CALVIN PARK UPDATE
Week of March 1-5, 2021
We are happy to welcome the month of March as it is a sign that Spring is nearly here. It is hard to believe that it is nearly one year since we were all unexpectedly thrown into this global pandemic. We are very appreciative of our community, our essential workers, and our Public Health unit for their roles in keeping Kingston and area safe and healthy. We are especially grateful for our families and students, as well as our school staff (which includes our teachers, support staff, custodians, and Board personnel) for continuing to follow all public health protocols and for demonstrating such dedication, perseverance and resilience during this time.
As you know, the government released a new screening tool last week with some very tight guidelines due to new Covid variants that have begun to appear in our Province and throughout the globe. It continues to be essential that all students are screened each morning prior to coming to school or getting on their bus. The link to the online screener is at the top of the newsletter. Hard copies of the screener in many different languages are available from our office. Here are some important highlights of the new screening process:
Effective immediately:
1. Students and staff with any new or worsening symptom of COVID-19, even those with only one symptom, must stay home until:
- They receive a negative COVID-19 test result.
- They receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional, or
- It has been 10 days since their symptom onset and they are feeling better.
2. Students and staff are now required to stay home from school or child care if anyone in their household has new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, and has been recommended for isolation and testing. All asymptomatic household contacts of those with symptoms are required to quarantine until the symptomatic household member:
- receives a negative COVID-19 test result, or
- receives an alternative diagnosis by a health-care professional
If the symptomatic individual tests positive for COVID-19, or is not tested, and does not receive an alternative diagnosis from a health-care professional, the symptomatic individual must isolate (including from household members) for 10 days from symptom onset. All household contacts must isolate until 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic individual (a total of 24 days if the symptomatic individual is not able to effectively self isolate from other members of the household).
Secondary students (Grades 9 to 12) attending in-person learning must continue to confirm they have passed COVID-19 screening using the LDSB COVID-19 Daily Screening Confirmation Form before attending school each day.
We will make every effort to continue in-person learning but situations may arise where classrooms (or entire schools) may need to pivot to remote learning for a designated period of time. We hope this is not required. We must continue to work together to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and ensure public health guidelines are met to keep our schools safe and open.
Although the end of February is also the end of Black History Month, as a school we are committed to continuing our learning journey about issues of equity, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, and inclusion. A reminder that our School Council has organized fundraising for this year to support this goal by purchasing diverse texts for our classroom libraries. Please click on this link to find out more about how you can help: Calvin Park School Advisory Council
Sign-up sheets went up this week for our virtual Spring production of "Here Comes the Sun." The theme of this production is on hope, optimism, and a brighter future. Submissions can be in any format, from artwork to dance, to music, spoken word poetry, and other special talents. The sign ups will remain open for the next little while and students can participate as an individual, as a group (in cohorts) or as an entire class. We are excited to see this production come together!
In addition, our ECO Club held it's first virtual meeting for interested students last week. Students are looking forward to planning a water and a waste campaign, as well as participating in a journalism writing competition. Students should also listen to the announcements this week for information about how to join our virtual EQUITY Club. This club will be focused on anti-racism, equity and inclusion initiatives in our school. We also have teams competing in the LESSA Basketball Shoot-Out Challenge which is the second Board wide virtual inter-school competition. A big thank you to our staff members who are volunteering their time to support these extracurricular opportunities for our students.
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support,
Elizabeth Suriyuth, Principal
Wilma Pettingill, Vice-Principal
THIS WEEK AT CALVIN PARK
Monday, March 1 - Day 3
Wednesday, March 3 - Day 5
Thursday, March 4 - Day 1
Friday, March 5 - Day 2
- Calvin Colours Day! Wear red and blue or your Calvin clothing and show your spirit!
UPCOMING DATES
March 8 School Council Meeting (Virtual) 6:00 pm
March 8 International Women's Day
March 15-19 SPIRIT WEEK (more information to follow)
March 22 Term 2 IEPs sent home
April 2-5 Easter Break
April 12-16 Spring Break (postponed from March)
Every Friday is Calvin Colours Day! Show your Calvin spirit by wearing red and blue or your Calvin clothing!
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.
Our Indigo and FlipGive fundraisers will be continuing until June 25th. For more information about these fundraisers, please view the Calvin Park School Advisory Council Update https://www.smore.com/beqxr Participation in these fundraisers is easy! Just sign up and a percentage of what you spend for regular purchases like groceries, gas, home products and gifts, will go to our school. All fundraising this year will be used to purchase new books for classroom libraries to reflect diverse lives and issues related to equity, racism, and inclusion.
MARCH is KINGSTON GETS ACTIVE MONTH
Get ready for the Kingston Gets Active Month Challenge! Kingston Gets Active Month is being offered as a challenge during the month of March, just in time to help you beat the winter and COVID blues. Kingston Gets Active Month is traditionally a time to try a new activity or just get out and have some fun getting active. This year all activities can be done outdoors or virtually at home. Everything is Free and there’s something for all ages.
To participate, download or check out the calendar of activities during the month of March. Challenge yourself, your family and your friends to get active each day. Then enter for a chance to win prizes!
Kingston Gets active is partnering with St Lawrence College Therapeutic Recreation students, who will be providing live virtual classes for all ages—from “Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Body Break” for little ones, to “Stretch to Destress at Work”, “Family Scavenger Hunt”, “Jukebox Classics Zumba” for older adults, and more. Other live virtual classes from local providers include cheerleading, yoga, and DancePl3y. We also have links from local provides to their virtual fitness programming as well as some fun things to do at home & outdoors—like water bottle bowling. All the details are in the Kingston Gets Active Calendar, which can be found on the Kingston Gets Active website.
Being physically active brings many benefits, including maintaining a healthy body weight, building a healthy heart, strengthening muscles and bones, improving self-esteem and mental health. “The Covid19 pandemic has made it difficult for all of us to find ways to be active,” said Kristin Côté, Coordinator of Kingston Gets Active. “We hope that all Kingston residents will take advantage of the many free activities being offered during the month and stay active, get healthy, and have some fun.”
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, our Vice-Principal, Wilma Pettingill, or on the LDSB Website Grade 8-9 Transitions
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
PLEASE COMPLETE THE LDSB MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY
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. 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.
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