Centennial Connection Jan 15, 2023

Dear Centennial Families -

What a wonderful week back in the building with staff and students! There was such great energy and the week ended with lots of snow and outdoor activities.

Over the next few weeks staff will be working on preparing Term 1 Achievement Reports. Term 2 begins on February 6th and report cards for Term 1 will be sent home on February 17th. This is a great time of year where staff and students work together to review term 1 goals and understand growth, and set new or adjusted goals for term 2.

This time of year we sometimes see an increase in absences and illness. Staff and students are reminded to wash hands regularly, wear a mask when possible, and keep vaccinations up to date in order to avoid covid and other common winter illnesses.

There is lots of information to share with you in the newsletter below. Please take a few moments to read through and note important dates.

We hope everyone is enjoying the snow and sunshine! Can't wait see see everyone back tomorrow!

-Deborah Thompson & Centennial PS Staff

Upcoming Dates

Monday January 16

Class photos being taken today in AM

Friday January 20

Kinders to Little Cataraqui Creek (Mighton/Hollywood & Farndon/El Haj)

Upcoming Dates:

Monday January 23 - Dental Flouride Varnish for those who returned forms

Monday January 23 - School Council 6:30pm in the gym

Friday February 3rd - PA Day

Friday February 17th - Term 1 Achievement Reports go home

Thank you!

A huge thanks to all families for ensuring the parking lot is for staff only between 8am-4pm. THANK YOU! Last week was great and all staff were able to park and get into the school. We really appreciate your help. Parking is available on neighbouring streets.

Public Library Info

KFPL has updated membership categories. Youth ages 14 and older may sign up for a library card independently (without caregiver signature). Students attending schools within the boundaries of Kingston and Frontenac County are eligible. KFPL invites secondary schools to contact Cheyenne Stewart, the Teen and New Adult Librarian. Cheyenne can arrange visits to the schools to sign students up for cards. Info for SMOREs/newsletters: Explore a world of books, video games, movies, and more. Teens 14 and older can now get a free Kingston Frontenac Public Library card on their own.

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

School Council

The School Council meeting dates for the new year are:

* January 23rd

* February 27th - this will possibly be virtual to see if it would make it possible for more parents/guardians to attend. Decision on this will be made at the January meeting.

* April 17th

* May 15th

* June 12th

Bundle Up - It is Winter!

Students are outside for 40 minutes a day, in addition to any time before school and during class body breaks. It is important as winter hits to ensure that they are dressed for the weather. Please remember to send boots, snowpants, hats and mitts. Once the snow falls, it is a good idea to send two or more pairs of mitts, as they often get soaked at morning recess (socks too!) Outdoor time is very important for our students, and we want them to be happy and warm when they are playing outside!

Tutoring Available

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. Students in Grade 1 to 6 work with tutors to build literacy and math skills and students in Grades 7 to 10 can receive math support or general homework help. All tutoring is done virtually through MS Teams; more information and links to the virtual tutoring sessions can be found on the Board website here.

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.


Snow day art	Many classes reviewing and revising their agreements this week	Building a "fire" at recess

Snow day art

Many classes reviewing and revising their agreements this week

Building a "fire" at recess


Understanding fluency in Grade 5/6	Graphing student choice for favourite soup	Learning about homophones in junior

Understanding fluency in Grade 5/6

Graphing student choice for favourite soup

Learning about homophones in junior

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.

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/

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

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.

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/

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.