Dear Owen Parents/Guardians,
What a way to start back in person! Two snow days in a row and loads of snow that the board and the city didn't anticipate. Thank you for your patience as we dug our way through school this week!
We had lots of shovelling happening including myself and other staff members to help clear the doorways and create paths to the bus loop as best as we can. The machines are in and board grounds personnel were clearing areas Friday evening. We hope more of the pavements and paths are cleared for Monday morning to return to a normal entry.
Please drop off children at their normal outside doors for 9:10 am. If your child will be absent please leave a message at
owenps@tdsb.on.ca.
Though the snow was enough the cause chaos in the city and disrupt our regular day, something good cam out of the day. We encouraged students to be creative and we did. We also had lots of snow and very minimal injuries during recess!
Here is what a parent sent us. This amazing piece of art was created by Haniya and Urvi in Grade 3, Jaidyn in Grade 5 and Ms Kuzic! Such a beautiful message too! You will see some other creative snow art below in the Student News.
See you on Monday!
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Message from the Ministry of Education
Please see the
message from the Minister of Education.
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Rapid Test Kits and Sick Kids PCR Saliva Tests
We are fortunate to be able to provide 2 Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for each student and staff. We are hoping to receive more in the future. Please use these only for students when they exhibit symptoms. If the first one is negative, do a test a few days before to confirm the results.
We will also be receiving more PCR tests soon. The tests will be only available to students and staff this time as kits are limited. Pick up at the school will be Monday/Wednesday/Friday at approximately 9:15 am. Kits can also be dropped off at Sick Kids directly.
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Daily Health App and Screening Tool
Complete the Daily Health Screening between midnight the night before school and 9:00 am the day of school. Staff will continue to check students QR codes at their outside entrance door in the morning.
Students whose daily screening did not clear will be sent to the office to do the Onsite Screening. A phone call home will be made to ensure their child is healthy enough to be at school and to remind parents to complete the screening before school.
For more information, please see the following websites:
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What If My Child Has Symptoms?
Should your child(ren) become sick throughout the day, they will wait for you in the Wellness Room until you are contacted for pick up.
PCR tests are now only available for students and staff. Your child will be given a saliva PCR test (while supplies last) from Sick Kids. Pick up will be on Monday/Wednesday/Friday. Children must stay home for 5 days if they or a household member has symptoms.
Students and staff will be provided two Rapid AntigenTests to use at home if they exhibit symptoms. Please reserve these for when students have symptoms at home.
Please bring the Back to School form attached to the email to the office when your child returns to school.
________________________________Transportation
Would you like your child to ride the bus?
If so, click here and see if you are eligible. If you are, send our vice-principal an email at jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca. He will then provide you with the application forms.
What should I do if the bus is late?
If the bus is late arriving at its stop, you can sign up for gps updates straight to your phone, or find out using your computer.
Sign up here and register within the parent portal. This will provide you with locations of the bus, delays, and when it might be arriving.
Due to many mitigating circumstances, the bus is sometimes late, and it is natural to become worried. Put your mind at ease by signing up for these alerts.
*Current riders can still sign up for these alerts as well.
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Owen Spirit Wear
In November all students received a Owen Dry Fit shirt sponsored by Barry Cohen. We are delighted that all students can show their Spirit every day!
Another way to celebrate Owen is by purchasing Owen Spirit Wear. Please see the attached for the sizes then go to School Cash Online to order. Orders will be available for purchase until February 11th, 2022. Students and parents can purchase items.
Go OWEN Go!
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OT/PT Parent/Caregiver Support Groups on January 26, 2022
After a successful first session in November, TDSB’s occupational therapists and physiotherapists are excited to offer our second support group session for parents/caregivers of students with special/complex needs. This month, there will be two sessions that will occur during the lunch hour (12:30-1:30pm) and after school (4-5pm) on January 26th, 2022. TDSB OT/PTs will provide a brief education session followed by an open forum where parents/caregivers of children with special/complex needs may ask questions and receive generalized strategies to support their child(ren). This month’s discussion will focus on “picky eating and healthy habits” and future sessions will occur in March and May 2022. Translated versions of the lunch hour and after school flyers may be downloaded by educators for distribution to families through the subfolder: Flyers – Jan. 26th; translation services may be made available by request – please refer to the flyers attached above for more details. We look forward to seeing you there!
For any further information, please contact Jocelyn Lai, Manager of OTPT at Jocelyn.lai@tdsb.on.ca ________________________________
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.
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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.
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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International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
Every year around 27 January, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. It was officially proclaimed, in November 2005(link is external), International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly.
The Holocaust profoundly affected countries in which Nazi crimes were perpetrated, with universal implications and consequences in many other parts of the world. Member States share a collective responsibility for addressing the residual trauma, maintaining effective remembrance policies, caring for historic sites, and promoting education, documentation and research, more than seven decades after the genocide. This responsibility entails educating about the causes, consequences and dynamics of such crimes so as to strengthen the resilience of young people against ideologies of hatred. As genocide and atrocity crimes keep occurring across several regions, and as we are witnessing a global rise of antisemitism and hate speech, this has never been so relevant.
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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!
Trivia Thursday during Remote Learning
Fun in the Snow
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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