What's Happening At Grapeview
Wear Something that Makes you Proud Spirit Day - Back by popular demand!!
Next Friday, November 22nd we invite students and staff to wear something that makes them proud at school!
This spirit day is another opportunity to continue to get to know each other better at Grapeview. It’s a great way to encourage conversation and more learning about one another. Students and staff can wear anything that makes them proud. For example, they might wear Gryphon Spirit Wear, Clothes with a Cause, Clothes Representative of their Culture, A Special Uniform, Something Given to them by Someone Special, or Something they've Earned like a medal, ribbon, or pin. We can’t wait to see what our students and staff choose!! We'll be ready with our interest and our questions!
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
This year’s theme for Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is Choose Respect. Our goal is to share a powerful message: if we come together, embrace our differences, and support one another, we can put an end to bullying.
Odd Socks Day kicks off Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week on Monday, November 18th. It’s a fun way to celebrate individuality and what makes us unique. To join in, simply wear odd socks to school on Monday. The goal is to have fun, be yourself, and raise awareness about the values of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.
Start the day with your best pair of Odd Socks!
PVA - Upcoming Fundraisers Information
Poinsettia Sale
The Parent Volunteer Association is running a poinsettia fundraiser to raise money to help cover the cost of Grade 8 graduation.
All plants will come in 6” pot and there are three options – red, white, pink.
The cost is $12 per plant. Families can order more than one plant and more than one colour. Poinsettia pick up will be on the evening of November 28 during Parent/Teacher interviews. To order poinsettias please log in to School Cash Online.
COBS BREAD FUNDRAISER NOVEMBER 18 - DECEMBER 1
WE ARE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COBS BREAD FUNDRAISER AGAIN THIS YEAR. THIS FUNDRAISER WILL RUN FROM NOVEMBER 18 - DECEMBER 1, 2024.
The money raised will be dedicated to school-wide initiatives such as purchasing outdoor equipment for use at fitness breaks, Grapeview sports teams and clubs. Please purchase cards for your family and friends by clicking on the cobs bread card and then entering the quantity of cards you wish to purchase. Please log into School Cash Online starting November 18th for ordering details.
Cobs cards will be available for pick up at the school or sent home with your child a few weeks following the closing date. Communication around pickup will be sent out to parents once the fundraiser closes.
Progress Report and Kindergarten Communication of Learning
On November 21st, students in Kindergarten will bring home the Communication of Learning Initial Observations report. This provides parents/guardians with an overview of the initial observations of their child’s learning and early evidence of growth in learning related to the overall expectations in the Kindergarten Program. It also provides information about appropriate next steps to further your child’s learning. It serves as the basis for discussion with parents/guardians and as a support for parents’/guardians’ ongoing participation in their child’s learning.
Also, on November 21st, parents of students in Grades 1-8 will receive their Elementary Progress Reports. The purpose is to share early and specific feedback on your child’s development of work habits and the learning skills. Reporting on the Progress Report is about looking forward and setting a course for the learning journey ahead.
Progress reports are intended to be part of discussions, interviews, or conferences with students and are part of ongoing communication with parents and students about student achievement throughout the year.
We look forward to partnering with you and your child for a year of great learning and growth.
Parent Teacher interviews
Teachers will be conducting interviews with parents/ guardians on the night of November 28th. Parents/ Guardians will be able to sign up for a designated time slot. More information about booking interviews will come out next week. Interviews will be held from 3:30 to 7:30 on November 28th.
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) .
Grapeview Parking Lot – Daycare Spots
Please avoid parking in the designated daycare spots unless you are actively picking up your child from daycare. These spaces need to stay available for parents who need quick access during drop-off and pick-up times. Your cooperation helps ensure a smooth process for everyone.
Parking Lot Safety Reminder
For the safety of our students and everyone in our community, please drive slowly when navigating the front parking lot. Avoid parking in handicap-designated spaces unless permitted, and be sure to leave room for our buses. If the lot is full, additional parking is available on First Street Louth. Remember, some of our younger children may step between vehicles as they head to theirs, so keep an eye out and stay alert. Thank you for helping keep our parking lot safe for all!
Lunchtime Food Purchases
Each week at Grapeview the schedule for food sales will be as follows:
Monday: Popcorn $2
Tuesday: Cookies $2
Wednesday: Hot lunch (Starting in October) - See School Cash Online
Thursday: Popcorn $2
Friday: No Sales
Prevalent Medical
If you have a child with a prevalent medical condition (Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, and/or Epilepsy or others) we want to make sure we have a current Plan of Care to support your child. All parents of children with prevalent medical conditions are asked to fill out the new Plan of Care and submit to the school. You can download the forms here dsbn.org/prevalent-medical-conditions. For more information, please contact Mr. Penner at jessop.penner@dsbn.org.
Student Verification Forms
During the first week of school, you will receive a computer printout of your child’s information on file. Please check this and make any changes, fill in any missing information, and return it to the school promptly. In the interest of health and safety, it is important that students’ medical and personal information is updated each year. Please let us know if any of the information changes during the school year to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact information.
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.