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Years SK to Year 5 | Technology management

Dear Primary Families,

This year we will continue with our program that each student in SK to Year 4 will be assigned an iPad, and Year 5 students will be assigned a laptop for at-school use. We work to ensure that all of the tools on these devices are appropriate for their classroom learning and students will be guided by faculty and support staff when using these devices to ensure smooth functionality and security. While on campus, students are expected to use the technology as guided by the College rules and regulations, as per the Family Handbook, and guided by the Prep Administration. 

Students will also be supported with a formal digital citizenship program exploring topics such as online interactions, cyberbullying, and digital privacy. These measures also allow the College to manage and support students in the unlikely event of future school disruptions.

We're excited to continue implementing some exciting technology programming with the appropriate implementation of tools like VR goggles and programmable robots. These tools will support the implementation of coding and computational thinking across subjects. This approach fosters interdisciplinary projects, from simulating scientific experiments to creating interactive historical experiences, while equipping students with essential 21st century problem-solving and logical reasoning skills.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and we appreciate your support in ensuring students have the best environments for learning success.

A reminder that you must also sign the Prep Acceptable Use Policy for Technology that is now available when you log into Bluenet. Please click on the yellow banner along the top of the screen to start the signature process.

Best wishes,

David Girard, Assistant Head, Primary 

Joanna Martin, Technology Integration Specialist, Primary

Jim LaPlante, Executive Director, Information and Innovation

Years 6 and 7 | Technology management

Dear Year 6 and 7 Families,

School laptops are an important tool in the day-to-day life of our students. It is critical that school laptops are used appropriately as a tool for learning. The College manages Year 5, 6 and 7 laptops with restrictions against non-academic software. These restrictions must be in place to ensure the smooth functionality and security of the laptops. Students in Years 6 and 7 who take their laptops home will still have the access rights to connect the laptops to their home wifi and printing environments. While on campus, students are expected to use the technology as guided by the College rules and regulations, as per the Family Handbook, and guided by the Prep Administration.

Students will be supported with a formal digital citizenship program exploring topics such as online interactions, cyberbullying, and digital privacy. These measures also allow the College to manage and support students in the unlikely event of future school disruptions.

Please know the computer assigned to your child will be equipped with all of the necessary software and programs to successfully support their academics. Any software that is required for learning will be made available through the College’s software distribution process. Moving forward, students will only be able to use Chrome as a browser and will not be permitted to download software that would give access to VPN, social media, or gaming software.

These changes to the management of the devices will be implemented over the next week in preparation for the return to class.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and we appreciate your support in ensuring students have the best environments for learning success.

A reminder that you must also sign the Prep Acceptable Use Policy for Technology that is now available when you log into Bluenet. Please click on the yellow banner along the top of the screen to start the signature process.

Best Wishes,

Gareth Evans, Assistant Head, Middle 

Sarah Barclay, Technology Integration Specialist, Middle

Jim LaPlante, Executive Director, Information and Innovation

REGISTER | VEX IQ Robotics 

We're pleased to announce that VEX IQ will begin this fall for Year 6 and Year 7 students. VEX IQ is a competitive robotics program that gives students the opportunity to design and build robots that will participate in the newest VEX IQ game, Full Volume. 

The nature of the program will require a significant commitment from participating students.  

The group will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Upper School. Students wishing to participate in the competitive circuit (which we encourage but do not require) can also expect 3 or 4 weekend competitions throughout southern Ontario during the school year. There is an expectation that students will attend build days regularly — and while occasional absences are unavoidable, attendance should be considered mandatory throughout the core build period of the season (September to March).  

We can support up to 10 teams, and depending on the interest level we may have to institute an application process. There is no cost to participate on the team, but there may be costs associated with competitions and team clothing throughout the year.

Please indicate your intent to participate in VEX IQ robotics by completing this form.

SIGN UP | PPO request for help

As we prepare for another exciting year at the Prep, we invite you to be a part of our vibrant school community by joining the team of parent volunteers. 

This is a great way to build new connections, directly impact your child's educational experience and contribute to the overall growth of our school. No matter what amount of time you have available to help out, we can find a volunteer opportunity that will suit your schedule. To explore current opportunities and sign up, please click here. 

REGISTER | Hot Lunch Program

SK–Year 3 (lunch begins at 11:40 a.m.)

• All SK students eat lunch in their classroom. 

• Year 1–3 students will eat in Weston Hall.  

• Parents may elect to send a lunch from home or sign up for the hot lunch program. 

• Home lunches must be nut/peanut free.  

• There is an optional milk program for students who bring their own lunch.  

• There is a snack program, which is available to SK students.

Year 4–5 (lunch begins at 11:40 a.m.)

• Students will eat in the Dining Hall. 

• Parents may elect to send a lunch from home or sign up for the hot lunch program. 

• Home lunches must be nut/peanut free.  

• There is an optional milk program for students who bring their own lunch. 

Year 6–7 (lunch begins at 12:10 p.m.) 

• Students will eat in the Dining Hall or Weston Hall.

• Parents may elect to send a lunch from home or sign up for the hot lunch program. 

• Home lunches must be nut/peanut free.  

• There is an optional milk program for students who bring their own lunch. 

Lunch Options

With the cooperation of Aramark, our food services provider, we offer all students the following three options at lunch:

1. The hot lunch program (includes beverages)

• The menu, which operates on a three-week cycle, offers soup, one main entrée, one vegetarian entrée, a sandwich/salad bar and dessert every day. Milk and water (and chocolate milk as an occasional treat) are available. Students are permitted to line up for seconds.

2. The milk program (for those who bring their lunch from home)

• Students may bring their lunch and enroll in the milk program, which offers milk and chocolate milk on occasion.

3. Lunch from home

• Parents may opt to send lunch with their child. Thanks to the Prep Parent Organization, microwave ovens are available for all students. Students are expected to take home uneaten food in order to help parents gauge what is being eaten.

Expectations

Prior to registering for the hot lunch program, we would ask you to review a sample menu and consider whether a lunch brought from home or the hot lunch program best meets your child’s needs. Students will be encouraged to make sound nutritional choices and will be expected to finish with little or no food waste. They are always welcome to try an item and return for more. As students try different menu items over the course of the first menu cycle, there may be some waste. After this time, students will be expected to make good decisions about what and how much they take.

To ensure the safety of all students, parents are expected to ensure that any food items sent from home do not contain traces of any kind of nut or shellfish. Please discuss the importance of this strict requirement with your child. Your co-operation is essential and most sincerely appreciated.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you subscribe to one of the programs, the charges listed below are added to your child’s account on a term-by-term basis. Once registered at the beginning of the year students remain registered unless the parents advise the Prep Office by email.

There will be no credit for days remaining in a term if a parent withdraws from the program during the term, or days missed because of any absence.

Parents who sign up for the hot lunch program do not sign up for the milk program.

Bag lunches will be prepared for field trips as required for hot lunch registrants.

It is also important to note students cannot sign up part way through a term.

If you decide to register for the hot lunch program, you must sign up via your child's student profile page. 

Here is the link to instructions on how to access your child’s student profile page.

ORDER TODAY | Prep T-shirt bundle: Purple, Orange and Pink Shirt Days

The PPO has put together a coloured T-shirt bundle to mark three important days we observe as a school. The bundle includes a purple shirt (Rowan’s Law, Sept. 27), orange shirt (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30) and pink shirt (anti-bullying, Feb. 22).  

These classic fit shirts are 100% cotton and come in youth sizing from XS (2-4) – XL (18-20) and adult sizes from S–6XL. The shirts are bundled in a three pack for $34.  

Place your order here by Wednesday, Sept. 13. The shirts will be available for pick-up on the UCC campus no later than Sept. 26 so that students can wear their purple shirts on Sept. 27 for Rowan's Law Day. NOTE: As each item is a special order, we will not be able to provide refunds or exchanges. All sales are final.