What’s New:

WELCOME BACK!

The PDSB school year begins on Wednesday, September 4th for most students, while some will begin on Thursday, September 5th. Kindergarten students may have a gradual start that differs. Check your email to confirm your school’s start to the year. We are so excited to have you all back! This is going to be a great year ahead.

What to bring:

– a comfortable backpack, large enough for everything you’ll need to carry
– a combination lock if your student will have a locker
– spare indoor shoes
– a reusable water bottle
– lunch/snacks, or money for lunch if applicable
– spare clothes for younger kiddos (label all of it – everything they bring or wear)
– sunblock, and help them learn to apply as they’re able
– a hat
– layers as it gets cooler
– middle school and high school students will learn what school supplies they’ll need for the year ahead
– yourselves, ready to get everything you can out of this year. Let’s go!

PDSB’S NEW CELLPHONE USE POLICY:

Cellphone use and the challenges associated with social media have been in the news a lot this year. Most PDSB schools have had policies regarding cellphone use for some time, and early this year we began the process of strengthening and standardizing those policies to help support a safer, more productive learning environment and give our educators the support they need in the classroom.

The policy is simple:

K-8: No phones permitted throughout the school day.
9-12: Phones must be off and away during instructional time unless permitted by that classroom teacher for instructional purposes only.

A lock box has been provided to each school. If your K-8 student needs their phone for safety purposes to and from their route to school, there will be a safe place for them to store it during the day. To learn more about the full policy, read here.

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About Jill

Jill Promoli is a small business owner and mother of three. She became a flu prevention advocate after the sudden death of one of her twin boys in 2016. She founded For Jude, For Everyone, an organization to promote better awareness and understanding about the flu and other preventable illnesses to protect our communities, and has advocated for policy changes at every level to help improve public health. Her work has gained support from public figures and drawn attention in national and international media outlets.

She grew up in Port Elgin, Ontario, and holds a BA in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she met her husband while they volunteered on campus. After teaching in Korea and working in Toronto, they chose to make their home and raise their family in Mississauga, where their kids attend public school and Jill has spent years coaching t-ball and volunteering with the local women’s council.

Click here to read more about my priorities

Jill Promoli – Bill 47 Deputation, November 15th, 2018
Deputation transcript

Excerpt: