NPSS May 2025 Newsletter
Days of Awareness 2024-25
As you prepare your school’s newsletter package, please review the days of awareness calendar on the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion. Please include what is relevant to your school community in your May newsletter package.
Feedback, recovery, and improvement days
At the end of each semester, all secondary schools will run feedback, recovery, and improvement days for students. Culminating assessments such as portfolios, essays, examinations, and interviews will take place during instructional days and will be returned to students with feedback.
The last day of regular instruction for students in Semester Two is Friday, June 20. The period from Monday, June 23 to Wednesday, June 25 is reserved for students to receive feedback from an assessment, to rescue or recover a credit, or to improve on an area of missed expectations. Teachers and support staff will communicate with students who will benefit most from attending this opportunity; however, all students will be invited to attend. There will be no new instruction these days. Feedback, recovery, and improvement days are an opportunity for students to work closely with their teacher if they require feedback, recovery, or an opportunity to improve on an area of missed expectations.
2024-25 SCDSB Student Census
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed to creating a culture of belonging, engagement, and success for all. As part of this commitment, we are conducting the 2024-25 SCDSB Student Census so that we can learn more about the students and families that make up our school communities. Information from the census also helps us to determine how to best utilize resources and plan appropriate programming, learning opportunities, and events.
Parents/guardians of children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 will receive an email invitation to complete the census on their child or children’s behalf. Students in Grade 7 to 12 will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the census during class time between May 6 and 30.
The census is confidential and voluntary.
If you would like more information about the census, please visit scdsb.on.ca/census. If you have questions regarding the SCDSB Student Census, please contact the Research and Decision Support department at [email protected].
Indigenous Education flag
The SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department is excited to announce the new Indigenous Education flag. This flag was created by Indigenous members of the SCDSB’s Indigenous Education department in collaboration with local Indigenous community members. This flag will be raised at all SCDSB schools and the Education Centre from June 16 to 20 to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, which is also the summer solstice. Families and community members are invited to join in recognizing and celebrating the vibrant cultures and histories of Indigenous Peoples.
The flag represents the rich cultures and contributions of diverse Indigenous Peoples in Simcoe County and includes symbols such as:
Surrounding these symbols is sweetgrass, signifying unity and respect among Indigenous Peoples.
Every Child Matters flags will be respectfully acknowledged during the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 in recognition of survivors and our deep commitment to reconciliation in education, honouring survivor’s legacy, and truth.
Parenting Unplugged: A Session for SCDSB Parents/Guardians
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) invites parents/guardians to join the upcoming session of the Connected Parenting learning series, hosted by the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC). This in-person event, facilitated by counsellor and coach Ulrica Jobe, will focus on effective strategies for discussing technology with teens, setting boundaries without conflict, and finding a healthy balance between screen time and face-to-face interactions.
Date: May 20
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: SCDSB Education Centre
For more information and to register, visit scdsb.on.ca/connections.
Math at Home blossoms with new activities this May
Families looking for ways to support their child(ren) in learning math are invited to try Math at Home, an online resource featuring games, problems, and number talk activities that reflect the math your child may be learning at school each month.
In May, activities in school and on Math at Home may include grade-level tasks related to collecting, sorting, organizing, comparing, and displaying data.
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, and check out our recent video below featuring the Simcoe County Regional Science and Technology Fair.
Ever wondered what’s involved in creating an award-winning project for the Simcoe County Regional Science & Technology Fair? Join us as we follow two SCDSB students on their journey from start to finish as they prepare their projects for the 2025 Science Fair: youtube.com/watch?v=VNK-_fZ3GkQ&t=2s.
Join the SCDSB for a virtual special education information series
During the 2024-25 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
Please join us for the upcoming session:
Every day mental health strategies
May 13
We all want our children to feel mentally well, grow up happy, and learn how to navigate life’s challenges. Virtually join members of the SCDSB Mental Health and Well-Being and Special Education teams as we share resources from School Mental Health Ontario (smho-smso.ca) to support students of all ages with their mental health.
Get caught reading this month!
This campaign seeks to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. Here are some ideas to
start spreading the joys of reading at home:
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Read comic/graphic books together. These books are fun to read aloud together, especially when you take turns doing different voices. A curated list of comics and graphic novels can be found on Sora, the SCDSB’s digital library. To access the desktop version, visit soraapp.com/welcome or use the Sora app.
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Create a ’family picks’ book list. Ask family members and friends for recommendations of their most beloved and cherished books. As you read these books, encourage your child to discuss favourite characters, moments, and quotes with their family and friends. This is a great way to share a love of reading with others.
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Drop everything and read (DEAR). As a family, pick a schedule that works for you and drop what you are doing to read together.
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Visit your local library for events and to explore books.
May cyber awareness topic: Digital wellness – Using technology in a healthy way
As technology becomes a bigger part of our lives, it's important for families to use it in a healthy way. This month's tip sheet offers simple advice on managing screen time, building good online habits, and spotting signs of too much tech use.
Talking about digital wellness with your children can help them find a good balance with technology. Open conversations can make the topic less scary and ensure everyone uses technology in a way that supports their well-being.
CANImmunize is a free mobile app to help parents/guardians easily track students’ immunization records all in one place. The app allows you to share your child’s immunization records directly with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). Sharing your child’s record with the SMDHU using the CANImmunize app means that parents/guardians don’t have to go online and report to the SMDHU every time their child receives a vaccine; the app will do the work for you!
Once you have agreed to share your child’s record with the SMDHU in the CANImmunize app, the app will provide updates to the SMDHU each time you enter a new vaccine.
To create an account, visit CANimmunize.ca or download the app on IOS or Android. For more information, contact the Immunization Program at 705-721-7520 ext. 8827 or toll-free at 1-877-721-7520 or visit our website at simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Below is a summary of the activities planned for the May 2 secondary PA Day:
Topic: Student engagement and well-being, mathematics, and literacy
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenters/Facilitators: Learning modules created by Student Achievement and Mental Health and Well-being departments
Student Engagement and Well-Being (100 min.)
Educators will deepen their understanding of student mental health with a focus on the muti-tiered system of supports structure including mental health promotion and literacy, early identification and supporting students through challenges. This learning will be self-directed.
Preparation of Students for Future Success (200 min.)
Educators will engage in a combination of guided and independent learning activities related to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in the areas of assessment and universal design for learning (UDL). Math educators will participate in 100 min.
Math educators will focus specifically on the use of assessment as learning and descriptive feedback to support student engagement and the ability to self-assess, and to plan instruction that is responsive to student learning needs. Activities will be a combination of self-directed and collaborative learning.