W.R. Best November 2024 Newsletter
Upcoming important dates at W.R. Best:
Nov. 1 – Mrs. Watson’s class to Barrie Escape Room
Nov. 5 – Gr. 8s to Eastview Secondary School
Nov. 8 – Picture Retake Day
Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day Assembly 10am – families and community members are welcome to attend but space is limited.
Please consider donating to the Poppy Fund: https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/donate-to-the-poppy-fund
Nov. 19 – Gr. 1-6 to Georgian College Theatre for Matilda Jr.
Nov. 19 – Barrie Colts Ticket Purchasing Deadline via SchoolCashOnline
Nov. 19 – Eat Well to Excel Day – see below for more info
Nov. 20 – Gr. 8s to Collier St. Church for Choir Performance
Nov. 22 – Anything But a Backpack Day!
Nov. 27 – Barrie Colts Visit WR Best! Wear Blue & White!
Nov. 28 – Gr. 6s to Great Moose Adventures
Nov. 29 – Gr. 7 Immunizations
Dec. 5 – Barrie Colts Night Out!
Dec. 12 – Parents’ Night Out – Holiday Edition!
Days of awareness: www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.
Principal’s Message
As we enter November, I want to take a moment to express gratitude for the wonderful community we’re building together. It was wonderful to meet so many families at our "Meet the Teacher" night this past month helping me to get to know the school community at large.
Changes are on the horizon for our school community and it's catchment and an online "Thought Exchange" and a public meeting will be coming up Nov. 12th to discuss the future of our school. Be sure to watch for these as this will be an opportunity to share your thoughts.
We have had a few issues on our school busses. I want to encourage you to talk to your children about the importance of remaining in their seat for the duration of the ride and not standing up, changing seats or moving to get off the bus before the bus comes to a complete stop. These things can cause a distraction to the driver and can jeopardies the safety of all those on the bus.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we’re creating a nurturing, vibrant environment where every student can thrive.
Ken Wilson
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Room 102 would like to say a special "Thank you" to the Piercey and Bacon family for bringing in special boxes to help with our Hibernation Investigations!
Exciting WR BEST Fundraising Events!...
- Popcorn Fridays!
For just $2.00 a bag, your child(ren) can enjoy a delicious, healthy snack every Friday! (or on Thursday if there is a PA day on Friday) Pre-order for the month via SchoolCashOnline. Cash purchases on Fridays also accepted. Flavours available are:
-White Cheddar
-Butter & Salt
-Dill Pickle
-Salt & Vinegar
-Sweet & Salty
All popcorn proceeds will go towards field trips, school yard improvements and the general needs of our school. Pre-order via SchoolCashOnline now for the month of November!
- #AxeTheAsks
School Council wants to simplify your life with our #AxeTheAsks fundraising campaign this year!
Based on the incredible response at the fall open house kickoff, we know the busy parents and guardians of our W.R. Best community would appreciate streamlining some of your giving by making a simple (and tax deductible!) cash donation to reduce the multiple requests from School Council throughout the year. It’s as easy as logging in to schoolcashonline.com and clicking on the “Make a Donation” button! Step by step instructions are included in the attached document in case of any questions.
If this donation campaign is able to raise our target amount of $8000 in the next few weeks (at least $24 for each student), it would reduce the need for many of school councils' fundraising requests such as basket donations and bids, chocolate and pizza fundraisers, etc. Please note other staff led fundraisers will take place over the course of the year.
These funds will be used to help pay for:
-student agendas
-sports equipment and athletic expenses
-field trip subsidies
-technology
-spring fair
Donate now to school cash online and #AxeTheAsks from School Council this year!
Thank you,
Your School Council
- Barrie Colts Night Out!
Please join the W.R. Best Community for our Barrie Colts Night Out on Thursday, December 5th!
We will be cheering on the Barrie Colts as they take-on the Flint Firebirds. Wear your hockey jerseys, Colts team colours or W.R. Best spirit wear!
Game time is 7 p.m., and tickets are $25 each. A portion of all ticket sales will be returned to W.R. Best as part of our fundraising efforts for the general needs of our school and our athletics department.
For families wishing to sit together, please make ONE order on school cash online. The number of seats ordered in one order will ensure your seats are together in our W.R. Best section.
Tickets will be distributed a few days prior to the game and will go home in your child’s agenda.
We look forward to seeing you at the game!
- Parents’ Night Out – Holiday Edition!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Do you want to go holiday shopping or out for dinner with no children? Do you want a night to yourself to relax and recharge? We can make it happen!
The Grade 8 class is doing some fundraising over the course of the year to offset the cost of the grade 8 trip and graduation. One of our fundraising initiatives is going to be Parents' Night Out: Holiday Edition, taking place on Thursday, December 12th, 2024. The Grade 8’s (and teacher supervisors) have graciously offered up their services to care for your children while you have a few hours to do whatever you like! WR Best students in grades K-5 are eligible to attend, and it will run from 4:30 pm- 7:30pm at W.R. Best School. We will have many fun Holiday activities, crafts and games planned for your child(ren)! We will be providing dinner and a drink for your children (pizza & juice box) to be served at 5:00 pm which is all included in the cost. The cost is 25$ per student or 20$ per student if there are more than 2 students attending in a family. Attendees are encouraged to wear their holiday pajamas and bring slippers/indoor shoes.
Please fill out the form that will be coming home with students soon and return it to your child’s teacher by MONDAY DECEMBER 9th, 2024. Only 1 form per family is necessary. Payment is to be made using SchoolCashOnline. We will be capping registration at 100 students. Please indicate your child’s name, grade, and if they would like 1 or 2 slices of cheese pizza on the form.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
W.R. Best Grade 8 Students & Mrs. Flamino & Mrs. Watson
The below information is for SCDSB families for the month of November.
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/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: scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
Subscribe to Kindergarten Connections!
Will your child be turning four in 2025? If so, the SCDSB invites you to subscribe 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: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten
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 at scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch all of these weekly episodes!
The Indigenous Lodge at Eastview Secondary School opened with a special ceremony for students, staff, and community. Join us as we explore this new space designed to welcome and support students while encouraging learning about Indigenous culture and history. Creating spaces like these in SCDSB schools is how we are taking steps towards the ongoing process of Truth and Reconciliation. Watch this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=a_qhy_2SksA
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 scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/high_school_information_nights 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.
Grade 1 FI family information nights are held annually in advance of the application process for the following school year. This year, FI family information nights will be held in person throughout the month of November at the respective FI school locations. The designated Grade 1 FI site for our school is Forest Hill Public School. The information night for this school will be Tuesday, November 19th at 6:00pm.
The SCDSB board-wide electronic applications for the Grade 1 FI program for all sites will open Monday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Entry into the FI program is determined through a digitally randomized lottery system.
Math learning at home
Practice math anywhere with Math at Home, an online resource for parents/caregivers of SCDSB students from pre-school age to 16. This resource is updated monthly with games, problems, and number talk activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school each month.
In November, activities in school and on Math at Home may include grade-level tasks related to measuring objects and identifying and sorting shapes, figures, and angles.
Visit scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome to support your child’s math learning at home!
Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians with Pine River Institute (PRI)
Mental health and well-being continue 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 four webinars planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year. To join in this learning, please visit the SCDSB website to register: scdsb.on.ca/about/well-being___mental_health/pine_river_institute_learning_series
Emotional development
Dec. 5, 7-8 p.m.
Gain a new perspective on how children maturate and its significance for mental health. Learn how Pine River views social and emotional development as crucial to well-being.
Learn more about PRI by visiting their website at pineriverinstitute.com.
Nov. 19 is Eat Well to Excel Day in Simcoe County
Eat Well to Excel is a Simcoe County non-profit community partnership that supports our school’s student nutrition program. The funding provided by Eat Well to Excel allows us to supply students with access to healthy snacks during the school day.
The pandemic and increasing food costs have caused a significant financial strain on many families in our region and new data shows that one in three kids in Canada are at risk of going to school hungry. Kids that are hungry struggle to retain knowledge and keep focused throughout the day. They are also at an increased risk of experiencing poor mental health and a compromised immune system. With your support we can maintain and hopefully improve our program to provide a consistent supply of healthy food to our students.
You can make a donation by visiting eatwelltoexcel.ca. You can either support the county-wide program or direct your donation to our school. Please include our school name in the comment box to ensure the donation goes directly to our program. A tax receipt will be emailed to you.
For more information about Eat Well to Excel visit eatwelltoexcel.ca.
I Read Canadian Day
I Read Canadian Day is celebrating it’s third year on Nov. 6, 2024. This day is a nationwide initiative that celebrates the richness, diversity, and scope of Canadian literature by encouraging individuals to read Canadian books for just 15 minutes. Schools, libraries, bookstores, and other organizations may host activities and events on this day to highlight Canadian literature. For more information visit ireadcanadian.com/day and sign up for free to participate.
A curated list of Canadian titles can be found on Sora, the SCDSB’s digital library. To access the desktop version visit soraapp.com/welcome or use the Sora app.
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in need of foster homes
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is in need of families in our communities to open their homes to children and youth requiring foster homes. By opening your home, you can make a difference in their lives by keeping them close to their family, school, and community. Help us keep kids close to home. If you or someone you know is interested in fostering, please visit familyconnexions.ca or check out a few of our videos to better understand what it takes to become a foster care provider: familyconnexions.ca/fostering-resources/.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.
Outdoor play
Active play supports development in many ways, especially when the play is outdoors, self-directed, and fun. Students can explore boundaries and problem-solve, develop social skills, resolve conflict, and practice controlling their emotions and behaviours. Active play outdoors in the fresh air and nature helps to improve mood and lower stress. Support your child in playing outside with friends in the neighbourhood and in your local green spaces.
For more information, visit simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/PhysicalActivity/Active-Play/After-School.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
November PA Day
Please note that Friday, Nov. 15 is a PA Day for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2024-25 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information: scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Nov. 15 elementary PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Communication to parents/guardians about student progress through
parent/guardian-student-teacher conferences
Host: Simcoe County District School Board elementary schools, including
Grades 7 and 8 in Grade 7-12 secondary schools
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): Elementary educators
Elementary educators will meet with students and parents/guardians to discuss student progress thus far this school year, including areas of strengths and next steps for improvement.
Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECE) (150 min.)
DECE staff will engage in learning to build their expertise in ensuring students receive the necessary foundational reading skills that are critical to future success. A portion of the time will be led synchronously by the Early Years team, and follow up work will be completed asynchronously.