Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! Please find the James Strath Public School monthly newsletter for September attached to this message. Have a wonderful start to the school year.

The attached file contains instructions for how to register for School Cash Online.

This is the Plan of Care form for:

• Anaphylaxis

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school. Additional forms may be picked up in person at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

This is the Plan of Care form for:

• General Health Concerns (not Anaphylaxis, Epilepsy, Type I - Diabetes, or Asthma)

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school. Additional forms may be picked up in person at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

This is the Plan of Care form for:

• Type 1 Diabetes

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school. Additional forms may be picked up in person at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

This is the Plan of Care form for:

• Asthma

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school. Additional forms may be picked up in person at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

This is the Plan of Care form for:

• Epilepsy

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school. Additional forms may be picked up in person at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

For the 2018-2019 school year,  we have moved to creating an individual Plan of Care for students with medical needs (formerly Individual Emergency Response Plan).

There is a separate Plan of Care for students in the following five areas:

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Diabetes – Type 1
• Epilepsy
• General Health Concerns – for all other Health Concerns

The Plan of Care forms for each of the five areas can be found on our school website. If completed electronically, you can send the forms to Mr. Gennings at matthew_gennings@kprdsb.ca. You may also print the form and then submit it to the office at the school.

Please contact Mr. Gennings with any questions you may have about the form or the process  via e-mail or by phone at 705-742-8090.

Through ministry funding, KPR has registered for Voilà Live Online homework help in French, Math and English, and a special interactive game-based site for practicing French. Voilà Learning is available to students from K-12 in Core, Extended and Immersion programs. The platform and live help are accessible Mondays through Thursdays from 5-8 pm from October 1-May 31.

Please find the welcome letter that includes the access code needed to create your child’s account attached to this message. Technical instructions and how to access help can be found in the next message on our website. 

Please find the Voilà Learning Access Guide attached to this message.

Please find the James Strath Public School Newsletter for October attached to this message.

Have a wonderful month!

Please find the meeting minutes for the James Strath School Council meeting in May 2018 attached to this message.

Please find the James Strath Public School monthly newsletter for November attached to this message. Have a wonderful month!

Please find the James Strath Public School newsletter for December attached to this message. Have a wonderful month and a safe and happy holiday season!

Please find the James Strath Public School Newsletter for January 2019 attached to this message.

Have a wonderful start to the new year!

New Phone Number, Web Address, Phone App Coming for Reporting Absences

At KPR, student safety is our highest priority, and we thank families for adopting the automated safe arrival system to help ensure students arrive safely at school each day. 

Starting this September, we will be introducing a new automated Student Absence Reporting System.  Therefore, you will need to create a NEW account to report your children’s absences online. 

You will receive an email in August with instructions on how to create your new account and download the mobile app.  You also will receive a magnet in September with the new Student Absence Reporting System details.  Unfortunately, since ownership of the reporting software has changed, we cannot simply transfer your child’s information to the new system.

Watch for more information in the summer.

Many parents and guardians have been wondering what effect the legalization of marijuana will have on  KPR schools. In short, KPR schools will treat cannabis in much the same way they treat alcohol: students of any age will not be allowed to use marijuana at schools, on school buses or field trips. 

 Once the new federal law comes into effect this October 17:

• non-medical marijuana use will be legal only for those age 19 and older 
• any student, at any age, could be suspended for possessing or being under the influence of cannabis at school
• any student who shares marijuana with others younger than 19 could be expelled from school
• it will be illegal for adults to use cannabis on, or within 20 metres of, school grounds
• it will be illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, and drivers age 21 or under will not be allowed to have any cannabis in their system.

 If you have any questions about cannabis at school, please speak with your principal or vice-principal.  Further information on the new law is available at Ontario.ca/cannabis.  Information on how to talk to your child about cannabis can be found at Cannabis Information – CAMH.

KPR wishes everyone a happy holiday. We hope that this time allows for some much needed rest for students, staff, parents and guardians, and allows families opportunities to celebrate together.

While the holidays can be joyous, they can also be difficult for some.  We wanted to provide families with some resources you may find useful over the holiday season. Our mission is that all students remain safe, and this includes their mental and physical well-being.

Mental health is a state of well-being; it is relevant to all of us.  According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health crisis or illness.  It is important to us that we remind everyone to use resources that are accessible to all.  These include:

• the Be Safe App, a free mobile app that aims to help young adults make healthy decisions during a crisis; it can be downloaded onto cell phones from https://besafeapp.ca/
• Kids Help Phone, also available 24/7, at 1-800-668-6868 or text “CONNECT” to 686868
• Four County Crisis line, available 24/7 for Northumberland and Peterborough County residents at 1-866-995-9933
• Durham Mobile Crisis Services, available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis, at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
• Connex Ontario Mental Health Helpline, provides information about mental health services in Ontario 24/7, at 1-866-531-2600 or www.connexontario.ca
• Ontario 211, a free helpline that connects people to community and social services in your area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 2-1-1.

Your family also has access to your closest hospital, as well as to regional supports serving specific areas of KPR.

Let's keep our mental health and the mental health of those we love and care about in the forefront.  We encourage you to use community support services if you ever find yourself or someone near and dear to you struggling and in need of assistance.

Once again, we wish everyone season’s greetings, a Merry Christmas, and safe holidays.

New Kindergarten families are invited to attend one of our five, free upcoming regional Kindergarten Information Sessions.  Current Kindergarten families are also welcome to attend.   Parents and caregivers will learn about the Kindergarten Program and the new provincial Kindergarten report card.   Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with community agencies and partners that serve families, and together, we will provide strategies to help prepare your child for Kindergarten and support your child at home.  

January 29th - Brighton Public School

January 30th - C.R. Gummow Public School

February 5th - Harold Longworth Public School

February 7th - Duke of Cambridge Public School

February 12th - Roger Neilson Public School

All sessions are 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

http://kprdsb.ca/content/dam/kpr/documents/KindergartenParentInfoSession2019.pdf

Starting high school in September? We invite current Grade 8 students, parents and guardians to join us at Grade 8 information nights to learn about the variety of programs available to help learners meet with success.

Several schools have already held their open houses; parents can contact those schools directly for program and registration information. Contact information is available in the Find A School section of www.kprschools.ca

The following open houses are coming up:

              Bowmanville High School, Bowmanville – January 16, 6 p.m.
              Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute, Peterborough – January 16, 7 p.m.
             Clarington Central Secondary School, Bowmanville – January 17, 6 p.m. 
             Courtice Secondary School, Courtice – January 17, 6:30 pm.
              Port Hope High School, Port Hope – January 17, 6:30 p.m.

Grief Resources

Is your child experiencing loss and grief?  Here are some resources recommended by our School Board Counsellors:

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/grief.html

Do you have concerns about your child’s social, emotional or mental health that may be hindering their ability to thrive at school?

KPR schools have skilled clinicians who can support your child and you in finding answers. School Board Counsellors have professional degrees and specialize in work with children, youth and families. Please contact your School Principal for more information.

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/schoolboardcounsellorservices.html

Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being.  Students experiencing mental health issues may have problems with mood, focus, behaviour and their ability to relate to peers, maintain friendships, do well in school and participate in activities.

But where can parents and guardians go for help if they are concerned about their child's or teen's mental health?  For more information, and suggestions for helpful resources, visit: 

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth.html