Polson Park Family Update: November 9, 2025

Polson Family Update: November 8, 2025

What’s Happening at Polson?

Remembrance Day

We are preparing for Remembrance Day on Tuesday, November 11^th when we honour Canadians, past and present, who have served our country. Because we cannot accommodate all students at once, we have organized two Remembrance Day assemblies at Polson as follows:

9:45 am JK/SK -Grades 2/3

10:30 am Grades 3-6

Please note that we will be flipping morning recess and nutrition breaks (we will eat first and then go to recess) to avoid any potential disruptions during our second assembly.

We will be welcoming special guest, Master Corporal James Glackin to take part and say a few words at our services. Veterans and current members of the military in attendance are invited to come to the front to receive the wreaths and sweet grass during this part of the assembly. Parents are welcome, but space is limited. Please let your child's teacher know if you plan to attend.

We recognize that this assembly may be traumatic for some families in our community. If you do not wish for your child to attend these services, please reach out directly to your child's teacher.

Polson Park School Achievement Plan 2025-26

We are continuing to focus on improving student achievement in literacy and math and improving student well being each year. Please follow the link to view this year's School Achievement Plan:

2025 26 School Achievement Plan

Math Tools & Representations

Students in all grades at Polson use a variety of tools and representations to deepen their understanding of math concepts and improve their math fluency skills. This week open number lines were a tool of choice in primary and junior math blocks.

Progress Reports

Please check your child’s backpack for progress reports (grades 1-6) and initial observations of learning (Kindergarten) coming home on Wednesday, November 13^th.  This is a good time to check on your child’s progress and as well as school attendance pattern. Please connect with your child’s teacher if you would like to meet!

Understanding Essential Literacy Skills:

There are 6 essential skills to becoming a skilled reader & speller:

Oral Language: Oral Language involves speaking and listening. A child’s early language skills form the bedrock for learning to read and write print.

Phonemic Awareness: The ability to hear the individual sounds in words (i.e., ‘cat’ has 3 sounds = /c/, /a/, /t/; ‘toy’ has 2 sounds = /t/, /oy/).

Phonics: The connection between the sounds (phonemes) and the letter symbols (graphemes) and using that knowledge to decode (read) and encode (spell/write).

Fluency: Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately, at a good pace, and with expression. Reading fluency acts as a bridge between word recognition (phonics & decoding) and reading comprehension.

Vocabulary and Morphology: Vocabulary: Words a child knows, understands, and uses. Morphology: The understanding that words are made up of morphemes, including bases, prefixes, and suffixes. (i.e. rereading = 3 morphemes <re>, <read>, <ing>).

Reading Comprehension: Comprehension is the reason for reading, and we need all of the previous skills to be able to fully understand and make sense of what we read. Skilled readers have fluent foundational skills so they can think critically about

You've got spirit!

A Peek at the Week:

SAVE THE DATES:

Thursday, November 20^th -SAC Family Movie Night 6-8 pm (more info and ticket information will be emailed to families)

Friday, November 21^st Pink Shirt Day

Week of November 24-28^th Student Census Grades 4-6

Lunch is Ready! Free Lunch Program

Please see this week’s free lunch menu for delivery on Friday, November 7^th . 

Due to the PA Day this week on Friday, November 14^th, the Food Sharing Project will deliver meals on Thursday, November 13^th. 

This week’s menu: Chicken or Veggie Pasta Salad

LunchBox -Wednesday School Lunch Orders:

Subway Subs delivered ed on Wednesday, November 12th

A reminder that orders are due each Sunday by noon through the LunchBox website for delivery on Wednesdays at firs nutrition break.  Please sign up by following the link: Lunchbox Orders

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See Yourself in Limestone – Student Census Survey

Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall.

The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.

Important information for families:

• The survey is optional.
• Responses are confidential and students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer.
• Students will complete the survey during class time.
• Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.

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

Southeast Public Health Alert

Re: First Influenza A Confirmed Case of the Season

Please be advised that Southeast Public Health (SEPH) has received laboratory confirmation of the first case of influenza A for the 2025-2026 season. We are providing this information so that you will be able to take steps to ensure the best protection possible for yourself and your family.

Influenza causes mild to severe illness and can lead to serious health complications, even in healthy children and adults. Immunization is the best way to prevent influenza; even in years when there is a strain mismatch, the flu vaccine will still offer some protection. The influenza vaccine (flu shot) is available free of charge to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Ontario who is 6 months of age and over. Contact your health-care provider or local pharmacy for your influenza vaccine if your family has not yet been immunized. For children under 5 years of age who cannot receive their immunization from their health-care provider, Southeast Public Health is offering clinics.

Next to immunization, the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection is to clean hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should only be used for children if they are assisted and should be stored out of reach of young children.

The symptoms of influenza include:

·         fever (greater than 38.0°C/100.4 °F)

·         dry cough

·         chills

·         headache

·         muscle aches

·         loss of appetite

·         sore throat

·         runny nose

Young children may also experience nausea and vomiting with the above symptoms.

If your child is feeling unwell, please keep them home until they are fever-free and their symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if they’ve had vomiting or diarrhea). When your child returns to school, we encourage them to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from when their symptoms started to help keep others healthy. To learn more about how to protect yourself, your family, and your community from respiratory illnesses, visit Ontario’s respiratory illness page.

Regards,

Southeast Public Health

A PDF version of this letter is available online.