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Viola Desmond Public School Week of September 28th
Viola Desmond Public School Week of September 28th
Main Office: 905 619 7400
Safe Arrival Line: 1-844-350-2646.
Please use the Safe Arrival line or School Messenger online reporting system to report when your child will be late, absent or getting picked up early.
Follow Us: Instagram and twitter: @violadesmondps
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Students are doing a wonderful job settling into school. it is so nice to see them reunited with their friends and back in class. They have learned new routines and are doing an admirable job of maintaining Covid-19 health and safety procedures. Please remind your child(ren) to wear their masks, physically distance and wash their hands often. Together, we can stay healthy and stay in school! Thank you, parents and guardians, for supporting our initiatives to follow the enhanced safety protocols.
As a team, we are committed to providing the best academic experience possible for students, supporting mental health and well-being, student voice and equity. Our teachers have been focused on assessment for learning and reviewing skills, while bringing new concepts and ideas into the classrooms. We are excited to share our classrooms with at our Virtual Open House on Thursday, October 1st. A follow up email and voice message will be sent to share additional information about the Open House.
As we settle into this "new normal," we encourage parents to consider attending our first School Community Council meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30 p.m. Please register at Violadesmondps@ddsb.ca if you would like to attend. Your voice also matters in shaping the school year and determining key priorities for our school community.
Email, online and telephone messages will be our primary methods of communication. Please double check that you have updated your phone number and email addresses on the Parent Portal to ensure you are not missing important information.
We are looking forward to another wonderful week with your child(ren)!
Yours in Education,
Mrs. Brusselers and Mrs. Thomas - Administrative Team
Bell Times
Bell Times
8:35 a.m. - Morning Supervision Begins
8:35 a.m. - Morning Supervision Begins
8:45 a.m. - Entry Bell
8:45 a.m. - Entry Bell
10:05 a.m. - Staggered Morning Recess Begins
10:05 a.m. - Staggered Morning Recess Begins
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lunch *Please note: Students going home for lunch must stay home for the entire lunch hour
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lunch *Please note: Students going home for lunch must stay home for the entire lunch hour
2:00 p.m. - Staggered Afternoon Recess Begins
2:00 p.m. - Staggered Afternoon Recess Begins
3:10 p.m. - Dismissal
3:10 p.m. - Dismissal
Update for Virtual School Waitlist
Update for Virtual School Waitlist
We understand that some of you are considering a transfer to the virtual school, DDSB@Home, and other families are currently on the waitlist
For anyone wishing to transfer from in-person to virtual learning, this will take place on November 16, 2020. This is the time that students receive their Progress Report and is a natural break in the term so that teachers can effectively assess students and assign grades.
Deadline to Request a Transfer
For us to re-staff classrooms by November 16, 2020, you must inform the Durham District School Board no later than October 5, 2020 if you would like your child(ren) to switch to DDSB@Home.
Please note: Requests received after this date will be placed on a waitlist closing January 7, 2021 for a transfer to take place at the start of Term 2 on February 1, 2021.
How to Request a Transfer
You can request to be added to the waitlist by logging into the parent portal, clicking the DDSB@Home Waitlist button in the navigation menu.
You may call the office and speak to Mrs. Gill or Mrs. Hindle, who will process your request for the Board.
If you have any questions, please call the office before October 5th at 905 619 7400.
Meet the Teacher Night - Virtual Edition
Meet the Teacher Night - Virtual Edition
On Thursday October 1st, you will be invited to meet your child’s teacher through a Google Meet. It will be a different type of night but our staff has tried to create a version so you can see your child’s classroom and meet them in person.
On Wednesday, teachers will be sharing with you the link for their google classroom where you will find the video of the classroom message and a link for the google meet where you will meet their teacher virtually on October 1. Since many of our families have more than one child we have created a schedule when the teachers’ Google Meet Links will be live.
Kindergartens will be from 5:00 to 5:20
Primaries from 5:20 to 5:40
Juniors from 5:40 to 6:00
Intermediates from 6:00 to 6:20
It is important that you remember it is not a time to discuss your child’s progress for other families will be coming in and out of the meet, but rather to say hello and put a face to a name.
It will also be an opportunity to access the google classroom where your child’s teacher will be sharing information throughout the year.
Looking forward to seeing you on October 1st.
Late Student Arrival Steps
Late Student Arrival Steps
for students arriving after the entry bell at 8:45 a.m.
1. Ensure Self-Assessment Tool has been completed.
2. Ensure student is wearing a mask. (Students in grades 4-8 mandatory, students in K-3 strongly encouraged).
3. Students are to line up outside of the front entrance near the kindergarten playground, physically distanced on line markings of 2 metres each.
4. **ONLY students may enter building.* Staff will open door for student to enter.
5. Sanitize hands upon entering the building.
6 Students will enter the office one at time to get a late slip. A staff member will accompany students in Kindergarten to grade 1 to the office and to their classroom.
7. Student takes late slip to show their teacher and then dispose of the late slip in the recycling bin.
8. **IF accompanying parent or guardian to student has an appointment scheduled, they must sign in to Building Access Sign In Sheet and Sign out. Office Staff will open door for individual to enter.
9. Call 905-619-7400 or email ViolaDesmondps@ddsb.ca to make an appointment if need can not be met through phone, email or video communication.
Please Wear a Mask on School Property!
Please Wear a Mask on School Property!
Just a reminder to all parents and guardians, students in grades 4 to 8, to please wear a mask when on school property and especially when speaking directly with staff. This is to keep everyone healthy and safe.
Kiss and Ride Closed
Kiss and Ride Closed
School parking lots and drop off areas will be closed off with pylons to all non-bus traffic during the arrival and departure of buses.
Viola Desmond PS school parking lot will be for educational staff and childcare staff. All other vehicles are asked to consider parking in the neighbourhood near the school where signage allows for lawful parking.
No Lunch Cart
No Lunch Cart
Students are required to bring a litterless lunch and will ‘boomerang’ refuse home. All food containers are to be taken back home. Students are required to bring their own utensils and food sharing is NOT permitted. There will be no lunch or acceptance of lunch deliveries to the office due to enhanced safety protocols .
Daily Self Assessment
Daily Self Assessment
Students, with the help of parents/guardians are also required to complete a self-assessment of their health and symptoms of COVID-19 and must not enter the school if they are displaying any symptoms.
Hand Sanitizing and Handwashing Hygiene
Hand washing and sanitizing routines will be more frequent for our students. Staff will model, instruct and monitor hand washing and sanitizing.
Do we have your current contact information?
Do we have your current contact information?
It is important that we have the most up to date information in our system so we can communicate with you. If your current contact information is outdated, please send an email to ViolaDesmondPS@ddsb.ca with your child’s name and current mailing address, telephone numbers and email addresses for both parents or guardians. We appreciate your assistance!
It is important that we have the most up to date information in our system so we can communicate with you. If your current contact information is outdated, please send an email to ViolaDesmondPS@ddsb.ca with your child’s name and current mailing address, telephone numbers and email addresses for both parents or guardians. We appreciate your assistance!
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
- September 29th - SCC Meeting @ 6:30 p.m. *Please register at Violadesmondps@ddsb.ca to receive
- September 30th - Orange Shirt Day
- October 1st - Virtual Meet the Teacher Night
- October 2nd - The Terry Fox Run; Spirt Day: Wear Your Favourite Colour Day (Student Nominated)
- October 9th - Spirit Day
- October 12th - Thanksgiving
Orange Shirt Day - September 30th
Orange Shirt Day - September 30th
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’s account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’s account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
The date was chosen because children are back in school and teachers have time to plan, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the year.
The date was chosen because children are back in school and teachers have time to plan, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the year.
Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
Students are asked to wear orange t-shirts or any item with orange, to help us recognize the meaning of this day, and support our Indigenous communities.
Students are asked to wear orange t-shirts or any item with orange, to help us recognize the meaning of this day, and support our Indigenous communities.
VIslamic Heritage Month Events
VIslamic Heritage Month Events
On behalf of Muslim Educators' Network of Durham, we are happy to share this year’s Islamic Heritage Month series- virtual edition. Islamic Heritage Month provides itself as a meaningful platform highlighting the contributions and voices of Islamic communities, not only in Durham, but across the nation.
On behalf of Muslim Educators' Network of Durham, we are happy to share this year’s Islamic Heritage Month series- virtual edition. Islamic Heritage Month provides itself as a meaningful platform highlighting the contributions and voices of Islamic communities, not only in Durham, but across the nation.
This week's events include:
This week's events include:
- Islamic Heritage Month Launch - October 1st
- Family Fitness Night - October 8th
Some Dates of Significance
Some Dates of Significance
Yom Kippur (Judaism) - sundown on September 27-28
Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of communal and personal atonement for sins committed during the past year. Fasting and Prayer are central to this day.
Orange Shirt Day - September 30
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’s account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and community agencies to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.
October is:
Hispanic Heritage Month
Islamic Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
Women's Heritage Month
“If life had taught us anything, it was that you couldn't wait until everything was stable to find joy, because life was never stable.”
― Jagmeet Singh, Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected
Stay connected - Follow us on twitter @violadesmondps!
Stay connected - Follow us on twitter @violadesmondps!
Many parents have made inquiries about teaching and learning plans. We will do our best to provide resources and communications through our school twitter account (@violadesmondps) to keep you up-to-date.
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