Welcome back BPS Families! This will be the first of a few posts about Back to School – so please continue to check your emails!
We are very excited to welcome our new and returning students and families to school next week and to begin what promises to be an exciting school year. Staff have been hard at work getting ready for a strong start to the year. Please read our communications carefully and reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe here at school!
If you are new to BPS, on Tuesday you will receive information regarding class placement. For returning students, please see the staff directory below for teacher names associated with the class you were given on your June report card. Please note that we are not making any changes to class placements at this time. We anticipate needing to make a few changes the end of September and will look at things at that time. Our staff worked very hard to place all of our students in classes and groupings that will best support them with thier learning. We have an AMAZING team of staff.
First Day of School
It is always exciting to meet and greet each other at the beginning of a new school year! For all Year 2 Kindergarten (SK) to grade eight students, the first day of school is WEDNESDAY, September 7th. Once again this year, students will be meeting their teachers outside at 8:40 a.m. in designated areas. Please look for your child(ren)’s class sign on the walls in bright green and white. Grades 1-8 will meet on the back tarmac. On the first day, parents/guardians may walk their child to the designated grade line, but we ask you to kindly maintain physical distance and leave immediately after dropping off and confirming dismissal routines. Parents/Guardians are not able to come into the school with the children.
Year 2 Kindergarten (SK) will meet at the kindergarten enclosures at 8:40 a.m. on WEDNESDAY, September 7th. Year 1 Kindergarten students (JK) will meet at the enclosure at 1:30p.m. on September 7th. Please note that there is no bus service for Year 1 Kindergarten (JK) students on September 7th.The first full day for all Year 1 Kindergarten (JK) students is September 8th.
Students will continue to have designated entry and exit doors again this year. Staff will share this information with the students on the first day of school. We will also send a communication to families with the locations later today.
Daily Screening
As you are aware, our school has many new health and safety measures in place to help keep students and staff safe from the spread of COVID-19. But everyone, including families, plays a critical role in supporting health and safety in our school community. Families are required to use the screening tool daily AND to stay home if you are sick.
Lunches
This year, we will continue to ask that students remain at school for lunch. Please send all necessary food with students in the morning as lunch drop offs from family members or outside carriers is very disruptive to daily operations. Only those students who are signed out by a parent or guardian will be permitted to leave at lunch and only students in Grades 7 & 8 will be permitted to sign out to go home on their own once the lunch time forms are submitted online. We will have pizza and subs and other lunch options available for October.
Guide to the School Year
The York Region District School Board has released its Guide to the School Year 2022-2023. This detailed guide provides important information about the York Region District School Board and its schools. It includes information about who to contact if you have a question or concern, and covers a range of information such as busing, homework and parental engagement, items dealing with health and safety, as well as many board policies and procedures. A hard copy of this guide will also be sent home with your child on the first day of school. There will be a form you need to complete based on this guide in the coming week.
School Year Calendar
The 2022-2023 Learning Calendar outlines the school year by identifying all regular school days, school holidays, professional activity and training days, and early release days. We hope this will help you as you schedule events in the weeks and months to come.
Medical Information
Each year, there are forms that must be completed annually for children with an anaphylactic and/or other medical condition. Please download any required medical forms and email the completed forms to bakersfield.ps@yrdsb.ca. If you have any questions regarding the forms, please contact the office at 905-731-8227.
- Anaphylaxis Health Care Plan
- Asthma Health Care Plan
- Diabetes Health Care Plan
- Epilepsy Seizure Disorder Health Care Plan
- Staff Administration of Medication
- Self-Administration of Medication
For students who are anaphylactic, please send your child to school with 2 epi-pens. One will be kept in the office and the other will remain with your child throughout the school day.
School Bus Transportation
If your child takes the school bus to and/or from school, please confirm their bus route and pick up / drop off times and locations at www.schoolbuscity.com as there are likely changes from last year. We assume all eligible students will be on the bus unless you communicate otherwise.
School and Home Communication
This year we will continue to use the blog, www.bakersfieldps.com and Edsby as our main form of communication. Families who are new to our school who have not yet created an account will receive an email inviting them to sign up with Edsby in the near future if you have not already. Please be sure to accept this invitation. We also recommend that all families set notifications in Edsby and register your email with our blog in order to be alerted to new posts. If you need assistance, please contact the school office. Teachers will be communicating through Google Classroom with regards to class assignments and news.
***Please use Edsby to report lates and any absences including holidays and appointments. You may also call the school to report if the online tool is not working.
We are really looking forward to seeing you next week! Enjoy the long weekend!
STAFF DIRECTORY
TIMETABLE
8:40-8:50 – Morning Entry (students enter through designated doors and go right to class)
8:55 – Instruction Begins
8:55-10:55 – Literacy Block (grades 1-6) / Rotary Block (grades 7-8)
10:55 – 11:15 – Recess
11:15-12:35 – Instructional Block
12:35 – 1:35 – Lunch
1:35-12:35 – Literacy Block (grades 7-8) / Instructional Block (grades 1-6)