Sunday, 6 November 2022

Owen Family Update - Week of November 7th 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Our week began with lots of Halloween fun!  Students were involved in activities related to Halloween and many dressed up as their favourite characters.  We had some amazing pumpkins entered for the pumpkin contest.  They are currently displayed in our front hallway for all to enjoy! Our Halloween Door contest winner will also be announced soon. It was nice to see the children laugh and enjoy these types of events at school. You can view some of the photos below in the Student News.

As the week progressed, there were many questions around the CUPE job action.  Our CUPE staff include our wonderful office administrator, caretakers, early childhood educators, special needs assistants, educational assistant and our lunchroom supervisors.  These are all educators who work hard to keep our kids safe in a clean school and help maintain communication between the school and home.  Negotiation time is always a difficult time fore everyone and we appreciate your support and patience throughout this time.  

As of now, the school is closed to students for in-person learning on Monday.  We will be using this time to prepare for synchronous learning as we wait for direction from the board.  Teachers will be emailing parents inquiring about families who do not have online access at home and require a device from school.  We will be asking parents to sign for any device that is going home (device and charger) to ensure everything is returned in good working order.  The approx replacement cost for devices is $500. Please wait for more information tomorrow from your teacher and admin.

As information is given by the minute, please continue to watch the news, check the TDSB Website, follow @tdsb on Twitter and look for an email from the board, for the most up to date information.  We will send out an email with further information once we know.

As we have no secretarial staff in the office, the phones will not be answered.  If you have a question for the office, please email either Caroline or Hella and we will get back to you as soon as we are available.

~ Your Friendly Neighbourhood Admin Team

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Thank-You to Our Wonderful Volunteers!

What would we do without you?
  

Whether they are reading with children, shelving books in our library, gardening, or serving pizza lunches, volunteers help make Owen Public School a special place where students can thrive!  Our school council is always looking for helpers!  There are all sorts of opportunities to fit any schedule.  If you have even a few hours to spare, please complete this Google Form.

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Lunch and After School Programs - Postponed

Our lunch and afterschool programs have started and kids are very excited to be involved.  Due to the PA Days, holidays or job action, any missed classes will be made up during our make up period.  Information will be provided at a later date.

 

Here are the pick up/drop off procedures:

 

Lunch


Before program –  Students will come meet their providers when the bell rings and together they can go to their classrooms or meet the providers directly in the classroom.  

 

After program  – Students can return to their classrooms on their own once the bell rings.

 

After School

Before program - For the first session, all providers can meet in the hallway in front of the office at 3:35 pm.  Kindy staff will bring their JK/SK students to the providers.  Gr 1-5 students will come meet their providers when the bell rings.  Together they can go to their classrooms.

 

After program –

Providers will bring students to the hallway in front of the office and wait with students. 


For students who go to childcare, childcare will come by to pick up their students.


For students who are being picked up by parents, providers are to hand off students to their parent/guardian at the front doors (Door 1). Parents will need to wait for students outside as the office will be closed.  Due to safety for the childcare, parents cannot be in the halls of the school. At this time of the day, providers are fully responsible for the students’ safety and return to parent/guardians. Any late pick ups are to be dealt with directly between provider and parent.  Students cannot be left in front of the office unattended.


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Hot Lunches (Optional) - Postponed

Hot Lunches will be postponed due to the CUPE job action.  A credit will be given for any missed days.  If you have any questions, please contact the providers directly as payment is done directly through the providers.


If you would still like to order, please see below.

1) HERO BURGER : LUNCH DELIVERY START DATE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2022
LUNCH DELIVERY END DATE: Monday, June 19, 2023

Kick Back to school: $0.25 per order

HERO BURGER Attachments: 
1) How to order Guide for Parents 
2) Parent Handout with ordering link
-Ordering is through the following link: www.lunchboxorders.net
-All orders must be placed 24 hours before delivery: 12pm (noon) on Sunday for Owen PS

2) KIDS KITCHEN: LUNCH DELIVERY START DATE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2022
Attachments 
1) Kids Kitchen Menu
2) Owen PS flyer for parents
-Ordering is through the following link: https://www.kidskitchen.ca
-All orders must be placed 10am, the previous business day of delivery

All lunch orders are done directly through the companies, not the school.


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Sick Kids Resources

Please see the following information below for access to healthcare.
  • SickKids Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care Program 
    • If your child (under the age of 18) is experiencing a non-emergency situation we are encouraging our school community members to utilize the SickKids Virtual Urgent Care Program SickKids Urgent Care Program website. As the SickKids Emergency Department continues to see incredibly high volumes, we have attached a helpful tool for parents to use when deciding which level of care is required for their child. 
  • SickKids Vaccination Centre for Children with Special Needs/Medical Complexities/Needle Phobia
    • The SickKids COVID-19 Vaccination Centre offers vaccines for select populations including children with special needs, anxiety, and needle phobia. Vaccine appointments are available for the various age groups from 6 months to 12+. To make an appointment please email mobile.vaccination@sickkids.ca
  • Vaccine Consult Service (VCS)
    • The VCS is a by-appointment phone service that provides a safe, judgment-free space to have an open conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine for children, youth, and those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive. If you have any questions in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine, please feel free to book an appointment with our SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service (VCS)! Visit sickkids.ca/vaccineconsults to book online or call 437-881-3505 (toll free 1-888-304-6558) to book over the phone (see attached flyer(s)).
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Digital Resources

One of the best places to find excellent digital learning resources for students is the Read Watch Learn page of the TDSB Virtual Library. 
 
Make sure your child is signed in with their TDSB username and password so they can press the orange password button to gain access to a wide range of digital books, audio books and research materials.
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About Catch Up Payments

You can get financial support to help with the costs of your child’s tutoring, supplies or equipment during the 2022–23 school year. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time payment of:

$200 for each student between kindergarten and Grade 12, up to age 18

$250 for each student with special education needs between kindergarten and Grade 12, up to age 21

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.EST.

Eligibility:
Who may apply
You are eligible to apply if you live in Ontario and are a:

-parent or guardian to a student from kindergarten to Grade 12
-secondary school student who is 18 years of age
parent or guardian to a student from kindergarten up to age 21 with special education needs

And

-go to a publicly funded school
-go to a private school
-go to a First Nation operated or federally operated school
are homeschooled

Both in person and remote learning students are eligible.

*Students of Adult and Continuing Education programs for individuals over 18 years of age are not eligible.

Definition of “special education needs”:
For the purposes of this payment program, a student with special education needs is any student receiving special education programs or services by their school board, or any student with a special education need.

APPLY:  
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Virtual Community Fair for Families/ Caregivers who have Children with Special Education/Complex Needs

This Community Fair is open to all families who have children with Special Needs attending TDSB schools.  This includes children who are  integrated in classrooms in our schools, attending our Intensive Support Programs (ISP) located in schools across the TDSB, as well as students in our Congregated Schools.

·   First session: Monday November 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
·   Second session: Monday November 14th from 5:30 pm to 8:00 p.m.

Please read the attached flyer for further details.
Along with TDSB support staff, Surrey Place, Community Living Toronto, Family Services Toronto, and Connectability.ca presenting at the fair.
The Zoom link is embedded in the flyer.  The Zoom link is also provided below, if families are unable to connect to the link in the flyer.  
 
TDSB Virtual Community Fair
When: Monday November 7, 2022 from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon.
           Monday November 14, 2022 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm           

Join Zoom Meeting
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98367378226?pwd=MW9yaDZTYnBoUTRmZEpGaXVmMVAxdz09
Meeting ID: 983 6737 8226
Passcode: 969515
One tap mobile
+16473744685,,98367378226#,,,,*969515# Canada
+16475580588,,98367378226#,,,,*969515# Canada
Dial by your location
        +1 647 374 4685 Canada
        +1 647 558 0588 Canada 
Meeting ID: 983 6737 8226
Passcode: 969515
If you have any questions, please contact Jill Elliott Brennan at Jill.ElliottBrennan@tdsb.on.ca 

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Early French Immersion Information:

Applications for Early French Immersion "must be completed online between October 31 and November 25, 2022. 

Please note:

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. 

Families with an older sibling currently in an Early French Immersion program are still required to complete an online application for the new student."

Visit the TDSB website for more information about Early French Immersion, Virtual & In-Person Information Sessions or the Application Process.


The first Information Webinar is on November 9, 2022  at 7 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON NOVEMBER 9


There will be another on November 16, 2022 at 10 am

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON NOVEMBER 16

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Next Pizza Lunch is on Thursday November 10th
The dates for Pizza Lunch are:

Thurs Nov 17 and 24
Thurs Dec 1 and 8

Thank you so much to the parent volunteers who came out to help with pizza lunch this past Thursday. We appreciate your hard work and dedication to the school. Our students were so happy. 
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Days of Significance

November is:

         



















  • Hindu Heritage Month

We are always looking for families to create displays in our front foyer to share their special cultural holidays.  If you would like to share your special holiday, please contact the office and we'll arrange a time for you and some students to help with the display.

Some Days of Significance in the coming week are:


If you have a particular day that you would like to bring our attention to, please contact hella.richter-glinos@tdsb.on.ca. 

The list of Days of Significance that the TDSB recognizes can be found by clicking the link.

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Student News

See what are students have been up to lately


Slide Show of Halloween festivities at Owen




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 hella.richter-glinos@tdsb.on.ca . 
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Please click here for the latest updates and newsletters.  


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