November 24, 2025, 2025
November 24, 2025, 2025
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Dear Families,
Hello everyone! Sorry for the delayed message, I was away on Friday and did not write a newsletter.
The big news from last week is that we introduced our Rethinking Recess strategy to our students during our Buddy Block time on Wednesday.
According to Hannah Beach, an emotional well-being and play-based learning consultant, we are raising the first generation of kids who do not have a culture of play. Technology and scheduled, skill-based activities have taken over our kids ability to engage in free play and we are seeing the results on the school yard and in class.
We are devoting a significant amount of professional development, school programming resources and educator expertise to focusing on the importance of play this year. We hope that you will join us! Please find ways to play with your kid(s) at home when you have time to do so. It is important that we engage in the play with them to teach them how it is done, and it is fun for us too!
Stay tuned to hear more about how Play is incorporated into our daily lives here at PoP!
Mrs. Shaver - Principal & Mrs. Alvarez - Vice Principal
Dress for the Weather!
As the weather is turning colder, please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately. This includes hats, mittens/gloves, and a fall coat so they can comfortably participate in all outdoor activities.
Staying Warm & Community Support
We know that children grow quickly and outfitting them for a long winter can be a real expense. If your family needs support accessing winter gear, please know there are wonderful resources available.
The Snowsuit Fund: This organization is fantastic. If you need assistance, you can apply via their website: The Snowsuit Fund
Community Groups: We strongly suggest joining your local "Buy Nothing" group on social media if you're able. It's a great way to find gently used items as neighbours help neighbours.
Thrift & Value Options: As kids grow so fast, thrift stores like Value Village or the Salvation Army are excellent options. You can also find great value on new items at stores like Walmart, Joe Fresh, Old Navy, and SAIL.
No Toys at School Please
No Toys at School Please
As per our agenda and student handbook, we would like to remind you that we ask you do not let your child come to school with any toys, trinkets or special items. We cannot guarantee that they will safely return. This includes sports equipment and outdoor toys.
This helps eliminate distractions, student conflict, and the challenges that often occur when special items are damaged or go missing.
November 28. Pizza Day!
December 5. PD Day, no school.
December 2. Advent Liturgy. 9:30 am. Parents welcome to attend.
December 12. Holiday Cheer Market. Students can bring cash the week before to purchased items for gifts for their immediate family members (those who live in their home, pets not included).
$2.00 for the first family member, $1.00 for every additional item.
OCSB Volunteers.pdf
Dare to Care
Dare to Care
Prince of Peace has been given access to the Dare to Care program to support an anti-bullying message.
Parents can have access to this programming as well. Click this link and then click the Parent Enrollment button to make a profile. Reinforcing these messages at home helps us create a safe environment for everyone at school!
No Wipes at School!
No Wipes at School!
Please do not send your child with bathroom wipes to use at school. Our school's plumbing cannot handle those materials and gets clogged and damaged. We had to do extensive work over the summer to repair pipes, and the main issue was wet wipes being flushed down the toilets.
Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
Student Handbook:
Please review the student handbook with your child before they come to school on September 2. This item includes the code of conduct, use of technology, dress code, arrival and dismissal procedures and other important items.
Please complete the following:
Please complete the following:
Parent Portal: This is where you view report cards and verify that the school has your current contact information. Update your contact information on Parent Portal here.
Fill Out Forms on Parent Portal Here:
Responsible Use of Technology
OCSB Student Verification
Offsite permission form
Consent for use and disclosure of information
School Cash Online: This is where you can make purchases for Pizza Day, our milk program, POP clothing and pay for field trips.
School Messenger: This is our main mode of communication from school to home. Please be sure to change your preferences to include attendance, general, and teacher to student messaging.
Drop Off and Pick Up by Car
The safety of our community is paramount to the school. To assist in getting all of our students safely dropped off and picked up, we would ask that ALL parents follow these procedures.
No children should be dropped off before 9:00 am. The school does not open until this time. No child should be left outside unsupervised.
Please do not park in the bus lane and do not enter the parking lot at the beginning or end of the day. This is for the safety of all of our staff and students.
Please yield to ALL buses as they have priority to drop off students and continue with their routes.
End-of-Day Pick-Up
Parents must sign out their child at the end of the day by coming into the office and signing out in the binder provided.
Please note that our parking lot is closed and reserved for our vans and special needs families.
Do not park in the bus lane. That is reserved for special transportation vans and buses only.
Knowing Your Child's Plans is Key
To maximize safety and efficiency, we kindly ask that you notify the school by 3:15 PM if your child's dismissal plans differ from their usual routine. After such time we cannot guarantee that messages will be received. This includes:
Being picked up by a parent or another guardian
Going to after-school care instead of a bus
If more than one pickup is occurring during the week, a daily email will be needed
By letting us know your child's plan in advance, our staff can prepare dismissal lists and ensure a seamless transition from the classroom to their designated pickup point.
Benefits of Early Notification
Knowing your child's dismissal plan allows us to:
Reduce confusion and anxiety for students during dismissal.
Expedite the dismissal process, minimizing wait times for everyone.
Ensure the safety of all students by verifying authorized pickups.
How to Communicate Your Child's Plans
There are a few easy ways to let us know about your child's dismissal plans:
Email the school at: prince.peace@ocsb.ca
Call the school office before 3:15 PM.
Dismissal Procedure:
The window for end-of-day pick-up is strictly between 3:40 and 3:45 pm. This is to minimize interruptions to the classroom and allow staff to safely prepare for the end of the day.
Please note that students will not be released before 3:40 pm unless there is a pre-arranged need for an earlier departure (e.g., sports practice, dental appointments, etc.).
If students are being picked up for a special appointment or a sports practice, we ask that you email the school that morning at prince.peace@ocsb.ca. For safety, we ask that you choose a pick-up time of 3:40 pm or before 3:20 pm. Students will not be called out of class between 3:20 pm and 3:40 pm.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process.
Forks and Spoons!
Forks and Spoons!
We are experiencing a huge demand for forks and spoons at lunch time. Please send your child with the appropriate cutlery to eat their lunch. We do not want to keep handing out plastic forks and spoons. It is not good for the environment and it is an expense that can be eliminated if cutlery is provided from home. Thank you so much!
By your side: Parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning and well-being for every family. Click here.
Key topics in the Parent/Caregiver Learning Hub include:
· understanding mental health
· promoting mental health at home
· supporting mental health at school
· stress and anxiety management
· substance use prevention
· navigating digital technology use
· reaching out for help
Volunteer with us!
Click here to submit your vulnerable sector check and become a volunteer at the school!
Prince of Peace School Council
School Council meets on the second Thursday of every month. We are looking for new members/parents to help us plan and organize fun events, support fundraising efforts and make decisions on behalf of the school community. For more information or to sign up to get involved, click here. Our next meeting is October 9 at 4:30.
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