Newsletter 

Message from the Principal

Dear Families,

Welcome back!  We had a great first week back to school.  We welcomed new and returning students in all classes and spirits are high.  

I would like to formally welcome Ms. Connolly, our new Vice Principal!  She comes with lots of experience in both elementary and high schools.  She plays sports, including ringette and golf.  She has a great sense of humour and is already making a great impact in her first week at Prince of Peace!

We are sending home important information on how to register for Parent Portal, School Messenger, School Cash Online and our calendar in your child's backpack on Friday.  Please read these forms and ensure you are signed up for all the accounts that you need in order to fully participate in your child's education.  If you did not get a form, please let us know!  

We are having our parent open house on October 1st at 9:30 - 10:30 am.  We will have some light snacks to share and you are invited to tour your children's classes and meet their teachers.  Please note, this is not a conference and not the time for an in-depth conversation with the teacher; it is a quick meet and greet.   

We are looking for additional members for our Parent Council.  Without the Parent Council, there are no pizza days, no fundraisers and no end of year BBQ.  Please consider joining if you are interested in helping out.  Our first meeting is September 10 at 4:30 pm in the school staffroom.  

Please note the important dates below.  Important:  Monday is Labour Day - No School.  

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Shaver and Ms. Connolly

• September 7.  Labour Day.  No School.  

• October 1.  Parent Open House.  9:30 - 10:30 am.   

• October 2.  PD Day.  No School.  

• October 12.  Thanksgiving.  No School.   

• October 16.  Photo Day.  

Allergies

Please note that many of our students have life-threatening allergies.  

Do NOT send the following foods to school with your child:

• Peanuts, and all other nuts

• Shellfish and seafood (including all fish, like tuna and salmon)

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.  

Anti-Bullying: 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.  Access the Parent Enrollment button to make a profile.   

Reinforcing these messages at home helps us create a safe environment for everyone at school!

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct

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.  

Parents: 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. 

Login and Fill Out Forms on Parent Portal 

• Responsible Use of Technology

• OCSB Student Verification

• Offsite permission form

• Consent for use and disclosure of information

SchoolCash 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.  

Dropping Off & Picking Up

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 3:00 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 3:00 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 3:15 pm. Students will not be called out of class between 3:15 pm and 3:40 pm.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process.

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!  

Volunteer with Us

Learn how to volunteer in our school and 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. Access more information or to sign up to get involved 

Our next meeting is September 10 at 4:30 pm.