What's Happening At Grapeview
As we head into the final week before the winter break we have a few reminders we would like to share with you. We also have many fun activities planned for our students in this final week including teachers vs students volleyball game, intermediate cookie bake off and many other classroom based activities. We are looking forward to a fun filled week before the break.
Spirit Days
To wrap up the month, don’t miss Pyjama Day on Friday, December 20th—come cozy and ready for some festive fun!
Dress for the Weather
As the colder weather approaches, please be aware that children are expected to be dressed appropriately for the weather conditions every day. We have noticed that many students have not brought coats or are choosing to not wear them even with encouragement from staff. Please take a moment to discuss the importance of dressing appropriately for the weather. Students that are well enough to be at school are expected to be outside with their friends during fitness breaks as indoor supervision is not available during this time.
Food Drive
Grapeview is looking forward to supporting our St. Catharines community again this year with our annual December food drive beginning this upcoming Monday, December 9th, running until December 20th. We will be collecting both non-perishable and perishable food items (see below -the calendar for daily items) to help fill the shelves at Community Care and the Humane Society of Greater Niagara Community Fridge. Gift cards will also be collected to support our own Grapeview families.
Giving to Others Food Drive 2024
December 9 - 20
Most needed items:
Canned tuna & meats, baked beans in sauce, canned pasta with meat, canned fruits and veggies, spaghetti sauce, juice boxes, cereals (hot and cold), soups and stews. Juice boxes, cereals (hot and cold), peanut butter, crackers, fruit cups
Shout-outs
We would like to honour our hard working staff and students. If you have a shoutout you would like us to share on a PD day, in an email or over the announcements please reach out Mrs. Libera (kristine.libera@dsbn.org) or Mr. Penner (jessop.penner@dsbn.org) .
Inclement Weather Message for Families
There are times in Niagara when weather conditions are so poor that we must cancel student transportation, and/or close schools to preserve the safety of students and staff. The decision to cancel transportation and/or close schools is not taken lightly; a variety of factors are considered when making this choice. To learn more about how these decisions are made, please go to https://www.dsbn.org/inclementweather.
Transportation Cancellations: Information about transportation delays and cancellations are posted to: https://portal.nsts.ca/Cancellations.aspx. The BusPlanner Delays App is a free mobile application that can be downloaded and provides real-time “push” notifications for delays and cancellations related to a specific school or route, directly to your mobile device. When transportation is cancelled, every effort is made to communicate the decision by 6:00 am on the day of the cancellation. There are times when transportation is cancelled, but schools remain open. If, on those days you feel it is best for your child to stay home, please report your child’s absence https://dsbn.org/safearrival/ so we can make sure they are safe at home.
School Closures: When the decision to close schools is made, it refers to all schools: both in-person and remote/virtual learners. Every effort will be made to share school closure information before 6:00 am on the day of the school closure. You will find information on dsbn.org, all school websites, DSBN social media, and local media share the news widely as well.
Elementary Schools: Optional Snow Day activities for Kindergarten to Grade 8, will be available on the DSBN website on days when schools are closed due to inclement weather.
Bell Times and Supervision
We have included our entry and dismissal times below for your reference. Please note that morning supervision begins at 8:40 before school and there is no supervision prior to this as teachers prepare for the arrival of students each day.
Parents/guardians dropping off or picking up a child, we encourage you to do so at the front entrance "kiss and ride". Primary students will be supervised both before and after school by staff members on duty. Teachers will meet their class at the morning bell and escort them to class. Kindergarten teams typically have students ready for pick-up in the kindergarten area by 3pm, and Gr. 1-3 teachers will bring students down just before the end of day bell to dismiss to a parent/guardian. Bus students will be brought to their designated areas by Mrs. Tymofie at end of day. Students who are walking may walk on the pathway between the school and playground to the backyard where their class meeting areas are. Parents are more than welcome to walk your child to and from these spaces.
If you ever have questions, we encourage you to find a staff member wearing a bright vest, where they can assist you or redirect you to someone who can!
Bell Times and Nutrition Breaks
Entry: 8:55 a.m.
8:55-9:45 am - Period 1
9:45-10:35am -Period 2
10:35-10:55am - 1st Fitness/Nutrition Break
10:55-11:15am - 1st Fitness/Nutrition Break
11:15-12:05am - Period 3
12:05-12:55pm - Period 4
12:55-1:15p.m. - 2nd Fitness/Nutrition Break
1:15-1:35pm - 2nd Fitness/Nutrition Break
1:35-2:25pm - Period 5
2:25-3:15pm - Period 6
Dismissal: 3:15 p.m
Need to drop off something for your child? Please buzz at the front entrance and Mrs. Clark or Mrs. Formica will allow you to come in, complete a label, and leave the item at the office, where your child will be called to pick it up (or in the case of our young friends we may bring it to them). We appreciate your support in making this a smooth process!
Attendance and Safe Arrival
Attendance is taken twice daily. Please help us to ensure the safety of our students by reporting your child’s absence or if they will be arriving late to school. For students arriving late and needing a parent or guardian to escort them into the building, please bring your child in and enter the main office to check in with Mrs. Formica or Mrs. Clark.
How can I report my child’s absence or late arrival?
Whether it’s an illness, a medical appointment, extended at home learning or other important event, there are times when students may need to be away from school. Using the Safe Arrival system, parents will be able to report daily absences, and even schedule absences in one of three ways:
1. Call toll-free before bell time: 1-866-606-5567
2. Logging on to the web portal (https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/#/account/login ). Using this website, you can set up your account to report and schedule absences.
3. Using your smart phone or tablet. Simply download the SchoolMessenger app. The app is compatible with both Apple and Android devices.
Please report all absences prior to bell time for the current day.
If your child has an upcoming appointment, you can also schedule future absences by using one of these three methods.
Please do not contact the school directly to report your child’s absence. For more information, please visit: https://dsbn.org/safearrival/
If you are changing your child’s pick-up time, the office must know by 2:30 pm as it gets busy near the end of the day and some classes may be extending their learning outside at that time.
Student Transportation
Transportation is provided by Niagara Student Transportation Services (NSTS). For updated school bus rules and protocols, visit nsts.ca. Parents/guardians/students eligible for transportation must notify NSTS that they intend to use transportation in order to receive service. Students that Opted-In in the previous school year are automatically Opted-In for this school year. Verify the Opt-In status of your child and complete the Opt-In/Opt-Out Transportation Form if you need to change their status from what is displayed in your child’s transportation record. Opt-In to Transportation is required for an eligible student to be assigned to the bus. Only riders authorized by NSTS are allowed to ride the bus. Bus drivers are authorized to transport only students listed by NSTS on the passenger manifest and seating plan to ride their bus. Consider signing up under “My Subscriptions” in the parent portal to be notified through email of any delays in your child’s transportation.
If you haven’t already done so, please download the BusPlanner Delay app for easy access to your child’s transportation updates. Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store!
To view transportation arrangements, visit nsts.ca and sign-in to the Parent Portal. For questions about transportation, visit nsts.ca, email general@nsts.ca or call 905-357-6787
Recognizing and Respecting Creed Diversity
The District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) is committed to fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environments that promote acceptance and protect individuals from discrimination and harassment based on the protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Creed and/or religion is one of the grounds that is both an individual right and a collective responsibility. The DSBN recognizes and embraces the creed diversity represented in its students, staff, and community members.
As we start our school year, I invite you to share with me your family’s most significant creed-based holiday(s). We will work together through the accommodation request process as Grapeview recognizes the importance of families celebrating their creed and/or religious beliefs and practices.
The DSBN has created a Family Guide: Recognizing and Respecting Creed Diversity to support families in requesting accommodations. This guide has also been translated into the following languages; Arabic, French, Hungarian, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese, which can be viewed on the DSBN Equity webpage. For a list of Days of Significance, please refer to the Days of Significance Calendar.
Parental Agreements and Documents
Please inform the school if there are custody orders for your child. Any relevant custody orders must be kept on file at the office. Please ensure that the school always has the most recent custody orders for your child(ren).
Mental Health Family Supports
As we begin the school year, some students typically experience a variety of emotions; some may be excited, others may be nervous or worried, and most will have mixed feelings. There are many ways that parents and caregivers can help prepare students for a mentally healthy return to school. The DSBN has compiled some high-quality, current resources, which are available on our website at https://www.dsbn.org/programs-services/well-being/parent-resources. We encourage our families to visit the Parent Resources page frequently throughout the school year to access updated information.
School Cash Online
With School Cash Online, you will be able to approve permission forms for trips and sporting events, request Rapid Antigen Tests, and will be able to make payments for activities and events such as hot lunches online.
Register for School Cash Online:
School Cash Online is a safe, reliable portal that will ensure the security of your information. The system is already active. You are able to gain access through the School Cash button which has been placed on our school website. We are asking that you click on the button and follow the simple instructions to register. Registration should take less than five minutes. If you registered last year, you do not need to register again! If you require some assistance registering for School Cash Online, please call the office and we will be happy to help get you set-up and ready to go!
Gryphon Spirit Wear is Here!
We are excited to remind you of our very own Grapeview Tuck Shop where students and families can browse a wide variety of Gryphon spirit wear items for purchase. To visit the store and check out the latest items including Champion brand gear, click HERE.
Grade 8 Grad Hoodies are available for personalization and purchase on the Online Tuck Shop as well. Three delivery options are possible, including delivery to the school at no additional cost. See the site for details.