The Prince Charles School

We would like to welcome both returning and new families to The Prince Charles School! We are looking forward to a great school year. I am so excited to be back at The Prince Charles School after six years as the Principal at Centennial Public School.

I am looking forward to meeting all of the students, parents and their families. I encourage you to become involved in your child’s school in any way possible as I strongly believe that open, positive communication between home and school is critical to every child’s success both academically and emotionally. Please consider participating in school events, volunteering at the school or joining our active and involved Parent Council. These are great ways to make connections with other families and contribute to our school community.

An outdoor environmental classroom is a key goal for the School and Parent Council we are looking to expand the opportunities for outdoor education both during the instructional day, as well as during recess. We will be exploring grants and other avenues of financial support for these projects. We will be asking for the support of the The Prince Charles School community for these project in the fall. Please consider helping to foster learning beyond the walls of the classroom.

The Prince Charles School Staff is very excited to be back at school and ready for another terrific year, full of opportunities to help students realize their academic, athletic, artistic and leadership potential. Our goal will continue to be to foster a positive sense of belonging and develop resilience in our students. It is our hope that through this sense of belonging we will be able to develop strong relationships amongst students and staff, in an effort to encourage the children to advocate for themselves and their peers by going to an adult for support when necessary. Please encourage your child to speak to their teacher or another adult in the building if they are experiencing difficulty academically, emotionally or socially. We are all here to help and it is our goal for the students to know and feel this every day when they step into the building. We will be listening to the students’ voice this year and checking in with them on how they are feeling throughout the school year.

There is a lot of important school information in this newsletter and I would suggest that you keep it on hand at home so that you can reference it throughout the school year. Please also visit the school website http://theprincecharles.limestone.on.ca for the most up to date information on what is happening at the school. You can also use the Remind App for quick reminders and updates (remind.com/join/mrsdesbi school code: @mrsdebi). Please sign up for a Twitter Account for the most current and immediate access to up to date information from the school. You can have a Twitter Account and only follow your child’s school. Once you have an account search for our school handle (@TPCS_LDSB). The families who are following the school on Twitter find this method of receiving information to be extremely useful. Pictures of students are posted to our Twitter account but no names are associated with the pictures. If you do not want your child’s picture posted on Twitter please notify the office in writing.

Please do not hesitate to drop by my office or call me at the school if you have any questions or concerns. I would be more than happy to help.

Sincerely,

K. Nitschke

Principal

Our first School Parent Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the library. Please consider attending. Every family is welcome and their contributions are always appreciated.

Our first Parent Meet and Greet will be on Friday, September 16th at 7:45 am. Join parents in the community, as well as the Principal and Vice Principal for a morning coffee and tea break on the pavement at the back of the school. Get to know other families and learn how you can support your child’s growth at school. All families welcome.

Security Measures:

All staff members will be on alert and will intercept anyone who they do not recognize in the school or on the school property. Staff do not know all of the parents personally, so it is important that all visitors to the school wear a visitor’s tag while in the building.

All visitors, including parents, and non-school personnel are required to report to the office and sign in when arriving on school property or entering the main school building. There is a sign-in book in the main entrance hall of the school.

After signing in, all visitors and parents who plan to stay in the building will be required to wear an identification tag which can be obtained from the main office. Supply teachers and volunteers will wear identification tags. Individuals providing a service for the school will also wear an identification tag.

Fire Drills:

Fire drills will be held to ensure that all students and staff are well prepared to evacuate the school should danger threaten our safety. Students will be instructed as to the exit routes to be taken when the alarm sounds. Everyone involved must remember to exit the building quickly and quietly.

Lockdown:

As part of the Limestone District School Board’s protocol for Emergency Response planning, schools are required to practise a Lockdown procedure twice each year. As with Fire Drill procedures, this safety plan is one that ensures students and staff understand how to respond during an adverse event. Students are instructed to sit quietly along the wall of their classroom, out of sight of the hallway and windows. The door is locked, hallway windows covered and the lights turned off. Students and staff remain in the room until the door is unlocked by administration.

Medication:

If your child requires medication during the school day, there is a board policy which must be followed. School staff may not administer medication without the appropriate forms from the doctor and parent. Please contact the school for further information and assistance if this need occurs.

Personal Items:

Students are encouraged to leave valuable items at home, as the student, not the school, is responsible for any items brought to school Students are discouraged from bringing articles to school that are not required for instructional purposes or those not approved by the classroom teacher/office. This is to promote safety and also lessen the potential loss of valuable items. Unsuitable items will be confiscated and parents will be informed.

Personal Appearance:

Students are expected to be neat and clean in appearance and to be dressed appropriately. Back and midriffs should be covered and shorts should be an appropriate length. Suggestive pictures and slogans promoting profanity, intolerance, alcohol and/or drugs on clothing are not acceptable. Hats are to be removed when students enter the school.

Students are required to wear indoor shoes in the classrooms and gymnasium. Outdoor shoes should be removed outside the classroom.

Students are reminded that riding the school bus is a privilege and that the bus is an extension of the classroom. With this in mind, students are asked to remember to remain seated and follow the rules for bus safety. Students are encouraged to remember that demonstrating “Good Character” should continue beyond the school doors. We appreciate and support our bus drivers who bring our students to school safely every day.

BUS CANCELLATION PROCEDURES FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER 2016-2017

The inclement weather procedure adhered to by Tri-Board Student Transportation Services is outlined below. Please note, in the event of bus cancellations, schools will remain open. Decisions regarding early and/or temporary shutdown of a school or board building will be made by the Limestone District School Board.

Parents please note:

“yes” our school is part of the Limestone District School Board

road condition reports are obtained from various Municipal Road Superintendents prior to 6:30 a.m.

several owners/managers of our local bus companies are inspecting road conditions in their geographical area and are in contact with Tri-Board Student Transportation Services staff

as early as 5:30 a.m. during inclement weather

Parents of bussed students should be reminded to review/update their emergency contact information and listen to their local radio stations for bus delays/cancellations

Families may find bus cancellations by going to the website at www.triboard.on.ca and clicking on ‘bus cancellations’

Note: When a bus does not travel a route in the morning due to ice or snow conditions, it will not be travelling in the afternoon. THIS MEANS IF YOU CHOOSE TO BRING A STUDENT TO SCHOOL WHEN TRANSPORTATION BY BUS HAS BEEN CANCELLED, YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR RETURN HOME.

Dan DeSantis will continue to offer music lessons after school hours at The Prince Charles School this year. If you are interested in this service please contact him at 613- 388-9247 to discuss my policy and book requirements.

8:05 am Entry Bell

8:05 am - 9:45 am 100 minute instructional period

9:45 am – 10:00 am Nutrition Break

10:00 am – 10:30 am Recess

10:30 am – 12:10 pm 100 minute instructional period

12:10 pm - 12:30 pm Recess

12:30 pm – 12:50 pm Nutrition Break

12:50 pm – 2:30 pm 100 minute instructional period

2:30 pm Dismissal and Bus Loading

The above visual is a great conversation starter at home for children. It is a great way to explain fairness and equality to students. Fair does not mean equal.

September 6th

Welcome Back to School

September 14th

School Council Meeting at 6pm

All Families welcome to attend

September 16th

Meet the Principal, Vice-Principal and School Council Members, get to know other families and enjoy coffee/tea at 7:45 am on the pavement at the back of the school.

September 23rd

Colour House Fall Spirit Day

Wear your Colour House Colours

September 29th

School Terry Fox Run-Please consider donating to this important cause.

Success Assembly - All families are welcome to attend. Times will be posted on Twitter and Remind

Krista Nitschke- Principal

Christine Desbiens- Vice Principal

Lori Arnold- Office Administrator

Don Abbott- Head Custodian

Barb Marshall & Rodney MacLeod-Custodians

French Immersion:

Carrie Kish- Kindergarten

Lisa Smith-ECE

Samantha Moore- Kindergarten

Shannon Brooks- ECE

Erin Mills- Kindergarten

Christine Aikens- Grade 1

Jodynne Frei- Grade ½

Cindy Backman- Grade 2

Erin MacDonald- Grade 2/3

Victoria Proulx- Grade 3

Susan Carrington- Grade 4/5

Melissa Harris- Grade 5/6

Susan Watson- Grade 6/7

Emily Stinson- Grade 7/8

Eva Little- French Planning Time

Jaymee Shepherd- English to Immersion

English:

Michelle Dauphinee- Kindergarten

Saria Laroque- ECE

Tricia McKnight- Kindergarten

Trish Brunner- ECE

Allison Madden- Grade 1

Joanne Campbell- Grade 2/3

Alison Woodroffe- Grade ¾

Erika Benn- Grade 5/6

Nigel Compson- Grade 6/7

Darrell Scott- Grade 7/8

Jen Boldrick- Student Support Teacher

Kristen Larocque- Core French

Tiffany Christian- Special Education Teacher

Lindsay Wood- Special Education Teacher

Amber Wynn- English to Immersion/Planning

Eva Detlor- Educational Assistant

Petrina Lemoine- Educational Assistant

Shelley Fenwick-Educational Assistant

Kim Grant- Educational Assistant

Darlene Virgin-Educational Assistant

Robyn Oldfield- Educational Assistant

Email: prchl@limestone.on.ca
Website: http://theprincecharles.limestone.on.ca
Location: 75 Graham Street West, Napanee, ON, Canada
Phone: 6133542121
Twitter: @TPCS_LDSB