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Blue Jays Affiliate Program & Jersey Design Competition
We are excited to share that Ardagh Bluffs was selected to be apart of the Blue Jays Affiliate Program!
What does this mean?
- We are going to get access to brand new baseball equipment for our school as well as Blue Jays gear!
We will be running a learn to play baseball camp!
- We will also be running Spring baseball teams!
- We will also be selecting a team of ambassadors to help run this program at Ardagh Bluffs!
To kick off the Blue Jays program, we held a jersey competition during the month of November where we asked students to tie in Ardagh Bluffs Bengal school spirit with the Blue Jays. Students created their own baseball jerseys and we are pleased to share the winning entries below. Congratulations to the students who won Blue Jays gear as a result of their winning entries!
Primary Winning Entry
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Junior Winning Entry
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Intermediate Winning Entry
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![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/fJWi_RAdH2fAaWcrH8ywRm2nqcpkB1AuudqMvWdxU9WdnQkCUGKiXWvAkFCwwkcSdWazxfQFJDu735U8Eh23v5YNPP7EZQZkeERxYCFa6lD23V0J57ea21XQS8346SL5kIHOC7LQtsgaHoYw6QzHXeg)
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![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/GpTshCeBLA281rz8LpQieWOJ-hys22a0PewWeNLlP5vky7_jOg1FlO_MGvDDbKhxU44xJ1HlgKUJACB6SoYHQwKoLU7O9npPPueGFgMRxlCIFfrBgV5TFKNs3ktf-c8yCpqQfxgoE-pBJNh6YUB9RnE)
![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/VSFzvFEiRFi7-UIhBEgLQBiicAyxDvaUW9OUZSWWhQDIdPc7yM9wy-zERhtQGbQ8YeWwVz9AiOi2uZbz9N1_q7WUKsMNlyQWLyX7IzyDfApRAys-lO7xmd_2T6zpnU3Loa8AXoqzxXNMxQDkogZ9LKo)
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![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/YmZ37I6z6ZdicE-IwflSHCQzNKnGIq6A0dVUE0raMyJTxy67ZmARQsblrj37Y_fAuinBvFQGoBGQyn0Fz5F_lHDsJZBM6nit4j0e26yj5P5-tTkt-YV35a1jg-fzurM8aqxtRSxvVgw_Itn6g0QVpk4)
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Student Name: Ethan
Teacher: Mrs. MacLennan
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Student Name: David
Teacher: Mrs. McLean
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Student Name: Aiza
Teacher: Mrs. Waller
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Communication to families regarding inclement weather
days
Please note that APM A3020 – Inclement Weather, 3.1.2
states that “parents/guardians are to be reminded, in writing at appropriate
times (October and January) each school year, that it is their responsibility
to decide whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to leave for school
under severe weather conditions.”
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 CENTRAL 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
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.
High school information events for Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school
information events will take place in person this winter! Student leaders
and staff at the school will give an overview of what’s new and what to expect.
Learn about courses offered, as well as information about teams and
clubs. Please visit the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school
to find details on your high school’s info night, and contact the school
directly for more information.
Grade 1 French Immersion information
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) offers
French Immersion (FI) at select schools throughout Simcoe County beginning in
Grade 1. The goal of the FI program is to enable students to communicate in
French with a high level of proficiency, enabling them to function with ease in
both French and English. Upon graduation from the program, students will
communicate in French with confidence in a wide variety of real-life
situations.
The SCDSB board-wide electronic applications for the
Grade 1 FI program for all sites will open Friday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. and close
at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. Entry into the FI program is determined through a
digitally randomized lottery system. To learn more, visit the SCDSB website: https://www.scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=12587752.
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.
These webinars are specifically planned for
parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year.
·
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.
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 at https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm.
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: https://www.scdsb.on.ca/community/community_connects.
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/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten.
EarlyON Child and Family Centres
The foundation for lifelong learning and health is built
in the early years. EarlyON Child and Family Centres across Simcoe County offer
programs for children prenatal to six years of age and their parents/guardians
and caregivers. They offer access to play- and inquiry-based learning supported
by How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years,
information on child development and developmental screening including Early
Referral Identification Kits (ERIKs), parent/guardian education, referrals to
community resources, nutrition information, and post-natal resources. Check
with your local EarlyON provider: https://linktr.ee/earlyonsimcoe.
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child
developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate
speech and language skills are critical to your child’s ability to read, write,
and be successful in school as well as to their ability to engage with their
peers. Free services are available to support you with your child’s
development. Preschool speech and language programs are located across the
County of Simcoe. Call 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a
developmental screen. The earlier we work together the better!
Licensed Winter Break school-age child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to
Grade 6 are provided by independent, third-party child care operators in
some SCDSB schools. To support your child care needs, some operators offer
child care on PA days and holidays including over the Winter Break.
Registration in advance is required.
Please contact the child care operator directly to
discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found
by visiting: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Programs available through the SCDSB’s Adult and
Continuing Education Learning Centres
The Simcoe
County District School Board’s Adult and Continuing Education department offers
a variety of programming including day school, night school, summer school,
correspondence, and co-op. Courses may be online, hybrid, or in-person and
are based on sufficient enrollment. For current high school students, we
offer travel for credit, summer school, and night school programs. For adults,
we offer credit courses towards completion of an Ontario Secondary School
Diploma (OSSD) including credits granted for prior learning and experiences
(PLAR). In support of many of the adult learners in our communities, we
also offer non-credit classes in English as a second language (ESL) and literacy
and essential skills (LES) both of which can support learners towards paths of
employment, continued education, and citizenship. Please visit us at www.thelearningcentres.com to learn more.
School playground
structures are closed for the winter
Every winter, school playground structures are closed. Students are
made aware of this during school hours through announcements and staff
reminders during breaks. This may not be well known throughout the community,
despite signs indicating that playground structures are a winter hazard and are
closed. The Canadian Standards Association regulations make recommendations for
the depth of ground cover required to minimize injuries (e.g., sand, pea gravel
or wood chips). These surfaces cannot be maintained when the ground
freezes. Injuries from falling would be more significant on frozen
ground. We strongly recommend that you do not allow your children to play
on any structures while the ground is frozen.
Mental health strategy of the month - Emotion
Charades
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 Emotion Charades. This practice
helps students practice expressing emotions with their whole body and recognize
body language and facial expressions in others. To practice Emotion Charades at
home, on slips of paper, write or draw different feelings depending on the age
of your child. For instance, happy, sad, angry, scared, worried, sleepy,
frustrated, etc. Place the papers in a bowl/container.
Then:
Decide who will go first. Have that person pick a piece
of paper from the bowl.
Have them read the feeling to themselves, or, if needed,
help your child read the feeling.
Now they will act out the feeling without words while
the other players try to guess what it is.
Once someone gets the right answer, it’s the next
person’s turn to pick a piece of paper and act out the feeling.
This is a fun activity that everyone in the family can
play!
Emotion Charades link to School Mental Health Ontario
parent sheet: https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/easy-and-fun-mental-health-activities-for-home/
Find more information to support your child's mental
health here: https://smho-smso.ca/parents-and-caregivers/
Emotion Charades:
Elementary - https://smho-smso.ca/emhc/identification-and-management-of-emotions/recognizing/emotion-charades/
Follow the Mental Health and Well-being social media
accounts (@SCDSB_MHWB) to see how well-being is being supported in our schools.
Math @Home parent
and caregiver series
It’s back! The
SCDSB math team is pleased to offer three virtual sessions for parents and caregivers
of SCDSB students. These sessions will 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.
Exploring
the new SCDSB family math resources
Tuesday, Feb.
6, 2024, 7 to 8 p.m.
This session is
for parents and caregivers. Join members of the SCDSB math team for a guided
exploration of the new SCDSB family math resources. Participants will have the
opportunity to explore the resources that are available to support their
child’s math learning at home. The guided portion of the session will be 45
minutes in length. During the final 15 minutes, the math team will be available
to answer questions about the resources available.
Tips for engaging
in math conversations with your child @Home
Wednesday, Feb.
28, 2024, 7 to 8 p.m.
This session is
for parents and caregivers and will explore opportunities to discuss math with
their child(ren) at home. Participants will learn about how events such as
shopping, preparing food, engaging in a building project, or going for a walk
can be used as a starting point for math conversations, and will receive
prompts to get the discussion rolling. The guided portion of the session will
be 45 minutes in length. During the final 15 minutes, the math team will be
available to answer questions about the session.
Games to support
your child’s math learning @Home
Thursday, April
4, 2024, 7 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 for the sessions they wish to attend. 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.
Head lice treatment and prevention
Anyone can get head lice. Having head lice does not mean
a person is unclean or lives in a dirty home. While they are a nuisance, head
lice do not spread disease or cause illness. Head lice spreads easily,
especially where people are in close contact and are very common among
school-aged children or children in childcare.
Head lice spreads through direct hair-to-hair contact or
indirectly by sharing hats, combs, hairbrushes, and headphones. To help prevent
the spread of head lice, it’s important to educate students about avoiding
head-to-head contact and discourage sharing combs, hairbrushes, tuques, hats,
or hair accessories.
Parents/guardians, caregivers, and families can visit https://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/PP2B/RaisingChildren/YourGrowingChild/HeadLice
for more information about head lice treatment and prevention. Or
call Health Connection at 1-877-721-7520 to speak to a public health
nurse.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District
Health Unit
Is bedtime stressing you out?
Kids need 10-12 hours of sleep every night but sometimes
getting them to bed can be challenging. You can help create a regular sleep
schedule for your child by setting a clear bedtime and sticking to the same
time every night. Start getting ready an hour before bed; turn off the TV,
computers, and phones. Spend quality time talking or reading stories to help
them unwind. Agree on how many you’ll read before you start! Keep their room
dark, cool, and quiet - a nightlight is fine. Remember, making sure your child
gets enough rest will help improve their mood, behaviour, and ability to learn.
For more bedtime tips, contact Health Connection at
705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 to speak with
a public health nurse. Visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org
for more information.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District
Health Unit
Did you know it’s illegal to vape or smoke anywhere
on school property, inside the school or outside within 20m of school property,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year?
The law applies to everyone on school property,
students, staff, and visitors. It also means it is illegal to vape or smoke on
school athletic fields during afterhours activities or vape or smoke in school
washrooms. There is a fine of $305 for vaping or smoking on school property.
But why do youth vape at school?
Vapes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Nicotine addiction is
extremely powerful, develops quickly, and youth may not realize they are
addicted. Once addicted, they need nicotine regularly or they will experience
withdrawal, making it hard to get through the school day. Help them take back
control – there are supports to help youth quit! Talk to your child about
vaping, they listen more than you think. Learn more at NotAnExperiment.ca/parents.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District
Health Unit
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is seeking
compassionate and skilled professionals with specialized experience to apply to
become foster care providers
The goal of this program is to meet the needs of youth
through a therapeutically supported parenting approach within a structured
environment, where they are supported and guided by a multi-disciplinary
treatment team. The youth will remain, or become connected to, their
family/kin/community whenever possible. Treatment services will be
individualized based on the needs of the youth, and the knowledge of those who
know the youth best in collaboration with community partners. This will allow
youth to reside in a family-based setting and remain in their home community of
Simcoe Muskoka, staying connected to important relationships and supports that
may already be in place.
The homes approved under this strategy are designed to
create clinically informed care plans that will support the youth directly, in
addition to the continued support of their care providers. Youth will be
supported by a multi-disciplinary team and will be available to implement and
design parenting and support to address the needs of the youth.
Compensation packages will be offered to experienced
foster care providers, as well as clinical support to both care providers and
youth. If you or someone you know is looking for more information or would like
to apply, contact Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions by email at [email protected] or
call 705-716.4664.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family
Connexions