Sydenham P.S. Update
September 2023
Principal's Message
Hello Sydenham PS Families,
Welcome back to the 2023-2024 school year! We are so excited for another amazing school year filled with learning, wonder, and fun!
Please read through this newsletter carefully as it includes important information about school start-up and first day information!
Our SPS educator staff and team have been busy setting up their spaces and planning for learning, our office administrator, Mrs. Thompson, has been busy with new registrations over the summer and helping to prep class lists, and our custodial staff, Mr. Webster and Ms. McNeill, have been busy with summer cleaning and the school is looking amazing.
So much has happened over the summer to keep Sydenham PS up to date and looking great. Our LDSB Facility Service team was in over the summer to replace and update the final portion of our roof, and washrooms in the lower portion of the school have also been updated and renovated.
Welcome/Placement Letter to Families:
Every September can look different at Sydenham PS, some years with a significant amount of movement in and out of our community, and other years with less. Within the first two weeks of September, the school organization may change once we have true numbers to work with, and as such teacher/grade/student placements may require rebalancing.
Currently, we are experiencing increased enrollment and registration. As such, we may start the year with some large classes. Once school starts, these class numbers will be reviewed by a central committee of the LDSB to determine what, if any, changes need to be made. Any reorganization will happen during the second week of school.
Parents will be notified of this should your child be impacted by Friday, September 11th.
You will receive communication from your classroom teacher in the next day with Welcome/Placement Letter, so please ensure the school has your most recent email address.
This letter will include:
- your student's class placement
- information on how to prepare for Day 1
- how to provide medical information to the school (if applicable)
- school hours
- suggested school items
Friendly Reminders:
School property:
- is peanut-free/nut-free
- is scent-free
- welcomes service dogs only
- supervision begins at 8:45am before school; end of the day pick up is at 3:25pm
School Day Schedule:
Our school operates on a Day 1-5 cycle;
8:45 am - 8:55 am Morning Yard Supervision
8:55 am - 10: 35 am Academic Block
10:35 am - 10:50 am Morning Recess
10:50 am - 11:40 am Academic Block
11:40 am - 12:40 pm Lunch/Lunch Recess
12:40 pm - 2: 20 pm Academic Block
2:20 pm - 2:35 pm Afternoon Recess
2:35 pm - 3:25 pm Academic Block
3:25 pm Dismissal
School Supplies & Labelling:
Our school will provide the necessary supplies that you will need for learning. However, if you are looking for back-to-school suggestions from LDSB, here are a few things to think about bringing with you on the first day:
Backpack
Labelled refillable water bottle
Lunch bag with a peanut-free/nut-free lunch and snacks
Personal pencil case to hold any supplies you may want to bring (pencils, erasers, scissors, ruler, pencil crayons, etc.)
Indoor shoes (with non-marking soles) to be left at school
Extra clothes (for our Kindergarten/primary students)
To avoid your student's clothing ending up in the lost and found, please consider labelling items, such as indoor and outdoor clothing, indoor and outdoor shoes, containers, school supplies, etc.
First Day of School Welcome Committee!
School staff will be outside to greet students on Tuesday morning to help ensure that students find their meeting spot and their teacher and classmates on the first day of school.
As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out. We are here to help, and we look forward to wonderful year ahead :)
Your partners in education,
Mrs. MacDonald, Ms. Barrett, Mr. Wood, and the Sydenham PS Team :)
FIRST DAY PROCEDURE
ARRIVAL:
- Our start time is 8:55 am and supervision begins at 8:45 am.
- There will be staff welcoming students and helping them to class meeting spots.
- Kindergarten will enter by side doors, 1/2 at front doors and Gr.2/3, Gr.4/5 & Gr.6,7,8 through the gym side doors.
DISMISSAL:
- The end of day bell rings at 3:25 pm.
- On the first day of school, students will be ready to go a little bit earlier to familiarize themselves with the routine.
- Students will be walked by Teachers/ EAs/ECEs Outdoors- Teachers will be dismissing students (walkers or pick ups) to their designated family members. Please ensure that your child lets staff know they are leaving.
SCHOOL ORGANIZIZATION & STAFFING UPDATES
School Organization & Class Placements
All students have been placed into a tentative classroom organization. All classes and staffing are tentative until at least the second week of September. This means that the class and teacher your child starts out with on the first day of school may not be the same class/teacher in mid-September.
Should there be a reorganization of staff and students, information will be shared with families. Classes and staff changes take place based on actual enrollment, which is sometimes different from the projected enrollment that staffing is based on in the spring.
Student and family moves impact how many students are at Sydenham PS. We will do our best to minimize disruption to student learning and will take direction from the LDSB should changes be required. Changes may be needed if classes are too small or too large, based on Ministry of Education class size requirements, which are mandated from the province.
Currently, we are experiencing increased enrollment and registration. Once school starts, these class numbers will be reviewed by a central committee of the LDSB to determine what, if any, changes need to be made. Any reorganization will happen after the second week of school. Families are encouraged to speak to children about the potential for change. As adults, we have the opportunity to model healthy emotions and mindsets around change, helping students to work through the emotions that may arise as an important life skill.
Thanks to all SPS students and families, in advance, for your understanding and flexibility as we determine class sizes and placements.
STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC)
First SAC Meeting
Our first meeting date with elections is on SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 at 5:30 pm in the Library on the 2nd Floor. See the link above to express interest.
*Childcare will be provided.
*All are welcome!
MEDICAL PLANS OF CARE
The Limestone District School plays an important role in supporting students with
prevalent medical conditions to fully access school in a safe, accepting, and healthy
learning environment that supports well-being.
If your child has any significant health condition, such as Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, and/or Epilepsy, other allergies, or requires medication to be administered and/or medical procedures to be conducted at school, it is imperative that we receive medical plans of care prior to the start of school. Staff need time to become familiar with the information in these plans and may require training from professionals prior to your student starting.
Forms can be found below or on the LDSB website. Please send completed forms to the school or reach out with any questions you may have.
Thank you to those families who have already submitted this information.
SCHOOL MESSENGER APP
Why Use the SchoolMessenger App?
When you join SchoolMessenger, you will be able to:
- receive important information from LDSB
- join classrooms and extra-curricular groups
- report a student's absence (same day and in advance)
Reporting A Student's Absence:
If your student is marked absent and the absence hasn’t been reported in advance, our new SafeArrival system will attempt to reach the student’s priority contact by telephone to confirm the absence. If our system is unable to reach the designated contacts, school office staff will follow up.
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2023-2024 School Year Calendar. A print friendly version will soon be available on the LDSB and SPS Websites.
The following key dates have been approved:
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Winter Break: December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024
March Break: March 11, to March 15, 2024
Last Day of School: Thursday, June 27, 2024
The 2022-2023 school year consists of 194 days;
Secondary - 177 instructional days, 7 PA Days and 10 exam days.
Elementary - 187 instructional days and 7 PA Days.
Professional Activity Days - no classes for students:
Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
Friday, Nov. 10, 2023
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Friday, May 31, 2024
Friday, June 28, 2024
FOOD SHARE PROJECT: PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT EQUITY IN OUR SCHOOL
FAMILY INFORMATION
The benefit allows families to receive up-front, direct payments up to $650 per year, per child, for two years (totaling 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.
Sydenham Public School
Email: sydenhamps@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://sydenhamps.limestone.on.ca
Location: 5 Clergy Street East, Kingston, ON K7L 3H7, Canada
Phone: 613-548-3491