Click Here to view the School Newsletter
For your convenience, we've provided the content from our October newsletter in plain text below.
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Greetings Ardagh Bluffs’ Families
Welcome to the month of October! September has come and gone quickly and we have had a busy start to the school year. During the month of September our school community worked together to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation followed by our annual Terry Fox National School Run Day on Thursday, September 25th. Thank you to all families who supported this cause by donating or participating in the run with our students. Our current total of funds raised is an impressive $4185.70 and we’re looking forward to our wrap up assembly! As a school, we also recognized Orange Shirt Day on Tuesday, September 30th and held a student-led assembly to recognize National Truth and Reconciliation Day. It was wonderful to see so many Ardagh families visiting the school for our Annual Fall Open House! We hope that you enjoyed visiting the school and your child’s educators all while enjoying the food trucks organized by School Council. Thank you to those families who purchased items at the Scholastic Book Fair. All profits raised from the fair go directly back to purchasing library books and items of the library.
As we begin the month of October, there are many important days to recognize. October is German Heritage Month, Canadian Islamic Heritage Month, Latin American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Women’s History Month. School staff have access to a wide range of materials to support teaching and learning about these months of recognition in their classrooms. Everyone is eager to see the beginning of food days, which begin on October 6th. Orders can be placed through School Cash Online. Our Picture Day for individual photos will take place on October 27th, with class photos scheduled on November 25th, which is also Picture Retake Day. Please be sure to say thank you to our Bus Drivers on October 22nd for Bus Driver Appreciation Day. We will also have a Spirit Day for those wishing to celebrate Halloween on October 31st. Students may wear costumes or Black and Orange if they would like to participate.
Our School Council has already been hard at work throughout the month of September! The 2024-2025 Council had their final meeting on September 24th. Our election and first meeting of the 2025-2026 Council will take place on October 1st. Please watch for various fundraisers on School Cash Online including: Fresh From the Farm, the Halloween Dance-a-Thon, Barrie Colts Tickets, hot lunch days, and popcorn days. Please also take a moment to visit our school’s website to review the 2024-2025 School Council Annual Report.
We would like to extend our appreciation to our families for your patience and support with this year’s return to school and throughout the school reorganization process. Wishing everyone another safe and learning filled month!
Ms. Robinson and Mr. Kirwan
Ardagh Bluffs Administration
Kiss N’ Ride Guidelines
Ardagh Bluffs has one Kiss n’ Ride, which is located off Summerset Drive.
Our Kiss n’ Ride is a busy place. We are very fortunate that we have a long kiss n’ ride that can hold many vehicles at once to unload students, as well as a second lane to keep traffic flowing.
It takes a collective effort from everyone to ensure we have a safe and efficient Kiss n’ Ride. Please remember the following guidelines when using our Kiss n’ Ride:
MOVE FORWARD!
PULL UP AS FAR AS POSSIBLE to either the end of the kiss n’ ride zone if no one is in front of you, or to the vehicle that’s stopped in front of you. Don’t leave large spaces between you and the vehicle in front of you. We can unload many students at one time if all the vehicles move forward before stopping.
If you’re waiting for your child, and a vehicle leaves in front of you, please pull up so additional vehicles can enter the Kiss n’ Ride. Don’t leave empty spaces in front of you if you’re just waiting.
NO PARKING - STOPPING ZONE ONLY. The kiss n’ ride is designed for a quick drop off or pick up area. Please transition children in or out of your vehicle in a timely manner to ensure our kiss n’ ride remains efficient. Ideally, parents/guardians should not exit vehicles. If you must get out to support your child(ren) exiting the vehicle, please do so in a timely manner. If it will take you more than a minute to unload your child(ren), please park elsewhere and walk your child to the school yard.
STUDENTS EXIT CURBSIDE. Students should only exit their vehicle on the curbside of the vehicle while in the kiss n’ ride. We have a second lane where traffic is flowing, which could cause a safety risk for students exiting on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
LEFT LANE IS FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC. Please leave the left lane of our kiss n’ ride open for through traffic. Never stop to load or unload students in the left lane as that can be extremely dangerous.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE UNATTENDED. Vehicles are not to be left unattended at any time while in our kiss n’ ride. If you are intending to watch your child in the school yard after you drop them off, please park your vehicle elsewhere. At the end of the day, we ask that you remain in, or beside, your vehicle while you wait for the dismissal bell to ring. Please instruct your child(ren) to proceed directly to your vehicle after the bell so you can depart the Kiss n’ Ride and let other vehicles enter.
SLOW SPEED. Please don’t speed into, or drive fast out of, the Kiss n’ Ride zone. We have many students/families in the vicinity that depend on drivers being diligent and aware of their surroundings at all times. As a driver, you must be able to stop your vehicle within inches. Please go at a speed that will allow you to do so.
PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE. At peak times (9:10 - 9:20 am and 3:30 - 3:50 pm) our Kiss N’ Ride is a very busy place. It may take you some time in line, but please know that everyone will eventually make their way to the drop off/pick up area. Please instruct your child(ren) to wait by the Kiss n’ Ride fence until you can make your way into the Kiss n’ Ride.
PEDESTRIANS USE RAINBOW CROSSWALK: Students and Parents/Guardians are asked to use our rainbow crosswalk any time you are walking to, or from, our main parking lot. Please don’t cross our Kiss N’ Ride where vehicles are dropping off students - this is extremely dangerous as we have vehicles moving through this area and not expecting pedestrians to be walking across our kiss n’ ride lanes.
Parking Lot - Wright Drive
Ardagh has a secondary parking lot that is located off Wright Drive. This parking lot is designated primarily for Staff parking and for SEEDS Daycare.
This is NOT designed to be a Kiss n’ Ride. We only have one Kiss n’ Ride and that is located off Summerset Drive.
Due to safety concerns for students and parents/guardians who are walking in this area, this parking lot will be closed to unauthorized vehicles. There will be pylons positioned at the entrance to remind drivers that this is a restricted area.
Parents/Guardians who are dropping off or picking up a child from SEEDS daycare are still permitted to use this parking lot as long as you have a valid parking pass that you will display on your vehicle dashboard.
Parents who need to drive their child to and from school are asked to follow the City of Barrie parking and stopping by-laws in and around our school and side streets. Click Here for the map that was provided by the City of Barrie to help us understand the parking restrictions on city streets around the school.
Kindergarten Students using Summerset Drive Kiss N’ Ride
Morning Drop Off: If Kindergarten students are being dropped off using the Summerset Drive Kiss N’ Ride, we will have an older student or adult walk them to the Kindergarten Yard. Please inform a staff member upon your arrival that your child will need to be accompanied to the Kindergarten Yard.
Afternoon Pick Up: At the end of the day, if you are going to be picking up your Kindergarten student at the Summerset Drive Kiss N’ Ride, one of the staff members will walk your child over to the Kiss n’ Ride shortly after the bell. Please inform your child’s educators if you would like this to be arranged.
If Kindergarten students have older siblings in our school that would like to pick them up at the end of the day and walk them over to the Summerset Kiss n Ride for pick up, they are more than welcome to retrieve their sibling after the bell.
School Council Updates
Barrie Colts School Visit
Tuesday, October 7th, 2025
9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Guest Speaker is Adam McConnell from the Barrie Colts organization. He has been in charge of game day operations, school visits and group sales for the last 3 years.
Students who bring Barrie Colts Wear (e.g., hats, shirts) can get those signed by the players at the end of the assembly.
Barrie Colts Game Night
Join us on Saturday, October 25th, 2025 for the Barrie Colts vs. Kitchener Rangers game! Our choir will sing "O Canada" before the puck drops at 7:30 PM.
Please select the number of tickets you'd like to purchase on School Cash Online. A portion of each ticket sold supports our school. The deadline to buy tickets is Monday, October 20th, at 11:59 PM. Tickets will be distributed October 22-24th.
Until October 15 – Bradford Greenhouse Bloom Rewards
Shop at Bradford Greenhouse until October 15 and donate your points to Ardagh Bluffs PS. Proceeds will support general school needs, technology, DEI initiatives, and school enhancements.
Thank you for your support!
Until October 17 – Fresh From the Farm Fundraiser
Support our Fresh From the Farm Fundraiser and enjoy fresh, Ontario-grown produce. 40% of sales go directly to athletics, clubs & activities, and Eat Well to Excel.
Available Bundles (online only - link provided):
- 14 lb Vegetable Bundle – 5 lb potatoes, 3 lb sweet potatoes, 3 lb carrots, 3 lb onions – $22
- 8 lb Apple Bundle – 8 lb Ambrosia apples – $2
- Orders must be placed through this link (not available throught School Cash Online) - Click HERE
- Deadline: October 17 at 11:59 PM — no exceptions.
A minimum of 40 bundles are required per school. Delivery will occur between November 3 and December 4. We’ll be notified 10 days in advance of the exact date.
October 31 – Halloween Dance-a-thon & Treat Sale
Our School Council will host the annual Halloween Dance-a-thon and Treat Sale on Friday, October 31.
The following items will be available for purchase:
- Glow Bracelets $0.50
- Sour Keys $0.50
- Gummy Worms $0.50
- Candy Strips $0.50
- Candy Bracelets $0.50
- Halloween Themed Ring Pops $0.50
- Regular Ring Pops $1.00
- Popcorn $2.00
■ Pre-orders: Kindergarten–Grade 3 students should pre-order on School Cash Online by 9:00 AM, October 29.
■ At the Dance: Junior/Intermediate students may purchase treats (CASH ONLY).
Funds raised will support athletics, school needs, DEI initiatives, and school enhancements. Families are also encouraged to pledge through the Dance-a-thon Pledge Form on School Cash Online.
https://simcoecounty.schoolcashonline.com/
Parade: Kindergarten students will also participate in a parade that will be viewed by our Grade 1-8 students and staff.
Dance Schedule:
- K–3: 9:45 – 10:50 AM Gr. 4–6: 11:45 AM – 1:10 PM Gr. 7–8: 2:05 – 3:30 PM
October 31 is also Spirit Day! Students may wear costumes or black and orange.
INFORMATION AND UPDATES FROM THE SCDSB
Information and updates from the SCDSB:
This month, the SCDSB is sharing information related to the following topics:
-
Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
-
Safe Arrival program
-
School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
-
Halloween reminder - Culture is not a costume
-
DELF registration is now open! Join the parent/guardian info session to learn more
-
Check out the SCDSB News video series
-
Attend a Grade 1 French Immersion information session this November!
-
School council members invited to network and engage at orientation event
-
Online math resources for families
-
Enabling multi-factor authentication on student devices
-
SCDSB Anti-racism Statement
-
The benefits of walking or wheeling to school
-
October PA Day
To read this information, visit the SCDSB website