Worsley Elementary School
31 40th St S., Wasaga Beach, ON, L9Z 1Z9
Office: (705) 429 –2552
Principal: Mr. M. McCain Vice Principal: Ms. J. Case Superintendent: Mr. G. Jacobs
SASE: J. Richard CLERK/STENO: P. Deschenes/D. Braid
Website: http://woe.scdsb.on.ca
Instagram - worsley_elementary
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Newsletter #3 November 2023
Character Trait for November: Courage
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“We do the right thing even when it’s difficult”
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2023-2024 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website:
School-Year-Calendar_2023-24
Kindergarten Drop off and Pick up
Please continue to work with our Kindergarten and EA staff as we receive and send home our youngest students safely and securely to parents each day. We ask you to continue to remain off school grounds during this time. Thank you.
*COVID deferred address updates
Families that enrolled in our school with address verifications that were “COVID deferred” should have received a number of emails from our office to bring in verification documents (birth certificate, proof of address) to support your child’s enrolment at Worsley ES.
The deadline to bring in these confirmation documents to the office is Friday, November 10, 2023.
If you miss this deadline, you will receive a call from the school and run the risk of being removed from our school enrolment.
Update your Contact Info
Parents/guardians will be asked to provide multiple contacts who will be available to pick up their child(ren) in the event that they become ill while at school.
End of day school bell update
Reminder of our bell changes: First bell at 3:40pm (K-2); Second bell at 3:45pm (3-8).
Early Dismissal
The office is an extremely busy place at the end of the day, so we ask that if you plan to pick up your child early for an appointment, you let the teacher know ahead of time as well as pick up your child prior to 3:30pm. If you arrive after this time, we ask you to please pick up your child at their regular dismissal location. Thank you for your continued support.
Dress for the weather
Sun, rain and snow won’t get in the way of our outdoor learning and recess times. Be sure to dress your child appropriately to be outdoors and have a change of clothes ready just in case!
Athletics
There are some new forms and processes for team athletes. If your child plays on a school sports team, (Gr.4-8,) please keep your eyes open for some new forms coming home for our ‘away’ games!
Worsley Parents are on Remind
For fast, one-way information on bus delays, inclement weather, and school events, send a text to (709) 800-8931 and text the message @worlseye
Lunchbox school lunch program
Once again, Worsley is happy to support our school lunch program through Lunchbox.
This year our first day of school lunches will be on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Our lunch days will be as follows:
Tuesdays - Subway
Wednesdays – Domino’s chicken
Thursdays – Domino’s pizza
Families can sign up for this through School Cash Online.
All orders must be in by 12:00 noon on Sunday for the following week, please be sure if ordering you complete all the steps and receive a receipt via email so you know your order has actually gone through. We have had a lot of students come and say their parents have ordered but if they are not on the lists sent to us by LunchBox on Mondays then they won’t be able to get any subs, chicken or pizza for that week.
Thank you again to all our Worsley ES School Council executive and voting members for your participation and support for our school this year!
Thank you to Sabrina Satira and Angie Orvis, our School Council co-chairs for 2023-2024.
Our next Worsley School Council Meeting will take place on Monday, November 6th in our school library at 6:30pm.
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Days of Awareness 2023-24
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Nov. 2 – I Read Canadian Day
Nov. 5-11 – Veteran’s Week
Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day
Nov. 20-26 – Canada History Week
Days of Awareness: www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion
Nov. 2 – Grade 4 Wye Marsh Visit
Nov. 2 – Primary Cross Country Fun Run @ WOE
Nov. 8 – I Read Canadian K-4 11am 5-8 1pm
Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day
Nov. 13 – World Kindness Day
Nov. 13 – Photo Retake Day
Nov. 15 – Grade 7 Immunization Clinic
Nov. 16 – Student Led Conferences (evening)
Nov. 16 – Student Led Conferences (daytime)
Nov. 17 – PD Day
Nov. 20 – Grade 1 French Immersion Information Night (6-8pm)
Please note that Friday, Nov. 17th is a PA Day for all 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.
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Nov. 17 PA Day:
Length: Full-day parent/guardian-student-teacher conferences
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.
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How to sign up for Parent/Teacher Interviews at Worsley ES
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We welcome and look forward to meeting with students and parents to discuss your child’s progress so far this term.
This year, Worsley ES will be scheduling appointments with teachers online through a tool called parentinterview.com. Parents will receive an email from the office early next week with information and instructions on how to access teacher schedules for appointments. Once shared, please do not share the access code with anyone outside of our school community.
The first date parents will be able to schedule appointments will be Wednesday, November 8th. Progress reports go home on Nov. 9th. The last date and time parents will be able to schedule appointments will be Wednesday, November 15th at 11:00pm.
Teacher schedules will vary depending on their availability, but staff will meet throughout the week after school, as well as into the evening of the 16th and the morning of the 17th which is a PA Day.
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Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
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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 WEST 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: https://scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
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New Safe Arrival system for SCDSB schools – call 1-888-885-8065 to report an absence
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The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has a new Safe Arrival system at elementary schools. This system will support us in continuing to improve our home-to-school communication process and streamline absence reporting. To report a student absence, call 1-888-885-8065. Callers will be prompted to identify the school before leaving a message. Parents should include the student’s name, teachers’ name, dates, and reason for the absence. When schools do not hear from a parent/guardian, and a student is absent, the school will call home to find out the reason for the absence. If you have questions about the new system, please contact the school office.
Worsley also has an attendance email [email protected] where you can report student absences and late arrivals.
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School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
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In order to receive delay and cancellation notifications, families can check the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or download the ‘BusPlanner Delays’ app from the Apple or Android app stores to receive delay notifications to their devices. Users would need to select Simcoe County STC as the transportation authority. The app will need to be forced closed, but you will be able to select your student(s) routes or school to receive delays.
The app will send a general notice for any cancellation in Simcoe County. You only need to know which ‘zone’ you’re in, so you would know which one to look out for in the app. You can find your student’s zone by visiting the School Bus Status page at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca and clicking the dropdown for the area you live in.
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Subscribe to Kindergarten Connections!
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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/childcare_before_after.
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Join us!A learning series for parents/guardians with Pine River Institute
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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.
Nov. 9, 2023 Understanding and managing screen time, part two - social media edition
Nov. 30, 2023 Helping parents align
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.
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Upcoming in-person Grade 1 French Immersion information sessions
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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 English and French.
Information sessions for families who are considering entry into Grade 1 FI for the 2024-25 school year will take place at Worsley ES on Monday, November 20th from 6-8pm in the Library and online applications will open in December 2023.
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.
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High school information events for Grade 8 students
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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.
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Parents’ Guide to Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting
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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 via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2urcm2tm.
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Licensed Winter Break school-age child care programs
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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, March Break, and during summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register.
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EarlyON Child and Family Centres
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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
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How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child developing?
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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!
Our digital ebook/audiobook collection contains over 4,000 titles waiting to be checked out by our SCDSB students. Students simply download the app, use their SCDSB login and start reading for free on their phone or tablet. The collection can be accessed at: meet.soraapp.com.
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Looking for Employment? Join Our Team!
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Curious about what employment opportunities are available at the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB)? The SCDSB is hosting several job fairs throughout Simcoe County during the month of November; come by and speak with one of our representatives at any of the following events!
YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka Employment Services (Midland)
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Job Seekers | YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka (ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca)
TRACKS Employment & Resource Service (Collingwood)
Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
TRACKS Employment Services - One-stop resource centre for Employment Ontario Services | Located in Collingwood and serving Georgian Triangle communities of Clearview, Wasaga Beach, and Town of the Blue Mountains
FOCUS Employment Services (Alliston)
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Job Seekers - FOCUS Community Development Corporation (focuscdc.on.ca)
Agilec Employment Services (Orillia)
Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023
12 to 5 p.m.
Employment Services - Agilec
For more information about employment opportunities at the SCDSB, visit: www.scdsb.on.ca/joinourteam.
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Nov. 28 is Eat Well to Excel Day in Simcoe County
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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 1 in 3 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.
Knowledgehook is a digital math assessment and practice tool that has been purchased for all K-10 SCDSB classrooms. This tool is accessible to students at home so that they can practice math skills, either assigned by their teacher or on their own. Ask your child about how they use Knowledgehook in class and learn more at: www.knowledgehook.com.
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Supporting oral language development at home
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Within the revised language curriculum, there is a focus on supporting students to acquire the knowledge and skills relating to the foundations of language. Oral and non-verbal communication are foundational components of language skills. Over the years, students develop their listening and speaking abilities using a variety of strategies and skills, including word choice and syntax, to become effective communicators.
Here are some ways you can support oral language development at home:
- Engage your child in conversations about things that interest them
- Talk to your child and listen responsively
- Ask and answer questions
- Share oral stories
- Read aloud to your child
- Talk about the books you read together
- Singing and playing together
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Mental health promotion strategy of the month
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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 Let It Go. This practice helps students focus their attention, calm feelings of anxiety, and manage stress. To practice Let It Go at home, have your child/youth sit comfortably and take a deep breath. Share the following exercise with your child/youth:
- ●Use your fingers to gently massage the top of your head
- ●Still in massaging motion, bring your fingers to your forehead, eyebrows, temples, around your eyes, cheeks, and jaw
- ●If you notice tension anywhere – let it go
- ●Finally, massage each of your ears and end by gently pulling your earlobes
Keep in mind to take your time with each area, especially where you hold the most tension.
Practicing Let It Go can be done any time of the day or at regular times, such as at mealtime or before bed. You may try this technique on your hands using a massaging motion to focus on each finger, thumb, and palm. Consider doing Let It Go with your child/youth to model the strategy.
Visit the links below for Let It Go posters from School Mental Health Ontario:
Elementary - https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SEL-Posters-Let-It-Go.pdf
Secondary - https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SEL-Posters-Secondary-Let-It-Go.pdf
Find more easy and fun mental health activities to do at home visit: https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/easy-and-fun-mental-health-activities-for-home/
Follow the mental health and well-being social media accounts (@SCDSB_MHWB) to see how well-being is being supported in our schools.
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Dental screening and services for kids ages 0-17
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Good dental health is an important part of your child’s general health. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Oral Health Community Program offers free dental screenings in daycares, schools, and health unit offices for children and youth aged 0 - 17 years. Dental screening can identify and inform families that their child has a dental concern.
Health unit staff can also help children/youth and their families access free preventive services and treatment through the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) Program. For more information regarding these services visit: www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/Dental.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit