Centennial Connection Sept. 24, 23
An update for families from Centennial Public School
Dear Centennial Families,
This has been another great week at Centennial! The soccer team represented the school so well and had a great day of play and friendly competition at John Machin Park on Monday. Students have developed their skills and demonstrated great sportsmanship. Congratulations to all athletes! Many thanks to coaches Ms Schukei, Mr Cahill, Ms Girard and Ms Abby.
At the School Council meeting on Monday, the Executive for the 2023-2024 school year was elected. Thank you to all parents/guardians who were willing to stand for office. This year's Council includes:
- Christina Helmer, Co-chair
- Terri MacDonald, Co-chair
- Johanna Puckrin, Secretary
- Adam Jeziorski, Treasurer
- Nicole Pitts, Fundraising Chair
- Emma Barken, Member at Large
- Janine Chown, Member at Large
- Nancy Diaz, Member at Large
- Chris Shaw, Member at Large
All parents and guardians are welcome to attend meetings. The dates for School Council meeting for the year are:
- October 16th
- November 13th
- January 15th
- February 12th
- April 8th
- May 13th
- June 3rd
All meetings begin at 6:30pm and conclude no later than 8pm.
It was great to welcome families to the school on Thursday for the Meet & Greet, Barbecue & Book Fair. Thanks to the Kingston Lakeshore West Lions Club for supporting Centennial School with the barbecue.
Monday is a Professional Activity Day for staff where we will be engaging in various training modules as well as developing our School and Student Achievement Plan. As the plan is developed it will be shared with parents/guardians. Just a reminder that there is no school for students on Monday.
This coming week we will be starting to practice some of our emergency drills with several fire drills planned for the week. We practice these procedures so that we know what to do should there be an emergency, and we prepare students for these drills in age-appropriate ways. We will practice lock down procedures in the weeks to come.
Tuesday is the Terry Fox Event at Centennial. Our goal is to raise $800 for cancer research. So far we are about half way to meeting the goal. If you are able to contribute please consider doing so online at https://schools.terryfox.ca/CentennialPSKingston or by sending in a donation to the school. All donations greatly accepted! Together we can help find a cure for cancer.
We hope all families enjoy the long weekend together! See you Tuesday!
- Deborah Thompson, Principal & Centennial PS Staff
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Events:
September 24 & 25 - Yom Kippur
Monday September 25th - PA Day
Tuesday September 26th - Terry Fox
Wednesday September 27th - Invasive Species Workshop - Girard & Blair classes
Friday September 29th - Orange Shirt Day in LDSB Schools
Saturday September 30th - National Day of Truth & Reconciliation
Thursday October 5th - World Educators Day
Monday October 9th - Thanksgiving
Friday, October 27th: PA Day
Congratulations to the Centennial PS Soccer Team!
The Meet & Greet, Barbecue & Book Fair were so much fun! It was great to welcome so many families!
Terry Fox
Centennial PS will participate in the Terry Fox event on Tuesday September 26th. We will start with a kick off assembly in the gym, and then go outdoors to complete the wak/run/roll.
We are hoping to raise $1105 this year. Students are welcome to bring in cash donations or families can use the link below to donate. Thank you for any support you can provide to this worthwhile cause!
Videos and Photos
Data Verification Forms
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - September 30th
The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is recognized on September 30th. Schools in the LDSB will recognize this on Friday September 29th.
What Can You Do?
Wear orange on September 30th, provide truthful education, read books about the residential school experience(s), volunteer with Indigenous organizations and not-for-profits, support Indigenous artists, watch Indigenous films and documentaries, attend Indigenous events that are open to the public in your community.
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a day where we commemorate the residential school experience and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families. On this day, everyone is encouraged to learn more about the history of residential schools and engage in meaningful discussions about the effects of residential schools and the legacy they have left behind.
Beyond Orange Shirt Day
Beyond September 30th, we need to recognize the importance of Truth and Reconciliation in all that we do. As educators we endeavour to bring in Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing and honouring Indigenous knowledge systems and contributions to society, embedded in the curriculum, all year round.
Truth and Reconciliation Every Day:
- Read books about the residential school experience
- Volunteer with Indigenous organizations and not-for-profits
- Support Indigenous artists
- Watch Indigenous films and documentaries
- Attend Indigenous events that are open to the public in your community
- Learning greetings in the Indigenous language(s) of your community
- Listen to Indigenous podcasts and music
- Learn the true history of what is now known as Canada
- Work towards meaningful allyship
- Donate to Indigenous communities, causes, etc
Accessing Support Systems
Mental health counselling & crisis support is available through the Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or online. Counselling is available in Cree, Ojibway & Inuktitut, on request.
The IRSRHSP has a National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419 that provides immediate emotional support for former Indian Residential School students. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sukkah in the Square
Members of the Limestone community are invited to "Sukkah in the Square," a week-long celebration of the Jewish Festival of Sukkot, hosted by the Jewish community of Kingston and organized by Debbie Fitzerman, Kingston Jewish Community President, and her committee.
The event will take place from Friday, September 29, to Friday, October 6, in the Square by Kingston City Hall, with an official grand opening at 1 pm on Friday, September 29.
Visit the “Sukkah in the Square” website for more information.
Kidsport Kingston
Kidsport provides grants to help cover the costs of registration fees so that all kids aged 18 and under in Kingston can play a season of sport in the community or school athletics.
The Kingston chapter accepts applications and administers grants of up to $250 per child/year, for kids who live in Kingston, or in one of the other communities they serve. Applications are to be directly submitted to the Kingston Kidsport website.
Using chromebooks to enhance our learning
Human Development & Sexual Health Curriculum
Part of the curriculum includes instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health. Parents and guardians can choose to have their child or children exempted from this instruction.
In advance of any Human Development and Sexual Health topics being taught, educators will provide information, including dates of instruction and topics of instruction, to families. Teachers will also provide the exemption form should a family with to have their child exempted from topics covered in the curriculum. The deadline for the exemption request will be five school days before the start of instruction.
A full list of those topics can be found by clicking: Human Development & Sexual Health Expectations by Grade
The full Administrative Procedure can be viewed by clicking: Administrative Procedures AP 325
All of the information and forms related to Human Development & Sexual Health are available on the LDSB website.
Student Absences - A Message from the LDSB
One of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all students arrive safely to school every day. To improve our safe arrival process, Limestone District School Board has made some changes to our SafeArrival absence reporting management system. The most significant of which is the addition to report half day absences.
Parents/caregivers now have two new options for the type of half day absence being reported:
• Late Arrivals - If your elementary or secondary student will be away for the morning, report a Late Arrival, with the arrival time being the expected time the student will arrive at the school.
• Early Departures - If the secondary student will be picked up early before school dismissal, report an Early Departure, with the departure time being when the student should be signing out of the office. This option is only available for secondary student absences.
Please note, each student signing in or out of the school will still need to do so from the main attendance office.
Updated Weather/Transportation options:
All parents/guardians are asked to report their student’s absence regardless of the reason, including during bus cancellations. Often, bused students find alternative ways to school and we want to ensure we know the whereabouts of every student to ensure their safety and well-being. Knowing who is supposed to be at school will allow school office staff to best ensure all students are accounted for. Students are asked to ensure they report to their first period class for attendance.
The reporting tool has two options regarding transportation:
• Inclement Weather (all transportation types and walkers) for any inclement weather days when your student will not be attending school.
• Transportation (not weather-related) for any non-weather-related transportation reason when your student will not be attending school (e.g., when a bus is cancelled due to a driver shortage).
We recognize this is a change in practice but one we are making to ensure student safety and well-being. Thank you for your support and understanding.
If your student is marked absent and the absence hasn’t been reported in advance, the SafeArrival system will attempt to reach the student’s priority contact by telephone to confirm the absence. If you receive a call regarding your student’s absence, you can enter the reason for the absence during this call. If the system is unable to reach the designated contacts, school office staff will follow-up.
Updated Vacation vs. Extended Approved Absence:
We have removed the vacation option from the absence selections. We wanted to provide families with the broader option of "Absence/Late approved by parent/guardian." A family taking an extended March Break, for example, would most likely report the absence under the "Absence/Late approved by parent/guardian."
The "Extended Approved Absence" option is used when families have made a formal request for the student(s) to be away from school for an extended length of time and a learning program would be provided by the school for the student(s). These approved extended absences are not considered an “Absent” and do not get recorded under the total number of absences for the school year for that student(s).
How to report an absence:
In some instances, students may need to be away from school for illness, appointments or other events. Parents/caregivers can use the SafeArrival system to report a full day absence, an extended student absence and also a late arrival to school. When reporting an absence for a secondary student parents/caregivers will also be able to select an early departure. To report an absence, use one the following methods:
School Messenger App
1. Use the email address you provided to the school.
2. 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.
2. Tap 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.
3. Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
1. Use the email address you provided to the school.
2. Go to the website SchoolMessenger website portal.
3. Click 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.
4. Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence.
Interactive Toll-free Telephone
1. Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. Follow the instructions to report an absence.
These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For any school day in the school term up to the cut-off time on the day of the absence. Future absences can be reported at any time using any one of these methods.
Please do not call the school directly to report your student's absence.
Reporting Lates: New for the 2023-2024 school year, parents/caregivers are instructed to report late arrivals using the new Late Arrival option, including the expected arrival time to school. When a student arrives, they are expected to sign in at office and staff make the amendment in our student information system. When a student leaves early, again they are expected to sign out (with parental permission) and again the amendment is made in our system. This method allows us to best track student attendance to ensure safety.
The SafeArrival system makes it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduces the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and responds to unexpected or unplanned student absences. This time savings makes it faster and more efficient to account for all students and their safety.
Grade 2 Butterfly Art
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.
Kandinsky inspired art in Grade 1
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!
Using Math for Self-Concept
School Rules
- Keep our hands to ourselves
- Keep our feet on the ground
- Use kind words
We will be reinforcing these throughout the year. So far Centennial Comets are doing a great job!
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.
Hands on learning in Kindergarten
We are a Nut Aware School
Early Pick Up from School
Requests made after 3pm for an early pick up may not be possible. Thank you for providing as much notice as possible for early pick ups from school.
School Trips & Volunteers
Our first "STEM with BUDDIES" activity in the gym
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 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.
Grade 6 pumpkins for pumpkin inferno
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