Principal’s Message

We are always so glad when we have great news to share with our school community, and this summer has brought some wonderful events our way!

First, our Avon Junior Choir from 2014 2015 earned a second place finish in the National Choir Competition! We are so proud of all the students who gave so much time and effort to perfect their skills in singing such beautiful songs. This is the first time our school has been honoured in this way, and we congratulate, especially, Mr. Mac for his hard work and dedication!

Secondly, many of you may know that the Natural Learning Committee has been working tirelessly to find ways to fund the exciting plans for the Playscape Structure to be built on our yard. The Rotary Club has voted to fund this project with $10,000 each year for four years. We are so grateful for their generous support and can’t wait to break ground. We are so close to being able to start, with just a few more dollars, we will be ready to build, maybe even this fall!! In the fall, we will also be organizing an Avon Family Nature Day to get out and work in our evolving space—watch out for dates and times to come! For more information on this initiative, take a look at the Natural Learning tab under Resources on our Avon PS website.
We are very happy to welcome new staff members to our school, especially Ms. Meadows in 4A, Mrs. Pearce in 1B, and Mrs. Brindley as an EA. We also have many new students joining us this year, as well as all our new Junior Kindergarten students, coming from within Stratford and as far away as New Brunswick! We know that our Avon family will make them all feel welcome so they can see firsthand what makes this such a special place to learn.

I know that we have all come back for this school year refreshed and ready to continue this learning journey together—welcome, and I am looking forward to a great year!

Barbara Alken

Avon PS Staff 2015 2016

JKA/KA: Mary Ford-Pleil, Jillian Siebert

JKB/KB: LeeAnn Mark, Allison Simpson

JKC/KC: Jeanette Tessmer, Jennifer Jarvis

1A: Susan Iredale

1B: Melissa Pearce/Jenn McCann

2A: Kate Smith

2B: Jacob Grodzinski

3A: Emelie Taylor

3B: Kim Thomas/Melissa Heffer

4A: Kathleen Carr/Cathy Meadows

4B/5A: Susan Steven

5B: Jeremy Ford

6A: Jennifer Yantzi

Music/Prep: Mark McIntosh

French/Prep: Cindy Spendiff-Durance

SERT: Brett Melton

Educational Assistants: Kelly Herlick-Riehl, Christine Brindley, Theresa Guy

TRA: Christine Allen

Secretary: BettyAnne Christie

Custodians: Martin Allcott, Lloyd Renecker
Remember to only send food within our allergy guidelines. No peanuts, tree nuts, kiwi fruit, fish, seafood, raw or undercooked eggs or anything made from these products. Thanks for your help keeping everyone safe and healthy!

Important Information not to be missed!

This year, many classes will be benefiting from technology in their classes in order to pass on classroom information, share their learning, respond to each others’ posts, and connect to the world through the internet. Please read the AMDSB guidelines on computer use sent home today carefully, and check out the AMDSB website for further information.
Sabrina’s Law and AnaphylaxisSome classes are also using student planners, which will have spaces for correspondence between home and school. Later this week, a Family Handbook will be going home with each student. This handbook outlines procedures and policies that will help each student and family to work effectively within our system like the safe arrival program, bringing toys to school, allergy information, medication, and so much more. Look out for the yellow cover!

In January 2006, Sabrina’s Law came into effect. This Law requires school boards to have emergency procedures in place to deal with incidents of anaphylaxis and to provide training for all staff. With support from the Perth District Health Unit and the Huron County Health Unit, school principals provide to their staff, annual training in the administration of EPIPens to treat anaphylactic reactions. In cases where a student is anaphylactic, parents/guardians are expected to provide an EPI-Pen(s) for their child to carry with them at all times during the school day. Parents/Guardians must also work with the school to develop an Individual Medical Management Plan that outlines emergency procedures for their child. In accordance with Sabrina’s Law, all schools have been provided with two generic EPI-Pens. These EPI-Pens are being provided to support schools in responding to a medical emergency for an anaphylactic student for whom the school has an Individual Medical Management Plan and Emergency Procedure in place. Also, in accordance with Sabrina’s Law, schools must administer an EPI-Pen when a student is suspected of suffering an anaphylactic reaction even if no Individual Medical Management Plan exists. If you are aware that your child is allergic to epinephrine or if you have any concerns, it is suggested that you contact the school principal.

Important Note: As per AMDSB procedure, students must carry their epi-pen with them at all times. Parents may not opt out of having their child carry an epi-pen.

Ryan’s Law and Asthma

As you may be aware, Ryan’s Law, 2015, was recently passed by the Ontario Legislature. This piece of legislation is an important step to support the well-being of students with asthma in Ontario schools. Over the course of the next school year, AMDSB will be working to implement the requirements of this legislation. In the meantime, if your child has asthma, we ask that you immediately contact the office at Avon to provide information about your child’s asthma medication. With your permission, your child will be allowed to carry their asthma medication. By the next school year, a more formal process to identify students with asthma and their asthma medication will be put into place to better support the needs of your child. The Ministry of Education website has resources on asthma that can be found at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/anaphylaxis.html

As a best practice and to support your child, please let the school know if your child has a medical condition so that the school is aware and can keep this information on file. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the principal directly.

Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance

Our school board is offering you the opportunity to voluntarily purchase student accident insurance through the Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance program, underwritten by Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance provides protection against unexpected costs arising from accidental injuries. The program is especially valuable for families who:

do not have medical or dental plans,
have limited plans, as it may help supplement health and dental benefits, or
have active children who enjoy sports and outdoor activities.

Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance has a selection of plans to suit most budgets. Benefits include coverage for:

The full school year (September to September), 24 hours a day, while at home and in school;
Expenses that are often limited or not covered by private or group insurance plans, or Provincial Health Insurance Plans, such as ambulance, physiotherapy, private tutoring, counselling, and much more;
Injury-related dental treatment (including future dental treatment up to age 26);
Out-of-province or country emergency medical expenses.

If your address changes during the school year, your Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance plan is transferable from school to school, anywhere in Canada.

Insurance premiums for children are $14.50 or $33.50 per year, depending on the plan selected. A discount is available for families with 3 or more children. Adults age 20 to 64 can also be insured for $32.00 per year.

For more information or to apply online, please visit www.kidsplus.ca, or speak with a Kids Plus™ Client Service Administrator at 1-800-556-7411.

iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Monthly Spirit Assemblies

Each month our school comes together in the gym in cross-grade teams. This is an excellent way to build community and foster understanding across grades and divisions. Grade 6 students lead these assemblies and students work together to “fill each others’ buckets”!

Safety At Avon – Be Watchful Behind The Wheel!

With so much traffic on the streets, limited parking, children riding bicycles and walking, new students finding their way to school, runaway balls and more, it is essential that every member of our community be aware of procedures designed to keep all our students safe. Please read carefully; some have changed from what was being done in June.

All parents park on the street and walk with children at beginning or end of day. Our parking lot is just big enough for teachers and support staff.
Drivers may stop to drop off or pick up students along the front of building, but must not leave their cars. This is a “no parking” zone. This includes Kindergarten students.
Traffic should continue SLOWLY around the circle to leave the area.
When dropping students before school—drop them at the playground entrance at the west end of the school.
Walkers & students walking bikes/ scooters stay inside the yellow line. Do not cross through the parking lot.
Bikes must be walked to the first Crossing Guard – all pedestrians must cross with the Crossing Guard
At dismissal, cars must not wait in the drop-off and pick-up zone. If you are early, please wait off property until the bell rings and then make your way slowly in to circle until your child is outside. This way the buses have room to manoeuvre in the parking lot and children are not crossing through parked cars to reach their vehicle.

Two Crossing Guards are on duty at the Huntingdon and Huron intersection from 8:00-9:00 am and 3:00-4:00 pm.

Supervision is provided at the front of the school in the morning and afternoon, and at the Junior doors as of 8:40 am.

Allergies At Avon

For the safety of all our students, and due to severe food allergies Avon is a Peanut and Tree Nut Sensitive Zone. In addition, fish, seafood, kiwi and raw egg products or anything made from these products (e.g., mayonnaise) should not be brought in student lunches. Please remember – avon is a fragrance free zone as well.

You will have found Student Emergency Contact Forms and the Anaphylaxis Plan going home on Tuesday. Please review carefully and provide any updated allergy information.

Avon School Council

School Councils provide a forum for making parents’ concerns heard, for learning about curriculum, and how we can work together to support students’ learning. We invite all Avon parents and community members who wish to get involved to attend.

Our initial meeting and election of officers is

Monday, September 22nd

@ 6:15 pm in the Library

If you are interested in running for one of the elected positions (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary) on our School Council, please complete the school council parent self-nomination form below and return to the school no later than Monday, September 14th. If an election for any of the positions is necessary, elections will be held on Monday, September 22nd at the school.

September’s Character Trait: Respect Valuing self, others, and our world

This message is just a quick update on a few items of importance this month.

Our drop off and pick up procedures have been working very well. The parking lot is less cramped, the buses are able to manoeuvre around, cars seem to be able to move in and out easily, and most importantly, children are practicing safe procedures and not crossing parked cars in the driveway. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
We see many of our families walking to school or riding their bikes. Consider this instead of driving! It’s a wonderful chance to get the dog out, chat with your children, and notice things going on around the neighbourhood!
The hot lunch order information is coming home with this newsletter. Once your account is set up, this is a streamlined way of getting our hot lunch orders in and set up every few months. Please keep in mind that the deadline of September 28^th is a hard deadline, no late orders will be accepted
So that we can communicate effectively with your family, our monthly school newsletter and other school information will be sent to the home email address (first contact) that you provided on the emergency contact information form. If you don’t have an email address and require a paper copy, please contact the school office and talk with BettyAnne.
Our Open House for September 17 has been postponed. We will let you know as soon as another date is set.

Thanks for a wonderful start to our year! Your support makes all the difference!