Mary Hopkins News – April 5

Upcoming Dates

April 8 – Day of Pink – Wear Pink – details below

April 12 – 16 – Spring Break – School Closed

April 21 – HWDSB Information Night – details below (Growth and Development and Sexual Health Strand)

Safety Around Intersections – We remind families to slow down when driving around the streets and intersections near our school. At our last School Council meeting, safety concerns were expressed specifically around the Elgin and Mill St. intersection. This intersection is in front of the Kindergarten pen and busy in the morning with pedestrian, bus, and road traffic. We ask that you take extra time and care when passing through this intersection in your vehicle. For those walking, please be cognizant that crowding around the Kindergarten pen, can back up the sidewalks around this area too. Together we can support the safety of our school community.

Day of Pink – The International Day of Pink will be officially recognized during our Spring Break.  However due to the importance of this day, on Thursday, April 8 staff and students across HWDSB are encouraged to wear pink in support of the upcoming date.

International Day of Pink is an annual event to raise awareness and commit to ending the spread of bullying, hatred, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, and Transmisogyny within our schools and our communities. The day began in Nova Scotia when two high school students saw a classmate being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. The two students intervened but wanted to do more. A few days later they were able to get their many in their school to wear pink. That school sent a message that together they could stand in solidarity and celebrate diversity.  Visit the link for more information.  https://www.dayofpink.org/en/home

Growth and Development – HWDSB is informing elementary parents/guardians that learning on Strand D: Growth and Development and Sexual Health will occur between May 3 and June 20, 2021. Here is what families can expect as we approach these dates:

• A board-wide Parent Information Night via Teams Live (in lieu of school sessions) will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Details about this session will be communicated soon.
• An exemption form will need to completed if parents/guardians want their child(ren) exempted from this learning. The form is now available and can be accessed through Parent Portal. It can be found in the ‘Forms’ section under ‘Other’ and is titled “Human Development and Sexual Health Exemption”. Paper copies and/or phone calls to schools will also be accepted if Parent Portal is not an option.
• Teachers will send individual letters regarding classroom activities and learning to parents/guardians in May.

For additional information ahead of these events, parents/guardians can view HWDSB’s Health and Physical Education Parent Guide and the Ministry of Education curriculum document below. We have also included the Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations for Grades 1-8 to give families a better understanding of the material that will be taught at each level.

Parent Guide: HWDSB Parent Guide: Health and Physical Education

Ministry of Education Curriculum Document: The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Health and Physical Education, 2019 – revised