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) bus information website. 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 SCSTC 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 SCSTC on X @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications.
School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
In order to receive delay and cancellation notifications, families can check the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) website or download the ‘BusPlanner Delays’ app from the Apple or Android app stores to receive delay notifications to their devices. Users need to select Simcoe County STC as the transportation authority. The app will need to be forced closed, but you will be able to select your student(s) routes or school to receive delays. The app will send a general notice for any cancellation in Simcoe County. You only need to know which ‘zone’ you’re in, so you would know which one to look out for in the app. You can find your student’s zone by visiting the School Bus Status page and clicking the dropdown for the area you live in.
Digital safety and citizenship resources for parents/guardians
Student safety, citizenship, and well-being in digital environments is a shared priority between home and school. To support this partnership, parents/guardians can access resources and activities to build capacity for fostering balanced, safe, and informed technology habits with their children via the SCDSB website: scdsb.on.ca/DigitalSafety.
The site includes resources in four key areas:
- Safety, privacy, and cyber risks: Protecting personal data and navigating online threats.
- Well-being and balance: Managing screen time and healthy technology habits.
- Interactions, behaviour, and citizenship: Navigating social spaces with integrity, empathy, and accountability for one’s digital footprint.
- Information and influence: Understanding digital platforms and how they shape choices.
More information and resources can be found here: k-12cyberawareon.ca.
See what high school in the SCDSB is all about - info nights happening this fall!
Are you a parent/guardian of a student who is starting to think about high school? See what your local SCDSB school has to offer at a high school information night! Schools across Simcoe County are hosting these events in November and early December, and they want you to stop by!
Meet the staff, learn about the programs and courses offered, explore clubs and sports, and see how SCDSB secondary schools support student achievement and well-being. Find out how students can see themselves, find themselves, and be themselves … in the SCDSB!
Visit the SCDSB website to find details on your high school’s info night, and contact the school directly for more information.
Online math resources for families
Have you tried Math at Home? Math at Home is an online resource for SCDSB parents and caregivers of children from pre-school age to 16. This resource is updated monthly with games, word problems, and number talk activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school.
In October, activities include grade-level tasks related to representing whole numbers using different tools, and adding and subtracting whole numbers, fractions, decimal numbers, and integers.
Knowledgehook is another digital math tool that provides opportunity for at-home math practice. Ask your child's teacher about how they can access their account at home.
Visit scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome to support your child’s math learning at home!
Learn a new language for free with the SCDSB!
Children in Grades 1-8 can learn to listen, speak, and write in a new language or extend their knowledge of their first language through the SCDSB’s International and Indigenous Languages Program. Offered evenings, in-person, at the Barrie Learning Centre, the program includes 2.5 hours of instruction each week, at no cost.
Languages offered are based on sufficient enrolment and may include Farsi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, and Indigenous languages. To learn more and preregister for the program, visit the Learning Centres’ website. Program start dates will be established once minimum enrolment is reached.
DELF registration is now open!
The SCDSB offers students enrolled in FSF4U or FIF4U an opportunity to challenge the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) exam. The DELF is a diploma issued by the French Ministry for National Education and is intended for those whose first language is not French. DELF diplomas are recognized around the world.
Students enrolled in FSF4U or FIF4U this semester can register for the DELF exam on SchoolCash Online by completing the consent form and paying the $30 fee. Registration will close on Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. For more information, visit the DELF page on the SCDSB website.
Eat Well to Excel Day takes place on Nov. 19
Eat Well to Excel (EWTE) is the Simcoe County Nutrition Program for School-Age Children. EWTE is a non-profit organization that supports volunteer-run breakfast, morning meal, lunch, and/or snack programs for children and youth in SCDSB schools, to support their learning and healthy development. EWTE Day is intended to raise awareness about this essential work. If you’re interested in supporting student nutrition programs, you may consider hosting an awareness or fundraising event, volunteering at your local school, or making a donation.
Child visual health
Clear vision is important to success in the classroom. It is recommended that all children have a comprehensive eye exam before entering school and every year afterwards. Annual eye exams for children and youth under the age of 20 are covered by OHIP. For more information or to find an optometrist visit the Ontario Association of Optometrists.
Looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner?
Are you in need of a family doctor or nurse practitioner? If you or someone in your household doesn’t have a primary care provider, there are options to help you get connected.
Health Care Connect (HCC) is a free service that helps people who don’t have a primary care provider find one in their community. Additional family doctors and nurse practitioners are accepting patients locally, so registering with HCC ensures your information is up-to-date and ready to be matched when care becomes available.
Patients in our community are now being connected with primary care providers within days of registering with HCC. While wait times vary depending on available capacity and individual circumstances, registering ensures you’re ready when new spots become available.
Even if you currently travel outside the Barrie area to see a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can register with HCC to explore options for getting connected with a provider closer to home.
Indigenous-led primary care is also available. People who identify as Indigenous may be eligible to receive care through the Indigenous-led primary care clinic at Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin.
Learn more or register: