ABPS Newsletter - 2026 03.pdf
Principal's Message
Greetings Ardagh Bluffs Families,
We have enjoyed the month of February at Ardagh Bluffs Public School! This month we participated in many wonderful learning experiences and activities at the school. Together, we recognized and celebrated Black History Month, Lunar New Year and the beginning of Ramadan. Our staff and student committees collaboratively planned and implemented a month filled with learning opportunities. The entire school community enjoyed the beautiful, student created display in our main display case and posters throughout the school. We also heard daily announcements prepared by our student leadership team. A very special thank you goes out to parent, Mr. Robinson for being a special guest during our Black History Month Read Aloud and to Mr. Ma for being our special guest for our virtual Lunar New Year Read Aloud. We appreciate your willingness to read to us and answer all of our questions!
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Myers for a successful teaching career with the Simcoe County District School board. Mrs. Myers retired on Friday, February 27th and we wish her the absolute best! Please join us in welcoming back Ms. Shaw who will begin teaching the Grade 5/6 class on Monday, March 2nd.
A special thank you goes out to our School Council who planned our Valentine’s Day Dance-a-Thon and Fundraiser this year. The council raised $743.44, with student pledges totaling $514, for a grand total of $1,257.44 which will go towards Classroom Needs. A fun day was had by all with great music and a light show from our DJ. We all enjoyed the beautiful weather that we had on the day of our very own Winter Olympics. Special thanks goes out to Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Johnson for preparing so many cups of hot chocolate for the students to enjoy a special warm treat on a day of wintery fun! On February 25th, our school recognized the Day of Pink to show our commitment to end all forms of bullying. Thank you to everyone who participated. Families also would have received their children’s report cards on February 13th. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s report card, please reach out to your child’s educators as they are eager to partner with you to support your child’s learning, growth and success.
March is shaping up to be a fantastic month as well! We’re looking forward to a variety of food days including: Hot Dog Day on March 6th, Foodie Friday - Harvey’s on March 13th, and Grilled Cheese - an Ardagh Favourite - on March 27th. This month we will also look forward to a restful March Break during the week of March 16-20th and when we return to school on March 23rd we will recognize World Down Syndrome’s lots of socks day. Students will also participate in an educational presentation from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario during the week of March 23rd.
Our next School Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 25th at 6:00 p.m. in the school library. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend this meeting. As you can see, our council is very active in the school and we could use extra help and volunteers to support our efforts.
Wishing everyone a safe and learning filled month, Ms. Robinson and Ms. Marjerrison
Principal of the Day Message
On February 24th, 2026, Ardagh Bluffs P.S. was once again in wonderful hands as two eager young leaders stepped into the role of “Principal for the Day.” This time, Principal Meray (Grade 3) and Principal Evelynn (Grade 5) took on the challenge and they embraced every moment with enthusiasm, confidence, and heart.
Just like our staff team, Meray and Evelynn had a very full day! They helped support the Kiss n’ Ride, assisted with morning announcements, visited classrooms, participated in a Health & Safety walkthrough, helped supervise recess, attended meetings, and even supported our lockdown practice drill. Throughout the day, they kept their walkie-talkies close and stayed ready to lend a helping hand wherever they were needed. A highlight for both students was enjoying a special lunch with Ms. Robinson and our vice-principal, Ms. Marjerrison, who enjoyed getting to know our young leaders.
Both student principals shared thoughtful reflections about what makes Ardagh Bluffs such a special school. Meray shared, “What I like about our school is that we can learn and educate ourselves to the levels we are at. Ardagh is a great school because you get to have fun while learning, and that helps people feel included and welcome.” She also said that being a student at Ardagh is unique because she gets to work on passion projects and share them with others.
Evelynn agreed that the sense of connection at Ardagh is one of its strengths. She shared, “What I like about school is seeing my friends and teachers. We get breaks, and I like doing art and math when it’s easy.” She added that she feels treated fairly at school and loves seeing her friends every day, except on weekends!
When asked what changes they would love to see at Ardagh, both students had creative ideas. Evelynn suggested the addition of class pets, while Meray hoped students would show more kindness toward snow creations during the winter months.
Of course, no Principal-for-a-Day experience would be complete without a favourite moment. For Evelynn, the best parts were “getting to help the principal, eating pizza, and knocking on doors during the lockdown drill.” For Meray, it was impossible to choose just one highlight. She said, “The best part of being principal for the day was everything. I wish I was principal until I graduate…” A true leader in the making!
Ms. Robinson and Ms. Marjerrison were impressed by the professionalism, curiosity, and commitment shown by both student principals. They look forward to continuing this wonderful Ardagh Bluffs tradition and can’t wait to see who steps into the principal’s shoes next!
School Council
Valentine’s Day Dance-a-Thon
Thank you to everyone who supported our Valentine’s Day Dance-a-Thon by making pledges, pre-ordering candy, volunteering, or making purchases at the event. Together, we raised $1,257.44 for our school!
All funds raised will go directly toward supporting classroom needs.
Boston Pizza Celebrity Server Night
On February 11, our school hosted a fundraiser at Boston Pizza. A big thank you to our school staff and administration who volunteered as celebrity servers and hosts for the evening! From 5–8 pm, they served over 83 guests and helped raise $260.22 in food sales which will support clubs, activities, and student incentives.
Upcoming Fundraiser: Domino’s Raise the Dough Day
Date: April 1
Locations: All Domino’s locations in Barrie, Alcona, and Angus
Domino’s will donate $5 from every special back to our school. Please help spread the word to friends, family, and coworkers—anyone can participate.
Ardagh Bluffs Raise the Dough Special (Valid All Day - Offer Code: Dough)
$24.99 - 2 medium two-topping pizzas, 1 order of cheesy bread.
Thank you for supporting our school community!
Ardagh Bluffs School Council and Administration Team
Late to School and Early Pick Ups
Helping our students start each day ready for success begins with arriving to school on time. When students are punctual, they can ease into the morning routine, connect with peers and staff, and be fully prepared for learning from the very first bell. Similarly, regular early pick-ups can mean missing the important end‑of‑day routines that help students consolidate their learning, such as reviewing key concepts, clarifying homework, preparing materials for the next day, and celebrating accomplishments. By supporting consistent on‑time arrivals and end‑of‑day participation, we work together to help our students feel confident, organized, and ready to thrive each day.
Activities
Our junior girls basketball tryouts will be happening the first and second week of March. Students interested in trying out are welcome to attend. The season will begin after March Break.
With the assistance of one of our student council representatives, Mason, we are excited to share that we have just launched a Pickleball Club at our school! Students currently have the opportunity to meet once a week to learn about the sport, develop their skills, and enjoy friendly matches.
As our club continues to grow, we are working with a limited number of paddles and balls. If you happen to have extra pickleball paddles and/or balls at home and would be willing to donate them to our school collection, we would be most grateful for your support.
Thank you for helping us provide more opportunities for our students to stay active and engaged!
Mr. Ma and Mason
This month, the SCDSB is sharing information related to the below topics. To read this information, visit the SCDSB website.
● March Break
● Collection and use of personal student information (elementary)
● Applications for the SCDSB Umoja Award are open
● Dreams Delayed
● SCDSB offers free Self-Reg Parenting Course – registration now open!
● Managing stress
● Kindergarten registration for September 2026 is open!
● Licensed March Break school age child care programs
● Prom Glitz 2026
● Check out the SCDSB News video series
● Online math resources for families
● Parents/guardians invited to register for By Your Side, a free mental health webinar series
● Registration now open for summer eLearning!
● Summer eLearning opportunities for students entering Grade 9!
● March Break reminder: from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit