Centennial Connection Jan 22, 2023
An update for families from Centennial Public School

Dear Centennial Families -
Although we had a couple of days of bus cancellations last week, we still had a full week of learning at Centennial PS. Thank you families for picking up students at the regular dismissal doors on bus cancellation days. This reduces traffic in the front hall and ensures student safety.
Students are spending lots of time both inside the classroom and outdoors, enjoying the winter and the surrounding parks and woods next the school. Please try to pack a change of socks and mitts/gloves as this can help to keep students comfortable and warm. Thank you for your help!
Tomorrow the School Council will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30pm in the gym. We are striving to make the meetings 1 hour in length and childcare is provided. We hope that the meeting time, length and care available will make it more accessible to families. All parents/guardians are welcome to attend! We hope that families will consider attending.
This week we are highlighting 2 very important days: Bell Let's Talk Day on Wednesday, in support of mental health. We are all working to end the stigma of mental illness by speaking openly about wellness and supports available. On Friday we will be having a school-wide "Cuddle Up & Read Day" as part of Family Literacy Day. Students are encouraged to bring a favourite book, and dress comfy for the day. Cozy clothes and even pajamas are welcome! Some classes will have guest mystery readers, and all classes will be engaged in various literacy activities throughout the day.
This past week we also recognized Educational Assistant Appreciation Day. We are incredibly grateful for the tremendous EAs who are at Centennial. The school would not function without you and we are very appreciative!
To those celebrating today we wish you a very happy Lunar New Year! This year the animal sign is the rabbit. Traditionally, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are reserved for family celebrations, including religious ceremonies honouring ancestors.
Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
-Deborah Thompson & Centennial PS Staff
Upcoming Dates
Monday January 23 - Day 5
Dental Flouride Varnish application for those who returned forms
School Council 6:30pm in the gym
Wednesday January 25 - Day 2
Bell Let's Talk Day!
Friday January 27 - Day 4
Literacy Day - Cuddle Up & Read/Cozy Day
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday February 1st - Winter Walk to School Day
Friday February 3rd - PA Day
Friday February 17th - Achievement Reports Go Home
Bell Let's Talk Day
January 25th is Bell Let's Talk Day. On this day and every day throughout the year, we can all take meaningful action to create positive change. Classes will be engaged in age-appropriate discussions about how to be mentally well. Many thanks to Centennial's Student Support Counsellor for providing some materials and prizes for classes as part of Bell Let's Talk Day 2023.
Family Literacy Day
Friday January 27th is Family Literacy Day. At school we will enjoy the day with literacy activities while dressing in cozy and comfy for the day.
At home, families ae welcome to complete one or more of these literacy based activities:
Play a board game as a family
Read a book together
Write a letter or email to a family member who lives far away
Follow a recipe and cook or bake together
Create a shopping list or meal plan for next week
Compare your favourite book to its movie counterpart. Which one is better? Why?
Watch a movie that is also a book
Remember that literacy possibilities are everywhere!
Items Just For Home
- 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.
Next School Council Meeting is Monday January 23rd 6:30-7:30pm. Childcare is provided.
Loving the new decodable texts we have received! Thank you LDSB!

School Day
Many families are signed up for School Day! If you haven't yet, please sign up as soon as possible as moving forward all permissions and payments will be done using this online system.
Each student has received a notice that has a code specific to them, for sign up. Just a reminder that an O with a line through it is actually the number and not the letter.
If you need any help signing up for School Day just let the office know!
Please note that School Day is the only way that permissions and payments will be possible moving forward. We can no longer accept cash payments or paper permission forms.
Expanding on vocabulary in French

Kindergarten at Centennial Public School
Welcome to Kindergarten!
This is an exciting time for both you and your student. Kindergarten offers a wonderful new world of learning and growing. We learn how to read, how to write and we make new friends. At Centennial Public School we offer an English Kindergarten program that help children get the best possible start in school. Your student will be challenged and encouraged to do their very best.
We are now accepting new student registrations for September 2023. If your student is four or five by the end of December, now is the time to register.
The Kindergarten program allows children to develop emotionally, socially and physically: to grow creatively, and to engage in rich oral language opportunities and celebrate their learning. In Kindergarten classrooms, a teacher and an early childhood educator work together as a team. This partnership helps to create a nurturing learning environment; giving every student the opportunity to learn in the way that is best suited to their individual strengths and needs. Our caring team of educators is with them every step of the way!
We typically welcome new families to orientation events in May or June of each year. We will share more about these opportunities with families who register.
We want everyone to see themselves in Limestone. You can feel confident your student will be cared for in a safe and inclusive environment.
Starting Kindergarten is an exciting time for everyone, and we are ready to welcome your student to a wonderful new world of learning and growing. Thank you for choosing Centennial Public School - it is a wonderful place and community.
Snow art in the primary hallway
School Safety - from the City of Kingston
Back to school means more students and families on our roads. As a community, we can all do our part to help everyone travel safer.
Start by driving with extra caution near schools, obeying parking restrictions, and consider walking, rolling, or taking the school bus or transit where possible. New this year are increased fines for stopping, even briefly, in designated “No Stopping” and “School Bus Loading Zones” in school areas. Parking regulations are designed with safety in mind and ignoring them is illegal and creates safety hazards for everyone. Learn more how everyone can help keep our students safe at: cityofkingston.ca/SchoolAreaSafety

Kindergarten trip to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area
Winter Walk to School Day
February 1st is Winter Walk to School Day! We encourage all our school families to integrate walking into their trip to school on Wednesday February 1st.
If your family needs to drive, plan to park a short distance from the school and walk the last block or two.
If your student takes the school bus, plan to walk all or part way to the bus stop
If your family can walk or wheel to school, plan to leave the car at home entirely!
Walking all or part of the way to school supports physical health, mental health and can improve your child’s ability to focus in class! Walking to school also increases the safety of all students as fewer cars leads to less traffic congestion around the school at drop off and pick up times!

The Story of Lunar New Year
Tutoring Information
Limestone Tutoring Resources January 9 – March 30
Monday – Thursday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
As part of the Ministry of Education Tutoring Grant, LDSB is extending an afterschool drop-in Virtual Tutoring Program through the winter months for Limestone students in Grades 1 to 10.
Grade 1 to 6 - Build literacy and/or math skills. 3 tutors per night. (20 min sessions)
Grade 7 to 10 - Math skills and support. 3 tutors per night. (30 min sessions)
Grade 7 to 10 – Homework help. 2 tutors per night. (30 min sessions)
· Student must be logged in to MS Teams using their Limestone account.
· Click on link for age group and subject support. (links below)
· Sessions are on a first-come, first-served model.
· Wait in virtual lobby until tutor invites student into the session.
TEAMS Links
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 1 Grade 7-10 Math Link 1
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 2 Grade 7-10 Math Link 2
Grade 1-6 Literacy Link 3 Grade 7-10 Math Link 3
Grade 1-6 Math Link 1 Grade 7-10 HW Link 1
Grade 1-6 Math Link 2 Grade 7-10 HW Link 2
Grade 1-6 Math Link 3
See below for Guidelines.
1. The student must be logged in to MS Teams using their Limestone account. The student’s camera and microphone should be on so that the student and tutor can communicate effectively.
2. The student should have the materials they need with them (e.g., students should have their homework assignment). The student should try to set up in an area in the home with minimal distractions for the tutoring
3. If a tutor is already working with a student, subsequent students will be placed in the lobby of the meeting and then be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis once the tutoring session for the previous student is completed. Tutoring sessions for Grades 1-6 will be about 20 minutes long and may be extended, if no other students are waiting. For Grades 7-10 sessions will start at 30 minutes and may be extended if no students are waiting.
4. No tutoring on PA Days or Holidays.
Online Tutoring and Learning Resources
Several tutoring and learning resources are available online to support students and families, including:
- Ministry of Education Learn at Home
- Ministry of Education Curriculum and Resources for Parents
- TVO Learn at Home Resources (English) - Over 2,100 curriculum-aligned, grade, and subject-specific learning activities from Kindergarten to Grade 8 (including for the new Science and Technology curriculum) and Grade 9 to 12 searchable high school content for over 140 secondary school courses.
- TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison (French)
- TVO Mathify - Free 1:1 Grade 4 to 11 Math Tutoring with Ontario Certified Teachers. Available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sundays 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Students/families can sign up, select a tutor, and start immediately.
Technology Support for Virtual School/Remote Learning
If you require technology support, please visit our Virtual School / Remote Learning Technology Support webpage.
Additional resources to support virtual learning options:
Queen's Camps Bursaries
Queen's has opened the bursary applications for the 2023 Camp season.
Bursary applications will be open until February 1st 2023. Families are bein asked to fill out this Q-Camps Bursary Application Form to submit the request.
All bursary decisions will be made after February 1st 2023 and before our Registration opening day of February 8th 2023.
Public Library Info
Get started with a temporary card online at https://register.kfpl.ca/ come into any branch for a full membership. Learn more about getting a library card: https://www.kfpl.ca/getting-started/getting-a-library-card
What can teens do with a card?
● Borrow books, comics, graphic novels, video games, music, movies and so much more
● Pick out what you want to borrow online, then have it sent to your nearest branch
● Download or stream eBooks and comics, digital magazines, movies and music
● Research and learn with online databases, courses and newspapers
● Reserve computer time in our branches
● Borrow passes to parks and museums in Kingston and Ottawa
● Enjoy activities and events just for teens
Bundle Up - It is Winter!
Canada Dental Benefit
Canada Dental Benefits Information:
The benefit allows families to receive up-front, direct payments up to $650 per year, per child, for two years (totalling up to $1300) for dental care services. Canada Revenue Agency will be processing the applications and payments for the benefit.
Families are eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Age: child(ren) under 12
- Family income: adjusted net income of less than $90,000. Note: Applicants need to have filed income tax and currently receive the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for their child.
- Dental insurance: do not have access to private dental insurance. Note: Families who are already covered by Healthy Smiles Ontario will still be eligible for the interim Canada Dental Benefit if they incur out of pocket costs for dental care services for their child.
- Dental expenses: have, or will have, out of pocket dental care expenses.
Visit Canada.ca/Dental for more information.
Sign up for Triboard notices




Indigenous Self Identification
Please see the link below for more information and to self identify, if you wish.


Students, Illness & Masking
Olivers 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
