Centennial Connection Nov. 6, 2022

Dear Centennial Families -

This week we enjoyed the beautiful fall colours and the warmer temperatures. We also know that Friday was a challenging day for many families due to the school closure.

The LDSB is committed to providing updates as the situation evolves. Please check the Limestone District School Board’s “What’s New” section of their website for all the latest information about the CUPE Job Action, or follow them on Twitter @LimestoneDSB.

Should remote learning continue beyond Monday and we are given direction by the school board to pivot to online virtual learning, school devices will be made available to those students who need them. Families who require a device should contact their child's teacher, or email the school at cente@limestone.on.ca We will inform families about pick up times once we have more information from the LDSB.

If you need IT assistance, there will be delays in support as IT staff are primarily CUPE members. You can email learningathome@limestone.on.ca

Don't forget about the return to Standard time that happened this morning. Enjoy the extra hour as we "fall back" and turn our clocks back an hour.

Check out a free opportunity from the Kingston Frontenacs for Centennial Public School students and families. More information below.

Thank you to all Centennial families for your continued patience and flexibility.

Sincerely,

Deborah Thompson & Centennial PS Staff

Upcoming Dates

Upcoming Dates:

November 6th - 12th: Treaties Recognition Week

Wednesday November 9th - Kingston Frontenacs Game (free tickets for Centennial PS students and families)

Friday November 11th - Remembrance Day

Wednesday November 16th - Before & After School Program Closed for the day due to staff training event

Friday November 18 - Progress Reports & Kindergarten Communication of Learning sent home

Friday November 25th - PA Day (no school for students)

NOVEMBER

November is Indigenous Education Month and Hindu Heritage Month

November 13th - 19th: Transgender Awareness Week
November 20th-26th: Bullying Awareness Week

Labour Update from the LDSB Director Krishna Burra

Labour Update - Friday, November 4, 2022

Dear Families,

It was with a very heavy heart that we had to close all Limestone schools today for in-person learning. I appreciate how stressful this is for the students, staff, and families in Limestone.

Currently, it appears a full withdrawal of services by CUPE staff will extend into the start of next week at minimum. Given these circumstances, we anticipate LDSB schools and buildings will remain closed to students and the public for Monday, November 7. CUPE employees provide critical services in LDSB schools, and we cannot safely operate without those services. As a result, we will have to continue with teachers providing asynchronous learning tasks through pre-established methods like an online platform or e-mail.

As we move into next week, we will continue to action plans for distribution of resources, devices, and other supplies to further support learning.

We understand labour disruptions may create worries and uncertainty for students, families, and staff. We want to assure you that we will continue to communicate regularly with families to ensure that you have as much information as possible, so that you can make informed decisions and undertake contingency planning. Families will receive an update by Communicate e-mail on Sunday evening confirming whether schools remain closed to students and the public.

Limestone had hoped for a fair and mutually agreeable, negotiated settlement. We hope that the current impasse is resolved soon, and the disruption to in-person learning and regular operations is short in duration.

As we collectively navigate these unchartered waters during this current labour impasse, I appreciate your patience and understanding.

Thank you,

Krishna Burra

Director of Education

FREE Kingston Frontenacs Tickets for Centennial PS Families

The Kingston Frontenacs have generously donated tickets for Centennial Public School families for the game on Wednesday November 9th at the Leon's Centre. If you would like free tickets for your family, please contact the school at cente@limestone.on.ca or the Kingston Frontenacs jedwards@kingstonfrontenacs.com

Tickets must be ordered no later than 12noon on Monday November 7th.

Many thanks to the Kingston Frontenacs for their generousity to the Centennial PS community!


Candy making in Grade 3/4	Black & Orange Day in Grade 1	Yoga in Kindergarten with Mr. Blair

Candy making in Grade 3/4

Black & Orange Day in Grade 1

Yoga in Kindergarten with Mr. Blair

Sign up for Triboard notices

This week one of the Centennial PS buses was cancelled by TriBoard Student Transportation. Families can sign up to receive notifications about delays and cancellations by going to the TriBoard website at: https://triboard.ca/

Fundraising - Extended To Wednesday November 9!

You can shop online! Just go to https://www.dfscanada.com/ and click on "Online Shopping" and register to shop. The School ID number is 7947.

Catalogues have gone home and many families have already started participating! Thank you! Dieleman's fundraiser will help raise funds for various school initiatives including providing support for student experiences as well as enhanced technology for students.

Dieleman's is a catalogue fundraiser where families (and friends and coworkers, etc.) can order items online. Delivery is either directly to home or to the school for pick up. The fundraiser will start this week with catalogues coming home with every student. Some items for purchase include cards and wrap, gift items, chocolate, dip mixes, kitchen gadgets, etc.

Families are welcome and encouraged to participate in the fundraiser as you are able. All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support students at Centennial PS.

The last day for orders has been EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9th

School Photos - Retake Day

School Photo Retake Day has been rescheduled from last Friday November 4, 2022 to Monday December 12th, 2022.

Indigenous Self Identification

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

https://ldsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9U2iaUl9GIFILb0

Tutoring Supports Available

LDSB will be offering virtual learning support for students in Grades 1-10 this Fall. Virtual literacy support will be available to students in Grades 1-3 and virtual Homework Help will be offered to Grade 4-10 students. After-school drop-in sessions will be offered through MS Teams to students in specific grades from Monday to Thursday each week until December 2022. Please continue to check your school website and the LDSB website for more details and information about this program.

In addition, TVO continues to provide curriculum-based, free digital learning resources for all Ontarians this year. This brochure provides an overview of TVO’s Digital Learning Resources (2022). Included in the resources available are:

Mathify Online Math Tutoring for Grades 4-12 https://www.tvomathify.com/students

Free 1:1 online math tutoring support with Ontario Certified Teachers. Available Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 9:00 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, 3:00 to 9:00 pm. Students/families can sign up, select a tutor and start immediately

TVO Learn https://tvolearn.com/

Over 2,100 curriculum-aligned, grade and subject-specific learning activities from Kindergarten to Grade 8 (including for the new Science and Technology curriculum
Grade 9 to 12 searchable high school content for over 140 secondary school courses

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!

http://www.oliverslabels.com/Centennial

E-Store

Want to look spiffy and show off your pride in being a Centennial PS Comet? Check out all of the clothing and accessories available at the Centennial Public School e-store at: https://specialtytrophies.ca/centennialps/

Students, Illness & Masking

A reminder for staff, students, and visitors in our schools to continue to self-screen every day before attending school using the COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool. Staff and students should stay home when sick. In addition, for a total of 10-days after the start of any illness symptom or positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), students and staff are expected to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and childcare, unless under two years old) and avoid non-essential activities where mask removal is necessary. Public Health continues to encourage people to mask in indoor, congregate settings like schools. We continue to work very closely with KFL&A Public Health as it relates to health and safety, and absences due to illness. KFL&A Public Health has created a helpful resource for school and childcare screening for families to use. If COVID-19 protocols change, they will be communicated directly with families and updated on Limestone’s COVID-19 Protocol Update webpage.

Safe Arrival - How Do I Report An Absence?

Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If you child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day 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.

3. SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Website Portal

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.