Owen Family Update - Week of January 10th 2022

Dear Owen Parents/Guardians,

Congratulations parents!  You made it through the first week of remote learning.  As staff, parents and students learn to troubleshoot the technical difficulties, we all learn how to access resources and be patient through these trying times.

We would like to thank all the staff, parents and healthcare workers who are juggling work and families while support our kids through their learning. We appreciate the support you are providing at home.  Please let us know if there are ways we can help.

Like it did before, the process gets smoother and our goal is to maintain a routine and enjoy the experiences that can't be done in person.  Let's take advantage of these unique times and see how creative we can get.

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Elementary Switch Form

The Switch Form for elementary students (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8) will be open until 11:59 pm today. Families and students who do not wish to make a change do not need to complete a form. Classes will reflect changes due to switches beginning on February 22, 2022.  

For more information, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/switchform.

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School Closure During Remote Learning

The school will be closed during remote learning, including the office.  Most staff will be working off site.  Phones will not be answered but messages will be picked up throughout the day.  If there are items you need picked up, please email your teacher and we can have it arranged to be picked up at a scheduled time.  

Please continue to email owenps@tdsb.on.ca if you child will be absent.

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Lates During Remote Learning

Our school day will take place as usual and will begin at 9:10 am.  Attendance will be taken during that time.  After morning announcements, the attendance will be closed and teachers will be in their online classrooms teaching. Any students not in the classroom meet will be considered absent at this point.

Normally late students would be coming to the office to get a late slip but we are unable to do this online.  Teachers will be notifying the office of the lates during natural breaks (am recess, lunch and pm recess).  At this time, the office will change the attendance from ABSENT to LATE.

Everyone late WILL receive the safe arrival automated calls.  Unfortunately, we cannot prevent the automated calls from going out.  Please respond to the calls to avoid the multiple tries from the system.

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Remote Learning IT Supports

If you are having difficulties connecting, please check with the Student Virtual Learning IT Support.  These staff are technology experts and would have a better sense on how to solve the issues.  Keep this contact handy as you can check the FAQs, send a question or call an expert.

Morning Announcements will continue as usual at 9:10 am.  Due to the large numbers, most students will be viewing the morning announcements through their Google Classrooms.  Teachers will let their students know if they need to join directly.  To join the Morning Announcements please have your child sign in with their TDSB student credentials at: 

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93756047531?pwd=aE5WaTVIZ0UzMW9WRDNOa0JJN0RFdz09 

Meeting ID: 937 5604 7531

Passcode: 748585

Only TDSB credentials will be allowed to sign into the meeting. For technical support for TDSB students you can go to Student Virtual Learning IT Support.

Zumba and Drawing with Ms Lupita will continue again this year.  Our students will love getting active to music and developing skills to draw their favourite pictures.

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Kindergarten Registration

Registration for all TDSB Regular Kindergarten programs begins in February.  Families have the option of registering their child online using the PowerSchool Enrolment module at www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten or via a virtual  (Zoom/Google Meet) face-to-face meeting with their school (by appointment).  

New this year is the French Immersion Junior Kindergarten registration.  French Immersion caregivers will have completed the application process for their child(ren) to enter the French Immersion program.  French Immersion registration information will be emailed directly to the caregiver from TDSB Registration (noreplyregistration@powerschool.com). Please note a virtual (Zoom/Google Meet) face-to-face with the French Immersion school by appointment may also be an option. They are NOT to use the New Student Registration link.

Regardless of which process caregivers select, a virtual meeting with the school (via Zoom or Google Meet) will be required to validate registration information.

For more information please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth .

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Middle French Immersion Application & Timeline

For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide Middle French Immersion Program (begins in Grade 4), we offer an online process to apply. To apply for the Middle French Immersion Program (Grade 4 entry) for September 2022, applications must be completed online between January 3 and January 28, 2022.

 

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.

Please note: Families with an older sibling currently enrolled in a French program and who will be in attendance next year are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Please select the “sibling option” within the online application.

 

For more information about the Middle French Immersion (Grade 4) application process, please join us for a Virtual Webinar Session on one of the following dates: 

DATES, TIME & LINK TO WEBINARS	ALTERNATE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
January 13, 2022 – 1 pm    CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 13	Webinar ID: 965 0951 9491 Phone one-tap: Canada: +6475580588,,96509519491# or +16473744685,,96509519491#  Dial: Canada:+1 647 558 0588 or +1 647 374 4685
January 17, 2022 – 7 pm    CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 17	Webinar ID: 998 7090 8992 Phone one-tap: Canada: +16473744685,,99870908992# or +16475580588,,99870908992#  Dial: Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

Information about the Middle French Immersion Program is available in multiple languages. For details, please see the information package. For more information about French programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french or click on Application Process.

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True Roots Check-In and Chat

True Roots proudly facilitates discussions to shatter the shame and silence of the Black Community's mental health experience.  Please click on the link below to explore this topic further

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Tamil Heritage Month

Tamil Heritage Month is recognized nationally since October 2016, provincially since March 2004 and by the Toronto District School Board since January 2016.    The month of January was chosen as it coincides with one of the most important celebrations for Canadians of Tamil heritage, the Thai Pongal harvest festival. Millions of Tamil people around the world irrespective of their religion celebrate Thai Pongal and offer thanks for an abundant harvest.    

Below is a poster created by TDSB Students last year.   

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       Student News

See what our students have been up to lately at Owen!

Live Morning Announcements with our Announcers:

Nigel, Tanner, Karina and Wynn

Friday Fun Dance Video

'Bluetiful' Picasso inspired cubist guitars from Grade 2s

If you have photos, student work or family activities you would like to share on the Owen Online for next week, please email them to jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca.

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