New Phone Number, Web Address, Phone App Coming for Reporting Absences

At KPR, student safety is our highest priority, and we thank families for adopting the automated safe arrival system to help ensure students arrive safely at school each day. 

Starting this September, we will be introducing a new automated Student Absence Reporting System.  Therefore, you will need to create a NEW account to report your children’s absences online. 

You will receive an email in August with instructions on how to create your new account and download the mobile app.  You also will receive a magnet in September with the new Student Absence Reporting System details.  Unfortunately, since ownership of the reporting software has changed, we cannot simply transfer your child’s information to the new system.

Watch for more information in the summer.

Many parents and guardians have been wondering what effect the legalization of marijuana will have on  KPR schools. In short, KPR schools will treat cannabis in much the same way they treat alcohol: students of any age will not be allowed to use marijuana at schools, on school buses or field trips. 

 Once the new federal law comes into effect this October 17:

• non-medical marijuana use will be legal only for those age 19 and older 
• any student, at any age, could be suspended for possessing or being under the influence of cannabis at school
• any student who shares marijuana with others younger than 19 could be expelled from school
• it will be illegal for adults to use cannabis on, or within 20 metres of, school grounds
• it will be illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, and drivers age 21 or under will not be allowed to have any cannabis in their system.

 If you have any questions about cannabis at school, please speak with your principal or vice-principal.  Further information on the new law is available at Ontario.ca/cannabis.  Information on how to talk to your child about cannabis can be found at Cannabis Information – CAMH.

KPR wishes everyone a happy holiday. We hope that this time allows for some much needed rest for students, staff, parents and guardians, and allows families opportunities to celebrate together.

While the holidays can be joyous, they can also be difficult for some.  We wanted to provide families with some resources you may find useful over the holiday season. Our mission is that all students remain safe, and this includes their mental and physical well-being.

Mental health is a state of well-being; it is relevant to all of us.  According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health crisis or illness.  It is important to us that we remind everyone to use resources that are accessible to all.  These include:

• the Be Safe App, a free mobile app that aims to help young adults make healthy decisions during a crisis; it can be downloaded onto cell phones from https://besafeapp.ca/
• Kids Help Phone, also available 24/7, at 1-800-668-6868 or text “CONNECT” to 686868
• Four County Crisis line, available 24/7 for Northumberland and Peterborough County residents at 1-866-995-9933
• Durham Mobile Crisis Services, available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis, at 905-666-0483 or 1-800-742-1890
• Connex Ontario Mental Health Helpline, provides information about mental health services in Ontario 24/7, at 1-866-531-2600 or www.connexontario.ca
• Ontario 211, a free helpline that connects people to community and social services in your area, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 2-1-1.

Your family also has access to your closest hospital, as well as to regional supports serving specific areas of KPR.

Let's keep our mental health and the mental health of those we love and care about in the forefront.  We encourage you to use community support services if you ever find yourself or someone near and dear to you struggling and in need of assistance.

Once again, we wish everyone season’s greetings, a Merry Christmas, and safe holidays.

Grief Resources

Is your child experiencing loss and grief?  Here are some resources recommended by our School Board Counsellors:

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/grief.html

Do you have concerns about your child’s social, emotional or mental health that may be hindering their ability to thrive at school?

KPR schools have skilled clinicians who can support your child and you in finding answers. School Board Counsellors have professional degrees and specialize in work with children, youth and families. Please contact your School Principal for more information.

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth/schoolboardcounsellorservices.html

Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being.  Students experiencing mental health issues may have problems with mood, focus, behaviour and their ability to relate to peers, maintain friendships, do well in school and participate in activities.

But where can parents and guardians go for help if they are concerned about their child's or teen's mental health?  For more information, and suggestions for helpful resources, visit: 

http://www.kprschools.ca/en/students/well-being/mentalhealth.html

Hey, KPR Family: We missed you! We're looking forward to seeing everyone back at school September 3. If you moved over the summer, or have questions for school staff, please contact the school office between August 22-29. Otherwise, September 3 is the big day for KPR students to get back into the swing of things!

We want to provide this update to inform our parents of ongoing negotiations with our transportation providers.                                                                       

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) manages transportation services for 26,100 students every day on behalf of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Daily service is delivered by local school bus companies contracted by STSCO, and we have been in discussion with our providers for a number of months to reach new contract terms.

Negotiations are continuing and we are working towards reaching an agreement with local school bus operators for the coming school year.

It is our goal to arrive at new contracts that recognize the important and professional service our bus drivers provide in transporting our students safely to and from school.

We remain optimistic that normal bus service will be in place for students for the start of the school year. Should this situation change, we will inform parents/guardians as soon as possible.

Regular updates on this matter will be posted by STSCO at stsco.ca and on Twitter at @stsco_ca and shared by the school boards and local media. 

STSCO (Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario) and local school bus companies contracted by STSCO have reached a tentative agreement on new contract terms.

As a result, there will be normal bus service for students for the start of the school year.  Please visit stsco.ca for further information.

The KPR Board is committed to providing safe learning environments for all. When students behave inappropriately, principals use progressive discipline to change behaviour. When student behaviours pose a potential threat to safety or serious harm, KPR’s Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol helps principals take immediate steps to protect student well-being.  While such incidents are rare, the VTRA outlines how we work with local police, mental health providers and community agencies to keep students safe. Read more about the protocol, including notification requirements, in the Safe, Caring and Restorative Schools section of kprschools.ca .  As always, student safety is our first priority.  Should you have any questions, please speak with your principal.

Calling all parents and caregivers: join us the morning of Saturday, October 19 at Port Hope High School for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference! Dr. Michael Ungar, world renowned expert on building resiliency in children and youth, will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear his engaging advice, while also enjoying free child minding for ages two and older, light refreshments and information booths staffed by local organizations serving families. Stay tuned for more information and registration details later in September at www.kprschools.ca

KPR welcomes parents of students ages 12-17 to register for a free, two-day Mental Health First Aid course, September 23-24 in Peterborough.  Space is limited. For details and registration, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mental-health-first-aid-tickets-71846457689  

Now’s your chance to register for KPR’s free, annual Parent Conference, featuring internationally renowned resilience researcher Dr. Michael Ungar!

Registration continues until October 11 at www.kprschools.ca for:

2019 Parent Conference

The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them

Saturday, October 19

9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Port Hope High School, 130 Highland Dr., Port Hope

With Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Ungar

Plus light refreshments, child minding for ages 2 & older, & booths by agencies serving families

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear Dr. Michael Ungar, a funny and engaging speaker who is considered one of the top experts on resilience in Canada and internationally.

It’s all FREE. If you need assistance, have questions or if there are accommodations that would make the conference more accessible for you, please call 705-742-9773 or toll-free 1-877-741-4577, ext. 2001, or email judy_malfara@kprdsb.ca

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Parent Update: CUPE Strike Action – School Closures

Further to our message yesterday, and after extensive consideration, we are writing to inform parents that if a provincial agreement is not reached over the weekend, and CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) staff begin their announced full withdrawal of service, schools will be closed to students on Monday, October 7, 2019. 

We share your concern and disappointment with this possibility, and wanted to provide an update on our plans as soon as possible to allow parents to make alternative arrangements if needed.

Student safety is always our first priority. This decision has been made because we do not believe we can provide safe and secure learning environments for all students in the event of a full CUPE strike.

Our considerations include:

• supervision of students;
• medical supports and care for all students;
• safe operation of water and sanitation systems, including legislated water flushing;
• conditions of school buildings and classrooms, and
• overall safety and security.

We are pleased that negotiations have been reported to be continuing on Friday. We remain hopeful that a provincial agreement can be reached this weekend to avert disruption to our students and families.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will provide confirmation to parents about school status for Monday as soon as we are able. This will likely be on Sunday evening, through:

• School Messenger
• Local news media
• Our website and social media platforms: www.kprschools.ca, @kprschools on Twitter, and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Diane Lloyd, Chairperson of the Board
Jennifer Leclerc, Director of Education

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is excited to offer three travel for credit courses in July 2020. The first course, Civics and Careers, is offered to students currently in grade nine. The second course, English, Grade 11, University Preparation, is offered to students entering grade eleven. The third course, French immersion and core is offered to students entering grade eleven. You are invited to attend an information session in your region for more information.

RSVP to the meeting at: www.eftours.ca/creditinfo

Contact: John Ford 1-877-741-4577, ext. 3124

…to register for KPR’s Parent Conference coming to Port Hope HS Saturday, October 19, 9-11:30 a.m. The child minding service is full, but there are still some seats left for the adults to hear world-renowned resilience expert Dr. Michael Ungar. A funny and engaging speaker, he will talk about The Risk-Taker’s Advantage: How to Make Kids More Resilient by Not Bubblewrapping Them. Register by October 15 from our home page at kprschools.ca

All families and community members are invited to attend three free events being held in honour of KPR's 3rd annual Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month. 

Each evening event is a film screening followed by a panel discussion, as follows:

  Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m.
  Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute, Peterborough 
  Screening & discussion of Colten Boushie Documentary

  Thursday, November 21, 7 p.m.
  Port Hope High School 
  Screening & discussion of Rumble

 Thursday, November 28, 7 p.m.
 Bowmanville High School 
 Screening & discussion of Our People Will Be Healed

Pre-registration is not required.  Drop in at these free events!

Parents and caregivers:

Registration opens November 8 for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Parent Workshops on Kids Have Stress Too!  

The workshops will run from 10-11:30 a.m. at three locations:

              Friday, November 29 at the Education Centre in Peterborough

              Tuesday, December 10 at KPR’s Kirby Professional Learning Centre in Clarington

              Tuesday, March 31 at Port Hope High School

Visit kprschools.ca after November 8 for details and to register for one of these workshops!

Meet HGTV star Kate Campbell while learning about opportunities in the skilled trades at Women in Trades & Technology. This event, of particular interest to female students in Grades 7-12, will take place at Fleming College in Peterborough as follows:

Tuesday, November 19
6 p.m.
Kawartha Trades & Technology Centre, Fleming College

Meet successful skilled tradespeople and have your questions answered, tour the Trades & Technology Centre, and listen to advice from HGTV star carpenter and keynote speaker Kate Campbel, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.

To register, visit https://flemingcollege.ca/women-in-trades-and-technology  

KPR is seeking comments from students, parents, guardians, staff and community members regarding the proposed school year calendar for 2020-21. Three possible options are being considered, and KPR would like to know which option our stakeholders prefer. Please review the proposed calendar options and comment online at www.kprschools.ca by Friday, December 6. If you are not able to access the online survey, please contact your school office for a paper copy.

Saving money for your child’s education after high school may seem impossible. But there is money available from the Government of Canada that can help.

When you open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for your child, the government can add money to it, to help you save. For example, the Canada Learning Bond is available for children from low-income families, born in 2004 or later. It pays up to $2,000. To receive it, you just need to name your child as a beneficiary in the Registered Education Savings Plan. You don’t have to contribute additional funds of your own into the RESP if you are not able to do so.

Other government money may also be available. If you do contribute additional funds into the RESP, you may also qualify for a Canada Education Savings Grant.

Having a RESP will help you save for your child to attend a trade school, apprenticeship program, college or university after high school. There are lots of options. You can find out more at Canada.ca/education-savings, by calling 1-800-622-6232, or by visiting a Service Canada Centre near you.

Families: now’s the time to register your child for Kindergarten! If your child will turn four before the end of December, make sure you register online at www.kprschools.ca/kindergarten 

We also encourage you to take advantage of the coming regional Kindergarten Information Session closest to you. Sessions will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. as follows:

Tuesday, February 11 – C.R. Gummow Public School, 311 Cottesmore Ave., Cobourg

Wednesday, February 19 – Harold Longworth PS, 350 Longworth Ave., Bowmanville

Tuesday, March 3 – Duke of Cambridge PS, 47 Liberty St. N., Bowmanville

Tuesday, March 10 – Otonabee Valley PS, 580 River Rd. S., Peterborough

The sessions are free, and pre-registration is required, to ensure sufficient take-home resources for every participating family. The evening will offer you a peek into the Kindergarten classroom and give you resources to help prepare your child for school. You also will be able to meet with community agencies and partners that serve families in your area.