Knights News - August 25 - September 5

Knights News -August 25 - September 5

Dear Families,

We are excited to welcome you for the 2025/26 school year!

You can expect to receive an email from the school this Thursday/Friday letting you know our school organization and which class your child will be in. Please reach out on Friday if you have still not heard from us. As always, starting class placements are subject to change if actual enrolment numbers require school reorganization.

The main office will be open as of Monday, August 25th Email: bathp@limestone.on.ca or Phone: 613-352-7543

Medical Plans of Care

If your student requires a medical plan (i.e., Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, etc.) or is required to take medication at school, please follow the smore below and have all paperwork completed by your family doctor as soon as possible.

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/PC6b6O4i3hywfrpX?ref=Link

Drop-Off & Pick Up Information

Supervision at the school begins at 8:55 in the morning. Please do not drop off your student until that time. Drop off will continue to occur at the gate at the Southern end of the building. Pick up can occur at the main office.

Kindergarten A - Ms. McMurter(teacher) & Ms. Butler (ECE)

Kindergarten B - Ms. MacFarlane (teacher) & Ms. Schembri (ECE)

Grade 1 - Ms. Bauml

Grade 1/2 - Ms. Lockwood

Grade 2- Ms. McGrath

Grade 2/3 - Ms. Hay

Grade 3/4- Ms. Benest

Grade 4/5 - Ms. Dacosta

Grade 4/5 - Ms. Boutilier

Grade 5/6- Ms. Sparrow

Grade 6 - Mr. Nickel

Grade 7/8 - Ms. Morrisey

Grade 7/8 - Mr. Kyte

Primary French - Mme. Pengelly (returning November 1st)

Intermediate French - Mme. Manning (returning October 1st)

Planning - Ms. Kingston

Math Facilitator - Ms. Benest

Intensive Support Teacher: Ms. Little

Student Support Teacher: Mr. Collins

Educational Assistants: Ms. Cahoon, Ms. Knight, Ms. Valin

Yard and Classroom Support: Ms. Reid

Head Custodian: Mr. Lattimore (Mr. Jeff)

Evening Custodian: Mr. Struthers (Mr. Steve)

Office Administrator: Ms. MacDonald

Principal: Ms. Paquin

Vice-Principal: Mr. Collins

On the first day of school, teachers will be outside to greet and assist students in getting to their and line-up spots. As always, starting class placements are subject to change if actual enrolment numbers should require school reorganization.

Breakfast Program

We are excited that the breakfast program will return this year thanks to generous funding from President's Choice Children's Charity as well as the Bath Lions and other local community grants. We are always looking for volunteers to help make, serve breakfast and clean up from breakfast, and this year we are hoping to have volunteers help make muffins for Friday breakfasts. Please email Ms. Valin - boucherca@limestone.on.ca if you would like to help out.

We are always looking for new ideas for healthy breakfasts for a crowd as well, so please feel free to share ideas!

We are hoping that breakfast will start on the second week of school but we will let everyone know for sure in the weekly newsletters.

The Hot Lunch & Milk programs will be starting in October. We will be using the LunchBox online order form for weekly hot lunch and daily milk orders. Although you are welcome to create an account and explore the www.lunchboxorders.net site now, please remember that class placements may change in the month of September so please do not order yet, until we are certain of our final organization.

We cannot wait to start another great year!

Sincerely,

Jean Paquin, Principal & Kevin Collins, Vice-Principal

paquinj@limestone.on.ca ; collinsk@limestone.on.ca

Hot Lunch Orders

Hot lunch days are back! We are happy to be able to provide the opportunity to order a hot lunch again this year through LunchBox. We will continue with the pizza restaurant, and possibly adjust our options later this term. If you missed out on our first Pizza Day order, you can still set up an account with LunchBox, and order for the hot lunch days to come.

The LunchBox website is very user friendly and it should only take a couple of minutes to set up an account online. If you already have an account, please re-assign your child to the appropriate teacher for this school year. Hot lunch orders will continue to support student activities with a small portion of each sale coming back to our school.

Peak at the Week

This week...

Monday, August 25th - Friday, August 29th

• Main Office Open. Phone or email between 9:00-3:00 pm.

Monday, September 1nd -Labour Day

Tuesday, September 2nd

• PA Day (no school for students)

Wednesday, September 3rd (Day 1)

• First Day of 2025-26 School Year
• Classes begin for all students - Grade K-8

Thursday, September 4th (Day 2)

Friday, September 5th (Day 3)

• Spirit Friday! Wear Blue and Yellow or Bath PS swag to show off your school spirit!

Coming Up....

• Sept 11-13 - Rosh Hashanah
• Sept 20-21 - Yom Kipper
• Sept 22 - School Council Meeting
• Sep 24 - Grade 7 Immunizations
• Sept 25 - Open House
• Sept 26 - Colour House Assembly
• Sept 30 Orange Shirt Day, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
• Oct 7 - Fall and Class Group Photo Date 
• Oct 10 P.A. Day ( No School for students)
• Oct 13 Thanksgiving Holiday

Looking Ahead: Terry Fox Run, Walk, and Roll September 2025

Our Terry Fox Run, Walk, and Roll will take place on Friday, September 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We are very excited to take part in this annual tradition that supports cancer research while building school spirit. Families who plan to join us should let their classroom teachers know in advance.

Families can support our school's fundraising efforts by making a donation online - thank you for your support!

2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar

A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.

School Day Schedule

Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School

Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.

Information Sharing

Each Sunday, Bath P.S. will send home a link to this weekly newsletter (Knights News) including information about the week ahead along with other information about upcoming events, our School Council, volunteer opportunities and more. However, LDSB also has a range of other communication tools to help you stay informed.

To help users become more familiar with these new tools, please refer to these user guides:

• Set up a SchoolMessenger App account: set up your account, review your contact information and communication preferences, join teacher-instant messaging groups, and view all your alerts and messages in one place. -Video Tutorial
• Report a student absence: set up your account, report and explain student absences in advance. - Video tutorial
• Use the Communicate broadcast tool: choose how you will receive alerts including how to opt-in for text messaging. - Video tutorial
• Use the Board mobile app: how to choose your schools, see your messages and report and review student absences. - Video tutorial

Cell Phones in Schools

We encourage students and families to use the office phones whenever possible, if they need to contact each other throughout the school day. However, we understand that there are certain circumstances in which a cell phone may be deemed necessary.

When can students use a mobile device: If a student is in Grade 6 and below, they can bring a mobile device to school but will only be able to use it before and after school.

If a student is in Grades 7-12, they must keep their personal mobile devices stored out of sight and either powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when an educator grants explicit permission for use under the specified circumstances.

What parents/caregivers can do: You can teach your student about finding a healthy balance in using technology by limiting screen time at home. You can also:

• Read Media Smarts’ tips for managing your kids’ screen time
• Explore Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH’s) services and resources if you have concerns about your child’s use of technology
• Explore School Mental Health Ontario resources to help you manage your child’s screen time

Fresh from the Farm Fundraiser

We are doing a healthy fundraiser with Ontario produce! It will open on School Day soon and will close Oct. 5 - please consider ordering. It is a win, win with food for food- fresh food for your house and our school will use the money that is raised for our snack bin & food program at school

*This is a one-time ordering opportunity!

Thank you for your consideration!

Student Accident Insurance

The Limestone District School Board requires that students have student accident insurance in order to participate in extra-curricular activities. Before students will be allowed to participate in these events, parents/guardians must confirm their own coverage for items not covered under the Provincial Health Plan, or purchase an insurance plan.

Each year a Student Accident Insurance Plan is made available to all students on a voluntary basis. The plan provides protection for dental damage due to accidents, fracture benefits and other important coverage, which are not covered under the Provincial Health Plan. Some parents may have dental plan coverage through their workplace but many of these plans are limited in one way or another, while this accident coverage is not. You should compare plans to make sure you have the coverage you need or desire.

In making this plan available, the Board wishes to make its position clear in the matter of insurance. Under the Education Act, the Board is not permitted to provide insurance coverage for accidents to pupils, therefore, the Board recommends consideration of this plan to any parent who wishes to obtain this kind of insurance. Although the policy has all the advantages of a group plan, it is essentially a direct contract between the parent and the insurance company.

A family plan is also available for three or more students which permits the enrolment of students in the family who are attending schools outside the jurisdiction of this Board as long as at least one child in the family is attending a school within the Limestone District School Board.

If you wish to subscribe to this insurance, you may do so by completing the form handed out to students the first week of school and mailing it directly to Reliable Life Insurance Company in the stamped envelope provided. Or, for your convenience, you may purchase directly online at www.insuremykids.com.

School Trips and Volunteers

Throughout the year, we may ask for parent/guardian volunteers on school trips or for various classroom and school activities. The wait time for obtaining a CPIC (background check with vulnerable sector screening) can be lengthy. As such, if you think you would be willing to assist with a trip or school event in the future, please consider obtaining a CPIC with vulnerable sector screening completed, beforehand.

Link to OPP Criminal Background Checks

Bath School Advisory Council Needs YOU!

It's that time of year! School Advisory Council (Parent Council) elections for Executive Positions are coming up very soon! The first Parent Council Meeting of the 2025-2026 school year is on Monday, September 22nd at 6:30 pm and elections will take place at the same time. The elections and meeting will take place in our resource area (library).

Please use the link below to submit nominations. Nominations are anonymous and you can nominate yourself or someone else for a position. If you are nominating someone, please ensure they are up for the position and have agreed to your nomination. The person you nominate must be available to be present at the meeting. Your nomination does not count as a vote; you must be present to vote. Nominations are due by 12:00 noon on Monday, September 22nd.

Nominations Link

Positions for election are:

Chair

Represents, works with and provides support to all school community and council committee chairs. This person works closely with the school principal and VP, school staff and parents to enrich the education of all students. Additionally, they preside over and conduct monthly council meetings, set agendas and schedule meetings (in consultation with the VP/Principal). The chair promotes discussion amongst council members and the community, receives and reports on correspondence sent and received by council. Acts as coordinator between the school board and council. Receives documentation from board and keeps council advised of board decisions, activities etc. Supports programs, initiatives and activities led by other council members and contributes to the monthly council newsletter.

Vice Chair/Co-chair

Presides at meetings in the absence of the chair or upon the incumbent’s inability to serve. Responsible for overseeing all sponsored events and programs.

Treasurer

Works with the council and coordinators in developing an operating budget, keeps a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures and serves as the liaison with the Board of Education. Additional responsibilities include depositing/disbursing funds on behalf of the council, the preparation of monthly financial statements, and the preparation & filing of all necessary financial reports.

Secretary

Attends scheduled council meetings, records, maintains and distributes minutes of meetings, keeps non-financial records of council.

Indigenous Representative

This is a newer position with the SAC and will evolve and grow organically.

Member at Large (Divisional reps)

Attends meetings and participates in many aspects of council activities, as prescribed by council. Voting member. Kindergarten, Primary, Junior positions available.

Fundraising Coordinator

Plans, manages fundraising activities of council. Works closely with the treasurer.

Everyone who is part of our Bath PS family is welcome to attend any of our meetings this year. Meeting dates will be shared out after our Sept. 22nd meeting.

We look forward to hearing your voice!

Indigenous Self-Identification

The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) invites students to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify as Indigenous. Elementary and secondary students with First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit ancestry can self-identify.

School board self-identification is based on any degree of Indigenous ancestry (Status, Non-Status, Métis citizenship, etc.). Self-identification can be withdrawn at any time. LDSB, in accordance with the Ministry of Education, Ontario, does not require proof of identity to self-identify.

https://www.limestone.on.ca/indigenous-self-identification

Triboard Busing Information

2025-2026 Busing Details Available in the Portal

Bus routes were finalized on August 20, 2025 and student details are available in the Student Portal.

The deadline for applications to be processed for the first day of school was August 10, 2025. Applications received after this date are currently being processed with a start date of mid-September so that bus drivers, school staff, and families can get to know their routes. Families will need to make alternative travel arrangements for students to get to school until the “start date” indicated in the Student Portal. Requests to switch buses or stop locations will not be reviewed until late September or early October.

If you require assistance, please visit triboard.ca/contact to contact us.

You can log-in or create an account here.

Opportunities for Students and Families

Mabel's Labels

Want to keep track of your child's idems and generate funds for our school? Click on the link below to order Mabel's Lables. Simply order their personalized labels online and our school receives 20% back on every purchase! Orders are shipped out directly to parents FREE.

https://mabelslabels.ca/en_CA/fundraising/support/