Birchview Dunes Newsletter
January 2025
Dear Families,
We hope all of you had a restful winter break and that everyone is ready to embrace 2025 with
lots of wonderful learning opportunities. We have many wonderful things happening at
Birchview, our Intermediate hockey team is preparing for their tournament in Collingwood on
January 15th. We appreciate the partnership with the Wasaga Beach Arena, our team has been
able to have a couple of early morning practices in preparation for the Hockey Day in
Collingwood Tournament. Some of our classes are preparing for their trip to our new Wasaga
Beach Public Library and are looking forward to this opportunity for students to have a tour and
explore our new public library.
We know January weather, especially in the beach, can be unpredictable, please continue to
send extra clothing to school as our yard can get very wet.
We want to remind families of our School Council Meetings that are held in our school Library at
6pm, our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 3rd. We would love to see you there
as we plan for our Birchview Summer Kick off Fair happening in early June!
Wishing you all a wonderful January.
With kindness,
Ms. Cook and Ms. Zufelt
Days of Awareness
Jan. 1 New Year's Day Christianity, (G) & (J)
Jan. 6 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (O), Sikhism Epiphany, Christianity (G) & (J)
Jan. 7 Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment (Nirvana Day), Buddhism
Jan. 13 Lohri, Hinduism/Sikhism
Jan. 14 Maghi, Sikhism Makar Sankranti, Hinduism
Jan. 15 Thai Pongal, Tamil Worldview
Jan. 20 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (R), Sikhism
Jan. 27 Isra'a and Mi'raj, Islam
Jan. 29 Lunar New Year/Maiotrey Bodhisattva's Birthday, Buddhism
Provide your feedback on the proposed SCDSB 2025-26 school year calendar
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) invites public school communities to submit
input regarding the proposed school year calendar for next year (September 2025 to June
2026).
Provide input by visiting scdsb.on.ca and selecting ‘Elementary’ or ‘Secondary’, then
‘Planning for School’ and ‘School Year Calendar’.
All stakeholders including staff, parents/guardians, students, and members of the school
community are invited to provide feedback. The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 15, 2025,
to ensure the SCDSB meets school year calendar development timelines set by the Ministry of
Education. Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder.
All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County
Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at
main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca.
Our school is in the WEST zone. When buses are cancelled,
schools remain open for student learning, unless otherwise noted. School staff are expected to
plan for such emergencies in order to transition students who are unable to attend due to
inclement weather to their online platforms (Google Classroom and/or SCDSBhub [Brightspace
by D2L]) and continue with academic programming. It is always a family decision whether or not
it is safe for their child(ren) to leave for school under severe weather conditions.
The SCSTC and bus operators try to make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m.
and make every effort to post announcements before 7 a.m. Inclement weather cancellations
are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the
day. You can follow the SCSTC on X @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus cancellations and other
information.
You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications here:
http://scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx SCDSB families invited to explore math games and
activities at Family Math Nights this February The Simcoe County District School Board
(SCDSB) invites you to participate in a Family Math Night on either Feb. 18 (Fieldcrest ES,
Bradford) or Feb. 20 (Ardagh Bluffs PS, Barrie). These events will offer a variety of engaging
math games and activities for families with children from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Drop in anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. to explore numerous math stations, each staffed by
SCDSB teachers. You'll leave with valuable math tools and resources to support your child's
learning at home. Families are welcome to attend either event, regardless of whether their child
attends that school.
Register to attend: https://forms.office.com/r/PE0K5e1Zjm
Family Literacy Day 2025
Family Literacy Day takes place every Jan. 27 to raise awareness about the importance of
reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Taking time every day to
read or do a learning activity with your child(ren) is crucial for their development and their
improving literacy skills.
Learn more: http://abclifeliteracy.ca/programs/family-literacy-day/
Kindergarten registration for September 2025 is open!
Kindergarten is the beginning of a wonderful journey of learning, and we want your child to
begin their journey in a SCDSB school! Do you have a child who is turning four in 2025? If so,
we invite you to register your child for Kindergarten. To register online or for more information
visit: http://scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten Subscribe to Kindergarten
Connections!
Will your child be turning four in 2025? If so, the SCDSB invites you to Kindergarten
Connections! This is a monthly enewsletter informing families of everything they need to know
about preparing their child for school, as well as registering them for Kindergarten in the
SCDSB. To learn more and subscribe, visit the Kindergarten page on the SCDSB website:
http://scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate speech and language skills are critical
to your child’s ability to read, write, and be successful in school as well as to their ability to
engage with their peers. Free services are available to support you with your child’s
development. Preschool speech and language programs are located across the County of
Simcoe. Call 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a developmental screen. The earlier
we work together the better!
Licensed March Break school age child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, thirdparty child care operators in some SCDSB schools. To support your child care needs, some
operators offer child care on PA days and holidays including over the March Break (March 10-
14). Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to
discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found at:
http://scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning
happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to
catch all of these weekly episodes, and check out our recent video below featuring the Barrie
Youth Honour Choir!
Introducing the Barrie Youth Honour Choir! This choir is made up of elementary and secondary
students from SCDSB schools within the Barrie area. Recently, they performed for fellow
students, their families and community members at the Collier Street United Church. Watch as
we showcase the beautiful voices of these talented SCDSB students:
youtube.com/watch?v=c2G-jWlj9n0
High school information events for Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year?
High school information events will take place in
person this winter! Student leaders and staff at the school will give an overview of what’s new
and what to expect. Learn about courses offered, as well as information about teams and clubs.
Please visit the SCDSB website at
http://scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/high_school_information_nights
to find details on your high school’s info night and contact the school directly for more
information.
Regular student attendance matters
There are many ways we can work together to get attendance back on track or prevent poor
attendance habits from starting. Did you know attendance counsellors (available by referral)
work closely with families, school staff, and community partners to support students to attend
school? Contact your school for more information.
Learn more about why regular student attendance matters at http://scdsb.on.ca/attendance
Character recognition nominations
Do you know a student, staff, or volunteer that demonstrates good character within the Simcoe
County District School Board (SCDSB)? The Character Recognition Awards Evening,
happening in May 2025, recognizes students, staff, and volunteers who demonstrate good
character in their daily lives.
Each year nominations from schools, work sites, and the Education Centre are received,
highlighting the good character of our students, staff, and volunteers. From this group, randomly
selected nominees are invited to the Education Centre in a celebration of those who exemplify
the SCDSB character attributes.
The nomination process begins on Jan. 6, 2025, and ends on Feb. 28, 2025. Recommendations
must be made by filling out this form: tinyurl.com/yt3jmcde
Join the SCDSB for a virtual special education information series
During the 2024-25 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting
virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/guardians in learning more about
programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education
needs. Please join us for the upcoming session:
Transition planning
Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
This virtual session will include SCDSB special education staff and community partners to
explore the importance of collaborative planning for transitions and discuss available resources
and supports.
Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared
via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about each session and how to
register on the SCDSB website:
scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions
You’re invited to a learning series with Pine River Institute (PRI)
Mental health and well-being continue to be a key strategic priority within the SCDSB. We are
pleased to continue our partnership with the Centre for Family Initiatives at Pine River Institute
(CFI@PRI) to provide several curated learning sessions focused on student mental health and
well-being to SCDSB families. Please join us for the upcoming session:
Worry or anxiety
Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
Understand what is considered normal and when additional support may be needed. Learn how
to talk to your child about their emotions and navigate challenging situations confidently.
To join in this learning, please visit the SCDSB website to register: scdsb.on.ca/about/wellbeing___mental_health/pine_river_institute_learning_seriesLearn more about PRI by visiting
their website at pineriverinstitute.com.
New year, new math activities!
New math problems, games, and activities are added to Math at Home monthly. Visit
www.scdsb.on.ca/MathatHome to find fun, engaging ways to support your child(ren) in learning
math.
In January, activities in school and on Math at Home may include representing fractions using
tools, and adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers and fractions.
SCDSB Indigenous Education
Have you seen the SCDSB Indigenous Education icon? You may notice graduation coaches,
Indigenous social workers, and student advisors wearing attire featuring this Indigenous
Education icon. We recognize and respect a distinctions-based approach to honour each nation
individually while understanding that many nations call Simcoe County home.
The SCDSB Indigenous Education icon represents the rich and diverse Indigenous nations
within our schools and wider communities. On this icon, you will see the Medicine Wheel, also
known as the Four Directions Wheel. The Medicine Wheel symbolizes the First Nation
communities and Knowledge Keepers who have lived in this region since time immemorial. Next
to the Medicine Wheel is the Infinity Symbol. The Infinity Symbol represents the Métis Nation
and its enduring culture and history in this area. The Inukshuk represents Inuit students and
families who call Simcoe County home. All three motifs are surrounded by sweetgrass which
signifies the unity and mutual respect among Indigenous nations.
To view this icon and learn more about Indigenous Education in the SCDSB, visit:
scdsb.on.ca/cms/one.aspx?pageId=372035
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in need of foster homes
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is in need of families in our communities to open their
homes to children and youth requiring foster homes. By opening your home, you can make a
difference in their lives by keeping them close to their family, school, and community. Help us
keep kids close to home. If you or someone you know is interested in fostering, please visit
familyconnexions.ca or check out a few of our videos to better understand what it takes to
become a foster care provider: familyconnexions.ca/fostering-resources
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.
Your child’s immunization record
The Ontario Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires the health unit to have up-todate immunization records for all students attending school. According to ISPA (2014), students
are required to be vaccinated against the following diseases:
▪ Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, and Pertussis (whooping cough)
▪ Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (must have two doses after first birthday)
▪ Meningococcal Disease (must have one dose after first birthday and Men-C-ACYW in Grade
7)
▪ Varicella (chickenpox, only required for those born 2010 and after)
The health unit does not receive immunization information directly from doctor’s offices. Please
contact the health unit each time your child receives a vaccine from their health care provider.
What you can do:
▪ Check your child’s yellow immunization card
▪ Contact your child’s healthcare provider to obtain records, or to get missing vaccinations
▪ Visit simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/Immunization/Report-an-immunization to enter the
complete record, or fax a completed record to 705-726- 3962.
Contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit at 1-877-721-7520 or visit
simcoemuskokahealth.org/ with questions or for more information.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Stay healthy this school year!
Respiratory infections, like a cold or influenza, can spread easily from person to person. These
germs can spread quickly when someone coughs or sneezes directly on another person, or
when germs land on hard surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and keyboards. These germs can
then enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. The most important thing you can do to
keep from getting sick and stop the spread of germs is wash your hands! Wash with soap and
warm running water for at least 15 seconds (or try singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice). If your hands
are not visibly dirty you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 15 seconds. Also, make sure
you and your children are up to date with your immunizations, cover coughs and sneezes, and
stay home for at least 24 hours if you are sick.
For more tips to keep you and your family healthy this school year, contact Health Connection at
1-877-721-7520 or visit simcoemuskokahealth.org
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
January PA Days
Please note that Friday, Jan. 24 is a PA Day for elementary students, and Friday, Jan. 31 is a
PA Day for secondary students. Please refer to the 2024-25 School Year
Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information:
scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Jan. 24 elementary PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Evaluation and reporting
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Elementary educators will be working to complete the first provincial report card which will
reflect students’ achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from
September to January/February of the school year, as well as students’ development of the
learning skills and work habits during that period. This process includes both evaluation and
reporting.
Elementary report cards will go home to parents/guardians on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.