Learning to Soar! Go Eagles Go!
Congratulations to Our 2022 Central Park Graduates!
June is Pride Month
Please note that underlined items found on this site are hyperlinks.
Central Park School Council
Final Virtual SC Meeting:
Monday, June 6th - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register your attendance here.
Step 1: Parents/Guardians of Elementary students are required to complete on-line self-assessment COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool (please click on Check for Symptoms Daily) on a daily basis, prior to their child entering the school.
Visual Aid for COVID Symptoms and Guidelines
School Year Calendar
Central Park P.S.
Start-Up package please complete the digital sign-off forms.
EQAO Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics for Grades 3 & 6 will take place during the week of May 30th to June 3rd.
GSuites (Google) - Edsby - Online Payments - IT Support for Families - Translation Tools - Privacy Considerations - Attendance - Pathway Planner - ect...
Dear Central Park Families,
The following is a link to visual COVID symptoms and guidelines for students to supplement but not replace the provincial screening tool and its guidelines. It is offered in multiple languages for your convenience.
Visual COVID symptoms and guidelines for students: updated Jan 10, 2022
Regards,
Central Park Administration
Without question, this has been a year full of transitions. Our students, staff, and families have had to be flexible and adapt in the ways we learn, teach and work. This year, we took great efforts to abide by Public Health guidelines and ever-evolving safety routines. The well-being and mental health of our students has been at the forefront while adapting to new Hybrid learning environments. Over the course of the year, we have been able to welcome back over ninety-six percent of our students to in-person learning and continue to support students who continue to learn online. Throughout the many challenges that we have experienced this year, I am sincerely appreciative of all the collective efforts of our students, their families, and our Central Park staff members, specifically, teachers, office staff, and our caretakers. I have had the privilege to observe their incredible resilience, creativity, and perseverance in these very trying times.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our School Council Executive, under the leadership of Lawrence Chi, James Weir, Wendy Cronkwright, Maggie Calle, Sobi Ragunathan, and Betty Liu for their unwavering commitment over this extraordinary school year. We could not have kept the momentum going without their positivity and commitment. We are also so thankful to our School Council committee members for volunteering their time to meet regularly throughout the year. Central Park is so fortunate to have the support of the families who make CPPS such a special place to be a part of!
As we wrap up the school year at Central Park, I want to take the time to thank our school community for making 2021-2022 such a positive year! On behalf of the staff, I would like to thank the students for working so hard this year, and collectively demonstrating a strong sense of character, friendship, and commitment to their academics. To the families of our students, thank you for all of the support you have shown for your children and the staff at Central Park; we have enjoyed collaborating with you towards success for our students.
Thank you to the many volunteers who work within our school; your energy and commitment to student learning are important. Over the year, our volunteers and our school assistants have consistently demonstrated dedication to supporting our students and staff members. Each one of you makes a difference! We are always happy to welcome more volunteers at Central Park. If you would like to volunteer next year, please contact the school office or visit our school website to obtain the Vulnerable Sector Screening forms.
We would like to thank especially the Central Park staff for caring so much and for affecting our students in such a positive way. Our staff play a crucial role in supporting our students’ academic growth and wellbeing, as well as working with families to ensure our students are “future-ready!”
June is traditionally a time to say some goodbyes. We wish our Grade 8 Graduates well in high school and hope that they will remember their time at Central Park fondly. We will miss their presence and leadership in our school. We also need to say good-bye to some of our outstanding staff members. We would like to extend a sincere thank you and warm farewell to Ms. Liang, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Yu, Ms. Juarez, and Ms. Switzer. We wish them well as their careers progress. Ms. Kim, Ms. Juma, Ms. K. Lee, and Ms. Cayne will be off work next year on maternity/parental leaves and we wish them all the best with their growing families.
We also say farewell to Mrs. Braney who, after a long and distinguished career at Central Park, has decided to retire. Central Park has been extremely fortunate for her support of our students, the school, and the community for so many years. She has positively influenced so many students, families, and staff members. We wish her happiness and relaxation as she moves into retirement. Ms. Matheson will also be leaving Central Park, and we know that the students at Johnny Lombardi P.S. are fortunate that she will be joining their team.
In preparation for September, we want to welcome back Ms. Lung, Ms. Mark, Ms. Loo, Ms. Velauthampillai, Ms. Shaw, and Ms. Woods. We would also like to welcome Ms. Ho, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Chen who will be joining the Central Park teaching staff. I know that they will all fit in seamlessly as a part of our Central Park community.
Although June is a time for farewells, we look forward to a summer that will allow everyone to rest and rejuvenate for a safe return in September. On behalf of the staff at Central Park Public School, we wish all our families a safe and relaxing summer.
Once again, thank you for your partnership. We hope that you can enjoy your summer vacation. We look forward to seeing you on September 7th!
Best wishes to our Grade 8s. May you all continue to soar. Eagles, forever!
Please provide us with your feedback so we can continue to meet the needs of students and families.
YRDSB is inviting all students in Grades 7-12 and all families of students in Grades K-12 to participate in the 2021-22 YRDSB Student and Family Surveys between June 1-30, 2022. Surveys will be available online and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
The surveys will provide the Board and our schools with valuable information about the learning experiences of students and families this year. Results will be used to guide Board and school planning to support student achievement and well-being.
Students and families have been invited to complete their respective surveys by email. For your convenience, copies of the surveys are available on the Board website. The Family Survey will be available online in:
● Arabic
● Chinese (simplified)
● Chinese (traditional)
● Farsi
● Gujarati
● Hebrew
● Korean
● Punjabi
● Russian
● Tamil
● Turkish
● Urdu
● Vietnamese
As our first partners in education, we value input from families and encourage parents/guardians to complete the survey. The information provided will be anonymous and kept in strict accordance with all relevant legislation. Survey results will remain confidential and will be collated along with the responses of all students and all families in the form of a summary report (i.e., individual responses will not be reported, only grouped data will be reported).
Please contact Research Services at research.services@yrdsb.ca if you have any questions or visit the Board website to learn more.
We hope this correspondence finds you and your family well.
Report Card Information
The Elementary Report Card, provides you with information about your child’s general progress in working toward the achievement of the curriculum expectations across subject areas. The report card grade represents a student’s achievement of overall curriculum expectations, as demonstrated to this point in time.
For all Report Reports, our board will include the following statement: “This reporting period reflects learning that has occurred in a modified learning environment, as required by the provincial public health guidelines.”
We hope that this report will encourage your child while supporting conversations about learning at home.
Report Card Access
Your child’s Term 2 Elementary Report Card report will be distributed electronically with instructions on how to access the report between June 28 - 30, using their GAPPS accounts. The attachment includes instructions on how to log into your child’s YRDSB Google account/gmail. Instructions on how to access the Elementary Term 2 Report Card are outlined here: Access Report Card File.
Early Release Day – Thursday, June 30, 2022
All schools in the York Region District School Board are committed to improving student achievement and well-being. On Thursday, June 30, 2022 an early release day will take place to allow elementary teachers and support staff to take part in meetings during the afternoon of that day. These meetings will allow for school staff to engage in culminating activities regarding the review and revision of the School’s Improvement Plan as well as year-end and transition activities that support student success.
As has been our practice in the past, students will attend school during the morning of Thursday, June 30, 2022 only. Students will be dismissed early that day at 12:00 p.m. Arrangements will be made to ensure that students who are normally bused to and from school will receive transportation at this time. Parents and guardians whose children attend after school child care should make appropriate arrangements to address this change in schedule.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.
Our thanks for your continued support.
Thank you to the track & field committee and staff for organizing and delivering amazing return of track and field to Central Park. The energy and positivity of the event was so evident in our students. Amazing weather! Amazing students! Amazing staff! We are so fortunate. Thank you for everyone's contributions. Special thank you to the Li Family for the coffee donation. Staff appreciated the generous gesture.
Congratulations to Ms. Lee, Ms. Francis, Ms. MacKinnon, The Arts Group and the The Eco Team for winning York Region's Paint a Plow Contest. This year's design theme is Ready & Resilient and the team did an amazing job in developing, designing and executing the concept. Congratulations! We are so proud.
Our Grade 7 and 8 students participated in the University of Waterloo's Gauss Math Contest. Students did very well with several students earning certificates of Outstanding Achievement and Certificates of Distinction. Thank you to Ms. Pescador and the intermediate staff for organizing this opportunity for our students.
The summer is just around the corner and fun opportunities for families abound! Each year, the Canadian National Exhibition distributes more than 1.25 million Kids Passes through local public and Catholic elementary schools. The 2022 CNE Kids Pass can be used any one day of the CNE from August 19th to September 5th, 2022 for kids aged 13 and under. (Children 4 and under are free and will not need the pass.) Please note the last day to download the pass is August 18, 2022.
For more details, including Terms and Conditions of the Kids Pass, please see the CNE Kids Pass information page.
We’d like to share with our community information about an upcoming parent presentation: Parenting Strategies for a Successful Summer. The webinar will focus on: how parents may get “trapped” in escalations and power struggles; why parents experience “defiance and non-compliance” when they ask or request their children to do something, and; how parents can have a successful, stress free summer. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are all welcome to attend.
This session will be held on Wednesday June 7, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
This is a reminder that Central Park is a nut-free environment due to the numerous students who may suffer the effects of anaphylaxis – a deathly reaction to allergens such as nuts, specifically peanuts or peanut by-products. We kindly ask that parents refrain from providing lunches that include nuts. In addition, we continue to have parents who purchase food items from various establishments and we respectively request that parents stop this practice. Establishments such as McDonald’s and Tim Hortons no longer ensure that their products are nut-free so we kindly ask that families respect the safety of our children and not send these food items to school.
Finally, we encourage parents/guardians to avoid the use of substitute peanut butter products. These products, such as Wowbutter, tend to look, taste, and smell very much like peanut butter. While the product is nut-free, it mimics a known allergen that causes anaphylaxis in some children to the degree that it is indistinguishable from the allergen. It is a convincing substitute, opening up the possibility that it can be confused with peanut butter, or worse yet, peanut butter could be confused with this soy-based product.
Thank you for your continued consideration and understanding.
This letter is also available in the following languages: Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hebrew, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Student and family input is important to us. The York Region District School Board will be conducting online surveys with students (Grades 7-12) and families (Grades K-12) between June 1 - 30, 2022 to better understand experiences of learning this school year. Surveys will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
The surveys will include questions related to:
learning model, technology, and learning tools
engagement and learning
family/school communication and community engagement
well-being and mental health
relationships with peers and staff
safety, discrimination and bullying
equitable and inclusive learning environments
student identity
We ask questions about students’ identities (e.g., race and gender) to support understanding how learning experiences may differ among groups of students. Results from the surveys will be shared with Trustees, schools, Board departments, and the public during the 2022-23 school year.
The information collected will be used to:
Provide important information about student mental health and well-being.
Identify systemic barriers in order to create healthy, inclusive, and equitable learning and working environments.
Create programs, set priorities, and develop resources to continue building inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environments where all feel they matter and belong.
The Family Survey will be available online in English, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hebrew, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
To accommodate participants with varying exceptionalities, both the family and student surveys can be completed using voice recognition software such as Google Read & Write. The questions in the survey are compatible with screen readers. For your reference, copies of both the student and family surveys are available on the Board website.
Surveys are voluntary, anonymous and confidential. This means that students and families will not be asked for their name, and individual responses will not be reported.
Information provided in these surveys will only be accessible by staff in YRDSB’s Research and Assessment Services Department. The third party data collection tool we use will also have access to responses until Research and Assessment Services removes them after the surveys are closed. Storage and retention of data will follow Board Policy and Procedure #160.0 Records and Information Management.
Students in Grades 7-12 will receive an email invitation to their GAPPS school account to participate in the Student Survey and will be provided with in-class time between June 1 and June 30 to complete the survey. If you do not want your child(ren) in Grades 7-12 to receive the Student Survey invitation or if you have questions about the survey, please contact research.services@yrdsb.ca no later than May 26, 2022. Parents/guardians will receive an invitation to complete the Family Survey through the email address that is on file at their child’s school.
This important initiative will help further our vision as we work together to listen to the voices of students and families to continue meeting their diverse needs. Thank you for your support.
A reminder to parents that you have until May 25th to place pizza orders for the month of June. Please use School Cash Online to register your order. Regrettably, we cannot process late orders.
We would like to share with our school community that Inclusive School and Community Services in partnership with CCSYR SEPYR and CICS IYC is planning an online Celebrating Asian Heritage Month event. All are welcome! Join them in an online experience to celebrate different Asian cultures and participate in fun games, talent shows, virtual cultural displays and much more! The event will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. See the flyer for more information, including details on how to register for the event.
York Region District School Board also invites elementary and secondary school parents to Family Dynamics & Mental Health: A workshop to parents on how to support their children. This workshop will be offered in Mandarin (on May 30, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.) and Cantonese (May 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.). See the Mandarin flyer or Cantonese flyer for more information, including details on how to join the workshop.
Mandarin flyer
Cantonese flyer
Upcoming Class Presentations to Support Student Well-Being
In an effort to support awareness of online safety, digital responsibility/citizenship and student well-being, we are engaging students in a variety of presentations to support this initiative. Supporting internet presence and student well-being is a partnership between home and school to ensure students are making informed choices. We wish to thank, in advance, Hong Fook Mental Health Association, as well as, Ms. Calle and Mr. Richardson for taking time to share their expertise with our students and staff.
The following dates have been set for the grade appropriate presentations. The sessions will be virtual and interactive.
Thursday, May 19
Grades 1, 1/2, and 3 Topic: "Be Kind Online"
FDK Topic: "Be Kind Online"
Grade 2, 2/3 Topic: "Privacy Online"
Friday, May 20
Grades 3/4, 4, 4/5 and 5 Topic: Pause before you Post
Friday, June 3
Grades 7/8 Topic: How to support your friends who are
experiencing mental health challenges/issues
Monday, June 6
Grades 6 Topic: How to support your friends who are
experiencing mental health challenges/issues
Thank you to Ms. Lee, Ms. Francis, Ms. MacKinnon, the Eco Team and the Art Club for creating this amazing entry into the City of Markham's Paint a Plow Contest. This year's theme is Ready & Resilient! We wish them good luck with their entry.
We’d like to share with our community information about an upcoming parent presentation: Sibling Rivalry. The webinar will focus on jealousy, competition and fighting between brothers and sisters, and how parents can build greater harmony in family life. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are all welcome to attend.
This session will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the flyer for more details.
York Region District School Board in a collaborative partnership with Women’s Support Network is hosting a virtual information session about sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Instances of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation are a growing concern in York Region. Would you know it if you saw it? What could you do?
Parents, guardians, caregivers, educators, staff and community members are invited to join this virtual information session on Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the flyer for more details
Hot Weather Days at Central Park P.S.
A reminder to families, with warmer days ahead, to make sure students are prepared for the warmer conditions. Please ensure the following:
make sure students are properly dressed for warm weather. Lightweight clothing is recommended such as shorts and t-shirts.
Students should wear hats to keep the sun off their heads while outdoors.
Students should bring a personalized water bottle to school. Students are encouraged to access our water filling station so that they can stay hydrated throughout the day.
Ensure that students eat a proper breakfast so that their blood sugar levels are optimal for the rigors of the school day.
Consider providing sunscreen for your child so that can apply it independently.
Consider providing snacks like fresh fruits regularly
With warmer weather (finally!) arriving, items accumulated over the Winter from our Lost and Found are now on display in our foyer. We will be asking classes to visit this collection of clothing, and we will make additional announcements encouraging students to claim any items belonging to them. If you know that your child is missing any clothing, please encourage them to revisit the lost and found more carefully, as well.
We will maintain this display of clothing through Thursday, May 19th. Long-standing unclaimed items will be packaged and donated to charity. We thank you for your support.
Education Tip Sheet for Parents
Some Highlighted Topics:
Learn about Ontario's province-wide tests, how the results are used, and how to help your child prepare.
Find out how you can support your child and what to do if they are struggling with their homework.
Find out what to do if you think your child needs special education support, and the types of support available.
2022 Summer Learning Programs Available
During the summer, YRDSB continues to offer credit and non-credit summer school program opportunities for elementary, secondary and adult students. Registration is now open for the following programs:
Elementary Credit and Non-Credit Programs:
In-Person Learning
Online Learning
Adult Literacy and Basic Skills
English as a Second Language
Citizenship Classes
For more information about summer learning programs and registration please visit www.yrdsb.ca and follow us on Twitter @YRDSB.
Central Park P.S. School Council Meeting - Rescheduled for Monday, May 9, 2022
We need to reschedule the May School Council Meeting from May 3 to May 9 as Eid falls on May 2 (or possibly May 3 based on the sighting of the moon). We want to ensure that we are inclusive of all our community members and create conditions for full participation at the meeting. We understand that the School Council Meeting dates were determined at the beginning of the school year and generally on the first Monday of every month. The one exception where a meeting can be rescheduled is when it conflicts with a statutory holiday, PA Day or significant religious observance day.
Thanks for accommodating this change.
With thanks,
Central Park Administration
Please complete the form expressing your intentions to participate in our School Council Meeting. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. The link will be shared prior to the meeting with all registered participants.
Dear Central Park Parent or Guardian:
This is a communication to inform you that during the week of May 30th to June 3rd, your child will be participating in the Education Quality and Accountability Office’s (EQAO’s) Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, in either the Primary or Junior Division.
Students will complete a variety of assessment activities designed to allow them to demonstrate their skills and knowledge relating to reading, writing and mathematics as described in The Ontario Curriculum. The assessment is administered province-wide and is developed by Ontario teachers and assessment experts to reflect curriculum expectations.
EQAO has developed a “Parent’s Guide to EQAO Tests” and “Questions and Answers for Parents” (available in 20 languages) to give you more information about the assessments and an understanding of what to expect. To access these resources, go to the EQAO Web site (www.eqao.com), click “Parent Resources” and then select “Primary Division (Grades 1–3) and Junior Division (Grades 4–6).”
More information will be forthcoming in the coming days. If you have any questions, please call the school office or your child’s teacher.
Yours sincerely,
David Valentim
Principal
PARENT NOTIFICATIONS
Parent Talk - Triple P
Safe Routes to School
Masking Recommendations
Dear Central Park Community,
Active School Travel is the use of any form of human-powered travel, such as walking or wheeling (including cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, and scootering) to get to and from school or the school bus. Riding the bus is also included in this definition, as it is considered a sustainable form of transportation.
There are many benefits to Active School Travel
Improves both physical and mental health
Reduces traffic congestion and improves safety for everyone in school zones and around our school community
Improves air quality
Improves student academic performance by making children more alert and better prepared to learn
Promotes life-long habits that foster independence and active lifestyles, preparing children for their future
We are re-introducing Walking Wednesdays beginning April 20th. Kick-starting next week, we encourage all families to travel actively / sustainably to and from school every Wednesday for the remainder of the school year. All you need to do is plan your route and walk, cycle, or roll (scooter, skateboard, or rollerblade) your way to and from school (once on school property, students are asked to walk their modes of transportation to ensure safety in congested areas around the school). Leave the car at home.
Next Friday (April 22nd) is also Earth Day! Earth Day is a time to reflect on our habits and consider making small changes to our routines. Do your part to keep the Earth clean by using Active School Travel to get to and from school!
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Ceremony at Central Park P.S. (6:00 -7:30 p.m.)
Reception TBA (8:00 - 10:30 p.m.)
A drive-thru recognition will be provided for remote learners unable to attend the in-person ceremony. Further details will be forthcoming regarding our invitation only ceremony.
Please visit the Summer Institute registration page for the online registration link.
Looking for summer learning and fun activities for students entering Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8? Summer Institute offers academic, recreational and athletic programs and activities with intentional links to the Ontario Curriculum.
The program runs for six weeks during July and August. It is offered at 10 school sites around York Region.
For more information on dates, programs and locations, please visit the Summer Institute webpage.
Families can register online.
Contact Us
For further information or if you have any questions.
Telephone
(905) 884-2046 x240 or Toll Free 1-877-280-8180 ext. 240
Email:
We ask the Central Park Community to show their support by wearing pink on April 13th.
The International Day of Pink is a day when communities across Canada and across the world unite to celebrate diversity and raise awareness about the need to stop homophobia, transphobia, discrimination and all forms of bullying.
We’d like to share with our community information about an upcoming parent presentation: Managing Negative Self-Talk. The webinar will discuss how to help your child manage their negative self-talk and promote self-worth and self-esteem. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are all welcome to attend.
This session will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
Join us to share, learn and build a school culture where
mental health and well-being are valued and promoted.
CPPS Spirit Wear Launches!
Central Park Spirit Wear is back….with some new items for 2022! Show off your school spirit with baseball t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, jogger sweatpants, and so much more. In addition, there is also a Grad sweatshirt for our Grade 8s!
Items can only be ordered online through Yearbook Planet (https://yearbookplanet.com/school-stores) beginning Tuesday, March 22nd and will remain open until April 22nd. Orders and payments are done online directly to Yearbook Planet. Yearbook Planet will package each family/student order and send the orders to Central Park PS for distribution. Customer orders require 3 weeks for delivery. Please refer to the online sizing video to support sizing considerations.
Order today … before it is too late!
Here are some examples but more items and options are provided online.
Do you have a child starting Kindergarten next school year at Central Park P.S.?
If so, we invite you to join us for …
Empowering Families Through Kindergarten Transitions
This two-day conference will take place on March 29 & 30
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 and Wednesday, March 30, 2022
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
ZOOM platform
Every family who attends will receive a free storybook to enjoy with their child!
Please visit www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten for updates
Conference descriptions for each day.
Dear families,
Don’t forget, our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair from March 28-April 8!
The Scholastic Book Fair is a fantastic way to continue to give our students access to the books they want to read. We are so happy that our students can interact with the Fair at our school, and choose their next favourite book!
For parents and families who cannot enter the school, we’re excited that you will still be able to shop our Virtual Book Fair Extension on our Book Fair dates, and select the books that inspire your readers from the comfort of home.
For parents and families that would like to attend the Book Fair, you are welcome to come at 3:45-4:45 on the following days: March 29, March 31, April 5, and April 7.
All purchases benefit our school and earn Rewards that can be redeemed
for books and Education Resources for our classrooms and school
library.
When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s
Virtual Book Fair Extension site using this link:
Before our Fair begins, click the link to:
• SAVE it to your browser
• WATCH videos of popular new titles
• PREVIEW our Featured Books
Watch for news leading up to our Scholastic Book Fair!
Happy Reading!
-Ms. Khorakchi
Friday, March 18, 2022
Re: Return from March Break
Dear families,
We hope that you and your loved ones had an enjoyable March break. As we prepare to return to the classroom, we know that some families have questions about the lifting of public health and safety measures.
On March 9, 2022, the Government of Ontario announced their plan to lift many of the COVID-19 health and safety measures in public spaces and schools. Effective Monday, March 21, 2022, the following measures are in place:
Masks
Students, staff members and school visitors will no longer be required to wear masks in school. Individuals who feel more comfortable, are advised or required (e.g., recently returned from international travel) to wear a mask can continue to wear a mask and will be supported in doing so.
Please see this important message from York Region Public Health and these video messages about masking:
· Video for parents and caregivers by York Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Pakes.
· Video for students by York Region’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Fernandes.
As noted in the letter “York Region Public Health is strongly encouraging students/attendees, staff and visitors to continue wearing a mask for at least two weeks after March Break in areas with the 3 Cs: crowded settings, places where there is close contact or when spaces may be confined.”
Screening
Staff and students will not be required to complete the screening confirmation form each day. Students, staff members and visitors are to continue to review and adhere to the COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool (please click on Check for Symptoms Daily), prior to entering the school daily. The screening tool has been updated to reflect new masking and isolation requirements.
Additional information about what to do if you have tested positive or been exposed to a positive case can also be found at www.york.ca/safeatschool. Please note that close contacts of a COVID-19 case who are not required to isolate must self-monitor for 10 days (from last exposure) and wear a well-fitted mask in school and child care settings. This includes avoiding activities such as high-contact sports and playing wind instruments where masking and/or physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Vaccination Attestations
Vaccination attestations are no longer required for school board staff, or for students participating in school athletics.
York Region Public Health continues to recommend vaccines as safe, effective and the best way to protect yourself and those around you from serious illnesses.
Other Health and Safety Measures
Students will no longer be required to remain in cohorts or to practice physical distancing. Hand hygiene (including the use of hand sanitizer and hand washing) and cleaning protocols will remain in place. In addition, we will continue to follow our current ventilation practices.
Travel
The Government of Canada has also announced new health and safety measures for those returning from international travel. Under the current federal travel requirements, staff, students and visitors returning from international travel (even if exempt from quarantine) must wear a well-fitted mask at all times when in public spaces (including schools) for a period of 14 days.
Additional Information
Please also be assured that we will continue to consult with public health to ensure we are taking all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of our students, staff members and families.
We look forward to welcoming students back after March Break. For more information, please visit www.yrdsb.ca or follow us on Twitter @YRDSB.
Our School is excited to share that Kid’s Kitchen school lunch program will be returning starting Thursday, March 24th, with ordering available for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Kid’s Kitchen is a family-owned and operated business that serves nutritious meals to elementary school children throughout York Region and the Toronto area. They take care of everything, from preparing customized menus and taking orders, to making the meals and delivering them directly to the school.
Ordering is easy! Online orders can be placed up until 10:00 a.m. the previous business day. For more details on setting up your Kid’s Kitchen account, see the flyer and visit the Kid’s Kitchen website.
We hope you and your children enjoy this convenient service for families.
Please note that we will also be looking to re-introduce our Pizza program in the near future. Stay tuned.
Dear Central Park Families,
We are excited to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair is back! This time around our book fair will be both FACE-TO-FACE AND VIRTUAL!
Our Scholastic Book Fair will take place between March 28- April 8!
Face-to-Face Book Fair: During the first week of the fair, your child’s class will come to the library for their usually scheduled Book Exchange time. Your child’s class will be given a Wish List to complete and take home while they 'window shop'. The following week, students who want to purchase an item(s) will bring their wish lists and either purchase using:
Exact cash (in a ziploc or envelope)
A Cheque
OR parents can place their order online at home using a credit card (it will be shipped for free to the school, and I will distribute them to students when they arrive)
Virtual Book Fair: Families need to visit our school's Virtual Book Fair site using the following link, which may be posted in your child’s Google Classroom:
https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5178305
At midnight on March 28, students/families will be able to use this link to make purchases.
Items will be delivered directly to the school, and Ms. Khorakchi will distribute them to students to take home once they arrive. Shipping is FREE for families!
Dear Central Park Families,
Central Park P.S. has already begun planning for the 2022-2023 school year. In many respects, the work we do now is especially important, because our accuracy with anticipated enrollment helps us better plan, and optimistically, minimizes the need to move students across classes (‘reorganize’) in September. We are asking you for your help!
First and foremost, if you know you will be moving out of the area in the months ahead or you know your child will be attending a different school, please let the office know as soon as possible, to help us be accurate with our enrollment estimates. Similarly, if you have a child who will be joining us at the school for the first time in junior kindergarten (or any other grade) and you have yet to register, we would kindly ask you to do so at your earliest convenience. And if you meet someone moving into the community, or have a neighbour with kindergarten-aged children, please encourage them to register sooner rather than later! To update any information or get the registration process started, simply email central.park.ps@yrdsb.ca.
We aim to be as meticulous as possible in our preparations for for next year, so we thank everyone in our community in advance for their support with our school planning.
Kind regards,
David Valentim
Ukraine Conflict - Managing Controversial and Sensitive Issues - Families
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators
310-COPE: 905-310-COPE (2673) or 1-855-310-COPE (2673) - available 24/7
KidsHelpPhone: 1-800-668-6868, text 686868 - available 24/7, https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600 - available 24/7
York Hills Help Phone Line: 905-503-9561 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30-4:00 p.m. for children and youth (0-18 years) and their parents, caregivers or adult supporters. Visit www.yorkhills.ca for more information.
Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/
Black Youth Helpline: https://blackyouth.ca/
Naseeha Helpline: https://naseeha.org/
2SLGBTQ+ Youthline: https://www.youthline.ca/
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias.
Celebrate women's achievements. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.
Grade 8 GRAD PHOTO DAY March 9th, 2022
Face-to-face learners will take photos during the instructional day on March 9th.
Remote learners are given the opportunity to have photos taken on March 9th at Central Park P.S. Photo sittings are by appointment only and will commence at 12:55, during the lunch hour. We kindly ask that families contact the school to schedule an appointment.
Please note that there will be no picture retake day.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for September 2022 is underway for the 2022-23 school year. Children who turn four or five years old during 2022, live within the school boundary and whose parents/guardians are public school tax supporters will be eligible to register for Kindergarten.
There are several ways you can register for Kindergarten:
Online - Families can access the online Kindergarten registration information at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten. It is recommended that families use a laptop or a desktop, rather than a mobile device to complete this registration.
By email - Families can download the Elementary School Registration Form at www.yrdsb.ca/Kindergarten and email the completed form to their school email address. Email addresses can be found on the school website.
By phone - Families can request support from the school Principal/Vice-Principal to complete the registration form on their behalf by collecting the required information by phone. Families can request an interpreter, if needed, during this phone conversation. Call your local school.
By mail or appointment. You can mail completed applications to the school, or request an appointment to drop-off your completed paper application form. Families are asked to follow all school COVID-19 protocols while on site. All permitted visitors must wear a mask.
Be sure to register as soon as possible.
Please note, at this time, under our health and safety protocols, we cannot accept walk-in registrations. Once you have completed your application, the school will contact you to make an appointment to review and verify the required documents.
Our Kindergarten programs are caring and welcoming where children learn through exploration, play and inquiry. You can learn more at www.yrdsb.ca/Kindergarten. We look forward to welcoming our new students and families to the school.
Pink Shirt Day Video courtesy of our CPPS Equity Ambassadors
Special thanks to our Equity Ambassadors for developing this fantastic PSA. This committee continues to support making our school a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our community members. A big shout to Ms. Lung, Ms. Lee-Dyal, Ms. Mark and Ms. Raufi for facilitating this work. THANK YOU!
Staffing Announcement
Ms. Raufi, who has been teaching the Junior Core French, has departed from Central Park to pursue a position with the Durham District School Board. We thank her for her service and wish Ms. Raufi the very best with her professional endeavours. Please join us in welcoming Ms. Collas, who will be taking over Ms. Raufi's duties.
Learning Together:
Empowering Families Through Transitions A YRDSB Conference for Families
Curriculum and Instructional Services is pleased to invite families of children eligible for Kindergarten in September 2022 to attend a two-day interactive conference intended to support families with the Kindergarten transition process. This virtual conference will be held on Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Families will:
Engage with educators and community partners in interactive learning opportunities;
Connect to resources in their community; and
Hear from Dr. Adele Diamond, an award-winning Neuroscientist, who will share her knowledge about child development and learning.
This conference is presented in partnership with Vaughan Public Libraries, York Region Child and Family Collaborative, EarlyON Child and Family Centres of York Region, Region of York Children Services, CAPC Georgina, Markham and Vaughan.
Registration opens soon. Community partners will share a Save the Date Conference Flyer with York Region families who have children eligible to register for Kindergarten in September 2022. Schools are asked to share with families who have siblings eligible for Kindergarten and may not have registered yet. Please visit www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten for updates and registration information.
For any questions related to this conference, please email Sandra Sanz, Coordinator of Child Care and Community Services at sandra.sanz@yrdsb.ca or Lara Chebaro, C&IS, Early Years Principal, at lara.chebaro@yrdsb.ca.
Next Wednesday –February 23rd, 2022—is Pink Shirt Day. The origins of this day trace back to 2007, when Nova Scotia secondary students David Shepherd and Travis Price saw a grade nine student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. In an effort to stand up for the student, they purchased 50 pink shirts and distributed them to other students, who wore them in solidarity. Since David and Travis’ act of kindness in 2007, the spirit of their effort has grown each year. Over the past number of years, people in almost 180 countries shared their support of Pink Shirt Day through social media posts and donations. (For more information, visit the official website for Pink Shirt Day.)
Pink Shirt Day emphasizes the importance of lifting each other up. “Today our diversity is becoming more visible than ever as people continue to embrace their cultures, identities, and true selves in more open and direct ways; making the need to Lift Each Other Up and have greater acceptance, respect, and inclusion for everyone is so important.”
Please encourage your child to wear a Pink Shirt to school on February 23, 2022. Let us engage in kindness and stand up to bullying next Wednesday, and every day.
Community Engagement Events
YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Grade 4 - 8 students are invited to join storyteller, Tristan Barrocks, in an upcoming YRDSB event. Please refer to the attachment provided for more information and register today.
Register Today! 👇🏽 bit.ly/TrBarrock
Black Excellence Celebration in Student Mental Health
In acknowledgement and celebration of Black History Month the following opportunities are being offered to elementary and secondary school students. These opportunities are open to all students. Additional healing spaces for Black students will be held. Two psychoeducational events will be held after-school for students to come together to hear encouraging words on positive mental health and wellness.
● February 22, 2022 4-5 PM (Elementary, registration link)
● February 23,2022 4-5 PM (Secondary, registration link)
During the events,we will also honour some of the trailblazers who have contributed to shaping and advancing excellence in Black Mental Health. This event will be hosted by two of the YRDSB Community Care Team School Social Worker for the African Caribbean and Diaspora.
Black Mental Health Day
March 7, 2022 is the third annual Black Mental Health Day in Ontario. Black Mental Health Day is a day to raise awareness and draw attention to the impact that anti-Black and systemic racism has on the mental health of Black people, and the importance of structural change across social systems to improve the mental health and well-being of Black Canadians. We will be hosting a drop-in event for Black parents, guardians and youth on Monday March 7, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 PM. The Mental Health Drop In for Black Parents is an opportunity for parents to hear and learn about ways to promote and sustain positive mental wellness for their children in light of the ongoing pandemic challenges and the impacts of systemic racism. Please join us for an evening talk about healing strategies and engage in a chance to ask general questions (registration link).
RTC is working with Central Park P.S. to offer affordable renewed computer packages to families. Please review the parent letter and flyer for more information about this great opportunity to access affordable technology.
The application period is from February 8, 2022 - March 4, 2022
YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Have questions about school course selection and pathway planning?
York Region District School Board is hosting virtual information evenings for families of children in grade 7 or 8. Learn more about secondary school options and how to choose your courses. There will also be time for families to ask questions about courses and pathways.
There are several different sessions being offered for different community groups. Translators will be provided on the February 9th and 15th sessions if needed and as available.
For more information and to register, please visit: bit.ly/pathwaysevent22.
All sessions will be held virtually from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Date Community Group
February 7, 2022 General Session - Open to all parents and families of Grade 8 Students
February 7, 2022 Session for Families of Black Students
February 7, 2022 Session for Families of Indigenous Students
February 7, 2022 Session for Families of 2SLGBTQ+ Students
February 9, 2022 Session for Families of South Asian Students
February 9, 2022 Session for Families of East and South-East Asian Students
February 15, 2022 Session for Families of Turkish, Iranian, Afghan and Yazidi Students
February 15, 2022 Session for Families of LatinX Students
February 15, 2022 Session for Families of Jewish Students
Change of Learning Model Requests
We continue to welcome the return of students to in-person learning at Central Park P.S. Moving forward, new requests for in-person learning will be honoured and confirmed for a return to in-person learning on February 22, 2022. Parents requiring a change of learning model must provide an email communication to the school and await confirmation before sending students to school. Model changes do require administrative processing and time is needed to provide an opportunity for staff to welcome students in a safe and inviting manner. If you have any questions regarding the Learning Model Request Process please don't hesitate to contact the main office. Your continued understanding and cooperation are very much appreciated.
UPCOMING PARENT PRESENTATION
York Region District School Board in a collaborative partnership with Women’s Support Network is hosting a virtual information session about sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Instances of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation are a growing concern in York Region. Would you know it if you saw it? What could you do?
Parents, guardians, caregivers, educators, staff and community members are invited to join this virtual information session on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is no cost to participate, however, registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
Wishing all those observing in our Central Park community a Happy Lunar New Year!
Lunar New Year is a joyous cultural celebration for many Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian communities. For some, this occasion has religious significance. This holiday commemorates the first day of the Lunar Calendar. The Year 2022 is the Year of the Tiger.
Lunar New Year celebrations are centred around connecting and celebrating with family. The celebrations and traditions are rich and diverse across countries, communities, ethnicities and families. For example, in many Chinese communities, customs may include: cleaning houses, paying off debts, settling old arguments, and other means of making a "fresh start." In the Korean community, the ceremonial ritual of seh-bae (deep bow) is performed to the elders and ancestors. Families share the traditional meal of rice cake and dumpling soup and play traditional games such as yut-nori.
We wish all staff, students and the community celebrating Lunar New Year a happy and joyful celebration in the company of family and friends.
Resources curated by Ms. Lee:
Vietnamese New Year
Chinese New Year
Korean New Year
Thank you to the Intermediate Art Club and Ms. E. Lee for their front foyer Lunar New Year display!
STUDENT NUTRITION PROGRAM CAMPAIGN
The 2022 Toonies 4 Tummies campaign is underway! Why is this important? Donated gift cards to Central Park’s snack program is courtesy of this campaign! During January 13 and March 31, 2022, if everyone goes into one of the participating stores below during their campaign dates and donate a toonie, it will mean a great amount of money for the York Region Student Nutrition Program! During these very difficult months and dreary winter, a toonie can make a big difference - the impact has been notable in schools that benefit from the program.
It is a simple yet effective way to increase funds for our region! Thank you!
2022 #TOONIES4TUMMIES
DONATE a toonie IN STORE!
100% OF YOUR DONATIONS
BENEFIT LOCAL STUDENT NUTRITION
PROGRAMS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Learn more at: https://groceryfoundation.com/pages/toonies-for-tummies
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
PARENT ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY
Unionville High School has extended an evite to Central Park families to attend any or all of a 3 speaker series entitled, “Conversations on Identity and Belonging.” Our first guest speaker will be presenting on Monday, January 27th at 7:45 p.m. A pre-registered link is listed on the bottom of the attached flyer.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send UHS an email directed to suelyn.cheong@yrdsb.ca or effie.kyriopoulos@yrdsb.ca.
Back to School Screening Reminder
We look forward to resume in-person learning in the week ahead, and thank all Central Park P.S. families for their support in keeping our school safe. As shared by the board, parents and guardians of elementary students (or the students themselves depending on their age) will have to provide confirmation of a successful screening every day.
We kindly ask that parents and guardians support this process for each child, every day. Parents and guardians of elementary students are required to complete the updated Provincial on-line the COVID-19 school and child care screening, prior to their child entering the school each day. Similar to the start of the year, students and families will also be required to complete the confirmation of screening before coming to school each morning. We are grateful for your diligence in this matter.
Visual Aid for COVID Symptoms and Guidelines
Learning Model Requests for Face-to-Face or Remote Learning
Thank you to the many parents who have submitted their preference of learning model. The Google Form for requests will close Sunday, January 16th, at 6 p.m., at which time any further learning model changes will require a formal parent request (an email communication will suffice - central.park.ps@yrdsb.ca)and approval by the school’s administration. Learning models commencing on Monday, January 17 will remain in effect until February 22nd at which time the board will give families the opportunity to revisit the learning model for their child.
A Reminder About Kindergarten Registrations and French Immersion Registrations
Please scroll down to the January 3rd post for further details.
Two Upcoming Parent Presentations
We’d like to share with our community information about two upcoming parent presentations.
Parenting During Challenging Times will cover areas including the importance of caring for our mental health, indicators of mental health, and how to help and support children and youth. This session will be held on Tuesday, January 18 2022 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
Nurturing Healthy Self Esteem will cover how to create a supportive and engaging environment in developing and maintaining your child’s healthy self-esteem. This session will be held on Thursday, January 20 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
"Join us to share, learn and build a school culture where
mental health and well-being is valued and promoted."
Additional Parent Resources & Workshops
TVO Resources to enhance students' at-home and at-school learning.
Come join our Tamil Diaspora Social Worker and share your thoughts on what kind of workshops you’d like to see this year.
Kindergarten registration for September 2022 begins January 14 for the 2022-23 school year. Children who turn four or five years old during 2022, live within the school boundary and whose parents/guardians are public school tax supporters will be eligible to register for Kindergarten.
There are several ways you can register for Kindergarten:
Online - Families can access the online Kindergarten registration information at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten. It is recommended that families use a laptop or a desktop, rather than a mobile device to complete this registration.
By email - Families can download the Elementary School Registration Form at www.yrdsb.ca/Kindergarten and email the completed form to their school email address. Email addresses can be found on the school website.
By phone - Families can request support from the school Principal/Vice-Principal to complete the registration form on their behalf by collecting the required information by phone. Families can request an interpreter, if needed, during this phone conversation. Call your local school.
By mail or appointment. You can mail completed applications to the school, or request an appointment to drop-off your completed paper application form. Families are asked to follow all school COVID-19 protocols while on site. All permitted visitors must wear a mask.
Please note, at this time, under our health and safety protocols, we cannot accept walk-in registrations. Once you have completed your application, the school will contact you to make an appointment to review and verify the required documents.
Our Kindergarten programs are caring and welcoming where children learn through exploration, play and inquiry. You can learn more at www.yrdsb.ca/Kindergarten. We look forward to welcoming our new students and families to the school.
Attention: Senior Kindergarten Families Regarding Grade 1 French Immersion Information Sessions and Registrations
What is French Immersion?
In French Immersion, students receive instruction in French in a variety of subjects from a teacher who speaks French fluently.
The French Immersion program begins in Grade 1 and is designed for children whose first language is not French.
In Grades 1, 2 and 3, all subjects are taught in French. Starting in Grade 4, time is shared equally between French and English instruction.
The French Immersion program continues in high school.
Secondary school students must earn at least 10 French Immersion credits to qualify for the French Immersion Certificate upon graduation.
Important Considerations
For the first few months of Grade 1, the children do not acquire skills identical to those learned by children in an English program as the focus is on learning in French.
There may be certain lags in English Language Arts skills in the first few years of the program, but by the end of the elementary grades, successful French Immersion students perform as well as their peers in a regular English program.
Communication with parents/guardians is in English including, but not limited to, report cards, newsletters and parent-teacher interviews.
Reading to a child at home in a child's native language can strengthen literacy skills. Research studies confirm that children achieve greater academic success when parents read frequently (daily) to them.
There is only one entry point into French immersion in YRDSB; Grade 1. Central Park students that choose French immersion will attend Reesor Park P.S. to receive their French instruction.
Information Sessions
This year our Information session for Grade 1 entry into the French Immersion (FI) program will take place virtually on January 13, 2022. Here is the link to view a pre-recorded information session that includes commonly asked questions and answers.
Registration
FI registration will begin on January 14, 2022. Parents or guardians of Senior Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in 2022, and wishing to enrol in the FI Program, can email or call their home school office and indicate their intention to enrol. The home school will notify the French Immersion school, and the French Immersion school will contact you by phone or email to collect any necessary information. You are asked to register by February 4, 2022. Registration during this period is not first come, first served.
Late Registrations
Late registrations are those submitted after February 4, 2022. Late registrations will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis and will be considered subsequent to registrations received during the registration period should overflow be necessary.
Accommodation Plan
YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all students in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enrol. The FI program will be offered in Dual Track or Single Track settings, in a variety of configurations. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community's Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student's FI education. Space requirements at some schools may mean that siblings are in different schools for primary dual track French Immersion programs due to differing grade structures. Like any of our schools across the Board, changes to school boundaries, and/or the accommodation model for the French Immersion program may need to be considered when new schools open, a school experiences enrolment growth, and program changes occur. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use existing space in schools.
More information is available on the Board’s website: www.yrdsb.ca. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the development of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include overflow while we work toward the long-term vision. Overflow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.
Virtual Programs for Children
We would like to share with our community information about two free upcoming programs for children being offered by the Vaughan Community Health Centre. Programs will be held in the New Year virtually on Zoom. Blueprint is a program for children ages 6-8 and involves fun activities involving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Details about the Blueprint program can be found here. Kids Have Stress Too is a research-based program for children ages 9-12 designed to teach children how to recognize and manage stress. Details about the Kids Have Stress Too program can be found here.
We thank you for your continued partnership with the school.
In the spirit of the season, we kindly ask that families engage in conversations with children about the need to support our local food banks. Hunger is a persistent problem. The people that turn to food banks include families with children, new Canadians, employed people whose wages are insufficient to cover basic living essentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including seniors and people with exceptionalities. We hope that you can help make a difference by donating non-perishable food items to our Central Park Food Drive. We thank you in advance for your efforts to contribute to this cause.
We continue to have parents bring in food items from these establishments and we respectively request that parents refrain from the practice. Central Park is a peanut free environment due to the numerous students who may suffer the effects of anaphylaxis – a deathly reaction to allergens such as peanuts or peanut by-products. These establishments (McDonald’s and Tim Hortons) no longer ensure that their products are peanut-free in which case we kindly ask that families respect the safety of our children and not send these food items to school. Thank you for your consideration and understanding.
Grade 3 Gifted Screening
Stage 1 of the Gifted screening assessment for Gr. 3 students will commence this week. For students who miss the testing, there will be an opportunity to write the screening assessment at a mutually convenient time. Students successful in stage 1 will proceed to stage 2, in the early new year, where a board Psychologist will administer further testing to identify gifted students. We kindly ask parents to avoid placing any undue pressure on your children to succeed. We hope that all students develop a positive mindset towards school and their studies.
Flu season is here. Be prepared by getting the flu shot as early as possible.
How can the flu be avoided?
Get the flu shot!
Wash your hands well and often with soap and warm water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out immediately. Wash your hands afterward. Cough into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Avoid large crowds and stay home when you are sick
Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected
Come to School Dress for the Weather
During the cold winter months, students can stay warm by wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing, a hat, scarf, and mittens or gloves. If students walk to school, bright coloured and reflective pieces of clothing help make them visible to motorists and traffic. Students should also consider bringing extra pants and socks in case they get wet. Students should be wearing masks outdoors unless they can assure that they are 2 meters away from all other individuals at all times. We recommend that students bring extra masks to school to ensure that they are wearing dry masks while inside the school.
The principal decides at the time of each recess whether students will remain inside, or go out for shortened or full period recess by keeping a close eye on weather conditions, including temperature, wind chill, sun/cloud conditions and wind velocity. Send your child to school dressed and ready for outdoor play. Students will be supervised in their classroom during recess and lunch hour whenever an indoor recess is necessary.
Winter Fun at Central Park
As we continue to experience snowfall accumulation our students get extremely excited and industrious about building various snow structures. Students also become tempted to throw snow at one another. Students are constantly reminded that snow and snowballs should never be thrown because of the dangers and harm that can result from being struck by a snowball or a chunk of ice. Please join our staff in reinforcing this message with your child. Your support of this practice will help create a safer environment for all to enjoy. We appreciate your support.
During November 22-26 we recognized Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week. At Central Park P.S., it is important that we provide a caring, safe and inclusive environment that supports the academic achievement and well-being of all students. This week serves as a reminder to our school community about bullying and how to respond. During this week students will engage in learning activities that reinforce positive behaviours that respond to and prevent bullying.
Bullying is a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.
Bullying can take many forms. Some include:
Physical – hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property
Verbal – name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments
Social – excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them
Electronic (commonly known as cyberbullying) – spreading rumours and hurtful comments through the use of cellphones, e-mail, text messaging and social media
Bullying is never acceptable at our school. All members of our school community are encouraged to stand up and support each other. Should there be concerns about bullying or if you have any questions please contact us. You can also report events that happen at school, at school-related activities, online or off school property if they negatively affect a student or the school climate through YRDSB’s Report It tool on the homepage of our school’s website or on www.yrdsb.ca.
Want to know more about bullying? Many resources for families are available including PREVNet’s (a Canadian authority on promoting relationships and eliminating violence) The Difference Between Teasing and Bullying and Bullying Prevention Tip Sheets. Media Smarts (a Canadian non-profit) has a guide to support parents in understanding, responding, and avoiding cyberbullying as well as a tip sheet for Promoting Ethical Online Behaviours with Your Kids.
For more information and resources on bullying and cyberbullying, please follow @YRDSB or visit www.yrdsb.ca.
Working together, we can nurture a safe, respectful and inclusive school community.
Nov. 22 - Dec 3
Dear families,
Mark your calendars! The fun and excitement of a Scholastic Book Fair is now open at Central Park P.S.! To adapt to our changing needs, Scholastic has developed a Virtual Book Fair to provide an opportunity for our students and families to experience the joy of reading together. The more books we sell, the more funds we accumulate for the library!
When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair site using this link:
CENTRAL PARK VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR LINK
Click the link to:
• SAVE it to your browser
• WATCH videos of popular new titles
• PREVIEW our Featured Books
Continue to nurture the importance of reading with your children. Fostering a love for reading is invaluable to developing life long learners.
Happy reading!
It’s important to manage your online presence and digital footprint!
This past year, kids have faced unique challenges, as many of their in-person activities have been replaced with an increased use of technology. This has resulted in an unprecedented increased online presence and digital footprint for most of us, adults, and kids alike.
Everyone should assume that what is shared online will remain online forever. Every action you take online, and information posted about you contributes to your “digital footprint” which can straddle our personal, student and professional lives. Improving our awareness of the traces of data we leave online and recognizing how our individual digital footprints vary can help to improve the protection of our data online.
Topics and tips:
Access the embedded links to find out more (links will take you to different websites):
Understand what you post shapes your online reputation and becomes part of your digital footprint. Always strive to establish a positive presence online.
Minimize the risk of being a target of online harassment. Avoid sharing too much information online and be safe on social media.
Know that posts are not always private.
Delete accounts (and associated information) that you no longer need – old accounts and data can be a risk.
Navigate safely. Take the quick self-assessment on Internet Safety.
Videos
The CAM videos created by ECNO and the Ministry of Education are perfectly tailored to be played on school hallway/atrium TVs. With simple yet effective animations, and close captions/subtitles embedded into the videos, they can easily be played on repeat with no sound distractions. They can be found at the below links:
Be mindful of your online presence and digital footprint - Amara
Dear Central Park Families,
Please review the following important school board communications:
· Inclement Weather Days
· Active Screening Confirmation
· Winter Break
· Secondary School Timetables
· Vaccination Clinics
· Reminders from York Region Public Health
As we enter the colder months, we wanted to inform families that similar to last school year, we have made the decision to close schools to students when an inclement weather day is declared and school transportation is cancelled. Please do not send your child to school when an inclement weather day is declared.
This decision has been made in consultation with Public Health to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the health and safety of our students, staff members and families. Prior to the pandemic, schools remained open when school transportation was cancelled. This year, given the importance of adhering to our health and safety guidelines, we are unable to guarantee appropriate coverage for students on inclement weather days when school transportation is closed and classes cannot be combined.
Please take the time to make plans in the event of an inclement weather day school closure. Please note that before and after care programs will not be operating on inclement weather days. For on-site, full-day child care, please confirm with your childcare operator. We recognize that this may be an inconvenience for some families. This decision was not made lightly and made to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff members and families.
All students will be provided with asynchronous learning activities for the day. We recognize that each family’s situation is unique. As with inclement weather days in the past, the learning will be optional and supplementary to help students continue learning. New material will not be introduced.
There are rare occasions when school transportation is cancelled due to extreme cold weather and not road conditions, and schools will remain open for students.
Communication to families
Decisions about school transportation and school closures will be made as early as possible and no later than 6:00 a.m. We will do our best to notify families in advance. Our priority continues to be the safety of our students, staff members and families. If you have any questions, please speak with your school principal.
Transportation cancellations or school closures will also continue to be communicated through:
· Student Transportation Services website: www.schoolbuscity.com
· Student Transportation Hotline: 1-877-330-3001
· Board website and school websites
· @YRDSB Twitter account
· Radio and TV media outlets
Families who have provided the school with their cell phone will also receive a text message, unless you have opted out of this service. Please contact your school if you have any questions.
For more information on inclement weather days, please visit our website www.yrdsb.ca.
Screening
York Region Public Health has asked us to remind all staff and students that screening must be completed every day using the Ontario School Screening Tool for any signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The tool indicates when individuals should be isolating at home and when they should be getting tested.
Winter Break
The Ministry of Education has announced that, prior to the winter break, all students will receive a Rapid Antigen Test kit. These kits will include five tests with instructions for students to voluntarily complete the testing prior to returning to the school. We will provide more information on this initiative as it is received.
Families choosing to travel over the winter break are reminded to consult federal and provincial government requirements for testing, quarantine and other appropriate protocols required upon arrival and prior to returning to school. We gratefully appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these regulations to ensure the safe return from the winter break on January 3.
COVID19 Vaccination Clinics
The Board continues to work in partnership with York Region Public Health to provide access to COVID19 vaccines for all those eligible. Pending approval for vaccines for 5-11 year olds, the Board is actively working with public health for in-school clinics. More information on school community-based clinics and other options will be provided to families as it becomes available.
Important Reminders from York Region Public Health
For those with COVID19 symptoms identified through the screening tool, testing should not be delayed if symptoms persist or worsen. Delaying testing means children may be out of school longer as public health may need to use the date tested when confirming isolation periods if it is too far removed from the first symptom onset date.
Individuals with symptoms should be tested right away with a PCR test through a COVID-19 Assessment Centre or take-home PCR tests once available from the province; if children are part of a dismissed cohort or otherwise a close contact of a confirmed case, communication from York Region Public Health will outline the specific testing information to follow; staff and students with mild symptoms (runny nose or sore throat) not on the screening tool must stay home until symptoms are improving for 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms). Rapid antigen tests should not be used if individuals are experiencing any symptoms OR are part of a dismissed cohort/close contact of a confirmed case; antigen testing should only be used by unvaccinated asymptomatic persons who are not part of a dismissed cohort; positive antigen tests must also be confirmed via PCR testing at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
Continue to adhere to public health measures when out in the community. While we have a large proportion of our age 12 and older population fully vaccinated, individuals under the age of 12 remain susceptible. We are seeing cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools attributed to social gatherings, sports and other activities and exposures occurring outside of school. Continue to keep your loved ones safe by practicing physical distancing, wearing masks, performing hand hygiene and avoiding large gatherings, especially if the vaccination status of these individuals is unknown. Vaccination opportunities are around the corner for our five to 11-year-old children.
School-wide assemblies and other large congregations of students across cohorts should continue to remain on hold until the number of cases in the community trend downward and this is sustained for a period of time.
Dear Central Park Grade 8 Parents,
YRDSB high schools are hosting Grade 8 Information Nights for incoming students! Dates vary for each school. Visit the YRDSB website for a full list of information night dates.
Progress Reports Information - Gr.1- 8
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We hope this correspondence finds you and your family well.
On November 18 and November 19, we will be holding our virtual Parents/Guardians Interviews. Teachers may establish interview communications using Google Meet / Zoom or Phone. Information on booking these interviews through Edsby was sent to you last week.
Parents/Guardians Interviews and Reports Cards are part of the ongoing communication from our school to support students and we trust that you are able to connect with your child’s teachers. If you need support, please connect with your child’s teacher.
Your child’s Progress Report Card will be distributed electronically week on November 15, using their GAPPS accounts.
The Progress Report provides you with information about your child’s general progress in working toward the achievement of the curriculum expectations across subject areas. The Report Card has only the following Ministry provided indicators:
Progressing with Difficulty
Progressing Well
Progressing Very Well
As typical, not all strands/subjects may be taught/ assessed by this time or in this term. This year, reintegration into the school environment may take additional time, and the early part of the school year may focus on mental health, well-being and the development of a safe, inviting and inclusive learning community.
For all Progress Reports, our board will include the following statement provided by the Ministry of Education: “This reporting period reflects learning that has occurred in a modified learning environment as required by public health guidelines. Ongoing communication with your child’s teacher will provide additional information pertaining to student progress throughout the term.”
Overall, progress reports provide you with information about your child’s achievement during the first part of the term. We hope that this report will encourage your child while supporting conversations about learning at home.
Sincerely,
David Valentim & JoAnne Kim
Progress Reports Information - Kindergarten
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We are looking forward to our virtual Parent/Guardian Interviews on November 18 and 19th.
Your child’s Kindergarten educator(s) will communicate the details of the upcoming interview which will take place using Google Meet / Zoom or Phone. Information on booking these interviews though Edsby was sent to you last week. If you need support, please connect with your child’s Kindergarten educator(s).
During this virtual parent/guardian interview, your child’s Kindergarten educator(s) will share information about initial observations of your child’s learning during the first months of Kindergarten.
Your child’s Communication of Learning: Initial Observations Report will be distributed electronically on the week of November 15, using their GAPPS accounts. This Report provides you with information about educators’ initial observations of your child’s learning across the four components of the Kindergarten Program: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well Being, Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours, Problem Solving and Innovating.
The report will describe initial observations of your child’s:
Key Learning: the most important or significant learning that your child has demonstrated in relation to the curriculum.
Growth in Learning: positive developments in learning that your child has demonstrated over time, in relation to the curriculum.
Next Steps in Learning: how your child can move forward in their learning both at school and/or at home.
Comments on this report may describe your child’s transition to this school year, including components of hybrid learning. For all, Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations, our board will include the following statement provided by the Ministry of Education:
“This reporting period reflects learning that has occurred in a modified learning environment as required by public health guidelines. Ongoing communication with your child’s educator will provide additional information pertaining to progress throughout the term”
We look forward to our interview time together. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s educators.
Sincerely,
David Valentim & JoAnne Kim
PICTURE DAY
November 17 & 18, 2021
Face-to-face learners will take photos during the instructional day on November 17th and 18th.
Remote learners are given the opportunity to have photos taken on November 17th at Central Park P.S. Photo sittings are by appointment only and will commence at 3:45. We kindly ask that families contact the school to schedule an appointment.
Due to COVID protocols, all class photos will be composite style.
Please note that there will be no picture retake day.
Graduation Photos for Grade 8 students will be taken on March 3rd, 2022.
Congratulations to the Central Park community for your generosity with this year's Terry Fox fundraising campaign. Our goal was to raise $1000 dollars in support of cancer research and our school more than tripled that goal.
Congratulations to Ms. Matheson's Grade 4 class whose $649 donation collection topped all other homeroom classes. Thank you to everyone for your support in finding a cure.
Central Park's 2021 donation total is $3808.00. Way to go Eagles!
Each year, many students choose to show off their Halloween spirit by dressing up in costumes that meet our school’s dress code. This year, students will be able to dress up on Friday, October 29th.
In order to support our current Covid-19 guidelines, please consider the following:
costumes should be attire-based and worn to school; students will not be able to use washrooms to change into costumes
emphasize simple costumes with limited accessories and without excessive makeup that might prompt students to touch their face
no Halloween masks are to be worn ( students are required to wear face masks) and no gloves that might interfere with regular hand hygiene routines
students may also consider wearing orange and black or autumn colours instead of costumes
Please note that on October 29th, the focus of the day remains on instruction, any Halloween related activities are optional, and students will have a choice to participate in alternative activities.
While students will be allowed to dress up, they must follow Board Protocol. York Region District School Board’s Safe Schools Policy #668.0 in accordance with the Ontario Safe Schools Act, includes the following mandatory expulsion criteria: “A student shall be expelled from school if the student commits one or more of the following infractions while at school or engaged in a school-related activity (as set out in the Ontario Code of Conduct): (a) possessing a weapon or replica weapon, including a firearm.” Students celebrating this occasion in costume at our school must comply with this policy. Costume accessories including, but not limited to, toy guns, knives, axes, swords, etc. are not in compliance with York Region District School Board’s Safe Schools Policy #668.0.
Similarly, costumes should be respectful of others. For example, if something is representative of a person’s culture or religious beliefs, then it should not be worn as another person’s costume. Costumes that caricature social identities through stereotyping are not permitted. Please ensure that the costumes our students wear to school do not trivialize or devalue the lives of our Indigenous Peoples or various cultural/racialized groups.
As always, we wish to promote healthy eating at our school, and strongly discourage students from bringing candies that are in abundance around Halloween to school. We kindly ask our community to be especially mindful that nut and nut products —often found in Halloween candy—are not brought into the school, as well. Central Park P.S. strongly encourages healthy snacks, where snacking on such items as fruits and vegetables, is preferred.
We hope all our students who celebrate have a fun, safe, and healthy Halloween!
2021 Pumpkin Decorating Contest
We are excited about this year's creations. Below are concepts from previous years.
Parent-Teacher Interviews for students in JK through Grade 8 will be scheduled for after school on November 18, 2021 and on the morning of November 19, 2021. You will have an opportunity to meet with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) and learn more about the classroom. We regret that for health and safety reasons, we are unable to host an event at the school as we normally would, however we look forward to meeting with you virtually.
Central Park P.S. will continue to use an online process through Edsby to manage our Parent-Teacher Interviews scheduling. Families can use Edsby to schedule a meeting time with their child(ren)’s teacher(s). You will receive an invitation to sign up for a meeting time once the schedules are available. Edsby is a cloud-based platform that lets families easily reserve times to meet with your child(ren)’s teachers. YRDSB in partnership with Edsby have created a secure platform that protects the privacy of information for families.
Families that already have an Edsby account may use their previously created account. The username is the full email address that is on file at your child(ren)’s home school and the password is the one created at activation. If you have forgotten your password, you can find resources on the Board website to help, including how to reset your password.
The Parent-Teacher interview schedule will open for bookings on November 1st at 10:00 a.m. Teachers will send confirmation e-mails to parents or guardians who booked an interview on November 16th, including details on how to access the virtual interview platform.
Families who do not have an Edsby account will need to create one to access the online appointment scheduler for their child’s teachers for the virtual conference. An up-to-date and valid email address must be provided to your child’s home school. For help creating an Edsby account, instructions can be found on the Board website. An email from York Region District School Board with instructions on how to create an Edsby account will be sent to your email inbox. If you do not receive the email, please check your junk mail folder to ensure you do not miss this opportunity. Only families that create an Edsby account prior to the scheduler being opened on November 1st will have access. If you need help setting up your account for the first time, please contact the school office.
If you have any other questions about this process, please contact our main office.
Important Timelines
Prior to Nov 1
Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s) to create Edsby accounts
Nov 1
Parent-Teacher Interviews schedule opens at 10:00 a.m. for booking, an invitation to book appointments will be sent to your Edsby inbox with a notification to your email. Instructions for signing up for interview slots are found here.
Nov 9
Parent-Teacher Interviews scheduler closes at 9:00 a.m.
Nov 16
Teachers e-mail Parents and/or Guardian(s) who made an appointment with details on accessing the virtual interview.
Nov 18 (evening) and Nov 19 (morning)
Parent-Teacher Interviews
Note: Progress Reports go home the week of November 15th.
RTC is working with Central Park P.S. to offer affordable renewed computer packages to families. Please review the parent letter and flyer for more information about this great opportunity to access affordable technology.
The application period is from October 18, 2021 - November 19, 2021
We’d like to share with our community information about an upcoming Triple P Parenting Webinar: Raising Confident Competent Children. The webinar will cover areas including encouraging respect and cooperation, learning to be independent, learning how to develop healthy self-esteem, and learning how to be good problem solvers. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are all welcome to attend.
This session will be held on Tuesday, October 26th 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. There is no cost to participate but registration is required. Please view the linked flyer for more details.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are making plans and preparations to launch our lunch program but we are still awaiting approval from our Area Office. Our plan is to bring back Pizza Lunches and Kids Kitchen starting in November but, to reiterate, we still require final approval to go ahead with our plans. In anticipation of this opportunity we want to remind the community that due to Covid protocols, we can only accept online payments for lunches and other school events.
If you have not already registered for online payments for each of your children, please click on the link below and register now. Instructions are attached in case you need assistance with the registration process.
https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com/
More information regarding dates will be forthcoming.
Many thanks,
Central Park Public School Office
“Cyber awareness as self-care”
October 18 to 22, 2021
Care for your personal information – it is valuable!
It is more important than ever to protect our personal information.
With personal devices, smart devices and the internet becoming a routine part of our lives, as we use them to work, learn, exercise, entertain ourselves and socialize, it is more important than ever to protect our personal information and teach our kids to develop habits that will make it part of their day-to-day routine. Like how children learn to be safe outdoors, children need to learn to be safe online.
Topics and tips for this week include:
Access the embedded links to find out more (links will take you to different websites):
Protect your personal information as it is valuable to you but also cybercriminals.
· How to protect yourself from identity theft
· Tips for protecting personal information
· Quick privacy tips for parents
· Privacy pursuit – Games and Activities for kids (NEW)
Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of applications you use as some may be sharing your personal information with third-party organizations.
· The 7 flags of phishing and the most common forms of phishing
· How to use online banking securely
Stay safe on social media and do not overshare personal information.
Maintain privacy while online and gaming.
Review and update privacy settings and make it a habit.
Videos
The CAM videos created by ECNO and the Ministry of Education are perfectly tailored to be played on school hallway/atrium TVs. With simple yet effective animations, and close captions/subtitles embedded into the videos, they can easily be played on repeat with no sound distractions. They can be found at the below links:
Week 3 – Care for your personal information, it is valuable with Niimi
Stay tuned Next Week: Be mindful of your online presence and digital footprint! on Monday October 25th.
CENTRAL PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL
Virtual Curriculum Night Update
We are looking forward to connecting virtually with our Central
Park families on Thursday, October 14th at the following times:
Session One from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Session Two from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Teachers will deliver their sessions twice to allow families with
multiple children to participate in varying sessions. Details
about how to connect will be shared by your child’s homeroom
teacher.
Please note that teachers may be delivering their presentation either synchronously or asynchronously.
Central Park Celebrating the Spirit of the Season
We wish to thank the Ng Family for their continued contribution to Central Park P.S. Though their children have long since graduated, they continue to support our school and the community. Once again, they have designed a beautiful front foyer design that has the admiration of students and staff alike. Students so excited to embrace our autumn festivities.
Thank you to the Ng Family for your spooktacular creation.
Thank you to the McKay family for this meaningful an heartfelt donation to our school.
Asian Embroidery Art
Thank you to the McKay family for their generous artwork donation. This beautiful piece captures the concept of a community coming together to embrace and celebrate cultural diversity which speaks to the values we embrace at Central Park P.S. This artwork will be showcased in our foyer close to the Learning Commons.
Terry Fox Fundraiser
Thank you to our Central Park families for your incredible generosity. Terry Fox's marathon of hope is very much alive at our school. We had a modest goal of raising a $1000 but we have surpassed that mark and it continues to grow. Last week, staff engaged students in learning about this incredible cause and participated in neighbourhood walks & runs in support of cancer research. Thank you to all staff for your contributions to this event. A special shout out to Ms. Velauthampillai, Ms. Tomasi and Mr. Bilton for coordinating this week long event. Donations can still be made online using the links shared by your child's teacher. Thanks again to everyone for making this a successful event.
Central Park has broken the thermometer!
Dear families,
We want to thank families for their patience and support as we have started the new school year and implemented the hybrid learning model. Over the past month, our Board of Trustees and senior staff have had an opportunity to hear feedback from families and educators and observe classrooms.
On Friday, October 15, school staff will engage in professional learning on the hybrid model.
Schools will be closed to students on Friday, October 15 . Please do not send your child to school. Asynchronous (not live) learning activities will be provided to students in order to support their continued learning.
This additional professional learning will enable us to share effective practices and support, and be responsive to some of the feedback we have heard. We are committed to creating learning environments that enable all of our students, both in-person and remote, to be successful, and feel connected and supported.
We want to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of our educators as they implement this new model, which enables students to remain connected with staff and peers in their home school, and allows for greater flexibility between remote and in-person learning options, and maintaining the continuity of learning.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause for families and thank you for your patience and support.
Information Technology Services (IT Services) is pleased to be recognizing K-12 Cyber Awareness Month (CAM) Month 2021 - October 4 to 29, 2021.
K-12 Cyber Awareness Month (CAM) is an internationally recognized campaign, and this year’s theme is “Cyber awareness as self-care” - adopting safe, secure and healthy habits online is caring for your online presence and digital footprint, while helping to ensure you and your family are protected online.
The past 18+ months have shifted the way we rely on and interact with technology. In all areas of our lives, we have seen an unprecedented increase in the use of technology and the internet for staying connected, for recreation, for online learning, and more. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we learn to protect ourselves online.
October is internationally recognized as Cyber Security Awareness month to help the public learn more about the importance of cyber security. In partnership with ECNO (Educational Computing Network of Ontario), the Ministry of Education and School Boards across Ontario, multiple resources have been prepared for sharing with teachers, students and staff to promote Cyber Awareness safety and awareness. This is the second year ECNO and the Ministry of Education have created a Cyber Awareness Month (CAM) campaign tailored for K-12 needs, with a focus on cyber security, online safety, and online privacy.
The campaign focuses on four weekly themes, based on the foundation that technology and the internet are part of our lives, and information and tips will be shared to help protect privacy and stay safer and more secure online.
Just as we lock our doors and secure our homes, visit the doctor to support our physical and emotional health and find peace in meditation to quiet our busy minds, caring for our online presence and digital footprint is just as important.
Every Monday, for the next four (4) weeks, IT Services will be sharing Cyber Safety-related resources, each with a different theme and promoted through @ITS_YRDSB on Twitter.
You can participate by following @ITS_YRDSB on Twitter, Tweeting or Retweeting Cyber Awareness information for parents and students.
Here’s an introductory video created by ECNO and the Ministry of Education about Cyber Awareness Month 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_JQFLqbYsw
Stay Cyber Safe!
Dear Central Park Families,
Our teacher librarian, Ms. Khorakchi, has designed a new resource for staff, students and families. Please take an opportunity to explore this amazing site found in our navigation menu. Be sure to check out this site for updates as Ms. Khorakchi will continue to share new resources on a regular basis. Thanks, Ms. Khorakchi!!!
A reminder to families that current learning models selected by families will remain in place until further notice. There may be an opportunity for a change request at the end of term one in February.
In following COVID protocols, families are asked to not drop off lunches at the school. Students are expected to bring their lunch and snack to school at the start of the school day.
In addition, we are promoting a Boomerang lunch program which means that all food and waste brought to school will return home. Our goal is to have zero waste at school. Eliminating waste will allow our caretaking staff to focus their energy on maintaining COVID cleaning protocols. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding in support of our practices.
We kindly ask that parents drop-off students in our Kiss-&-Ride area at the front of the school. Parents are not to enter the staff parking area to drop off students this area is reserved for staff or visitors to the building. Parent parking is only permitted if you have an appointment with the school office.
City of Markham Parking By-law
Families are required, on a daily basis, to complete the following steps prior to attending school.
Step 1: Parents/Guardians of Elementary students are required to complete on-line self-assessment COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool (please click on Check for Symptoms Daily) on a daily basis, prior to their child entering the school.
Step 2: Upon completion of the self-assessment, Parents/Guardians will complete the response to the question: “Have you completed the self-screening tool?” in the Confirmation Form, using their child’s GAPPS account login information.
If you’re new to the York Region District School Board or have not yet set up an Edsby account, you will receive an invitation to do so. Edsby is an intuitive, cloud-based platform that allows families to engage with the school in various ways, including enabling parents to report student absences or to schedule a Parent-Teacher Interview in November.
If your already have an Edsby account, there’s nothing you need to do. If you do not have an Edsby account, please anticipate an email with instructions on activating your account. If you require any assistance with setting up your account, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.
Our thanks for your support.
The Central Park staff continue to explore best practices with this year's new model of learning which is very different from what we experienced last school year. Upcoming learning opportunities for staff will continue to support and evolve teaching practices to best support both in-person and online learners.
For several years we have been using School Cash Online, an online payment method, for parents and guardians to submit payments for various school events, activities and meal programs. Even though we are currently not offering our usual lunch programs and field trips etc., we would like to invite everyone who has not registered their child(ren) for online payments now. This will enable us to move forward smoothly and quickly when our schedules and routines return to normal after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Registration instructions are linked to help you register your child(ren) for online payments. The multiple language feature in this program supports translation and makes registration easy for all. You will need your child’s student number to register. This nine-digit number can be found on your child’s Edsby information screen. If you have trouble locating this number, please contact the school and we will look it up for you.
Please take a moment today to register now for School Cash Online.
School Agendas
School agendas have been shared with students. This is one of many tools that can be used to develop students' time management skills and support home and school communications. The cost of the agendas is $5 and we kindly ask families to submit their payment through School Cash Online. Funds collected will be allocated to support school programming.
Dear Central Park Families,
As we approach the first day of school, we are all very excited to welcome back our students and staff. It has been five months since we have had students in our school buildings and we appreciate the efforts everyone in our communities have made to support a safe return for all.
Below are some reminders and new information that we have recently received from the provincial government and York Region Public Health.
Screening
A new screening tool for the 2021-2022 school year has been provided by York Region Public Health (please click on Check for Symptoms Daily). This screening tool replaces previous versions and all students and staff must complete the screening prior to attending any YRDSB school or facility.
Secondary students will have to provide confirmation of a successful screening as follows:
1. After completing the screening tool, secondary students (or parents/guardians of students who may not be able to complete the form independently) must complete the Secondary School Confirmation Form. Upon completion of the form confirming successful screening, students will receive an email. For students who may not be able to complete the self-assessment process independently, parents/guardians are asked to complete it.
2. After receiving this email, students can then attend their school and will have to show the email response in one of the following ways to school staff:
· Show email on phone (showing the email or a photo of the email)
· Hard copy printout of the email
· If neither option is available, students can provide verbal response confirming completion.
Parents/guardians of elementary students (or the students themselves depending on their age) will have to provide confirmation of a successful screening as follows:
1. Parents/Guardians of Elementary students are required to complete on-line self-assessment COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool (please click on Check for Symptoms Daily), prior to their child entering the school
2. Upon completion of the self-assessment, Parents/Guardians will complete the response to the question: “Have you completed the self-screening tool?” in the Confirmation Form, using their child’s GAPPS account login information. Information on how to access your child’s GAPPS account is available on the Board’s website. If you do not have a student number/username, one will be provided by your child’s teacher.
Any students who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as identified in the screening tool (not related to a COVID-19 vaccine) or answer yes to any of the screening questions, must not enter any school and follow the guidance in the screening tool.
Ventilation
In collaboration with our funding partners, the Federal and Provincial governments, York Region District School Board has invested over $24 million on ventilation upgrades. Classrooms with a mechanical ventilation system have been fitted with MERV13 filters and where appropriate, HEPA filters have been installed. The Board has also increased fresh air rates to the maximum system can provide before discomfort and increased maximum outdoor air ventilation. We have created a Ventilation in Schools page on our website to demonstrate the ventilation systems in place at each school site.
Vaccinations
The Ministry of Health and York Region Public Health encourage all those eligible to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as one of the best measures to mitigate the spread of this virus. Vaccine appointments and information is available on Public Health’s website.
In accordance with requirements from the Ministry of Education, York Region District School Board is implementing a mandatory vaccine disclosure protocol for staff members, including all school staff members. Disclosure by staff members will commence on September 7, the aggregate (Board total) depersonalized statistical percentage of vaccinations will be made public by September 15 and updated monthly. Staff members who are not vaccinated, and do not have a medical reason, are required to attend an education session on the benefits of the vaccine and will undergo minimum weekly testing for COVID-19. The Board’s Immunization Disclosure protocol is available on the Board’s website and will be subject to updates as more information becomes available.
Masking
Properly fitted masks are required for all students in Grades 1 to 12 and strongly recommended for students in Kindergarten.
Parents/guardians must provide their child with at least three personal masks (non-medical) to wear at school. Public Health Agency of Canada recommends Canadians wear three-layer masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For more information about how to use face coverings properly, visit www.york.ca/covid19. All school staff will wear a medical mask and other personal protective equipment as required.
Letter from the Minister of Education
The Minister of Education has asked school boards to share a letter to families.
Additional Information
We appreciate that families have many questions about what to expect when their children return to school. In an effort to answer your questions,we:
· continue to update frequently asked questions
· held a virtual town hall responding to family questions
· are recording a two-part podcast responding to common questions with York Region Public Health
Our health and safety measures are available on the Board website and we will continue to communicate with families as information is updated. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure these important guidelines are adhered to, as we work together to protect the health and safety of our students, staff and families.
Once again, we appreciate the efforts of all families, students and staff to ensure our schools are safe and welcoming environments to work and learn.
York Region District School Board
In an effort to help you plan ahead for the coming school year, we are sharing calendars that provide an overview to the 2021-2022 school year, and may support you in planning for family holidays, medical or dental appointments and other events, while minimizing disruptions to your child’s learning. Consistent attendance and punctuality are fundamental to your child’s success.
The 2021-22 Learning Calendar outlines the school year by identifying all regular school days, school holidays, professional activity and training days, and early release days. We hope this will help you as you schedule events in the weeks and months to come. Similarly, all schools in York Region follow a Day 1-5 Cycle Calendar. For your reference, the Elementary 5 Day Cycle Calendar for 2021-2022 provides an overview of the 5-day cycle for the entire year. Each morning, the day in the cycle will be shared over the announcements as a reminder for all of our students.
As well, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has designated May 4 to June 24 2022 as the period during which Primary and Junior Division Provincial Assessments are to occur. We would kindly ask parents and guardians of students in Grade 3 and Grade 6 to avoid booking any appointments or trips during this period. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.
We thank you for your support and look forward to a great year.
We hope that you’ve had an enjoyable summer. Our staff are looking forward to welcoming all face-to-face and remote-learning students to Central Park P.S. for the 2021-2022 school year. On Thursday, August 26th, the Board shared information via email and on the Board website, pertaining to re-opening and health and safety measures. We encourage all our families to review this information.
In addition to the Board information, here are some important reminders and details specific to Central Park P.S.
1. First Day of School Procedures: In the days ahead, you will receive an email indicating your child’s classroom teacher for the year. As you can appreciate in a school such as ours, creating balanced classes is a significant task, and it is done with considerable care. Students are not able to change classes and we do not accept requests for particular teachers.
For all SK to grade 8 students, the first day is Thursday, September 9th. Open entry supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. Dismissal is 3:30 p.m. Please review the school maps to familiarize yourself and your child with their entry and exit doors as well as the location of their classroom. Please note that caregivers and parents are not able to come into the school with their child or children. Follow the link provided to revisit the Supportive Kindergarten Entry Plan.
At the end of the day, students are dismissed from their designated doors at 3:30 p.m. Please ensure that your child is aware how they will be going home (i.e. meeting a caregiver, walking home, taking the bus, etc.).
For students participating in remote learning, they will be using their existing GAPPs credentials to access their Google Classroom. If your child does not know their GAPPs credentials, please contact the school office. We thank everyone in advance for their support and patience at the outset of the year.
3. Masking: Properly fitted masks (non-medical) are required for all students in Grades 1 to 8, including in hallways and during classes and on school transportation. Kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to wear a non-medical mask, as well. Students should have 2 extra masks with them daily, should they need to change their mask while at school.
4. Daily Screening: On a daily basis, parents and guardians of students are responsible to review and adhere to the COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool. Any student experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or answering yes to any of the screening questions is required to remain home.
5. Hand hygiene will be encouraged throughout the school day. Hand sanitizing stations are located in the front lobby of the school and in each classroom.
6. Physical Distancing: Where possible, students must maintain a physical distance at all times, as they enter, move through and exit the school.
As we continue to prepare for the first day of school additional information will be shared with families. We wish you all the best during the remaining days of summer and look forward to seeing your children next week.
We wish to welcome all of our Central Park Families to another exciting school year.
At Central Park P.S., we are privileged to work with our amazing students and their families in a partnership that focuses on preparing lifelong learners for the challenges in our ever changing world community. We strive to create an inclusive, safe and supportive school environment that helps maximize student achievement and well-being.
Creating strong connections between students, families and staff is important to us as we work to ensure that every member of our diverse community feels valued, nurtured and encouraged to succeed. We work collaboratively together to focus on initiatives that support the York Region District School Board’s goals in the areas of Mathematics, Equity & Inclusivity, Mental Health and Well-Being and Modern Learning.
We look forward to working with all members of our school community as we share the important task of educating our students and future leaders. Please do not hesitate to contact the school to ask questions or share any insights you may have regarding your child's education and school experience. We welcome the opportunity to connect with you!
Finally, as we near the start of the school year, more information will be forthcoming regarding your child's classroom teacher, room assignment and updated health protocols and procedures. We are looking forward to an exciting school full of new beginnings and opportunities for our entire community.
Your partners in education,
Central Park's Administration Team
For families that have questions about their learning model confirmation communication please refer to the following:
For elementary: Up to and including August 26, please contact your local Community Education Centre. Between Monday, August 30 and Thursday, September 2, elementary school offices reopen and you should contact your child's Elementary school directly.
1000 Carlton Road
(In white portable beside Markville S.S.)
Markham, ON L3P 7P5
Phone: (905) 940-7800
Fax: (905) 940-6525
cec.east@yrdsb.ca
The board will centrally communicate and deliver a digital start-up package to each family. Please carefully read through the Central Park Start-Up package which is offered below. Once you have completed reading the Central Park Start-Up package please complete the digital sign-off forms that will be emailed centrally by the school board. Please take the time to review the package and sign-off all required forms. These forms provide important information that is essential to our school's operation and to your child's safety. We kindly ask all families to complete these forms at your earliest convenience, preferably prior to the start of the school year.
We are sharing a number of health-related forms that need to be completed for students with anaphylactic and/or other medical conditions. These forms have now been updated to allow you to fill them in electronically, and they are linked below.
If your child has an anaphylactic condition please complete an Anaphylactic Health Care Plan. Similarly, complete an Asthma Health Care Plan, a Type 1 Diabetes Health Care Plan or an Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Health Care Plan, as needed. Finally, if your child has any other medical condition please complete a general Health Care Plan. We’d kindly ask that any of these forms be completed and delivered to our office staff at your earliest convenience, as appropriate.
Please note, these forms must be completed annually for children with an anaphylactic and/or other medical conditions. We thank our community for their help with gathering this important information.
The York Region District School Board has now released its Guide to the School Year 2021-22. This detailed guide provides important information about the York Region District School Board and its schools. It includes information about who to contact if you have a question or concern, and covers a range of information such as busing, homework and parental engagement, items dealing with health and safety, as well as many board policies and procedures. Please note that COVID-19 may affect some of the services or processes outlined in the guide. Please visit the 2021-22 School Year landing page for more information
A reminder to parents that lunch drop-off is not permitted at this time in accordance to Board protocols. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to remain at school for lunch. There may be circumstances where students are given permission to go home for lunch at 12:50 pm so we kindly ask that students return at 1:50 pm and enter through the main doors so that we can track their attendance.
To minimize waste and enhance our cleaning efficiencies we need students to participate in our boomerang lunch program. This means that students will generate zero waste and will be expected to take home any green bin waste and all wrappings. Everyone's cooperation with this initiative will allow more time for our care taking team to engage in enhanced cleaning protocols throughout our school.
A waste-free lunch/snack contains no throwaway packaging and produces no food waste. Food and drinks are packed in reusable containers within a reusable lunch bag. As already mentioned, a boomerang lunch/snack means that any uneaten food and any waste material produced is returned home. For sanitary purposes, it is important that food and waste packaging be taken home in a resealable container or bag. Both a waste-free and a boomerang lunch allow parents to see what their children are actually eating during the day. A significant amount of waste is made up of unopened packaged foods, uneaten fruit, full juice boxes and half eaten sandwiches. Some Waste-Free Lunch/Snack Tips:
Use a reusable container for packing snacks/sandwiches (no more squished food)…empty margarine containers work well.
Cut fruit/vegetables into pieces so that some can be eaten at lunch and some can be saved for a snack later.
Label reusable containers to ensure they are easy to identify if they are misplaced.
Avoid drinks in packaging that cannot be resealed (especially for younger students) – NO glass bottles. After a few sips, drinks are often thrown out.
The Dollar Store carries reusable container and lunch bags – great deals!
* Please join in us in supporting this important initiative. We are
making a difference one lunch at a time!
Bring Your Own Device to school is a practice accepted at Central Park. Even though we exercise strict cleaning protocols when handling devices, students may still feel more comfortable using their own personal devices where they have exclusive access to their own technology. Use of all technology is subject to the board's appropriate use policy. Please click on the adjacent image for further information.
We would like to share with our community that our first virtual School Council meeting and elections will be held on Tuesday, September 21st at 6:30 p.m. Those wishing to serve on the School Council as chair or co-chair, secretary, treasurer, or as an executive member need to complete a School Council Nomination Form (fillable form linked and also contained within the forthcoming electronic School Startup Forms Package). The completed form can be returned to the school office with your child, e-mailed back to the school email account, or completed within the forthcoming electronic School Startup Forms Package. Those seeking a position must be in attendance at the first meeting. It is expected that School Council Executive members attend all regularly scheduled School Council meetings and events.
Please note that there can be many parents, guardians and community members who consistently attend School Council Meetings and strongly support School Council events who are not executive members. Everyone is welcome to attend and support the work of the school.
We will be using a platform for the meeting called GoToMeeting. You will be able to join the meeting via computer (preferable), tablet, smartphone, or phone. There is a browser-based version that can be run on many computers, however for greater compatibility and functionality you are encouraged to download and install the software. GoToMeeting apps can also be found on the app stores for your tablets or smartphones. Please complete this step prior to the School Council meeting.
If you are interested in attending the first School Council Meeting and Elections, please register using this short form. The meeting link will be shared prior to the meeting with all registered participants. We thank you for your continued support of our school.
We look forward to working with the School Council this year!
Register here so that a GoToMeeting link will be sent out to you in advance of our virtual event.
Traditionally, we’ve been able to collect misplaced student items in a ‘Lost and Found’ bin, where students could rummage through to find their belongings and eventually items could be displayed in the school foyer for the community to view and retrieve. Given the current situation, we are not able to continue with those earlier practices and inevitably we won’t be able to store unclaimed items indefinitely. And to make matters more challenging, the range of temperature on these Fall days finds students going out to recess with jackets and sweatshirts … and leaving them behind on the field and tarmac, notwithstanding our many reminders to students to collect all their items.
But you can help! The easiest way to ensure your children don’t lose their items is to label them. While we make efforts to return lost items to students whenever possible, we are far more successful when students’ names –a label sticker or even simply a name in permanent marker on an inner clothing tag–can be found.
We thank you for your support in helping reunite lost items with their owners!
We are encouraging all students and staff at Central Park P.S. to wear an orange shirt to school on Friday September 30th.
The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 to highlight the pain and suffering of thousands of Indigenous children who were sent to residential school throughout the last century. The colour of the shirt is connected to the experience of Phyllis Webstad who was sent to Cariboo Residential School near Williams Lake, BC, in 1973. Six-years old at the time, Phyllis went to her first day of school wearing a new bright orange shirt. New clothes were a rare thing for the young girl, who was being raised by her grandmother. However, upon arriving at the school, she was forced to remove her orange shirt and wear the school’s institutional uniform instead.
The shirt has since gone on to become a symbol of a national movement that recognizes the suffering of Indigenous children at residential schools across the country and to show a renewed commitment to ensure that every child matters.
Across the York Region District School Board, staff and students will wear orange shirts on September 30th in the spirit of Reconciliation and to stand in solidarity with survivors and all those impacted by residential schools.
It’s been forty-one years since Terry Fox set out on his ambitious attempt to run across Canada in an effort to raise money for cancer research. It’s been forty years since Terry set the goal of raising $1 for every Canadian. It’s been forty years since Terry Fox was forced to abandon his run in Thunder Bay Ontario, when the cancer that had taken his leg returned, spreading to his lungs. And it’s been forty years since Terry Fox passed the torch on to us. “Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going.”
As history would have it, Terry was able to see his wish fulfilled. The CTV network organized a telethon in support of Terry’s cause and the nation responded. By February of 1981 the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope fund eclipsed twenty-four million dollars, the (then) national population. Less than five months later, Terry would lose his battle to cancer. He was 22 years old.
Though forty-one years have passed since the original Marathon of Hope, Terry Fox is honoured and recognized across Canada and internationally for his heroic quest to eradicate cancer and his trailblazing attitudes toward disability. With over three-quarters of a billion dollars raised in Terry’s name to date, schools across Canada honour him by participating in an annual school event. This year, the National School Run will be held on Sunday, September 19th 2021.
Central Park Public School has participated in this annual event for twenty-three years and the school has raised an incredible amount for the cause over the years. While our event will look different this year, and classes will go out individually to walk on the tarmac and field, our resolve remains unchanged. Similarly, the school will not be collecting donations directly. We’d ask that anyone wishing to contribute to this most worthwhile cause, to please make an online donation in the name of the school directly to the Terry Fox Foundation website -
With your donation, our school will continue to contribute in an important way to the ongoing effort to eradicate cancer in our lifetime. Thank you in advance for your support.