Parent Peek at the Week
Week of June 7th, 2021
An update from Mrs. Sampson.....
We recognize that there are many students and families wanting to come pick up those last few personal belongings. As soon as the board and health unit provide us with the details on how this will be done safely, I will share with you. Thank you in advance for your patience as this process is determined!
We are also awaiting clarification from the Ministry, the board and the health unit regarding whether it is possible to hold any outside celebrations in large groups over the next few weeks. The Grade 6 celebration for our face-to-face and virtual students has been in the planning stages for the last month. One way or another we have a tentative plan to ensure that these wonderful students are recognized before they leave our building! Again - as soon as we are provided the necessary direction, we will be sure to get in touch.
Please know we recognize how challenging it has been - and continues to be - as we work through the restrictions of this global pandemic. We feel it too! If there is anything we can do to support in any way, please get in touch. Until then - we've got this Kawartha Heights....we're almost there!
Important Dates
Did you know.....that the day of the cycle (days 1 to 5) is always listed beside the date in the calendar below. That way you never have to go searching to find out what "day" it is!
Monday, June 7th - Day 2
- 6:30pm - School Council (please see below)
Tuesday, June 8th - Day 3
- Domino's Pizza Night!
Wednesday, June 9th - Day 4
Thursday, June 10th- Day 5
Friday, June 11th - Day 0
- PA Day for Assessment
Upcoming dates:
- June 28th: Report cards to be sent home electronically
- June 29th: Last day of school
- June 30th: PA Day
Domino's Pizza Night
On Tuesday, June 8th, visit any Peterborough Domino's Pizza store and ask for one of the two specials in support of our school. $5.00 from every special sold comes back to School Council to support initiatives benefitting our students. The best part - you get a night out of the kitchen!
School Council
Please join us at 6:30pm on WebEx. Just click on this link to join: https://kprdsb.webex.com/meet/jennifer_sampson
The agenda is attached below. We welcome everyone at our meetings - the more input and perspectives the better!
I hope to see you Monday :)
June Oral Language Activities
Oral language skills are critical for a child’s school success, their ability to have positive interactions with others and their overall well-being. Please see the wonderful resource provided below from our Speech and Language Department. Lots of great suggestions and ideas of things you can do at home to support!
Can we help?
If your family would benefit from a grocery voucher or gift card, please just email me. All emails will be kept strictly confidential. In addition, please see the calendar below of local food bank times.
We're only a call, email or message away. Please reach out if you need us!
From the Board Office.....
KPR NEWS
Provincial Announcement – Remainder of School Year
On Wednesday, the provincial government announced that students will not be returning to in-person learning for the rest of the school year. As a result, elementary and secondary students will continue with virtual learning only, for the rest of June. Daily schedules and learning modes will continue as they are now.
This announcement will be disappointing to many staff, students and families. We know the frequent pivots between online and in-person learning have been difficult for all of you, just as we know that supporting students with learning at home has been difficult for families. We sincerely thank everyone for their hard work and dedication in educating and supporting our students, and we remain hopeful that the continued roll-out of vaccines will bring brighter days in the new school year.
While we appreciate the necessity of virtual learning for our students as a public health measure, we also remain mindful of the impacts of school closures on our children’s physical health, developmental health, mental health and learning. If you are concerned about a student’s or your own child’s mental health, please contact your principal or vice-principal to access support from KPR’s mental health clinicians. I also encourage you to take advantage of the wealth of links and resources available at Mental Health Resources (kprschools.ca) .
The premier also stated that school boards will be able to hold short, outdoor graduation celebrations where physical distancing is possible. We will await and review any further information coming from the province, and consult with our four local health units, to determine our next steps with respect to this announcement. We will share information with you as soon as it is confirmed.
We also will share details, as they become available, on the collection of student belongings in June and on arrangements for the next school year.
Tragedy at Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia
Today, I also will be sending an update to KPR families regarding our shared, deep sorrow for the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. While our thoughts and hearts are with the people of the Tk’emlups te Secwepmc First Nation as they prepare their community for the return of their lost children, we are also very mindful that survivors of the Residential School System, and those impacted by the generational trauma imposed by that system, walk alongside us and among us.
I encourage all of you to take advantage of the culturally relevant, local and national learning resources and supports noted in our message to staff earlier this week. These resources continue to be available through the main carousel banner of our board website at www.kprschools.ca
In particular, we remain conscious of the need to offer support to Indigenous students, staff and families in their grief at this time, and in the trauma that continued discoveries such as this may generate. Please remember the supportive resources available to help everyone better understand the continuing narrative of the horrible implications and generational harm of the Canadian Residential School System. These resources are available from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and through grade appropriate Canadian Residential School System teacher resources, supported by www.orangeshirtday.org.
As part of our commitment to Reconciliation, we encourage staff, students and everyone in our communities to use the empathy and grief in these moments to become informed agents of change.
Thank you for your continued support and caring for our students, fellow staff, and communities.
Sincerely,
Rita Russo