Dragon News

October 8, 2021

October has arrived and we are fortunate to still be experiencing wonderful weather and days of play and adventure at school in the outdoors.  A reminder to families to ensure your child(ren) have and are wearing outdoor clothing for the fall season - warmer coat, pants, layers that can be removed when it warms up in the afternoon.  At times, fall weather brings rain, which will cause the field and pavement to become wet.  Sometimes students socks/pants may become wet from playing games - consider packing an additional pair of socks to change into. 

Please join us in welcoming new staff to our building that will be with us for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.  It has been such a joy having so many students return and join our Ormiston Learning community, and as a result, we are able to welcome additional staff to this community. 

Early Years 

Mrs. Asselin & Mrs. Bright

Mrs. Brackett & Mrs. Duncan

Mrs. Kalnay & Ms St. Jean

Mrs. Princis & Ms. Harrod

Mrs. Stephens & Mrs. Animashaun

Primary

Mrs. Bickle

Mrs. Johnson 

Mrs. Vandenbrink

Mrs. Marangozis

Mrs. McLean

Mrs. Pittman

Mrs. Sertsis

Junior

Mrs. Best

Mr. Delaney

Mrs. Flanagan

Mr. Niarchos/ Ms. Sivalingam

Ms. Sharma 

Mr. Tavone 

Mrs. Thomas

Intermediate 

Mr. Cohen

Mr. McNairn

Mrs. Rossi 

Mrs. Shaikh

Junior/ Intermediate Practical Learning Team

Mrs. Stevenson - Teacher

Mrs. Cann - EA

Ms. Taylor - EA 

Mrs. Khurshid - EA

Mrs. Tomkins - EA

Special Education Resource Team

Mrs. Best - Junior SERT

Mrs. Henwood - Early Years, Primary, Intermediate SERT

Ms. Aldred  - EA 

Mr. Khan - EA

Mrs. Young - EA

Teacher Librarian 

Mrs. Hutchings 

Physical Education Lead Teacher

Mrs. Weir 

Physical Education Teacher

Ms. Orser 

Core French 

Mrs. Bowman

Ms. Caster 

Office Administration Assistant / Head Secretary 

Mrs. Kershaw (Rowland)

Chief Custodian 

Mrs. Faryna 

Mr. Smart - Vice Principal

Mrs. McMurray - Principal 

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month 

Week 1 Staying in Touch 

Week 2 - Sharing Special Moments 

Phishing  - click on link or image

Malware - click on link or image to learn more about Malware and how to protect yourself and your children 

We want to thank the students who have been using TikTok appropriately. We ask that students refrain from participating in harmful TikTok challenges in school or within our community.

• We are very concerned that some students may not understand the impacts and seriousness of these challenges and that serious crimes, like sexual assault and physical assault, are being made light of. In addition to violating our school Code of Conduct, many of these acts are serious criminal offences and will be treated as such.

• Any participation or encouragement to participate in these challenges by students will be investigated and will be addressed under the Code of Conduct, as may be appropriate, and discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion may result.

• Our school community is dependent on everyone in our school treating each other with dignity and respect and collaboratively keeping our learning spaces safe. 

• Staff work really hard to clean and maintain the school to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff. Vandalism is disrespectful to them and to students, that rely on a safe and caring school climate.

• We treat vandalism seriously in terms of consequences.

• We ask that everyone be on the look-out and ensure you report any disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour to a staff member immediately.  We will then follow-up.

• We pride ourselves on being a school community that shows it cares, and we know that the vast majority of students don’t want to see this happening.  We therefore need you to help us to prevent and report any instances of participation in these challenges or any encouragement to participate in these challenges.

Mrs. McMurray, Mr. Smart and Ormiston PS Staff 

MEND Islamic Heritage Month LINK to Events or Click on Image

Next Event is Tuesday, October 12th - Storytelling workshop for Intermediate and Senior Students - click on image or link to register

Click image to start screening

COVID - 19 SELF SCREENING 

DAILY & FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD IN A FAMILY

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

*Ultimately - each individual student MUST have completed a school self screen before school - IF this has been completed, information on what a parent should do is told to them (ie. RED Alert and steps given to parent; GREEN - good to come to school)

**If a child has a stuffy nose, sore throat OR headache - monitor 

Your Child is Not Feeling Well….complete the Self-Screening School Assessment - If you receive a red alert - follow steps.   By staying home when we show signs and symptoms of being unwell, together we can keep each other well.  Thank you for ensuring the safety of all students and staff in our building, as well as extending to our homes and family.   As parents, both Mr. Smart and myself empathize with the many juggles that may have to occur. 

100 % of our students are wearing protective face coverings.  Students are encouraged to bring more than 1 CLEAN mask to school each day.  

Students may require an additional mask during the day due to: 

• Mask falling onto another surface (desk, ground, floor, etc)

• Mask becoming dirty by children touching it with unwashed hands (children are directed to wash hands often at regular times of the day as per protocols and are explicitly shown good hand hygiene skills - please review and reinforce these skills at home)

• Mask becomes dirty/ wet from breathing in during cooler temperatures when outside during physical education classes, outdoor learning and/ or recess times 

Students are able to wear non-medical masks - these do need to be washed regularly to ensure there is no spread of germs.  

DURHAM BLACK EDUCATORS’ NETWORK

ELEVATE AND EXPAND: COACHING FOR EXCELLENCE

With our continuous focus on optimizing educational experiences, Durham Black Educators’ Network (DBEN) has created Elevate and Expand: Coaching for Excellence.  In it’s 2nd year, this virtual tutoring support program is for Durham District School Board students in Grades 6 – 12 who identify as a part of Durham’s Black diaspora.

Strengthening our commitment to enhancing academic equitable outcomes, DBEN has partnered with DDSB’s Student Achievement and Curriculum Department to provide tutoring support. 

Virtual 1:1 support will be offered through Google Meet.  Students will be matched with tutors based on academic strengths and needs, and our tutors’ teaching qualifications. Students will be provided 1 hour of complimentary tutoring per week.

Elementary students’ sessions will run throughout each term and Secondary students’ sessions will be based on quadmesters.

Families are kindly asked to complete the Elevate & Expand: Coaching for Excellence Registration Form, including the media release by October 11th 2021.  Our DBEN Tutoring Coordinator will be in contact to finalize the intake process. 

2021-2022 Elevate & Expand: Coaching for Excellence Registration From

Sessions will begin during the week of October 18th, 2021.

For more information, please send your inquiries to DBENtutoring@gmail.com.  Thank you.

Intermediate Student Leadership Council meets in the gymnasium in their classroom cohorts at lunch on Tuesday, October 12th.  

Ormiston Public School Community Council - Election Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 12th at 7:00 PM virtually. 

Click image for to complete Self-Nomination Form or link below 

Council Meeting Nomination Form - We welcome past and new members - please consider a great way to be connected to your child’s schooling experience!  

Click Image for Agenda or Link

October 12, 2021 7:00 PM School Community Council Meeting Agenda

Click on Image to read School Community Council Handbook or Link

SCC Election Meeting 

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

7:00 PM

Virtual: click on this link to join meeting: 

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zhj-afrf-npr

October 14th 

5:30 - 6:30  PM 

- Teachers will provide a Virtual Google Meet Link to families through your childs' Google Classroom 

5:30 PM -  classroom teacher will introduce themselves, the classroom and the grade level expectations.   

5:50 PM - classroom teacher will introduce themselves, the classroom and the grade level expectations.  

6:10 PM - classroom teacher will introduce themselves, the classroom and the grade level expectations.  

By providing 3 times for parents/ caregivers to attend the virtual curriculum night, each parent/caregiver will have an opportunity to meet EACH of their child’s teacher(s) - some families have more than one child attending in different grade levels. 

*one of the 3 sessions presented by the classroom teacher will be RECORDED to share with families/ caregivers who may not be able to attend any of the sessions above.  

Parent/ Caregiver Support to Access Google Meets

in your Child’s Google Classroom

Click Image for Help to Access Google Classroom or Link

Mrs. Hutchings, our teacher librarian, is hosting google meets to assist any parent/ caregiver who requires guidance to access their child’s Google Classroom to access the Virtual Curriculum Night.  

5:30-6:30 PM - https://meet.google.com/xhr-tzcb-vtw

Tips on how to use Sora, Google Classroom or Google Meet 

Join Mrs. Hutchings at 6:30 - 7:00 PM - https://meet.google.com/apk-ofh-zrm

Reminder - Virtual Curriculum Night is an opportunity for parents/ caregivers to be introduced to their child’s teacher and learn about the grade level expectations and classroom.  It is not an evening to receive confidential progress information on a child's performance - this will take place on November 11th and 12th - Parent/Guardian - Teacher Conferences.  

Click on Images to Watch Video LINK on Using our WITS

WALK AWAY

If someone is teasing or bullying you, try to take a deep breath and just walk away.

Kids who tease or bully other kids are often just trying to get a reaction from them. Calmly walking away means they won’t get this reaction from you.

Be sure to walk away to a safe place. Try heading toward a classroom, the principal’s office or to any other place where there are adults you can trust.

Have you tried walking away? Are you still being bullied or teased? Try a different strategy.

IGNORE

Don’t pay attention to what the person who is bothering you is saying or doing.

Kids who tease or bully other kids are often just trying to get a reaction from them. Ignoring them means they won’t get this reaction from you.

Many times, just ignoring the person who is teasing or bullying you will make them stop.

Have you tried ignoring? Are you still being bullied or teased? Try a different strategy.

TALK IT OUT

Tell the person that is bothering you to stop. Kids who tease or bully other kids are more likely to pick on kids who won’t stand up to them.

Try making a joke to show that you’re not bothered. You can even practice some funny responses at home until you’re comfortable saying them to the person who is bothering you.

Have you tried talking it out? Are you still being bullied or teased? Try a different strategy.

SEEK HELP

Go to someone you trust for help, like a parent, teacher, police officer or older kid.

If you don’t get the help you need, keep asking other people you trust until someone is able to help.

Remember that telling is not tattling.

If you’re faced with bullying and you get help, you are helping to make your school and your community a safe and fun place for kids to be!

If you’re being faced with bullying or teasing and you need help, try asking an adult you trust like a parent, teacher, police officer or older kid. If you don’t get the help you need, keep asking other people you trust until someone is able to help.

Working together as a team to keep each other safe and well!

Crisis help lines

If you are experiencing a personal or situational crisis, you can call:

• 911 or visit the nearest emergency department

• Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 for emotional support on a variety of issues. They offer text and online chat services as well.

• ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 for addiction, mental health and gambling treatment services.

• Distress Centre Durham at 905-430-2522 for 24-hour help. They run a series of specialized phone lines for suicide survivors, LGBTQ+ and community support.

• Durham Region Mobile Crisis Service at 1-800-742-1890 or 905-666-0483 for free confidential support during a crisis.

• Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454 for free and confidential professional counselling and referrals for mental health, addiction and well-being.

• ONTX Ontario Online and Text Crisis Services by texting 258258.

• Youthline at 1-800-268-9688 for confidential LGBTQ+ peer support. They offer telephone, text and chat services.

Click on image or Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle Link

Click image or Rainbows: Guiding Kids Through Life’s Storms Link

SEARCH FOR SERVICES IN DURHAM REGION

Click on Image or Link to Learn about Parent/ Guardian Resources available at the Durham District School Board