Sydenham PS
Year End Newsletter June 18, 2021
Dear Sydenham Families,
Principals' Message
Well, you did it! One week to go! We can't tell you how proud we all are of you for persevering and getting through this very challenging year!
We had our final Parent Council meeting of the year this month: thank you so much to Len Whalen (Parent Council Chair) and the Parent Council Executive who have worked so hard to find ways to support our school community this year. We look forward to continuing to work with our dedicated, thoughtful and enthusiastic Parent Council next year!
Plans for our Grade 8 Graduation have been finalized; we will recognize this milestone with a hybrid of individual, outdoor, in-person appointments for graduates on Tuesday June 22nd which will be followed by the release of a digital slide show/video celebrating and recognizing our grade 8 graduating class. Please contact the school if your grade 8 student did not receive the information.
We have now been provided with direction regarding device return, report card distribution and the opportunity for families to pick up any remaining personal belongings. Please see the schedule below. On-line learning schedules may be changed somewhat due to our end of year work, please check the schedules posted by your child's educators.
We also have some staffing updates to share. We have learned that Ms. Lamarche, grade 2/3 teacher will be moving to Molly Brant P.S. after this year. Ms. Lamarche has been a mainstay of our staff team here at Sydenham P.S. and she will be dearly missed! We thank her for her dedication to students and student learning, her consummate organizational skills, and her care and commitment to her Sydenham family. We wish her all the best at her new school - they will be lucky to have her on their team! We welcome Elizabeth Raven as our new grade 2/3 teacher, who will be coming to us from Lord Strathcona P.S. We will also be welcoming Ms. Shamaila Aslam into our part time planning teacher position. We are confident that Ms. Raven and Ms. Aslam will love it at Sydenham and we look forward to teaching and learning with them! Welcome!
Our tentative school organization for the fall remains unchanged since our last communication, but with the following staff changes:
Kindergarten (blended class of year 1 and year 2 students) - Ms. Bryson and Ms. Gray
Grade 1/2 - Ms. McCourt
Grade 2/3 - Ms. Raven
Grade 3/4 - Ms. Onyskiw
Grade 5/6 - Ms. Reid
Grade 7/8 - Ms. Chung
Core French - M. Emmerton
Planning Time (part time position) - Ms. Aslam
EA Team - Ms. Warren, (afternoons) and Ms. Kuipers. There is a 0.25 EA position at Sydenham that will be filled at a later date.
Caretaking- Keith Webster, head caretaker, Adam Orozco, evening caretaker
Office - Holly Reichstein
With just one week left in a school year that will not soon be forgotten we continue to be impressed by your resilience, your support and your commitment to your children's learning and wellness. Please continue to reach out to your children's teachers, or to us, should we be able to support you: learning looks different for different families right now, and we are here to help and problem-solve together. The last day of school for students is June 24th and staff will be working during the PA day on the 25th. All the best everyone - have a great last week, and if we don't see you at report card and belonging pick-up, have a fantastic summer!
Mrs. Diamond and Mrs. Marshall
Student Belongings, Report Card Distribution and Device Return
Families are invited to the yard to pick up student belongings and report cards during the days and times designated below. We are not permitted to have anyone other than staff to enter the building; we will be set up outdoors, rain or shine. Please wear a mask and stay distanced from others and staff - although all we want to do is hug you - but don't - until public health puts out a "hug your school families" directive ... :-)
Please be prepared to sign off that you have done, and passed the COVID screener on your pick up day as well as leave contact tracing information.
We will try to have sibling bags available if you are only able to do one trip. Let us know and we'll just run in and grab the sibling's bag of belongings, and you can ask for both report cards.
Wednesday June 23rd
9:00-10:00 - Kindergarten (Rankine/Gray)
10:15- 11:15 - Grade 1/2 (McCourt)
1:00-2:00 Grade 2/3 (Lamarche)
Thursday, June 24th
9:00 - 10:00 Grade 4/5/6 (Reid)
10:15-11:15 Grade 6/7/8 (Chung)
12:00-3:30 - Open time for device return and belongings retrieval
Any report cards not picked up by 3:30 on Thursday will be mailed home.
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.
The approved calendar allows for a traditional start for students following Labour Day. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Click the graphic below for a link to the full calendar.
Mental Health Supports
Kids Help Phone – Children and youth can contact Kids Help Phone 24/7 from anywhere in Canada, via phone, text or online chat.1-800-669-6868.
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support – Provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed
Anxiety Canada - Free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety, including resources specific to COVID-19.
Maltby Centre - Children and youth from ages 0 - 18 and their families or caregivers can receive free access to evidence-based resources including counseling, therapy and intensive services.
The National Indian Residential School Crisis line is 1-866-925-4419.
FlipGive Student Advisory Council Fundraiser
This season, fundraising for Sydenham Public School Advisory Council is going to be so much easier with FlipGive, a free team funding app.
We earn cash back on every purchase we make all year long! All you have to do is shop anytime with the brands you already love, like Home Depot, Walmart, Sport Chek, Indigo, Old Navy, Apple, Esso, and Loblaws to name a few!
Join our team now and you’ll get a $5 bonus the first time you shop: https://flipgive.app.link/teams/join?joincode=FJ7BZK
Or enter this code: FJ7BZK
Feel free to share the link with family and friends. Any questions, just ask!
Sydenham PS Advisory Council
Want to learn more? Check out this 2 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vTO_Qg4n80
Learn at Sydenham!
Registration is open for 2021-22
Kinder Registrations!
Join us for Kindergarten!
Our Director
Youth Vaccination Clinics
Youth aged 12 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario. KFL&A Public Health will be offering special youth vaccination clinics beginning the week of June 7 and continuing to June 28.
How to book a first dose appointment at Youth and Family Vaccination Clinics
- To make a vaccination appointment, please use the link below.
- Youth clinics will be held beginning on June 8 to June 28.
- Please note you will need to be 12 years of age at the time of the appointment.
- Appointments are for parents/guardians as well as the youth and the link can accommodate different booking options. For example, youth only (if both parents/guardians are already immunized) or a parent/guardian with multiple eligible youth.
KFL&A Public Health - COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic | Scheduling and Booking Website (simplybook.plus)
SUMMER CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES!
Colouring Contest!
Please see below for links to Colouring Sheets, and contest information. Contest closes June 21st @ noon. This is a great 20 - 30 minute activity, which can be experienced quietly or while playing local Indigenous Artists.
HAVE A HAPPY...
Sydenham PS
Email: syden@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://sydenhamps.limestone.on.ca/
Location: 5 Clergy Street East, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613.548.3491
Twitter: @SydenhamPS_LDSB