Centennial Connection Nov 19, 2023
An update for families from Centennial Public School
Dear Centennial PS Families -
We are so grateful for the support of Centennial families for the Dieleman's fundraiser that closed on Friday. As soon as our earnings are totaled we will share it with you. All proceeds from the fundraiser go to support student learning and experiences.
On Friday students were sent home with their Progress Reports. We are so proud of the progress that students are making. At Centennial we celebrate gains and learning and we strive for progress over perfection. Please take some time to celebrate the gains your child has made, and consider setting a goal to help your child achieve. This might be setting aside 15 minutes each evening to have your child read out load to you, it might mean playing words games together, it might be cooking together where your child measures out the ingredients. There are lots of ways to support student learning that does not include paper and pencil tasks. Taking an interest in what your child is learning is so important. We are so very grateful for the the support of parents and guardians as we work together to help every student achieve their full potential. Thank you families!
The School Council continues to be very busy as they also work to engage families and support student experiences at Centennial PS. Coming up this week families are encouraged to attend the Family Movie Night, featuring "Sing". Please see more information in the graphic below. Families are welcome to order pizza in advance on School Day. Please note that pizza will not be available to purchase the night of and must be purchased in advance. As well, the School Council in conjunction with CocoaBistro is having a delicious chocolate fundraiser in advance of the holiday season. More information below! Thank you to the School Council for all of your work to support student learning at Centennial PS!
This week the Boys Volleyball team represented Centennial so well and went undefeated in the tournament at the Boys & Girls club! Amazing! Students from Centennial also attended the Queen's Women's Basketball game on Friday and witnessed some incredible plays and athletisism!
Next week is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week! Educators from Centennial will be engaging in a variety of age-appropriate activities to encourage students to be kind, to be inclusive and to seek an adult to help when needed. The Limestone District School Board will recognize "Pink Shirt Day" on Friday, November 24th. Pink Shirt Day is dedicated to the cause against bullying and discrimination. Staff and students can show their support for welcoming, caring, respectful, safe, and inclusive school communities by wearing a pink shirt (other pink clothing is also a great way to show support!). It is a day to encourage everyone to stand up to bullying when they see it in schools, communities, workplaces, at home and online.
We hope all families are having a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the sunshine! See you tomorrow!
-Deborah Thompson, Principal & Centennial PS Staff
Upcoming Dates
November is Indigenous Heritage Month, Hindu Heritage Month
Upcoming Events:
This is Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week
Wednesday November 22nd - Movie Night by School Council - more details below
Friday November 24 - Pink Shirt Day in the LDSB
Friday November 24 - Milkshake Day for those who order (Orders done on School Day)
Monday November 27th - Kindergarten classes to the Grand Theatre
Monday December 11th - Dielemans Arrives This Week
Monday December 18th - Cocoa Bistro pick up at Centennial 3pm -5pm
Friday December 22nd - Last day of school before December holidays
Thank you School Council for organizing the CocoaBistro fundraiser!
A Notes About Terms...
Choices at Seven - A Message from the LDSB
Dear Families of Grade 6 and Grade 7 Students,
We would like to provide you with information about the Application Process for the LDSB Choices at 7 Programs for the 2024-25 School Year. You can find updated Choices at 7 Information on the Board website, www.limestone.on.ca under the Programming tab. Once there, you will learn about about the application process, dates for applying, FAQ’s, etc. for the following programs: Extended French Immersion, ATLAS, LEAP and Challenge. Questions regarding the programs can be emailed to the registrars at: choicesatseven@limestone.on.ca.
In addition, Choices at 7 Open Houses for the ATLAS, LEAP and Challenge Programs will be
held at the schools in December. The Open Houses are an opportunity to learn more about the
programs, the schools in which they are located, to ask questions, and to make decisions as to
whether a program is an option for your child.
Please check the website for the appropriate Challenge site to apply to, based on your home
address.
December 12, 2023 - Challenge Open House at Loughborough Public School, 6 pm
December 13, 2023 - Challenge Open House at Odessa Public School, 6 pm
December 14, 2023 - ATLAS, LEAP and Challenge Open House at Calvin Park Public
School, 6 pm
Dates for the Open Houses for Extended French Immersion will be shared in the New Year on
the Limestone District School Board website
Please note that Grade 6 students from Centennial PS will automatically be registered to attend Grade 7 at Calvin Park PS in the Core Program. There is no additional application required UNLESS you wish to be considered for one of the Choices at Seven programs listed above.
Learing about and celebrating Diwali
Learning & Fun in Grade 3/4
This week all students participated in Bus the Bus Safety Presentations!
Loving Spoonful Workshops for Grade 6 Students
Grade 4 students opened a "Natural History Museum" this week!
Centennial Students at the Queen's Basketball Game. Go Gaels!
Grade 2 students hard at work and learning so much!
Way to go Boys' Volleyball Team! Thank you coaches Ms Rosser & Mr Rayner!
Outdoor "cooking" in Kindergarten!
Milkshakes
Hot Lunch - Orders Due by Sunday Noon
Once again this year we are using LunchBox to provide families with some options for hot lunch, should they wish to participate. Orders are due by NOON on Sunday for orders being delivered the following week. We are trying out pasta from Boston Pizza on Thursdays - please log in to see dates, costs and ordering information.
Just a reminder that should buses be cancelled, hot lunches are also cancelled and credit will be provided to account.
LunchBox is looking at more varied choices for hot lunches moving forward, and those will be reflected in the menu options, if it is possible.
To create an account and order hot lunches, use the guide below and linked here: Get The Guide
School Council Dates
Please mark your calendars for the School Council meeting dates. Meeting begin at 6:30pm and are 90 minutes in length. Child care for school aged children is provided for those who register by the Sunday before. If you require childcare, please notify the council of your need by emailing councilcentennialps@gmail.com
All parents and guardians are welcome to attend!
Monday January 15th
Monday February 12th
Monday April 8th
Monday May 13th
Monday June 3rd
We are a nut aware school!
Check out the Pop Up in our neighbourhood!
What Do I Need To Bring? What Should Stay At Home?
All school supplies that students need for their learning and work will be provided by Centennial Public School. Sometimes students prefer to have their own pencil case with pencils/markers, but it is not a requirement.
Students do need to come to school with:
- Indoor, non-marking athletic type of shoes
- Water bottle with child's name clearly marked (we have bottle filling stations, not fountains)
- Nut-free snacks and lunch
Please label all items!
- 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, stuffies, Pokemon cards
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.
Attendance Matters
When children miss a day they miss important literacy and math learning, and can fall behind on lessons that build from day to day. Students who are regularly late, even if it is only 10 minutes, often miss critical reading instruction, which often happens first thing in the morning.
We know that children need to stay home when they are sick, and the rules for staying home have changed throughout the pandemic. The most recent guidelines on staying home can be found beneath the chart below. Please contact the school if you need support with attendance issues. Let's work together and get every student here every day!
School Day
Each returning family has a School Day account that you would have used last year. The user name and password you used last year continues to be active for this year.
Families new to Centennial will receive a paper information sheet this week with a unique user name and password (which you can change). Please keep this information handy as we use School Day for various permission forms, school trips, consents and payments.
Returning families who are not sure of their School Day information can contact the school office and a new form can be sent home to you.
Please note that we are not able to accept verbal or written permission generally and that School Day is to be used. Cash and cheques cannot be accepted at the school due to safe money handling procedures and as such, the much more secure method of School Day is used.
This platform may be new to some families (and to us too!) and we are here to work through the process together. Don't hesitate to reach out to the office if you are experiencing any challenges.
Safety in the Parking Lot
Please help to keep all students, staff and families safe by ensuring the parking lot remains for staff only, including at drop off and pick up. Thank you for your help!
Cell Phone Use
Should a student need to make contact with home throughout the day, they are welcome to let their teacher know and the school can either contact home or the student can use the phone in the main office.
We have devices at school such as ipads and chromebooks that are available for student learning, and as such, cell phones are not needed during the school day. At recess students play and have time for social interaction face to face.
Indigenous Self-Identification
Please see the link below for more information and to self identify, if you wish.
Oliver's 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
"Show Up! Stand Up! Never Give Up!"
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