September 21st, 2024

Dear families and guardians, this past week our Bus Patrollers and Trailblazers finally received the proper safety training and they will begin supporting their bus peers this week. The firefighters have invited us to their Open House – please see the flyer below under Community Flyers. We are entering the full rhythm of this school year and routines are beginning to set in. Here’s a little peek into this past week and some things to come.

Warmly,

Ms. Carolina Miranda

Pizza Orders for October

Pizza days are back! Our pizza provider this year is Domino’s. Pizza will be delivered for the first nutrition break each Thursday. To order, go to Products on School – Day and select Pizza Orders. Select each date you wish to order pizza using the drop down arrow within the product and select how many slices you would like to order. Make sure you order for each child and each week using the appropriate drop down menus, adding to cart after each selection. Once you have added all your items, click the cart in the the top right corner of your screen to view all your selected items. Take a moment to review your order and make sure that your selections are correct.

  • Slices are $2/each
  • Order deadline for this period (October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st) is next Thursday, September 26th.
  • Payments must be made on School – Day. No cash orders.

PLEASE NOTE: If your child is absent on pizza, they will miss their order that day. The pizza will not be saved or re-distributed to friends or siblings.

Nutrition for Learning

Did you know that there is a Nutrition for Learning program right here at Blair Rd PS?  Nutrition for Learning works in partnership with youth and educators striving to elevate the experience of universal food access at schools in ways that promote optimal well-being, healthy relationships, and food literacy, so that all students are nourished at school in order to learn, connect, participate, and thrive. This past school year, Nutrition for Learning noticed a growing need for student nutrition programs. When students are well-nourished at school, they are given the chance to learn, participate, and thrive.

If you would like, you can become a donor to help students access food while at school. Go to https://www.nutritionforlearning.ca/sponsor/ to donate directly to our school (use drop down to find Blair Rd PS).  Even small donations can make a big impact. Donate today!

Thank you for supporting Blair Rd PS’s student nutrition program. The permanent link for donating will be under Resources on our website.

Fall Food Drive

We’re excited to announce that Blair Road will be hosting a FOOD DRIVE from September 30th to October 7th! All donations will support the Cambridge Food Bank, helping community members in need. Suggested items include:

  • Non-perishable canned goods (fruits, vegetables, and meats)
  • Pasta and pasta sauce
  • Peanut butter
  • Cereal
  • Lunch items for children
  • Cooking oil
  • Soup
  • Pantry items

Your contributions can make a real difference in our community. Let’s come together to support those in need! Thank you for your generosity!

TikTok Challenges

I wanted to take a moment to inform you about a recent TikTok challenge called “English or Spanish” that has been circulating among our Junior students (grades 4-6). These challenges can sometimes encourage behavior that is hurtful to others and disrupts our school community. The “English or Spanish” trend on TikTok features a person asking random people to choose between speaking English or Spanish. Then, they follow up with, “Whoever moves first is gay.”

As a principal, I often speak with our students about the importance of making thoughtful choices, and this week we focused on being mindful of the language we use at school – this is one aspect of progressive discipline, that shapes my vision and approach to behaviours within schools. While students are encouraged to have fun and enjoy laughter, we also discussed the importance of checking in with caring adults, like their teachers, to ensure that a joke or comment is appropriate and respectful.

We talked about how certain jokes, even if meant in fun, can hurt people’s identities and families. I encourage you to have a conversation with your child about these online trends and the power of kindness and respect. Your support at home is invaluable as we work together to create a safe and caring environment at Blair Rd PS for everyone.

Early Reading Screening Process

Reading is a vital skill for the achievement and well-being of students.

In the coming weeks, Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) educators will assess the early reading skills of young students using a screening tool. This will include all students in:

  • Senior Kindergarten
  • Grade 1
  • Grade 2

Early reading screening supports the WRDSB Structured Literacy Multi-Year Plan (SLMYP) and is in line with guidance provided by the Ministry of Education.

Learn more: Supporting Student Literacy – Elementary Early Reading Screening Process

Terry Fox Run (from last week…)

On Friday, September 27, we will run for Terry Fox and to help find a cure for cancer. Our Terry Fox Run run will take place at 2:45 pm on our backfield (thanks to Mr. Bolton for leading this initiative!). Terry Fox hoped to raise $1 for every Canadian for cancer research. Since he began his Marathon of Hope an incredible $908 million has been raised in his name, and Blair Road has contributed to this effort. To date, we have raised $62 291.63 for cancer research!

This year, our fundraising effort will take place during the week of September 23. Please know that no donation is too small! Every bit helps find a cure for cancer. Donations (Cash or cheques made out to the Terry Fox Foundation) can be brought into class any day during the week of September 23. Tax receipts will be issued if a name and address are attached to any cash donations over $20. Donations can also be made online at https://schools.terryfox.ca/BlairRoadSchoolCambridge.

Students can even set up their own online donation pages by visiting our school Terry Fox website. Terry Fox is a Canadian hero, and Blair Road is proud to once again support his dream of finding a cure for cancer.

Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Fundraiser (ongoing, from last week…)

Did you know we’re currently running our annual Adopt a School fundraiser supporting Blair Road PS? Did you know that many teachers spend up to $1,000 per year of their own money to buy books for their students? Did you know the average age of books at many of the schools supported by the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation is more than 25 years old? That’s older than Indigo!

With the start of a new school year, Indigo and the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation are joining forces to champion literacy and support students and educators across Canada. From September 13 to October 6, we will build a deep and meaningful connection between stores and local communities through the Adopt a School fundraiser, a one-on-one fundraising initiative that raises and distributes funds directly into each store’s local community, with 100% of donations going to each store’s partner school.

So, from Friday, September 13 to October 6, you can visit Indigo at Cambridge Centre and Indigo Guelph to buy a bookmark made by our very own Blair Road PS students or purchase books for the school that reflect your child’s needs. All proceeds go directly to the school, and our school will be able to purchase books at a 30% discount with the funds raised.

A HUGE shout-out to Mrs. Ellis for her leadership in running this amazing initiative!

School Council (from last week…)

Welcome to Blair Road School Council for the 2024/25 school year! Please feel free to contact us anytime at blairroadschoolcouncil@gmail.com. Our first meeting and election will be in September 26th at 6pm in the library or via a Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/jou-guoj-bnf

There are two volunteer opportunities as part of the Blair Road School Council, as well as additional opportunities throughout the school year. Any parent or guardian of a student at Blair Road School can be part of Council. Collaboration and input is valued for all of the positions listed below.

The first opportunity is a “Member-at-Large” position on Council. This offers flexibility as Members-at-Large attend meetings as they are available and/or volunteer for events and activities. This is not a voting position. WRDSB employees can be a Member-at-Large.

The second opportunity is a “Parent Member” position. Parent Members are expected to attend every meeting to ensure quorum is met if a vote is required. Parent Members also may volunteer for any event or activity. WRDSB Employees can be Parent Members if they are not employed at Blair Road School and have made their employment status clear to people qualified to vote.

Elected Parent Members vote for executive positions including Chair or Co-Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

To express your interest in being a part of the Blair Rd PS School Council for the 2024/25 School year, please fill out this google form. Please click on the following live links to read more about our Bylaws and about the WRDSB School Councils. We look forward to welcoming any interested Blair Rd family to our School Council.

WEFI & Lenscrafters OneSight Program (ongoing, from last week…)

We believe when more children can see the board in school, we can all fight illiteracy. This is why The Waterloo Education Foundation Inc. (WEFI) has partnered with Lencrafters through OneSight’s OnSite Voucher Program so that eligible patients can receive glasses free of charge. If you know a student that would benefit from this program, please contact our school to request a referral letter. Together, WEFI believes that as a whole communities gain access to eye exams and glasses, we can all resist inequality.

Community Flyers *NEW*

The WRDSB offers community organizations and not-for-profits the opportunity to share information on their programs and services with our schools on our Community E-Flyers website. Each week we will share the most recent flyers shared with the Board in this newsletter in hopes that you share this information with your community if you deem it appropriate.

Dates happening this week *NEW* :

  • International Week of the Deaf, September 23-29, 2024
  • International Day of Sign Languages, September 23, 2024
  • Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 23-27, 2024
  • Rowan’s Law Day, September 25, 2024
  • Terry Fox School Run, September 27, 2024
  • Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day, September 29, 2024