Bulldog Bulletin
January/ February 2024 Edition
Principal's Message
Hello, Bulldog Families,
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable holiday season and a smooth transition back to school during our first three weeks of the new year.
As we approach February, we look ahead to the conclusion of term one, with our educators hard at work assessing the knowledge and skills of their learners in preparation for report cards, which will be sent home on February 20th. Your child's report card will capture the strengths and areas of growth identified by their teachers through the first half of the school year, serving as a snapshot of progress and an invitation for dialogue between families and our education team. We invite you to contact your child's teachers for further discussion and updates after receiving their reports.
As parents and guardians, your continued support and involvement are invaluable. Together, we can continue our work creating a positive and dynamic learning community that fosters the success and well-being of every child at HBPS.
I look forward to our ongoing collaboration together in 2024!
Sincerely,
Jason Huffman
Principal
A Message from Peterborough Public Health
We have been contacted by Peterborough Public Health (PPH) due to a recent increase in absenteeism related to illness among children and staff at HBPS. They have provided us with a list of recommendations attached below to help everyone stay healthy as we continue to work through this year's cold and flu season. We appreciate your ongoing support in screening your children for illness symptoms before they arrive at school each day.
Breakfast Program Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for volunteers who can assist with food preparation for our breakfast program on an ongoing basis. These opportunities are flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate for the busy lives of each volunteer. If this is something you would have time for in your week, even just a day or two, please reach out to our wonderful secretary, Valerie, at valerie_mcmaster@kprdsb.ca.
Please note: All volunteers are required to have a current criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening prior to helping in the school. Applications for these documents are completed digitally, and school staff are happy to provide assistance upon request.
Inclement Weather Days
This is the time of year when we begin to anticipate bus cancellations due to weather. We recommend our families download the “BusPlanner Delays” app in order to check for changes to busing, whether delays or cancellations. This is updated in real-time and will always give you the most accurate information.
In the case of bus cancellations, those students riding the bus will be given a “general” absence day, which does not count against their overall attendance record. If you wish for your child to attend on one of these days please know that you are responsible for both their drop off and pick up. The day starts at 9:00 am, and students MUST be picked up by 3:30 pm.
Students who are not provided busing are expected to attend on these days, as the school is open. If you wish to keep your child home please ensure you enter their absence into School Messenger, either on the app or by calling 1-844-434-8119.
If the school is closed you will be informed, and all students will be marked with a general absence.
Volunteer Police Checks
We are always happy to welcome volunteers into our school to assist with class trips and in-school activities. In order to volunteer, we need to have your up-to-date Vulnerable Sector check on file in the office. If you wish to have this completed, please contact the office, and we can provide you with a letter to submit for the free police check, now done online!
School Cash Online
School Cash Online is our preferred method of payment for all school events and fundraisers. It eliminates extra work for the teachers and administration, as well as allows parents to track the purchases they’ve made. If you are not yet using School Cash Online we encourage you to get connected at kprdsb.schoolcashonline.com.
Arrival Times
We would like to remind all parents of our morning yard supervision limitations. We are able to provide supervision for students arriving on their bus from 8:20 until the bell at 9:00. Students who arrive by walking/car/bike are not provided supervision until 8:45. Please do not arrive at the gate before 8:45 a.m. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation going forward.
Important Dates
February 1 - Class and Milestone Photos
February 2 - PA Day (Schools Closed)
February 9 - Skating Day
February 20 - Term 1 Report Cards Sent Home
March 7 - Skating Day
March 8 - March Break Begins (March 8 to 15)
March 18 - Students Return from Break