessions)
Grade 7 to 10 - Math skills and support. 3 tutors per night. (30 min sessions)
Grade 7 to 10 – Homework help. 2 tutors per night. (30 min sessions)
· Student must be logged in to MS Teams using their Limestone account.
· Click on link for age group and subject support. (links below)
· Sessions are on a first-come, first-served model.
· Wait in virtual lobby until tutor invites student into the session.
TEAMS Links
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 1 Grade 7-10 Math Link 1
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 2 Grade 7-10 Math Link 2
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 3 Grade 7-10 Math Link 3
Grade 1-6 Math Link 1 Grade 7-10 HW Link 1
Grade 1-6 Math Link 2 Grade 7-10 HW Link 2
Grade 1-6 Math Link 3
See below for Guidelines.
1. The student must be logged in to MS Teams using their Limestone account. The student’s camera and microphone should be on so that the student and tutor can communicate effectively.
2. The student should have the materials they need with them (e.g., students should have their homework assignment). The student should try to set up in an area in the home with minimal distractions for the tutoring
3. If a tutor is already working with a student, subsequent students will be placed in the lobby of the meeting and then be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis once the tutoring session for the previous student is completed. Tutoring sessions for Grades 1-6 will be about 20 minutes long and may be extended, if no other students are waiting. For Grades 7-10 sessions will start at 30 minutes and may be extended if no students are waiting.
4. No tutoring on PA Days or Holidays.
Online Tutoring and Learning Resources
Several tutoring and learning resources are available online to support students and families, including:
- Ministry of Education Learn at Home
- Ministry of Education Curriculum and Resources for Parents
- TVO Learn at Home Resources (English) - Over 2,100 curriculum-aligned, grade, and subject-specific learning activities from Kindergarten to Grade 8 (including for the new Science and Technology curriculum) and Grade 9 to 12 searchable high school content for over 140 secondary school courses.
- TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison (French)
- TVO Mathify - Free 1:1 Grade 4 to 11 Math Tutoring with Ontario Certified Teachers. Available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sundays 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Students/families can sign up, select a tutor, and start immediately.
Technology Support for Virtual School/Remote Learning
If you require technology support, please visit our Virtual School / Remote Learning Technology Support webpage.
Additional resources to support virtual learning options:
Public Library Info
Get started with a temporary card online at https://register.kfpl.ca/ come into any branch for a full membership. Learn more about getting a library card: https://www.kfpl.ca/getting-started/getting-a-library-card
What can teens do with a card?
● Borrow books, comics, graphic novels, video games, music, movies and so much more
● Pick out what you want to borrow online, then have it sent to your nearest branch
● Download or stream eBooks and comics, digital magazines, movies and music
● Research and learn with online databases, courses and newspapers
● Reserve computer time in our branches
● Borrow passes to parks and museums in Kingston and Ottawa
● Enjoy activities and events just for teens
Canada Dental Benefit
Canada Dental Benefits Information:
The benefit allows families to receive up-front, direct payments up to $650 per year, per child, for two years (totalling up to $1300) for dental care services. Canada Revenue Agency will be processing the applications and payments for the benefit.
Families are eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Age: child(ren) under 12
- Family income: adjusted net income of less than $90,000. Note: Applicants need to have filed income tax and currently receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for their child.
- Dental insurance: do not have access to private dental insurance. Note: Families who are already covered by Healthy Smiles Ontario will still be eligible for the interim Canada Dental Benefit if they incur out of pocket costs for dental care services for their child.
- Dental expenses: have, or will have, out of pocket dental care expenses.
Visit Canada.ca/Dental for more information.
Sign up for Triboard notices
Indigenous Self Identification
Please see the link below for more information and to self identify, if you wish.
Students, Illness & Masking
Olivers Labels
Do you need a way to label your things that stay labelled? Do you need a way to show what's yours? Need a way to label your child's things so they don't get lost or mixed up? Support Centennial Public School Council by purchasing through the link. The school receives 20% of your purchase! All funds raised go to support School Council initiatives including student activities. Thank you!
E-Store
Safe Arrival - How Do I Report An Absence?
How to report your absence:
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
Stay Up To Date!
Stay Up To Date! Please check the following regularly...
Centennial PS Twitter https://twitter.com/centennial_ldsb?lang=en
Centennial PS Website https://centennial.limestone.on.ca/
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?igshid=1epyma6c0g5qd
Centennial Public School
Email: cente@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://centennial.limestone.on.ca
Location: 120 Norman Rogers Dr, Kingston, ON K7M 2R2
Phone: 613.546.5517
Twitter: @Centennial_LDSB