Cobra Communicator
We are a village, growing together
September 2, 2021
Dear families,
Welcome Back! We hope you are healthy and doing well, and had a restful summer. We look forward to welcoming our new and returning students and families. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning and fun together. While we were connecting online in the spring, we missed our students and look forward to welcoming them back.
This letter contains important information about the return to school. Please review it. We also encourage families to visit www.yrdsb.ca/school-reopening for videos, frequently asked questions, important health and safety information and more about the school reopening. There is a translation tool on the website that will translate the content into over 100 languages.
Please visit our website and view our “School Start Up Package” in the announcement section on our main school website. http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/cornellvillage.ps/Pages/default.aspx
We will endeavor to send a weekly Cobra Communicator to families with some key information, upcoming events, and attachments for you to view. Our school website is http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/cornellvillage.ps/Pages/default.aspx where you can find the school calendar and other helpful resources. Please visit our blog for CVPS calendar, Twitter feed, this weekly email, copies of the daily announcements, and other information at:
http://cornellvillageps.blogspot.com/
We look forward to welcoming you and your child back to school.
Sincerely,
Scott Chin Leeann Morrow
Principal Vice Principal
scott.chin@yrdsb.ca leeann.morrow@yrdsb.ca
CVPS Blog
Please visit our blog for CVPS calendar, this weekly email, copies of the daily announcements, and other information at: http://cornellvillageps.blogspot.com/
Important Information See Below
York Region District School Board Town Hall
Health and Safety Reminders
Lunch and Recess Routines
Classroom Cohorts
First Day of School Routines
Kiss and Ride Open Friday September 10
Class Placement Emails
EDSBY sign up for new families
Online Hybrid Learning
School Start Up Package
Health Forms
Returning School Items
Prayer Room
A Message from our Trustee - Allan Tam
Transition to School
York Region District School Board Virtual Town Hall
We expect families to have many questions about this year’s return to school. To help address your questions and concerns, we are planning a virtual town hall for families to take place on Thursday, September 2 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Health and Safety:
Please review the School Board website outlining our specific health and safety measures for our school.
https://www2.yrdsb.ca/about-us/covid-19/health-and-safety
We ask families to remember that, as a result of health and safety guidelines:
On a daily basis, parents/guardians of students under 18 and students over 18 are responsible to review and adhere to the York Region Public Health COVID-19 School and Child-Care Screening Tool. *As we move through the school year, these tools will change based on the direction of York Region Public Health and our York Region District School Board. As we approach the first day of school, an up to date tool will be shared.
Before entry, students must review and adhere to the instructions on the student/child poster and provide response to the main reception staff.
All students who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as identified in the screening tool (not related to a COVID-19 vaccine), must not enter any school and follow the guidance in the screening tool, which may include seeking appropriate medical attention as required, and/or getting tested for COVID-19.
Where possible, students must maintain a physical distance at all times, as they enter, move through and exit the building.
Students in Grades 1 to 12 will wear face non-medical masks while in school (3 layers recommended). Students in Kindergarten are strongly encouraged to wear masks while in school. Last year 39 of 40 students were able to wear masks when in school for the full school day. Please send your child to school with a mask…. we will practice. We also have disposable masks available at school to provide students if needed.
Until further notice, visitor(s) are not to enter the school during hours of operation unless identified through a prearranged exception.
Students will remain with their class throughout the day, including for lunch and recess. *Students may leave for lunch with principal permission. Please email me directly.
Floor decals and classroom set-up are designed to minimize close contact.
Hand sanitizers will be placed at the entrance to the school and in all classrooms and students will wash or sanitize their hands throughout the day, including when entering or leaving the classroom, before and after eating, after using the washroom and after touching shared objects
Using a mask
(Grade 1-8 mandatory, Kindergarten strongly encouraged) please consider the following:
Have a back up mask (or two) in case one drops on the ground / floor (typically students may remove their mask at recess and don a clean one after recess / lunch recess). During the winter months masking outdoors created condensation on the masks so they would get pretty saturated over a recess or outdoor gym period.
Masks must be worn when travelling into and out of the school and inside the school at all times.
*NEW: Students may remove their masks for Outdoor Recess and Outdoor Physical Education where students can physically distance (2m). Students must safely place their masks during outside play / eating time (students can use a fanny pack to carry clean and dirty masks, personal hand sanitizer - not used in the classroom).
Best practice, students hand sanitize before and after taking off a mask and/ or putting one on.
Where necessary to store your mask during outdoor play - students may need a ziplock bag / container to store the mask. It can be folded with the outside part folded together OR they keep it on.
Possible ideas for mobile storage: fanny packs, ziplock bags, paper bags that are small enough to fit in your child’s pocket.
Label any expensive fabric masks in case they are dropped so they can be returned to your child.
Parents and Guardians - please remember to wear your mask when picking up / dropping off your child, and adhere to physical distancing requirements while waiting for your child and while walking through the property
Lunch and Recess Routines
Snack and Lunch Reminders:
Sharing of food, utensils or drinks will not be permitted
Snacks and lunches must be peanut/nut free. If there are further anaphylactic allergies in specific classrooms, students will receive a specialized letter asking that you do not pack these items.
If you are requesting your child return home for lunch, email Mr. Chin to be placed on a master lunch list. This is not the time for students to “hang out” with their friends at someone’s home or another community area. In order to ensure the safety of our students, students may leave immediately at the beginning of the lunch hour, and can return at any time. They may not leave after eating lunch nor any other time. Once they have returned to school, they must stay on property and not leave again. This will help us ensure all students are safe. Students should be eating at their own homes if they are going home for lunch. This is not the opportunity for them to visit friend’s houses, the Hasty market or gas station with friends, or hang out with friends at a different playground (often unmasked)... even if they are vaccinated. *If restrictions or protocols change throughout the year, we will let you know.
There will be no visitors to the building unless preauthorized, therefore there will not be a lunch drop off table. Students are to bring their lunches to school with them in the morning.
Water Fountains will be closed for use; water bottle filling stations will be available on the first and second floor. Please send your child with a labelled, refillable water bottle.
Class Cohorts
To start the year, and unless Public Health recommendations change we will continue to cohort by classes. We understand that students are looking forward to interacting with all their peers, please share that we hope that we can do that sometime in the future and sooner than later. Until that day, CVPS classes will be divided into 2 groups. Each group will follow an alternating schedule with outdoor and indoor time during Morning Recess and Lunch Recess. *note there is a 4 minute transition period to limit any mixing of cohorts in the hallways on a changeover. We will continue this year with class cohorts. Students will eat and spend morning recess and lunch recess with ONLY their homeroom classrooms. Some students may have a separate class for student support centre or English Language Learning but otherwise a classes will remain together.
Staggered Entry
Students may begin to enter at 8:45am through ALL doors
Kindergarten students will enter through their exterior exits
Staggered Entry, use any door. Observe physical distance 2m/6ft. Students enter the building wearing a mask, sanitize hands/ wash hands in the classroom sink, hang items, and remain in their desks. No congregation in hallways or washrooms.
FDK A - West Gate of Yard, FDK B - North Gate of Yard, FDK C - North Gate of Yard
ENTRY/ EXIT/ RECESS ROUTINES:
Morning Recess/Lunch Entry
Group 1 Exit Bell @ 10:40am/12:50pm
Group 1 Reentry 10:53am Morning Recess/1:18pm Lunch Recess
South West Door - Free Entry 209 Line up: 115
North West Door - Grade 7 and 8: 204, 225
South East Door - Free Entry: 206 line up: 107, 111
Group 2 Exit Bell @ 10:57am/1:22pm
Group 2 Reentry 11:10am Morning Recess/1:48pm Lunch Recess
South West Door - Free Entry 208 line up: 114, 118
North West Door - Grade 7 and 8: 200, 203
South East Door - Free Entry 201, 205, line up: 112
Dismissal
South West Door - Free Exit 208, 209 line up end of day 114, 115, 118
North West - Grade 7 and 8 (200, 225)
North East Door -Grade 7 and 8 (203, 204)
South East Door - Free Exit 201, 205, 206 line up: 107, 111, 112
Students will remain in their “colour” boundary when playing outside for morning and lunch recess.
Yellow: Sand pit, tarmac north of 6 pack and north field area
Pink: South Mid Field and Multi Basketball net, 1 four square
Red: 2 junior basketball courts and North Middle field area, 2 x 4 Square
Green: 4 Square, Grade 5-6 basketball net, south field area
Blue: Grade 7 and 8, upper basketball nets, field and walking path. (South BBall Net and Semi Circle ONLY)
Orange: Grade 7 and 8, upper basketball nets, field and walking path. (North BBall Net and Semi Circle ONLY)
Recess Play:
Masks are required inside and upon entering or exiting our building at all times. Students may remove their masks if they can do so using hand sanitizer and they can maintain safe physical distancing. If there is a change with our York Region Public Health direction on this, we will let you know as soon as we hear. Students may use shared equipment when playing with students within their classroom cohort. They must sanitize the equipment in between use (using a classroom sanitizing wipe / alcohol wipe). Classroom equipment has been purchased for each class and will be provided.
First Day of School Routines
Thursday, September 9: All students Grade 1-8 (begin 8:45-9am) + FDK Year 1 Cohort A start at 12pm
*Grade 1-8 online hybrid students to join google classrooms at 9:50am to allow for first day organization
*special FDK notes: All Year 2 student first day entry, FDK online students join 9:50-11:30, Year 1 Cohort A meet in the FDK North Yard @ 12pm
Friday, September 10:FDK Year 1 Cohort B start at 12pm
*Grade 1-8 online hybrid students to join google classrooms at 9:00am
*special FDK notes: FDK online students join 9:00-11:30, Year 1 Cohort B meet in the FDK North Yard @ 12pm
Monday, September 13
SSC classes begin, FDK classes begin full day.
When students arrive at school on their first day, they should go directly to their line up door / designated area. There will be signs painted on the ground for each grade 1 to grade 4 class. Students will exit the school at these specific entrances at the end of the day. *Teacher signs will also be posted and you will have a copy to carry with you
FDK West Yard-West Gate (Peters FDK A- room 116), FDK West Yard -North Gate (Kennedy FDK B- room 117 and Lee FDK C - room 119)
South West Door - (Tyler 2A room 114, Balkos 1A room 115, and Giovannetti 1B room 118 )
North West Door - Grade 7 and 8 teachers will meet you along the Sidewalk area (O’Sullivan 7A room 225, Baillie 7B room 203, Melnichuk 8A room 204, and Skinner 8B room 200)
South East Door - (Lem 34A room 107 , Harvey 3A room 111, Berdugo 23A room 112)
On the first day all grade 4 (except 34A), grade 5 and grade 6 classes to Meet their teachers at the Basketball courts on the tarmac. (Stewart 4A room 209, Nissen 4B room 208, Saunders 5A room 201, Germano 56A room 206, Billett 6A room 205)
201, 205 and 206 will be dismissed at the end of the day through the South East Door
208 and 209 will be dismissed at the end of the day through the South West Door
Inclement Weather First day plans (if it is raining)
FDK Students to West Kindergarten yard - student enter classroom doors.
Grade 1-8 Enter School and go directly to the classroom
Parents and Guardians are not to enter the building. There will be many staff available at each entrance to support our students in finding the right classroom.
Beginning Friday, September 10 the Kiss and Ride will be open and our Regular STAGGERED MORNING ENTRY will apply. Please note the following enhancements to the procedure.
*there will not be student or staff assistance for JK students. If they need ‘hand-held’ assistance, please park and walk your child to their Kindergarten yard (*Do not park in the parking lot - last year was an exception.
Students please adhere to the following guidelines:
-use any Entrance door between 8:45-9:00am
-observe physical distancing (2m/6ft) when walking in the yard / hallways
-grade 1-8 are expected to wear a mask (K strongly encouraged to wear a mask)
-sanitize / wash hands in the classroom sink upon entering the school
-enter school and go directly to their classroom
-sit and remain at their own desk
*SERTS/ PREP COVERAGE TEACHERS NOT with a class - please collect a clipboard and radio from the office and assist an an entrance. No families inside, help direct students to classrooms/ teacher name.
KISS AND RIDE -will be open Friday, September 10th
The entry bell rings at 8:45 a.m. Students must make every effort to be in school by 9:00 a.m. to ensure “on time” arrival in class. During the early entry time, students may enter the school hallways to unpack their bags and prepare for class. In the interest of safety, it is suggested that students who walk to school should arrive after 8:45 a.m. when the school is supervised. Parents who pick up their child after school need to arrive promptly. Supervising staff are on duty in the hallways 15 minutes before the start of first period classes at 9:00 a.m. NOTE: Supervision is not available after school. Staff are on duty at the end of the day to assist with bus loading and the safe exit of the building.
How To Use the Kiss and Ride
Morning drop off is open from 8:40 a.m - 9:00 a.m.
Please use the right hand single lane in the Bus Loop.
You will be directed to drive to the end of the loop until the ENTIRE ROW of cars stops.
ONLY when all cars are stopped, students are then to exit vehicles in the “SAFETY ZONE” (indicated by green dots on the Kiss and Ride Map) by Kiss and Ride Buddies, Student Helpers and Staff.
Once clear of students, vehicles will be waved forward to exit and the next line will advance.
Please do not STOP EARLY in the loop as you will create a traffic jam behind and cause other cars to pass / create UNSAFE conditions.
Exit right onto Country Glen Road so you do not create a left hand turn traffic grid lock.
DO NOT pass in the Kiss and Ride Loop – students may get out on both sides of the car.
Picking Up at Dismissal Time
Please note – you may enter the Kiss and Ride loop in the parking lot prior to 3:15 p.m. Both the entrance and exit to the parking lot will remain closed until 3:40 p.m to ensure the safe dismissal of our students. You may choose to park along the right side curb but must remain stationary until the line of parked cars is dismissed at 3:40 p.m. If you would like to park and pick up your students, please see our alternate parking options.
Where to Park
Between 9:10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. you are welcome to use any open parking spaces in the school lot.
Please do not park in the Bus Loop at any time.
The school lot will be closed from 8:45 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. – Please use alternate parking available on the following streets:
Parking Inlets on Country Glen Road (in front of school)
Cornell Commons Road (in front of school – south side)
Parking Inlets on Christian Reesor Park Avenue
Donald Sim Avenue
If you enter the Bus Loop before 3:20 p.m. the parking lot will be closed. NO cars will be allowed to exit until 3:40 p.m. to ensure the safe dismissal of students leaving our school.
*Please make sure you are not blocking any driveways and are obeying all parking signs and traffic laws.
*NEW Parking Enforcement Fines
Recently, the City’s Parking Enforcement Unit has implemented some new penalties for vehicles parked or stopped in violation in a school zone to help address the safety issues. Vehicles parked within 100 ft. (30m) of a school zone will be subject to increased fines starting in September.
Class Placement Emails Coming Thursday, September 2
Last spring and throughout the summer, our school staff engaged in a class placement process. We used “Peer Request” input from families and students, as well as information from 2019-2020 in the absence of any information from 2020-21 in order to set our students up for a smooth transition back to school in September. It is important for our families to understand the process for student placement decisions. Our ultimate goal is to provide an optimum learning environment for all students. The current teachers at each grade level met with prospective teachers of the next grade level, as well as with special education teachers, ELL teachers, and the principal/vice principal. We worked as a team with the following criteria taken into consideration:
Class sizes consistent with Ministry and Board Guidelines
A range of performance levels within each class
Placement of ELL or Special Education students that facilitates resource or withdrawal programs required by some students
Promoting positive social relationships while minimizing unproductive associations
Matching learning styles with teaching strategies whenever possible
Ensuring peer connections (even from past experiences if students are returning from EVS)
Every year our school organization is created based on the number of students projected for the next school year. Combined classes cannot be avoided. Even if a student was in a combined class one year, it did not guarantee that they will be in straight-grade class the following year.
If you have any questions regarding class placements once you receive them this week, please email the school principal (scott.chin@yrdsb.ca)
As it happens every school year, due to staffing and changing numbers, there is a possibility that the current organization and class placements may change at the end of September.
An email will be sent to you on Thursday, September 2 with your child’s teacher’s name and room number. *Due to the generic nature of our system and the large scale communications if you have twins or students in different combined classes that overlap, please do give us a call at the school 905-471-1694 to clarify / email us back at cornell.village.ps@yrdsb.ca
EDSBY SIGN UP
This platform will be required to report absences, book appointments and may be used as a communication tool with your child’s teachers. For Edsby to be effective, it contains personal information about you and your family that is collected by the Board at registration. This information is used to provide services and support to you and your family. Edsby is a secure system that keeps your details and information safe and secure.
You will be receiving an invitation to EDBSY if you are new to the school, or you have not yet signed up. Please see the attached flyer.
Online Learning (Hybrid)
If you have chosen for your child to remain at home and participate in the classrooms via online platform you would have received confirmation from our board communication or you spoke to one of our secretaries (Laura Teskey or Judi Valadao) since August 30th.
Once our class emails are sent out tomorrow, our classroom teachers will be reaching out to you between Sept 2 and September 8 to send you a link to your child’s google classrooms and google meets. Each child will need access to a laptop/ Chromebook device (not an Ipad or tablet) in order to best access the learning. If you need to borrow a device from our school, please email Mr. Chin (scott.chin@yrdsb.ca) or call the school 905-471-1694. Devices can be picked up on Thursday September 2 - 9am-4pm and Friday September 3 -9am-12pm.
School Start Up Package
Please visit our website to review our school start up package and key school information please visit our website at http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/cornellvillage.ps/Pages/default.aspx
Please do not print and sign this package as there will be further board communication regarding our new electronic “Start Up Package” sign off.
Health Forms
Fillable Health Care forms are now available for families who have children with asthma, seizure disorders, anaphylaxis, diabetes, and/or other prevalent medical conditions. This also applies to children who require the administration of medication at school. These forms can be accessed through the links below and/or a paper copy can also be requested from your child’s school principal.
Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder Health Care Plan
Self Administration of Medication Form
Staff Administration of Medication Form
Once you’ve completed the appropriate Health Care Plan, please return it WITH the appropriate medication to school with your child. The form and medication can be placed in a sealable bag, with the student name marked on the bag and left at the office.
If you would like to return your medical forms electronically email Mr. Chin (scott.chin@yrdsb.ca) directly and he will send you a secure link to upload the files via a Secure File Transfer. In your email, please include your name, student name and grade and your email address (if different than the one you are sending the email from).
Returning School Items
Technology, Jerseys, Music Books, textbooks or library books. Please return these items with your child’s homeroom teacher if you haven’t done so in June.
Prayer Room
A reminder to families that we have a Designated Prayer Space available at school. Please speak with your child’s teacher if your child would like access to this area.
Message from Our Trustee - Allan Tam
We have many reasons to feel optimistic as we begin the 2021-22 school year. Schools are reopening to in-person learning, vaccination rates continue to increase, and our students can start to resume some of their favourite school activities.
As we return to school, our reopening plan continues to prioritize the health and safety of students, families and staff members. We are working with public health to ensure we are taking all appropriate measures. For more information on the plan, including health and safety measures, please visit www.yrdsb.ca/school-reopening. You can also find additional information from York Region Public Health at www.york.ca/safeatschool.
The pandemic and last year’s school closures affected students and families in many different ways. This has been a challenging time. Our caring, skilled and dedicated staff members are prepared to prioritize the mental health and well-being of students as they transition back to school, as well as supporting their academic learning and growth. If you are worried about your child, please speak to your child’s teacher or principal. You may also find some of the learning and well-being resources on our website helpful.
Whether your child will be attending school in person or online, we know how important it is that they feel safe, respected and valued. We want every student to feel supported, to take pride in their identities and to know that they matter. Any form of hate or discrimination in our schools is not acceptable. This school year, we will continue to implement the Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy launched in March to address anti-Black racism in schools. We also remain committed as a school board to honouring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. As an education system, it is imperative that we create learning environments that enable all of our students to feel valued and to be successful.
As your school board trustee, it is my role to advocate for quality public education in York Region, and to ensure that our students remain at the centre of all of our decision making. The Board of Trustees makes policy and budget decisions, and communicates with the public, among other responsibilities. We are also responsible for setting direction for the school board, through our Multi-Year Strategic Plan. This plan sets out four priorities: Foster Well-Being and Mental Health, Build Collaborative Relationships, Champion Equity and Inclusivity, and Empower Ethical Leadership.
The relationship that we have with families is so important, and I will continue to keep you informed of our work and priorities. You can also find the message from the Chair of the Board on the Board’s website. You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
There are also many other ways you can stay connected with what’s happening in the school board. Visit our newsroom. Listen to our podcast. Follow us on Twitter @YRDSB and on Instagram @yrdsb.schools. Watch the latest videos, including news, features and profiles about our schools, students and staff members on our YouTube channel YRDSBMedia.
As we begin another school year, I am so pleased to welcome all of our new and returning families. I hope you have a great start to the school year and wish you a happy, healthy and successful year ahead.
Allan Tam
Trustee – Markham Wards 4 and 5
Supporting Transitions
We also want to assure you that our caring, skilled and professional staff members are well prepared to support student learning and well-being in this transition back to school. We know that the closures affected families differently, and that some students may not have been able to access learning as regularly, or experienced disruptions in their routines. We will work with you and your child to support your child’s mental health, well-being and academics during this transition back to school and to our new school routines.
If you have any specific concerns about your child’s well-being or transition back to school, please speak with your child’s teacher.
We have a dedicated staff with a strong commitment to student well-being and achievement, and to promoting positive, inclusive and supportive relationships with students, families, staff and community members. We are committed to providing a learning environment where everyone feels safe, welcome and respected.
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