Bateman Bobcat Banner
Monday, February 12, 2024
Upcoming Events:
- February: Black History Month continues at RBPS
- Tuesday, February 13: RBPS School Council (6:30 PM)
- Wednesday, February 14: Term 1 Report Cards / Kindergarten Communication of Learning sent to parents via email
- Thursday, February 15: Popcorn Day (In support of Grade 6 Legacy Project)
- Friday, February 16: PD Day (No school for students)
- Monday, February 19: Family Day (No school for students)
- Tuesday, February 20: RBPS Breakfast Program Begins
- Thursday, February 22: Final day of Term 1 Pizza
- Tuesday, February 27: Toonie Tuesday in support of the Education Foundation
- Wednesday, February 28: Pink Shirt Day
First Term Progress Reports
On Wednesday, February 14, you will receive an email inviting you to view your child(ren)’s First Term Progress Reports (or Communication of Learning for Kindergarten students). You will be able to contact your child(ren)’s teacher(s) to discuss their progress, and you are also invited to reach out to discuss your child(ren)’s progress at any time throughout the school year.
These reports will only be available through the online portal (hardcopies will not be sent home). As was the case for Progress Reports in November, you will need your child(ren)’s Ontario Education Number (OEN) to access the report cards; it can be found on previous report cards. If you do not have your child’s OEN, please contact the school office by email, [email protected] to receive this information.
Term 2 Pizza Orders
The final day for Term 1 pizza will be on Thursday, February 22. Term 2 Pizza orders will be coming soon. Please ensure that you are registered with SchoolCash Online so that you can securely place your order online. Details on ordering will be sent home soon.
RBPS School Council: Tuesday, February 13: 6:30 PM
All parents are invited to attend the RBPS School Council meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2023 at 6:30 pm in the school library. This meeting will use a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format; any parents who would like to attend virtually are invited to join using this GoogleMeet link. An agenda will be shared soon.
Grade 6 Legacy Project 2024: Popcorn Fundraiser
The Grade 6 Legacy Project is a tradition which goes back many years here at RBPS, where the students in Grade 6 select a gift to leave behind when they depart in June. As part of the fundraising for this legacy project, the Grade 6 Legacy Fundraising Committee will be selling 70g bags of Papa Jack’s Popcon during the 2nd nutrition break on Thursday, February 15th. The cost is $3 per bag Available flavours are: Butter; White Cheddar; Salt and Vinegar; Kaboom and Dill Pickle.
Families have the option of pre-ordering online through SchoolCash Online from Monday - Wednesday this week, or sending their child(ren) with cash on Thursday: the Grade 6 Legacy Committee thanks you for your support.
End of Findlay Creek Accommodation Measures
On Tuesday, January 30, the OCDSB Board of Trustees voted to end the Findlay Creek interim accommodation measures. This means that as of September 2024, all students who live in the Findlay Creek neighbourhood will attend either Vimy Ridge ES or the new Findlay Creek ES. All Findlay Creek families will soon receive an email with information on which school they will attend, based on their address.
The students from Findlay Creek have been a wonderful addition to the Robert Bateman community, and even though we knew their time at RBPS was temporary, we will miss our ‘Findlay Creekers’ when they leave. Until then, we look forward to the rest of the school year with our Findlay Creek students, and hope they are excited to attend a *new* school right in their neighbourhood.
Breakfast Program Returns to RBPS
The in-person breakfast program is returning to RBPS. This program provides a nutritious breakfast for students and will start on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024. Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. in the small gym. Typical menus may include fresh fruit, cereal, juice, toast, jam, cheese, pancakes, milk and other dairy products. Research has shown that children who eat a good breakfast are better equipped to learn and to focus.
This program is funded through donations of food and money by organizations in the Robert Bateman PS community and surrounding area. Students will not be charged for their breakfast; however, donations from families are accepted to help cover the costs associated with running this program.
If you would like your child to participate in the Breakfast Program, please complete this google form. If you have questions, please reply to this email, or call the school at 613-737-3169.
The Breakfast Program also needs volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please provide your name and contact information within the google form.
No Trading Cards (i.e. Pokemon Cards) at School, Please
We would like to remind parents to keep Pokemon and other trading cards at home. Unfortunately, we have found that having these cards at school can lead to conflict, particularly with students who are too young to understand trading. Thanks in advance for your cooperation in keeping these cards at home.
Clubs and Activities at Robert Bateman School
Bordenball season has ended, and we have moved into Junior Basketball season. In addition to ongoing tryouts for the boys and girls Grade 4 - 6 volleyball teams, run by our coaches Mme Boudreau and Mme Irus, we continue to have other extracurricular clubs and activities, such as:
- Junior Choir (run my Mme Selena);
- Grade 5/6 Book Huggers Club (run by Ms Liz);
- Grade 1 - 6 Lego Club (run by Ms Liz, Ms Flanders and Ms Menicucci);
- Junior Chess Club (run by Mr. Mike and Mr. Thomas);
- Crochet / Knitting Club (run by Ms Liz and Ms Horning):
- Grade 4 - 6 Open Gym (run by Mr Mike);
Thanks to all the staff members who take the time out of their busy days to run these clubs and activities, and contribute to the RBPS school community.
Toonie Tuesday - Monday, February 26 - Friday, March 1
For the week of February 26 - March 1, Robert Bateman will take part in our annual ‘Toonie Tuesday’ fundraiser, in support of the Education Foundation of Ottawa. Students will be invited to bring in Loonies, Toonies, or other amounts, and parents can donate online here.
The Education Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to supporting students in the OCDSB who are vulnerable to the effects of poverty. One in five children in our schools lives in poverty. The Education Foundation’s goals include reducing barriers to ensure that all students have the basic necessities they need in order to learn confidently. They do this by providing appropriate food, clothing, school supplies, healthcare supports and access to opportunities for students in our neighbourhood and our school. At Robert Bateman School, the Education Foundation provides financial support for our Breakfast Program, provides school supplies, snowsuits, and other items for students, and provides emergency support for RBPS families in need.
Welcome to Kindergarten Information Evening
Thank you to all the parents who attended the Welcome to Kindergarten information evening at RBPS at the end of January. For those parents who were not able to attend, the presentation is available online here. In addition, we invite all parents with children who will be starting Kindergarten in September 2024 to register their children for September.
Gratitude at RBPS
For the past month, students, staff and visitors have contributed to the RBPS Gratitude Bulletin Board. Taking time to think about and share the things we are grateful for is a practice that contributes to positive mental health for individuals, and builds a supportive community. Some of the individual contributions from students include:
- ●“I’m grateful for my family, friends, my cats,and school. I’m grateful for all the good things in my life. Some people do not have those things, so because I have a lot of things in life,I am grateful.”
- ●I’m grateful for my family & friends & everything I have and my school.”
- ●“I’m grateful for family, friends, food, a house, and my barber.”
RBPS Food Drive Concluded
Thank you to all the families who contributed to the RBPS
Food Drive. All the food and other items have been delivered to the Pavilion Food Bank. Thank you also to Ms Dana’s Grade 2/3 ‘Foxes’ class, and Mr. Thomas’ Grade 5/6 class for taking the lead in this initiative. The attached photo shows a life-sized bar graph that was created as the food was sorted in the gymnasium in preparation for delivery.
Welcome Stephanie Worth: RBPS Special Education Inclusion Teacher
We are pleased to welcome Ms Stephanie Worth as our ‘Special Education Inclusion Teacher’ at Robert Bateman PS. This new position is part of a pilot project, funded by the Ministry of Education. Through this project, Ms Worth will work alongside our existing Special Education team of Ms Leanne Shackleton and Ms Ranya Menicucci, supporting individual and small groups of students, with a focus on meeting their learning needs within the regular classroom.
Ms Worth is an experienced elementary teacher with extensive Special Education qualifications, and we are happy to have her on the RBPS team!
Staff Profile (In every Banner, we profile a different staff member…)
Staff Name: Stephanie Worth
Role: Special Education Inclusion Teacher
Time at Robert Bateman: 2 weeks
Background: I was born in Ottawa but grew up in 8 different cities in Ontario and Quebec. I returned to Ottawa to go to university and have stayed ever since. I have lived and worked across the city from the west end around Bayshore to the far edge of Orleans. Movement and change should be my motto!
Interesting Fact: I broke my arm 3 times as a child - playing soccer, ski racing and skating.