Family Update November 10-14

Family Update November 10-14, 2025

Happy Monday, Stingers Families! Many updates and important messages to share with you! As you drive by the school, you may notice our sign, maintained by one of our amazing EAs, Ms. McDonald, and student volunteers. We are thankful for their efforts!

Please remember to pack extra layers, boots, hats, and mitts for recesses this week! It looks like we are in for a chilly week!

Remembrance Day Assembly

On Tuesday, we will meet as a school in the gym for our Remembrance Day assembly. We want to acknowledge Mme Dannenberg’s leadership in preparation for this important school-wide/community-wide gathering. Storrington students will begin coming to the gym around 10:30 am. Our first nutrition break and recess will occur after this assembly. We welcome families who would like to join us to reflect, respect, and honour the sacrifice of all who have served our beautiful country. The assembly should be about 45 minutes in length. There will be chairs set up in the gym for our guests. Staff will be reminding students that the Remembrance Day assembly is a solemn event that will include moments of quiet and reflection as we maintain an atmosphere of honour and respect to soldiers, veterans, and their families.

Fundraising

On Friday, students were sent home with information and donation forms for our current school fundraisers. The School Council has organized 2 fundraisers that might help prepare for the upcoming holiday season! We are selling Halenda’s Meat Sticks and Wilton Cheese!

Order forms and money are due on November 21. Orders will be distributed on December 16, the evening of our holiday concert.

Thank you in advance for your support as we look to fundraise for athletic equipment, technology, and the beautification of our school.

Copy of the Info Poster - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OR1sXsAMJMBBlnct6AEOeDUyD7gp-kNktqEh3kJIw7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Halenda’s Meat Sticks Form - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W8lLQJgepWYL9Vv3LaAbinjG-fevy53jStJVOsidhsQ/edit?usp=sharing

Wilton Cheese Form - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1phmAy6UK4Lj5i3W49c7-vcPV-YjCiui2sYwoLULM5K0/edit?usp=sharing

Mental Health Resources – School Mental Health Ontario

https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/easy-and-fun-mental-health-activities-for-home/

This week, I would like to highlight fun and easy mental health activities you can do at home with students of all ages.

How children cope with stress varies depending on their age and abilities. Too much stress might look like stomach aches, temper tantrums, worry, or irritability. These activities will help children learn some healthy ways to cope with stress, such as deep breathing.

Attendance Matters

Regular school attendance is an important factor in a successful graduation outcome. As early as elementary school, students who miss just two school days each month are more likely to fall behind in reading, writing, and math. While some challenges to a child’s attendance are unavoidable, it’s important to understand the impact of each absence.

The Ministry of Education has a goal for each student to attend 90% or more of all instructional days. This is part of our School Achievement Plan. We will reach out to you to support student attendance.

Families/guardians/parents can prepare their child for a lifetime of success by making regular school attendance a priority. Daily school attendance will support long-term learning success.

Ways to Support Daily Attendance:

• Setting aside time to help support the completion of homework through discussing what has been assigned, reviewing finished homework, and ensuring completed work is placed in your child’s backpack for school the next day
• Having a regular bedtime to ensure a good night’s sleep
• Turning off electronic devices one hour before bedtime
• Establishing a morning routine that supports arriving at school or the bus stop on time
• Discussing and establishing responsibility for any missed schoolwork after a school absence (grade-appropriate)
• Establish regular open communication and dialogue with your child’s teacher(s) if they have attendance challenges
• Reach out for help if your child is experiencing physical health, anxiety, or mental health and well-being concerns
• Establish a plan to help you get your child to school (set up an incentive plan, avoid long goodbyes, have someone else bring them, have a student to meet them at school)
• Praise your child when they are making an effort and attending school
• Taking care of yourself (seeing your child in distress may cause you a significant amount of stress)

Here is a link to the Director’s message about student attendance, shared last September: https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/message-from-the-director-september-26-2024-20240926203720

Volleyball

It’s Volleyball season! The Sr and Jr girls are being coached by Mr. Pare, and the Sr Boys are being coached by Ms. Bowen! A huge thank you to them as the season begins. Information about practices is shared in our daily announcements for students.

Looking For Yard Donations

We continue to look for donations of outdoor toys in good condition for use by students outside during recess. This could include trucks, cars, pots and pans, discs of wood for building, sports balls (footballs, volleyballs, tennis balls, soccer balls). If you have any of the above collecting dust in your garage or yard, but it’s still in good or excellent condition, please consider donating it to the school! We appreciate your support!

We are also looking for puzzles and boardgames (without any missing pieces) for use during indoor recess. Please send in any donations to your child’s teacher. Thank you!

Next School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting is on from November 20, 6:00 pm in the library. There will be a virtual link provided in case you want to attend from the comfort of your own home. We will be discussing our winter fundraisers and our holiday event. I will also be sharing some school-wide data.

School Climate Survey

As a reminder, families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact their school Principal by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.

By better understanding students’ identities and experiences, we can remove barriers and better support students in accessing what they need to succeed.

Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in  Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census

This website contains an FAQ section, as well as the actual questions that will be asked of students.

December 16 – Holiday Concert

Our Winter Wonderland Holiday concert will take place on Tuesday, December 16, from from5:30-6:30 pm. More specific details will be shared after we get closer to the event.

Director’s Message about Inclement Weather Season

As we approach the inclement weather months (roughly early November to early April), our transportation partner, Tri-Board Student Transportation Services (Tri-Board), works closely with their school bus companies to determine if it is safe to offer school transportation on inclement weather days. School buses function differently from other vehicles, and sometimes, although it is safe for the average family vehicle to travel, it is not safe for a school bus to be on the road. Due to the geographic size of our district, weather conditions can vary significantly from one region to another. As a result, there are times when transportation cancellations may only apply to specific areas experiencing adverse conditions, while other regions remain unaffected. Having to cancel school transportation is understandably disruptive to families, but Tri-Board always puts the safety of their 30,000-plus bus riders first and foremost in their decision-making. Learn more about how to help make the winter season and bus cancellation days easier for families to manage on our website.

Week Ahead

November