To see a PDF version of our newsletter, click here : EagleEyeNewsletter-October2023-1.pdf
The Eagle Eye October 2023 Newsletter
Principal’s Message
The Fall Fair is one sleep away and we are all fired up here at EDHS. Students have been practicing their house cheers and marching, the floats are nearly complete, and the school is a buzz with anticipation for the parade. Besides fair preparation there is a lot going on. October is a busy month with all the school teams and clubs in full swing.
This fall we have seen some incredible displays of athleticism both in the gymnasium and on the back field. When possible, come by to cheer on your Eagle athlete (please make sure to sign in at the front office if you are coming into the school). Speaking of visiting the school, if you have a secondary student, please make sure to sign up for an interview with classroom teachers on October 19th.
This Thanksgiving I hope you are able to take a moment to reflect on the people and things that you are most thankful for.
From all of us at EDHS – Happy Thanksgiving.
See you at the fair.
Mark Ruzylo
Principal
Secondary Families- Save The Date!
On October 19 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., EDHS will be hosting our Home-School Connection evening (parent, guardian, teacher interviews). We will be hosting a presentation on the Environment Specialist High Skills Major program at EDHS. Any grade 9-11 families who are interested are welcome to attend the presentation at 6:45pm in the school cafeteria.
A link to sign up for interviews will be emailed and posted on the school website October 10th, 2023.
FALL FAIR STUDENT PICK UP- Secondary
EDHS is looking forward to another great Elmvale Fall Fair this Friday, October 6. Students will be marching with their Houses to the school via the parade route at approximately 12pm.
All students receive free admission to the fairgrounds on Friday. They are able to spend the afternoon at the fair enjoying many free events including animal shows, an escape room, and obstacle course. Students may choose to bring some spending money if they would like to purchase food, play carnival games, or go on the midway rides.
Parents/guardians who choose to pick their child from inside the fairgrounds will have to pay the $10 admission fee. Unless you plan to spend time in the fair as a family, we recommend pre-arranging a time to meet your child just outside of the fair gates to avoid paying this fee.
FALL FAIR PICKUP- ELEMENTARY
On Friday, October 6th, 2023, schools in Elmvale and the surrounding area will be marching in the Elmvale Fall Fair Parade. The parade starts at 12:00 noon from Huronia Centennial and ends inside the fairgrounds at the ball diamond.
All grade 7 and 8s at EDHS will be participating in their house parties under the theme “'Sow It, Grow It,
Show It'” All students marching with their house are asked to wear their house t-shirts.
Students will not be released on their own to attend the Fall Fair after the conclusion of the Opening Ceremonies.
Please make sure to complete the Early Departure/Late Entry form that went home earlier in the week.
Verbal permission will not be accepted. If a student is not met by a parent or designated named adult at the Elmvale Fair, the student will return to school with a staff member. Appropriate programming will be provided back at the school.
A Message from the EDHS Guidance Office
Most students should now be settled in their semester 1 courses. Any timetable changes for this semester will now require a series of signatures, including that of a parent / guardian.
Last week grade 12 meetings were held for potential graduates. The google slide presentations (one for college and one for university) have been posted in the Grade 12 Google classroom. If you would like to review the slides, please ask your child for their login information as this is the only way to gain access.
Community Service Hours- Update
We have been advised that the guidelines for community service hours have reverted back to those that existed pre-Covid. This means that a number of activities that were eligible over the last couple of years are no longer eligible. In short...
- hours spent helping out at home are no longer eligible
- no hours for paid employment are no longer eligible
- volunteer hours cannot be counted for work that is usually done for wages
- activities completed during instructional time or as part of a credit may not be counted
The goal of community service hours is to make a difference in the community. Any unpaid work for neighbours, the community, non-profit organizations, after-school activities (ex. score keeping), etc. are acceptable. Please reach out to Guidance if you have any questions. If in doubt, please have your son/daughter ask about eligibility prior to beginning the activity.
Parents’ Guide to Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting
Learn to navigate the world of assessment, evaluation, and reporting with this new guide for parents/guardians. Created to support parents/guardians understanding of assessment, this guide was designed to effectively empower you to actively engage in your child's educational journey. The guide has been posted to the Simcoe County District School Board’s website and can be accessed via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm
SCDSB 2023-24 Student Handbook
The SCDSB student handbook contains a variety of information that the SCDSB is required to share with all students and families. This September, schools will be distributing the student handbook to all families via email. The SCDSB 2023-24 Student Handbook can also be found on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent and on school websites under ‘students’. If you have questions, please contact the school.
Important EDHS Dates
October is 2SLGBTQIA+ History Month, Autism Awareness Month & Women’s History Month.
October 9 Thanksgiving
October 8-14 Fire Prevention Week
October 10 World Mental Health Day
October 16-20 National School Bus Safety Week
October 20 PA Day for all SCDSB students
October 26 Dress Purple Day- Association of Children’s Aid Societies
Online learning graduation requirement and opt out options
Students are required to earn two online learning credits to graduate from secondary school, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year. The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners that will be entering the Ontario secondary school system starting in the 2023-24 school year. The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.
Opting out
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the mandatory online learning credits required for graduation. To opt out, a parent/guardian must submit the Secondary Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-out Form. . Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:
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the parent/guardian of the secondary student
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students who are 18 years of age or older
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students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control.
Check with your local school if you have questions regarding the registration or opt-out process.
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8 to 14
This year, the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™’, works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, along with a wealth of resources to help promote the campaign locally, visit www.fpw.org .
Information from the National Fire Protection Association website
Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. Our school is in the North zone. When buses are cancelled, schools remain open for student learning, unless otherwise noted. School staff are expected to plan for such emergencies in order to transition students who are unable to attend due to inclement weather, to their online platforms (Google Classroom and/or SCDSBhub [Brightspace by D2L]) and continue with academic programming. It is always a family decision whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to leave for school under severe weather conditions.
The Consortium and bus operators try to make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and make every effort to post announcements before 7 a.m. Inclement weather cancellations are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the day. You can follow the Consortium on Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications here: https://scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
In order to receive delay and cancellation notifications, families can check the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or download the ‘BusPlanner Delays’ app from the Apple or Android app stores to receive delay notifications to their devices. Users would need to select Simcoe County STC as the transportation authority. The app will need to be forced closed, but you will be able to select your student(s) routes or school to receive delays.
The app will send a general notice for any cancellation in Simcoe County. You only need to know which ‘zone’ you’re in, so you would know which one to look out for in the app. You can find your student’s zone by visiting the School Bus Status page at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.caand clicking the dropdown for the area you live in.
School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
School Bus Safety Week takes place Oct. 16 to 20, 2023. Please visit the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca
for information on school bus safety and links to school bus safety resources. Oct. 19, 2023 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in the province of Ontario. It’s a great opportunity for the school community to thank our bus drivers for all their hard work transporting students to and from school safely.
Get on the move
There are many benefits to walking or wheeling to school. Walking or wheeling to school reduces traffic, helps students establish healthy lifestyles, is better for the environment and enhances community safety. Wherever possible, we encourage students within walking zones to get on the move and walk or wheel to school. For more information please visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website here: bit.ly/3OC4CJ9
Interested in learning more about the ways that the SCDSB supports students with special education needs and their families? Join us for a virtual special education outreach series
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/caregivers in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
The first session, IEPs and school-based assessments – information for parents/caregivers, will be held on Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This virtual presentation will include an opportunity for participants to share some of their questions regarding IEPs and special education programming.
Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about upcoming sessions and how to register on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.
Revised 2023 Ontario Language Curriculum
Beginning this school year, all language programs for Grades 1-8 will be based on the expectations of the revised Ontario Language Curriculum. The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1 to 8: Language, 2023 outlines the knowledge and skills required for effective reading and writing, listening, and speaking so students can succeed at school and beyond. The curriculum has been revised partly in response to the recommendations outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read public inquiry report.
The 2023 curriculum now includes four strands:
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Literacy Connections and Applications
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Foundations of Language
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Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
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Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts
For more information, visit www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/key-changes-language to view a guide for parents/guardians on the Ministry of Education website.
Supporting your child with math
Are you curious about how you can support your child’s growth as a mathematician? Visit the Parents Guide to Mathematics at www.ontario.ca/page/new-math-curriculum-grades-1-8, where you can find a summary of the knowledge and skills your child will be learning as they progress through the grades, information about how you can support your child’s learning, and how the curriculum was developed.
TVO Mathify offers free 1:1 online Grade 4-12 math tutoring to SCDSB students. Connect with an Ontario Certified Teacher of your choice. It is anonymous and secure, and can be used from a phone, tablet, or computer. Math tutors are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday to Friday, and 3:30 to 9 p.m. ET Sunday.
All SCDSB students from Grades 4-12 have been pre-registered for this amazing service. For quick access to TVO Mathify:
- Find the link in your child’s Google waffle to the SCDSBhub.
- Look for the TVO Mathify icon on their dashboard.
Your child will not need to enter their OEN number or any identifying information when TVO Mathify is accessed through the SCDSBhub.
Math Workshop at EDHS:
Unlocking Potential - Navigating Grade 9 Math Together
Please join us for a workshop during which we will explore the new math curriculum, ways in which you can support your child at home, as well as assessment and evaluation practices. The workshop will be facilitated by Michaela Dance (Instruction and Assessment Facilitator - Math) and Beth Dewey (Vice Principal - EDHS).
The workshop will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 25th, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM. You may attend in person or virtually.
A registration email has been sent to the families of all students taking grade 9 destreamed math (MTH1W) during first semester. If your child is registered in MTH1W this semester, and you didn't receive an email, please contact the school. We will repeat the workshop during the second semester.
We look forward to seeing you!
Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians with Pine River Institute
Mental health and well-being continues to be a key strategic priority within the SCDSB. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Centre for Family Initiatives at Pine River Institute (CFI@PRI) to provide several curated learning sessions focused on student mental health and well-being to SCDSB families, staff and within the SCDSB’s broader school communities.
There are eight webinars in the learning series specifically planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year.
Oct. 26, 2023 Understanding and managing screen time, part one - gaming edition
Nov. 9, 2023 Understanding and managing screen time, part two - social media edition
Nov. 30, 2023 Helping parents align
Jan. 11, 2024 Sleep hygiene
Feb. 8, 2024 Self regulation for kids
Feb. 22, 2024 Self regulation for teens
March 28, 2024 Building parents' resiliency
April 18, 2024 Vaping, weed, and alcohol
We hope you save these dates in your calendar and join us for these learning opportunities. For more information and to register, please visit the SCDSB website: https://bit.ly/3jGaC74.
Pine River Institute is a live-in treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth aged 13 to 19 struggling with addictive behaviours and often other mental health issues. Combining therapy with a fully-accredited education program, PRI reinforces the healthy life skills required for a successful future. CFI@PRI extends PRI’s knowledge, experience and evidence-informed treatment approach to families and care providers in the community to support youth mental wellness and prevent the need for more intensive interventions. Learn more about PRI by visiting their website at www.pineriverinstitute.com
Have you met Sora?
Our digital e-book/audiobook collection contains over 4,000 titles waiting to be checked out by our SCDSB students. Students simply download the app, use their SCDSB login and start reading for free on their phone or tablet. The collection can be accessed at: meet.soraapp.com.