Centennial Connection Feb 4, 2024
An update for families from Centennial Public School
February is Black History Month
Dear Centennial PS Families -
What a glorious weekend of sunshine! We hope all families get a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Monday marks the beginning of Term 2 for schools across the district. This is a great time to reflect on learning and progress, and review goals for term 2. Staff have been working on Term 1 Achievement Reports and these will be sent home on Friday February 16th. If your child is not at school on that day, they will receive the report when they return to school after the Family Day weekend. We cannot send report cards home earlier than the board-wide distribution date of February 16th. Please note that starting this term, students will receive a single mark for Language. In previous year, students were given 4 marks based on strands of the curriculum; however, the Ministry of Education now requires 1 overall mark (similar to the change in reporting for mathematics a few years ago). Please see the graphic below for more information.
Term 2 also signals a few staff changes at Centennial as well. We welcome Mr Ed Travers who will be teaching Grade 3 for the rest of the term while Ms Van Galen is on maternity leave. We also welcome Madame Carierre who is teaching Core French to a number of classes every morning, as Madame Vines has started a new position at Welbourne Avenue PS. Madame Carierre also will be teaching at Lord Strathcona Public School in the afternoons. Welcome to the Centennial community!
We want to thank all Centennial families for your continued support of various events and initiatives at the school. Your participation in hot lunch, for example, provides some funds back to the school to support and enhance student learning. Thank you also for your engagement with student learning and for supporting student achievement at home. We appreciate the partnerships we have with Centennial families.
We have lots happening at the school - check out the upcoming events section as as well as the photos included below. Have a super weekend and see you all tomorrow!
- Deborah Thompson, Principal & Centennial PS Staff
Upcoming Dates
February is Black History Month
February 6th - Farndon/Alyesworth Kinders to Gymnastics
February 7th - Winter Walk to School Day
February 8th - Grade 6 to Agnes Etherington Art Centre
February 10th - Lunar New Year
February 12th - School Council
February 15th - School Council Games Night
February 16th - Term 1 Report Cards go home
February 21st - Gould Lake Trip - Byers & Rosser
February 21st - French Immersion Open House (more info below)
March 7th - Gambling Workshop for Grade 6 class (YMCA)
March is Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March 11-15th - March Break
**Monday, April 8th PA Day (Changed from April 12th due to solar eclipse!)** No school for students.
Winter Walk Day - A message from KFL&A Public Health
February 7th is Winter Walk to School Day! We encourage all our school families to integrate walking into their trip to school on Wednesday February 7th.
- 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 bundle up and 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!
Kindergarten Registration - A Message from the LDSB
Welcome to Kindergarten! This is an exciting time for both you and your student. Kindergarten is a wonderful experience and your student’s next phase on their journey of learning.
We are now accepting new student registrations for this September 2024. If your student is four or five by the end of December, now is the time to register.
Kindergarten offers a wonderful new world of learning and growing. We learn how to read, how to write and we make new friends. At École James R. Henderson Public School, we offer both French Immersion and English Kindergarten programs that help children get the best possible start in school. Your student will be challenged and encouraged to do their very best.
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!
In Limestone, students can begin French Immersion in Year 1 Kindergarten, Year 2 Kindergarten or Grade 1. The French Immersion program is designed for students who are learning French as an additional language. The program is an inclusive environment for rich language development and designed for students who do not speak French at home. Parents and guardians are not expected to be French speaking themselves. There is nothing extra that you need to do to prepare your student for French Immersion. All students are welcome!
We are excited to announce that Limestone District School Board will now be accepting applications for open boundary Kindergarten registrations for the upcoming school year. LDSB encourages students to attend their area school, but we understand selecting the right educational setting for your new student is a significant decision.
In accordance with Board policy, by default, students will be enrolled in the school designated within their boundary area, based on their home address.
Students may be permitted to attend any school within the board when there is available student space, upon submission and approval of the proper application. The Board will not be held responsible for the provision of any transportation for students outside of their regular school boundary area.
We typically welcome new families to orientation events in May of each year. We will share more about these opportunities soon.
We want everyone to see themselves in Limestone. You can feel confident your student will be cared for in a safe and inclusive environment.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our dedicated staff are here to assist you throughout this process. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the school.
Let’s embark on this exciting educational journey together! We look forward to meeting you.
2024-2025 School Year Calendar Survey
The Limestone District School Board is currently working to develop the 2024-25 school year calendar. In collaboration with our coterminous boards, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, there are three options for consideration. We would like to gather the opinions of different members of the Limestone community to guide our final decision.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. The survey is open until Monday, February 12, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Survey link: https://bit.ly/LDSB24-25CalendarSurvey
If you would prefer a paper version of the survey, please contact the school and a hard copy will be provided. Your input is important to us. We appreciate your time in submitting your feedback.
Some math strategies used in Grade 3 and 4
Signs of encouragement throughout the school
Grade 4 healthy living and healthy eating unit
Celebrating the diverse backgrounds at Centennial PS!
Grade 5/6 at the Faculty of Education for Oneida workshop
Beautiful rock painting in the junior grades
Inclement Weather - Reminders
Now that winter has arrived, there are a few reminders to share with you regarding inclement weather.
- if bus transportation is cancelled in the morning, it is cancelled all day (no PM bus pick up)
- the school generally remains open and parents are welcome to bring their children to school and bring them to the school yard at 8:50am. Please note that there is no supervision before 8:50am
- students must be picked up at 3:25pm. There is no supervision after school hours
- hot lunches are automatically cancelled and accounts credited for all inclement weather days
- all student absences are to be submitted using the School Messenger App or the Safe Arrival 800 number (see below for more details) even if transportation is cancelled
Tri-Board Student Transportation Services and the LDSB senior staff make the decision about bus cancellations. Tri-Board sends out alerts, as does the LDSB. Centennial PS sends emails to parents/guardians and will re-tweet information. These decisions are usually made by 6:30am.
Indoor Shoes
Just a friendly reminder that students need to have indoor shoes. Students cannot wear wet boots into classrooms or the gym as it is a slipping/safety hazard. If you need help with indoor shoes please contact the school office.
Extended French Immersion Open Houses
To all families of students currently enrolled in Grade 6 or 7: Please mark your calendars if you wish to attend LDSB Extended French Immersion Open Houses for the 2024-25 school year.
Extended French Immersion Open Houses will be held Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024 at 6 p.m. at all three sites in the Limestone District School Board
Module Vanier Extended French Immersion (located in Kingston SS)
Harrowsmith Public School Extended French Immersion (located at Harrowsmith PS)
Module de l’Acadie Extended French Immersion (located in Frontenac SS)
Climbers & Forest in Winter
Given the colder temperatures and below freezing temperatures overnight with frozen ground, the climbers are now closed for the winter. The climbers present a danger as studnets wear nylon gloves and mittens (which are slippery) and the ground beneath the climbers is frozen.
The forest will remain open at the discretion of those on supervision duty. When the ground is snow covered or icy, the forest will be closed for safety. When there is snow in the forest it is unclear where the rocks are and the ground can be uneven and we don't want students or staff getting hurt. Classroom educators may still use the forest for teaching purposes during instructional time but the forest will be closed once there is ice and snow on the ground.
School Council Dates
Please mark your calendars for the School Council meeting dates. Meeting begin at 6:30pm and are 90 minutes in length. Child care for school aged children is provided for those who register by the Sunday before. If you require childcare, please notify the council of your need by emailing councilcentennialps@gmail.com
All parents and guardians are welcome to attend!
Monday February 12th
Monday April 8th
Monday May 13th
Monday June 3rd
Attendance Matters
When children miss a day they miss important literacy and math learning, and can fall behind on lessons that build from day to day. Students who are regularly late, even if it is only 10 minutes, often miss critical reading instruction, which often happens first thing in the morning.
We know that children need to stay home when they are sick, and the rules for staying home have changed throughout the pandemic. The most recent guidelines on staying home can be found beneath the chart below. Please contact the school if you need support with attendance issues. Let's work together and get every student here every day!
Safety in the Parking Lot - We need your help!
We have had some "near misses". Please DO NOT enter the bus lane or the staff parking lot, and please do not use the exit as an entrance. Parking is available on neighbouring streets. Thank you for your help!
Hot Lunch - Orders Due by Sunday Noon
Once again this year we are using LunchBox to provide families with some options for hot lunch, should they wish to participate. Orders are due by NOON on Sunday for orders being delivered the following week.
Just a reminder that should buses be cancelled, hot lunches are also cancelled and credit will be provided to account.
LunchBox is looking at more varied choices for hot lunches moving forward, and those will be reflected in the menu options, if it is possible.
To create an account and order hot lunches, use the guide below and linked here: Get The Guide
We are a nut aware school!
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, stuffies, Pokemon cards
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.
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.
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.
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