The Eagle Eye
Elmvale District Highschool Newletter
April Edition | 2023-2024
School schedule:
School Day: 8:50 a.m - 3:25 p.m
Elementary lunch: 11:20 a.m - 12:30 p.m
Recess: 2:10 p.m - 2:35 p.m
Secondary lunch: 11:35 a.m - 12:40 p.m
For a PDF version of the April Newsletter, click here.
Important Dates:
April is Sikh Heritage Month
World Autism Awareness Day
April 2
PA Day (Elementary) - Solar Eclipse
April 8
Early Dismissal (Secondary) - Solar Eclipse
April 8 - 2:00pm
International Day of Pink
April 12
Maple Syrup Variety Concert
April 26
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
April marks the beginning of the busy season where we collectively catch our breath in preparation for all the exciting activities taking place over May and June. Besides the spring sports i.e. – track and field, softball, spring league basketball, varsity boys’ baseball, badminton, cricket and secondary girls’ soccer there are a number of exciting events upcoming. Below are a few dates you need to mark in you calendar:
April
8th
Solar Eclipse
Elementary PD Day
Secondary Students are dismissed at 1:55pm with bus pick up at 2 pm.
16th
Mental Health Matters Presentation and Open Discussion – Wasaga Beach Recreation Centre, Rotary room –
6:30pm
20th – 26th
Exchange to Sagkeeng First Nations
May
4th – 10th
Exchange from Sagkeeng First Nations
9th
Full Disclosure
17th
Grad BBQ
19th – 23rd
New York City Trip (Secondary)
20th
Victoria Day- No School
27th – 30th
Culminating Activity Days
Period One - May 27, 2024
Period Two - May 28, 2024
Period Three - May 29, 2024
Period Four - May 30, 2024
28th – 30th
Elementary Performance: High School Musical Jr.
Tues., May 28 Morning Show: 9:30- 11:30 Matinee Show: 12:30-2:30
Wed., May 29 Morning Show: 9:30- 11:30 Matinee Show: 12:30-2:30 Night Show: 6:30-8:30
Thurs., May 30 Night Show: 6:30-8:30
30th
“Welcome To Paradise” Spring Concert- EDHS Cafeteria- 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
June
3rd – 5th
Grade 8 Trip to Ottawa
6th
Grade 7 Trip to Toronto
12th
Athletic Banquet- Cafeteria- 5:30pm - 9:30 pm
14th
Prom – Horseshoe Heights- Start at 5:30 pm with dinner at 6:00 pm
21st
Elementary Report Cards Issued
26th
Grade 8 Graduation – EDHS Gymnasium – 6:00 pm
27th
Grade 12 Commencement – EDHS Gymnasium – 5:00 pm
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does reflect some of the amazing events taking place at EDHS.
For more details, please check out our website or follow us on Instagram at elmvale_district_high_school
Days of Awareness 2023-24
As you prepare your school’s newsletter package, please
review the Days of Awareness (NM1) www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.
April PA Days
Due to the solar eclipse set to occur in our region, the
Simcoe County District School Board has made the decision to move the
elementary school PA Day originally scheduled for April 26, 2024 to April 8,
2024.
Monday, April 8 is a PA Day for elementary SCDSB students,
and Friday April 26 is a PA Day for secondary SCDSB students. Please refer to
the 2023-24 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
SCDSB Equity Advisory Committee seeks parent/guardian
members
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed
to identifying and removing barriers within our system to ensure that all
students and staff are offered supportive, inclusive, and respectful learning
and working environments. To support this work, the SCDSB has an Equity
Advisory Committee (EAC) comprised of parents/guardians, trustees, students,
community partner organizations or associations, and board staff.
The SCDSB is seeking new parent/guardian members for the
EAC. Applications are open until May 20, 2024. Applicants must:
·
be from a community that has traditionally
experienced barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources be a
parent/guardian of a current SCDSB student
·
reside in Simcoe County
·
not be an employee of the SCDSB
The role of the EAC is to work in partnership with the SCDSB
on the review, development, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives
related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The EAC supports members of the
SCDSB community and encourages equitable outcomes, sense of belonging, student
achievement, and well-being, in alignment with the SCDSB Strategic Priorities.
Apply to be a parent/guardian member of the EAC by visiting
the following link:
https://www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.
Feedback, recovery and improvement days
At the end of each semester, all secondary schools will run feedback,
recovery, and improvement days for students. Culminating assessments such as
portfolios, essays, examinations, and interviews will take place during
instructional days and will be returned to students with feedback.
The last day of regular instruction for students in Semester
Two is Friday, June 21. The period from Monday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 26 is reserved for students to
receive feedback from an assessment, to rescue or recover a credit, or to
improve on an area of missed expectations. Teachers and support staff will
communicate with students who will benefit most from attending this
opportunity; however, all students will be invited to attend. There will be no
new instruction these days. Feedback, recovery, and improvement days are an
opportunity for students to work closely with their teacher if they require
feedback, recovery, or an opportunity to improve on an area of missed
expectations.
How to communicate your appreciation or concern
At the SCDSB, we believe that open communication strengthens important
relationships between families, schools, and communities. You may sometimes
wish to relay appreciation or positive feedback to school or board officials.
As well, areas of concern may arise, and our staff will strive to be helpful
and effective in addressing your concerns. Further information on how to
communicate your appreciation or concern is available on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/about/contact_us.
Subscribe to Community Connects
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is excited
to launch Community Connects, a new bimonthly newsletter for the SCDSB
community. Our shared goal with this new tool is to keep our community partners
and stakeholders informed while nurturing relationships that are built on
accountability, trust, and transparency.
To learn more and subscribe, visit the Community Connects
page on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/community/community_connects.
Kindergarten registration for September 2024 is open!
Kindergarten is the beginning of a wonderful journey of
learning, and we want your child to begin their journey in a SCDSB school! Do
you have a child who is turning four in 2024? If so, we invite you to register
your child for Kindergarten. To register online or for more information visit: www.scdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Kindergarten orientation
Kindergarten orientation sessions will be held throughout
the SCDSB in the spring of 2024. These sessions provide families with the
opportunity to engage with their school community as their children prepare to
enter school. Learn more
about the sessions and find out when your child's school is holding theirs: www.scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=8385299.
Join the SCDSB on Facebook Live to learn about all things
Kindergarten!
Do you have a child who is turning four in 2024? Are you
interested in learning about Kindergarten in the SCDSB? On Tuesday, April 16
from 7 to 7:30 p.m., members of the SCDSB’s Early Years team are hosting a
virtual information session via Facebook Live.
The session will highlight important information
parents/guardians need to know about Kindergarten in the SCDSB, including
details on transitions for students with special education needs.
To virtually attend the presentation, visit the SCDSB
Facebook page at 7 p.m. on April 16. To get a head start on learning about
Kindergarten in the SCDSB, watch last year’s information session: https://fb.watch/qM3niHW7IE/.
Subscribe to Kindergarten Connections!
Will your child be turning four in 2024? If so, the SCDSB
invites you to Kindergarten Connections! This is a monthly enewsletter
informing families of everything they need to know about preparing their child
for school, as well as registering them for Kindergarten in the SCDSB. To learn
more and subscribe, visit the Kindergarten page on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Is your child starting JK or SK in September?
The Simcoe County EarlyON Child and Family Centres are
excited to offer in-person and virtual programs that help prepare children and
parents for Kindergarten. Parents/guardians and children will have the
opportunity to interact together in a variety of school readiness activities.
These programs will look at and discuss: How Does Learning
Happen, Self Regulation, Social Skills, and How to Get Ready to Start School.
To register for a program in your area visit: www.earlyonsimcoenorth.ca/GRFK.
Registration now open for summer eLearning!
Create flexibility in your timetable and earn a credit! The Simcoe
County District School Board (SCDSB) is offering summer school eLearning
courses in July 2024 for current high school students or adult learners who are
interested in creating flexibility in their schedule, earning a new credit, or
upgrading a previous mark. Students can advance online learning skills, earn
missed credits, or fast-track preparation for graduation or post-secondary in
just four weeks.
Summer school program details can be found on the Learning
Centres website at www.thelearningcentres.com/programs/summer_school.
The SCDSB also supports secondary students in participating
in a variety of EDUTravel credit programs in July and August. EDUTravel
programs are offered in a variety of destinations including Canada, USA, and
Europe. For more
information including costs, destinations, credits, and dates of commitment,
visit: www.edutravelforcredit.com.
For summer 2024, courses available to students entering
Grade 9 are:
·
CGC1D - Issues in Canadian Geography
·
PAF1O - Healthy Living and Personal Fitness
Activities
·
CHC2D - Grade 10 Academic - Canadian History
since WWI
·
CHC2P - Grade 10 Applied - Canadian History
since WWI
·
CHV2O/GLC2O – Civics/CareerseLearning is fully
supported by certified teachers who are available electronically daily.
Summer school program details can be found on the Learning
Centres website at www.thelearningcentres.com/programs/summer_school.
Dogs on
school property
For the safety of all staff, students, and visitors, dogs
(with the exception of service animals) are not permitted on school property.
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.
There are eight webinars specifically planned for
parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year. The final webinar is:
April 18, 2024 - Vaping,
weed, and alcohol
We hope you save this date in your calendar and join us for
this learning opportunity. 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.
Indigenous
leadership and career pathways event hosted by the SCDSB
Are you a SCDSB staff member, graduating student, or member
of the public who is of Indigenous ancestry? Are you looking to learn more
about leadership opportunities and career pathways at the SCDSB? Join us on May
2 from 4:30 – 7 p.m. at the SCDSB Education Centre in Midhurst to:
Learn about the various career opportunities within the
SCDSB, the required education and skills, and how to apply.
Discover the various pathways to leadership within the
SCDSB.
Network with SCDSB staff from the Indigenous Education
department and community partners.
To register, visit: https://bit.ly/InspiringIndigenousLeaders
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 information series
During the 2023-24 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB)
is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist
parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we
work together to support students with special education needs.
Supporting
students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
April 16
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Every day
mental health strategies
May 14
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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 each session and how to register on the SCDSB
website:
www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.
Looking for ways to support your
child in learning math? Check out the SCDSB’s new Math at Home
resource!
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed
to supporting students in understanding and doing mathematics. The SCDSB has
developed the Math at Home resource, a compilation of family-friendly,
accessible, and engaging math resources and tools designed to engage families
in supporting their children’s learning.
The Math at Home page on the SCDSB website, available at www.scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome,
includes a variety of math games, number talks, problem solving opportunities,
and practice tasks for students from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 10. Families
will learn about how to support the development of positive math mindsets in
their children and discover activities with connections to math in the world.
The resource also includes a variety of print and digital resources for
students and their families.
Math @Home
parent and caregiver series
It’s back! The SCDSB math team is pleased to offer virtual
sessions for parents and caregivers of SCDSB students. These sessions focus on
practical and fun ways to support children with their mathematics learning and
engagement at home. The first 200 registrants will receive a Math @Home kit of
resources to use at home. Participants must pre-register for each of the
sessions.
Games to support your child’s
math learning @Home
Thursday, April 4, 2024, 7pm
to 8 p.m.
This session is for parents, caregivers, and their children.
Playing games at home is a great way to support child(ren)’s math development.
In this session, several games will be explored, and participants will have the
opportunity to try the games with their children during the session. The guided
portion of the session will be 45 minutes in length followed by 15 additional
minutes for further game play or to ask questions of our math facilitators.
Bring your child(ren) and your math kit to this session!
Participants must pre-register. Registered participants will
receive a kit of hands-on resources that will be sent to the school indicated
on the registration form. Use this link to register: https://bit.ly/24MathAtHome.
If you couldn’t attend the previous sessions, visit the Math at Home page on
the SCDSB website to view past sessions: www.scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome.
Mental
health promotion strategy of the month - Just Notice
Well-being is a strategic priority in the Simcoe County
District School Board, and our mental health and well-being department provides
monthly strategies to support student and family well-being.
This month’s strategy is Just Notice. This strategy helps
children and youth develop the skills to ground themselves. Grounding is a way to focus your
attention to the sensations you are experiencing in this moment. It is good to practice at any
time but especially helpful when emotions or thoughts are stressful.
To practice Just Notice at
home, together with your child, model this grounding practice by verbally
sharing the following:
·
Notice three things you can feel/touch.
·
Notice four things you can hear.
·
Notice five things you can see.
·
Notice two things you can smell.
·
Notice one thing you can taste.
This exercise can be done inside or outside. Consider
pairing Just Notice with this forest visualization video to help guide and
ignite their five senses: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0PO2xo7I9g&t=9s.
See the Student Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) elementary (smho-smso.ca/online-resources/sel-posters/
and secondary (smho-smso.ca/online-resources/sel-posters-for-secondary/)
social-emotional learning poster series for Just Notice that can be used at
home.
Follow along the Mental Health and Well-being social media
accounts (@SCDSB_MHWB) to see how well-being is being supported in our schools.
Celebrating
poetry
April is poetry month, a chance for students to celebrate a
love of language through an appreciation of poetry. Students of all ages enjoy
the lyrical, rhythmic qualities of poetry making it a wonderful choice for at
home reading. Poems provide an excellent opportunity for students to practice
reading aloud, developing fluency and expression. For ideas and resources
please visit the resources for families page on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent/resources_for_families.
April cyber
awareness topic: Safe gaming and the metaverse
In today’s digital landscape, safe gaming practices and
understanding the metaverse are crucial for families to navigate the digital
world securely. Understanding safe gaming practices protects personal
information, while metaverse awareness helps prevent identity risks.
Parents/guardians play a vital role in guiding their children’s online
experiences.
Access the cyber awareness tip sheet for April to stay informed about this
month’s theme and explore additional resources:
https://ecno.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECNO-CAM-Calendar-23-Aug3023_SafeGamingMetaverse.pdf.Stay
informed to help provide a safer online gaming environment for your children!
Your child’s
immunization records
The Ontario Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
requires the health unit to have up to date immunization records for all
students attending school. According to the ISPA (2014), students currently in
secondary school are required to be vaccinated against:
·
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, and Pertussis
(whooping cough, booster required between 14-16 years old)
·
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (must have two doses
after first birthday)
·
Meningococcal Disease (must have one dose after
first birthday and Men-C-ACYW in Grade 7)
The health unit does not receive immunization information
directly from doctor’s offices. Please contact the health unit each time your
child receives a vaccine from their health care provider.
If your child’s immunization record on file with the health
unit is not up to date, they may be suspended from school.
What you can do:
·
Check your child’s yellow immunization card.
·
Contact your child’s healthcare provider to
obtain records, or to get missing vaccinations. Visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/Immunization/Report-an-immunization
to enter the complete record, or fax a completed record to 705-726-3962.
For more information visit the health unit school
immunization page: www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/Immunization.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District
Health Unit
Foster
families needed in your community!
Children in our community need you! There is an urgent need
for foster homes in Simcoe Muskoka. Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is looking
for diverse foster care providers who understand children's needs. The needs
are diverse and range from babies to teens. Open your home to a child/youth and
receive training, support, and between $85 and $155 per child and per day. Do
you know anyone who may be interested? Visit https://familyconnexions.ca/fosterconnexions/
to inquire, apply, and for more information. You may also call 705-726-6587
ext. 4.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions