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Cobra Communicator #12 - November 19, 2021

 Cobra Communicator #12

We are a village, growing together

November 19,  2021

Dear families,

A special thanks to all our staff for all their preparation and tech support for Thursday and Friday Parent-Guardian / Teacher interviews.  We appreciate there were a few Zoom glitches and have shared the feedback with our school board tech department.  Thank you to the families for your  flexibility and understanding.  

If you have not received your progress report cards by now, please contact your homeroom teachers and we can provide your child with a hard copy.

With this Friday’s age 5-11 vaccination announcement, we look forward to seeing many of our students back soon.  Please remember that if you want your child(ren) to return to the physical building, you just need to call our office or send an email to scott.chin@yrdsb.ca 

Wishing all of our families a wonderful upcoming week.

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



  1. School Photo Day - Thursday, November 25 - see attached flyer

  2. Health and Safety Reminders

  3. CVPS Food Drive

  4. Hindu Heritage Month

  5. Bully Prevention Week

  6. Cold Weather Clothing

  7. Important messages from YRDSB

  8. Upcoming Event - School Council Meeting November 29 @ 7pm

  9. Holiday Heroes -YRP- please see attached memo

  10. December Mental Health Newsletter - see attached memo



1.      Photo Day - November 25



As per York Region Public Health and YRDSB School Protocols - we have a newly scheduled Photo Day - Thursday November 25

• No group class photos are to be taken until further notice. Only individual student photos can be taken at this time. 

• Photos will be taken in the gym

• Students may remove their mask at the moment the photo is taken and then put them back on.

• hand sanitizer to be provided for donning and doffing masks

• Grad Photos and Retakes are currently not scheduled (we will let you know once they are booked)

• *NEW: Remote Learners: if you would like your child’s picture taken at the school the only time available will be 9:00-9:30am on Thursday, November 25.  Please email Mr. Chin directly to arrange a specific time for your child(ren)’s pictures to be taken.  




2.  Health and Safety:

York Region Public Health requires students and staff members to use the provincial COVID-19 school and child care screening tool EVERY DAY.   Students, parents and guardians will still be able to access the link to the tool through the York Region Staying Safe at School webpage. You do not need to report anything back to the school, unless your child is ill and will not attend the school. Please follow the screening guidelines.  These direct you on whether to stay home or to complete a COVID test


3. CVPS Food Drive

 

Dear Cornell Families,

We are the students from Mrs. Giovannetti's Grade One Class! We have been doing many acts of kindness in our class! Together with Mrs. Worthington we learned that some people in our Markham Community do not have enough food. This made us feel sad. We want to help the community. Together we are going to have a Food Drive from November 22nd - December 3rd! Please send in what you can to help if you wish. The list of things that the Markham Food Bank needs the most are as follows directly from their website: 

Most Needed Items

·         Crackers

·         Small and Large Bags of Rice 

·         Cake Mixes and Icing

·         Hot Cereal / Instant Oatmeal

·         Jam

·         Canned Salmon, Tuna, and Sardines

·         Canned Evaporated Milk

·         Non-Dairy Milk 

·         Canned Vegetables (not corn) 

·         Vegetarian Soups

·         Kraft Dinner 

·         Sidekick Pasta / Rice Pouches 

·         Dry Soup Mix (e.g. Ramen Noodles) 

·         Cooking Oil 

·         Baby Food (puree, formula, snacks & cereal)

·         Diapers sizes 4, 5, & 6 

·         Baby Wipes

 

We have an influx of pasta at this time. 

While we will accept donations of pasta, 

Please consider donating a most needed item. 

We really hope that you can help us reach our goal of 250 items! We can do it! 

                                                             Thank You for your support,

 

                                                               Ms. Worthington along with 

                                                               Mrs. Giovannetti's Kind Grade One Class

 

 

4. Hindu Heritage Month

 

On December 8, 2016, the province of Ontario designated November as Hindu Heritage Month as outlined in the Hindu Heritage Month Act. Hindus first arrived in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. During various waves of immigration, Hindus from all parts of the world continued to make Canada their home from the 1960s to present day. There are many Hindus who have settled in the Greater Toronto Area, including York Region. “By proclaiming the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month, the Province of Ontario recognizes the important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario's social, economic, political and cultural fabric. Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.” Hinduism is considered by some as one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back over 10,000 years. With over 900 million followers worldwide, Hinduism is the third-largest religion. Hinduism is a henotheistic religion that worships one God without denying the existence of other gods. Some of these deities include Brahma, Shiva, Paarvathi, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Muruga, Kaali, and Vishnu, along with others. Hinduism consists of many traditions and festivities that are celebrated throughout the year. Diwali, Navaratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi are some main ones in which Hindus participate in Ontario, Canada, and around the world.  

 

5. Bully Prevention Week

During the week of Nov. 21 - Nov. 27 we are all encouraged to specifically and intentionally address issues of bullying and the impact that it has on the socio-emotional well-being of all students, as well as its impact on school climate.  We will be reinforcing our commitment to anti-bullying at the school this coming week through morning announcements and class activities.  Please take some time this week to discuss with your children at home what we can all do to prevent  bullying.  If you or  your child knows of any bullying that is occuring with our students at school or in the community please contact us directly at the school so we can address it immediately. 



6. Cold Weather Dress

As the cold weather fast approaches, just a reminder to please ensure your child comes to school with the appropriate clothing which may include boots, snow pants, winter coat, hat, mitts and scarf.  As a reminder please ensure your child has a pair of both indoor and outdoor shoes here at the school. 

 

7. YRDSB Update

Dear families, 

We are writing to share some important updates with you. This letter includes important information about:

  • Inclement Weather Days

  • Active Screening Confirmation

  • Winter Break 

  • Secondary School Timetables 

  • Vaccination Clinics

  • Reminders from York Region Public Health

 

Inclement Weather Days 

As we enter the colder months, we wanted to inform families that similar to last school year, we have made the decision to close schools to students when an inclement weather day is declared and school transportation is cancelled. Please do not send your child to school when an inclement weather day is declared. 

This decision has been made in consultation with Public Health to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the health and safety of our students, staff members and families. Prior to the pandemic, schools remained open when school transportation was cancelled. This year, given the importance of adhering to our health and safety guidelines, we are unable to guarantee appropriate coverage for students on inclement weather days when school transportation is closed and classes cannot be combined. 

Please take the time to make plans in the event of an inclement weather day school closure. Please note that before and after care programs will not be operating on inclement weather days. For on-site, full-day child care, please confirm with your childcare operator. We recognize that this may be an inconvenience for some families. This decision was not made lightly and made to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff members and families. 

All students will be provided with asynchronous learning activities for the day. We recognize that each family’s situation is unique. As with inclement weather days in the past, the learning will be optional and supplementary to help students continue learning. New material will not be introduced. 

There are rare occasions when school transportation is cancelled due to extreme cold weather and not road conditions, and schools will remain open for students. 

Communication to families

Decisions about school transportation and school closures will be made as early as possible and no later than 6:00 a.m. We will do our best to notify families in advance. Our priority continues to be the safety of our students, staff members and families. If you have any questions, please speak with your school principal.

Transportation cancellations or school closures will also continue to be communicated through:

Families who have provided the school with their cell phone will also receive a text message, unless you have opted out of this service. Please contact your school if you have any questions. 

For more information on inclement weather days, please visit our website www.yrdsb.ca. 

 

Screening 

York Region Public Health has asked us to remind all staff and students that screening must be completed every day using the Ontario School Screening Tool for any signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The tool indicates when individuals should be isolating at home and when they should be getting tested.

 

Winter Break

The Ministry of Education has announced that, prior to the winter break, all students will receive a Rapid Antigen Test kit. These kits will include five tests with instructions for students to voluntarily complete the testing prior to returning to the school. We will provide more information on this initiative as it is received. 

 Families choosing to travel over the winter break are reminded to consult federal and provincial government requirements for testing, quarantine and other appropriate protocols required upon arrival and prior to returning to school. We gratefully appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these regulations to ensure the safe return from the winter break on January 3. 

 

Secondary School Timetables

The Ministry of Education also announced that, with approval from local Public Health Units, school boards may transition secondary school timetables to a traditional semester model as soon as they can do so, or for February 2022. This would mean returning to 75-minute periods. We are currently in discussion with York Region Public Health and will continue to share updates with you. Once approved, we will make the transition to the traditional semester model as soon as possible.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

The Board continues to work in partnership with York Region Public Health to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines for all those eligible. Pending approval for vaccines for 5-11 year olds, the Board is actively working with public health for in-school clinics. More information on school community-based clinics and other options will be provided to families as it becomes available.

 

Important Reminders from York Region Public Health

  • For those with COVID19 symptoms identified through the screening tool, testing should not be delayed if symptoms persist or worsen. Delaying testing means children may be out of school longer as public health may need to use the date tested when confirming isolation periods if it is too far removed from the first symptom onset date.

  • Individuals with symptoms should be tested right away with a PCR test through a COVID-19 Assessment Centre or take-home PCR tests once available from the province; if children are part of a dismissed cohort or otherwise a close contact of a confirmed case, communication from York Region Public Health will outline the specific testing information to follow; staff and students with mild symptoms (runny nose or sore throat) not on the screening tool must stay home until symptoms are improving for 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms). Rapid antigen tests should not be used if individuals are experiencing any symptoms OR are part of a dismissed cohort/close contact of a confirmed case; antigen testing should only be used by unvaccinated asymptomatic persons who are not part of a dismissed cohort; positive antigen tests must also be confirmed via PCR testing at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre. 

  • Continue to adhere to public health measures when out in the community. While we have a large proportion of our age 12 and older population fully vaccinated, individuals under the age of 12 remain susceptible. We are seeing cases and outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools attributed to social gatherings, sports and other activities and exposures occurring outside of school. Continue to keep your loved ones safe by practicing physical distancing, wearing masks, performing hand hygiene and avoiding large gatherings, especially if the vaccination status of these individuals is unknown. Vaccination opportunities are around the corner for our five to 11-year-old children. 

  • School-wide assemblies and other large congregations of students across cohorts should continue to remain on hold until the number of cases in the community trend downward and this is sustained for a period of time.

 

 

 

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