The below information is for SCDSB families for the month of November.
Days of Awareness 2024-25
Please review the days of awareness calendar on the SCDSB website at
scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion.
Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at
www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. When buses are cancelled, schools remain open for student learning, unless otherwise noted. School staff are expected to plan for such emergencies in order to transition students who are unable to attend due to inclement weather to their online platforms (Google Classroom and/or SCDSBhub [Brightspace by D2L]) and continue with academic programming. It is always a family decision whether or not it is safe for their child(ren) to leave for school under severe weather conditions.
The Consortium and bus operators try to make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and make every effort to post announcements before 7 a.m. Inclement weather cancellations are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the day. You can follow the Consortium on Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications here:
scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
Online learning graduation requirement and opt out options (secondary)
Students are required to earn two online learning credits to graduate from secondary school, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year. The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners who entered the Ontario secondary school system since the 2023-24 school year. The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.
Opting out
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the mandatory online learning credits required for graduation. To opt out, a parent/guardian must submit the Secondary Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-out Form, available
at scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/online_learning_graduation_requirement. Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:
• the parent/guardian of the secondary student
• students who are 18 years of age or older
• students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control
Check with your local school if you have questions regarding the registration or opt-out process.
Culminating Task Days and Feedback, Recovery, and Improvement Days (secondary)
Below is the process and schedule for the culminating task days and feedback, recovery, and improvement days that will occur at the end of the semester.
Culminating task days:
• There will be four culminating task days.
• Each day will begin with a 120-minute period dedicated to students completing their culminating task.
• Culminating tasks come in a variety of forms such as assignments, presentations, conferences, interviews, and exams.
• Teachers will determine the method that best meets the requirements of the course and the needs of the students.
• The school day will be structured into three periods.
• There will be no new learning or assessment and evaluation (other than the culminating task) during these days.
Feedback, recovery, and improvement days:
• These will occur in the remaining three days of the semester.
• Students can attend to complete assignment(s), receive feedback, or improve an area of missed expectation.
• Students will be provided with a reflection form that must be completed to attend these days. They will be asked to reflect on their learning and develop a plan to improve their learning, if they choose, based on specific areas of the course expectations.
• Teachers will be available to assist students in completing the form, if necessary.
• All students have the option to attend the feedback, recovery, and improvement days.
Subscribe to Kindergarten Connections!
Will your child be turning four in 2025? If so, the SCDSB invites you to subscribe to Kindergarten Connections! This is a monthly enewsletter informing families of everything they need to know about preparing their child for school, as well as registering them for Kindergarten in the SCDSB. To learn more and subscribe, visit the Kindergarten page on the SCDSB website:
scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/kindergarten
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate speech and language skills are critical to your child’s ability to read, write, and be successful in school as well as to their ability to engage with their peers. Free services are available to support you with your child’s development. Preschool speech and language programs are located across the County of Simcoe. Call 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a developmental screen. The earlier we work together the better!
Licensed Winter Break school age child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, third-party child care operators in some SCDSB schools. To support your child care needs, some operators offer child care on PA days and holidays, including over the Winter Break. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found at
scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch all of these weekly episodes!
The Indigenous Lodge at Eastview Secondary School opened with a special ceremony for students, staff, and community. Join us as we explore this new space designed to welcome and support students while encouraging learning about Indigenous culture and history. Creating spaces like these in SCDSB schools is how we are taking steps towards the ongoing process of Truth and Reconciliation. Watch this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=a_qhy_2SksA
High school information events for Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school information events will take place in person this winter! Student leaders and staff at the school will give an overview of what’s new and what to expect. Learn about courses offered, as well as information about teams and clubs. Please visit the SCDSB website at
scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/high_school_information_nights to find details on your high school’s info night, and contact the school directly for more information.
Grade 1 French Immersion information
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) offers French Immersion (FI) at select schools throughout Simcoe County beginning in Grade 1. The goal of the FI program is to enable students to communicate in French with a high level of proficiency, enabling them to function with ease in both French and English. Upon graduation from the program, students will communicate in French with confidence in a wide variety of real-life situations.
Grade 1 FI family information nights are held annually in advance of the application process for the following school year. This year, FI family information nights will be held in person throughout the month of November at the respective FI school locations.
The SCDSB board-wide electronic applications for the Grade 1 FI program for all sites will open Monday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Entry into the FI program is determined through a digitally randomized lottery system.
Visit the SCDSB website to learn more: scdsb.on.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=210982&pageId=12587752
Math learning at home
Practice math anywhere with Math at Home, an online resource for parents/caregivers of SCDSB students from pre-school age to 16. This resource is updated monthly with games, problems, and number talk activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school each month.
In November, activities in school and on Math at Home may include grade-level tasks related to measuring objects and identifying and sorting shapes, figures, and angles. Visit
scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome to support your child’s math learning at home!
Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians with Pine River Institute (PRI)
Mental health and well-being continue to be a key strategic priority within the SCDSB. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Centre for Family Initiatives at Pine River Institute (CFI@PRI) to provide several curated learning sessions focused on student mental health and well-being to SCDSB families.
There are four webinars planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year. To join in this learning, please visit the SCDSB website to register:
scdsb.on.ca/about/well-being___mental_health/pine_river_institute_learning_series
Emotional development
Dec. 5, 7-8 p.m.
Gain a new perspective on how children maturate and its significance for mental health. Learn how Pine River views social and emotional development as crucial to well-being.
Learn more about PRI by visiting their website at
pineriverinstitute.com.
Nov. 19 is Eat Well to Excel Day in Simcoe County
Eat Well to Excel is a Simcoe County non-profit community partnership that supports our school’s student nutrition program. The funding provided by Eat Well to Excel allows us to supply students with access to healthy snacks during the school day.
The pandemic and increasing food costs have caused a significant financial strain on many families in our region and new data shows that one in three kids in Canada are at risk of going to school hungry. Kids that are hungry struggle to retain knowledge and keep focused throughout the day. They are also at an increased risk of experiencing poor mental health and a compromised immune system. With your support we can maintain and hopefully improve our program to provide a consistent supply of healthy food to our students.
You can make a donation by visiting
eatwelltoexcel.ca. You can either support the county-wide program or direct your donation to our school. Please include our school name in the comment box to ensure the donation goes directly to our program. A tax receipt will be emailed to you.
For more information about Eat Well to Excel visit
eatwelltoexcel.ca.
I Read Canadian Day
I Read Canadian Day is celebrating it’s third year on Nov. 6, 2024. This day is a nationwide initiative that celebrates the richness, diversity, and scope of Canadian literature by encouraging individuals to read Canadian books for just 15 minutes. Schools, libraries, bookstores, and other organizations may host activities and events on this day to highlight Canadian literature. For more information visit
ireadcanadian.com/day and sign up for free to participate.
A curated list of Canadian titles can be found on Sora, the SCDSB’s digital library. To access the desktop version visit
soraapp.com/welcome or use the Sora app.
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions in need of foster homes
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is in need of families in our communities to open their homes to children and youth requiring foster homes. By opening your home, you can make a difference in their lives by keeping them close to their family, school, and community. Help us keep kids close to home. If you or someone you know is interested in fostering, please visit
familyconnexions.ca or check out a few of our videos to better understand what it takes to become a foster care provider:
familyconnexions.ca/fostering-resources/.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions.
Outdoor play
Active play supports development in many ways, especially when the play is outdoors, self-directed, and fun. Students can explore boundaries and problem-solve, develop social skills, resolve conflict, and practice controlling their emotions and behaviours. Active play outdoors in the fresh air and nature helps to improve mood and lower stress. Support your child in playing outside with friends in the neighbourhood and in your local green spaces.
For more information, visit
simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/PhysicalActivity/Active-Play/After-School.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
Caffeine, energy drinks, and teens (secondary)
Caffeine is a stimulant which can increase alertness and give you a boost of energy. It can be found in tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, and some foods. Some side effects include insomnia, irritability, headaches, and nervousness. Energy drinks are not recommended for children and teens because of their high caffeine content. Caffeinated energy drinks are now required to have a supplemented food facts table, caution identifier, and cautionary statements. These products may not be suitable for those under 14 years old, pregnant, breastfeeding, or sensitive to caffeine.
For more information, call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-5720 to speak with a public health nurse, or visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s website at
simcoemuskokahealth.org/.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
November PA Day
Please note that Friday, Nov. 15 is a PA Day for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2024-25 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information:
scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Nov. 15 elementary PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Communication to parents/guardians about student progress through
parent/guardian-student-teacher conferences
Host: ¬ Simcoe County District School Board elementary schools, including
Grades 7 and 8 in Grade 7-12 secondary schools
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): Elementary educators
Elementary educators will meet with students and parents/guardians to discuss student progress thus far this school year, including areas of strengths and next steps for improvement.
Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECE) (150 min.)
DECE staff will engage in learning to build their expertise in ensuring students receive the necessary foundational reading skills that are critical to future success. A portion of the time will be led synchronously by the Early Years team, and follow up work will be completed asynchronously.
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the Nov. 15 secondary PA Day:
Length: Full day
Topic: Mental health learning, assessment, mathematics
Host: ¬ Simcoe County District School Board secondary schools
Presenter(s)/facilitator(s): Self-directed and small-group learning developed by central mental
health and well-being, math, and assessment teams
Mental health learning: Student Engagement (100 min.)
Student engagement is an ongoing process that centres every student’s lived experience and voice, positioning them as valued experts to influence outcomes that affect them. It requires critical reflection by school and system staff to dismantle imbalanced relationships and uplift student voices in mental health planning and programming. This self-directed professional learning will explore the benefits and foundations of student engagement in mental health promotion activities at school, offer practical strategies for supporting diverse student leadership styles, and provide guidance for creating environments that support student engagement. Staff will be encouraged to work in small groups to develop an understanding of the School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) Student Engagement Toolkit:
smho-smso.ca/online-resources/student-engagement-toolkit/.
Assessment (200 min.)
The focus from student achievement will be on authentic triangulation. Teachers will participate in activities and be provided with resources to guide their learning in effective triangulation of assessment to improve student learning. Teachers will be provided with time to review resources for the newly developed courses in business, technology, English, and geography. They will collaborate with colleagues to develop effective culminating activities that align with school board assessment and evaluation policy and growing success. Math educators will complete 100 minutes of assessment learning.
Mathematics (100 min.)
Math educators will engage in math content knowledge learning related to measurement and algebra, their understanding of the High Impact Instructional Practices, as well as how universal design for learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction can be used to support all learners in the math classroom, but specifically those with special education needs. Educators will apply their learning to plan responsive instruction, with a focus on concrete and visual representations, and examine school based key performance indicators to measure student growth.