Bateman Bobcat Banner
Monday, September 25, 2023
Upcoming Events:
- Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur (Gmar tov to families observing this day of reflection)
- Friday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- October: Islamic Heritage Month
- Tuesday, October 4: Terry Fox Run
- Friday,October 6: PA Day (No School for Students)
- Monday,October 9: Thanksgiving Monday(No School for Students)
- Tuesday,October 10: RBPS School Council Meeting: 6:30 PM
- Friday, October 13: Photo Day
Meet the Staff at RBPS: Thursday, September 28, 2023
On Thursday, September 28, families are invited to our annual ‘Meet the Staff’ event. We will follow the same format as last year’s event:
- ●5:00 - 5:45: Parents and students are invited to visit their child(ren)s classroom, to meet their teachers / EAs / ECEs, and see their learning space;
- ●5:30 - 6:30: Families are invited to the back field for a school picnic with staff. There will be pizza by the slice available for purchase as well as water. In addition, the RBPS School Council will have a dessert table with tasty treats available for purchase (cash only – loonies and toonies preferred). All proceeds from the pizza, drinks, and dessert table will go to support RBPS students. Parents are also welcome to bring their own food and snacks. Please also bring lawn chairs or a blanket.
In order to ensure that we have enough pizza, parents are welcome to pre-order using SchoolCash Online. (SchoolCash Online is how we process all online payments for school-related purchases - see information on how to sign up for SchoolCash Online below). For those who do not pre-order, we will also sell pizza by the slice, but cannot guarantee how long those supplies will last. Deadline to pre-order pizza is Tuesday, September 26th at 1:00 PM.
The purpose of this event is to connect with your child’s educators in order to build the foundation for a positive home-school partnership for the year ahead. Staff will not be able to speak about the progress of individual students at this event. Please also note that students must be accompanied by a parent / guardian to attend this event.
We hope to see many families this Thursday!
Schoolcash Online
SchoolCash Online is the OCDSB’s secure online payment system, it is available to pay for many items throughout the school year. Simply register through this link - SchoolCash Online.com. Once you are registered, you will automatically receive an email notification whenever items are available for payment or purchase.
When you register, please note that the system uses your child’s LEGAL NAME. Should you encounter any difficulties, you can call the Parent Help Desk at 1-866-961-1803.
Terry Fox Run at RBPS: Tuesday, October 3 (Rain Date: October 4)
The students in Ms Flanders’ grade 4/5 class have been working hard to plan a fun and financially successful Terry Fox Run. This is an annual event that takes place all over Canada in an effort to raise money for cancer research and to honour Terry Fox, his Marathon of Hope and his vision of eradicating cancer. Students are hopeful that we can DOUBLE last year’s contributions, so our goal is $450.
On Tuesday, October 3rd, (Wednesday, October 4 if it rains), primary students will walk or run around the field, and junior students will do laps around the school. After each lap, they will receive a washable stamp on their hand and/or arm. (Paper will be provided for anyone not wanting a stamp on their arm.)
What can you do?
*Send your child to school with clothing appropriate for the weather and physical activity, as well as a water bottle.
*Donate by sending any change you can spare to school with your child, (a toonie for Terry has been suggested), or by going directly to this website: https://schools.terryfox.ca/RobertBatemanPSOttawa.
The grade 4/5 class thanks you for your support!
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities are well underway at Robert Bateman PS. Currently, our Junior Cross Country Team is practicing daily under the guidance of coaches Mme Boudreau, Mme Irus, and Mrs. Horning in preparation for the Cross Country Meet on Thursday, October 4. In addition, tryouts are underway for the Junior Boys and Girls Soccer Teams. Parents of students who are selected for these teams will receive additional information in the week ahead.
Lunch Monitors / Breakfast Monitors Needed
We are seeking parents / guardians who are interested in working as playground / lunch supervisors, and as Breakfast Club monitors, All of these positions require a vulnerable sector police check, in addition to other OCDSB employment requirements. If you are interested in learning more about either of these positions, please send an email to our Office Administrator, Ms Stephanie Steward, at [email protected]
Kindergarten - Grade 6 Media Permission Forms
We would like to tell the community about the many positive things taking place in our school. We also want to strike the right balance between getting our message out and respecting the wishes of parents/guardians who do not want their children photographed or videotaped or their child’s name, work or photo displayed on the District’s or school’s websites. Therefore, could you please complete this form to let us know your preferences related to sharing information.
School Council
Thank you to all the parents who attended last week’s School Council Meeting. Moving forward, meetings will be the 2nd Tuesday of each month, with the next meeting on Tuesday, October 10 at 6:30 PM.
Also, Pizza Days will be coming soon! You can expect an email in the next week. Until then, be sure to sign up for SchoolCash Online (see above) so you will be able to order pizza.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30
As a school community, we engage in learning activities to raise awareness and understanding of the lasting impact of Canada’s residential school system on Indigenous communities across Canada. This is a vital part of our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action.
Please note, this is not a statutory holiday in Ontario and schools will be open on Friday, September 29, with learning activities taking place. However, some Indigenous families may decide to keep their children home on that day to engage in activities with family and community.
Indigenous self identification is a confidential process and should not be a requirement for students to be away from school on this important day. As this is a day of mourning for Indigenous communities, there is no expectation that students who are away from school on thisday participate in any school-related activities.
This meaningful day signals a year-long, ongoing commitment to learning that centers the
truth of the harmful effects of colonialism, including the residential schools system that caused
the loss of Indigenous lives, languages and traditions for generations.
Throughout this month, and this week especially, each class has engaged (and will engage) in activities and learning opportunities to give an age-appropriate understanding of reconciliation.
We encourage you to review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and Spirit Bear’s Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to
Action.
Visit the OCDSB National Truth and Reconciliation Day webpage to learn more about:
- How the OCDSB is marking this day;
- Actions parents and students can take;
- Community and mental health resources for Indigenous students and families.
Outside Games / Toys / Cards at School
We are fortunate to have a variety of sports equipment, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, and other items available for students to play with at recess. Bringing sports equipment and toys from home (soccer balls, basketballs, etc) is not recommended, because of the potential for items to get lost or damaged.
We do ask that students not bring Pokemon cards to school: we have found over the past few years that these cards are a source of conflict at recess, and distraction in class. Thanks in advance for your cooperation in keeping Pokemon cards at home.
Staff Profiles (In every Banner, we profile a different staff member…) .jpg "KH")
Staff Name: Khadijah Holloway
Role: Grade 4/5 Homeroom
Time at Robert Bateman: One month
Interesting Fact: I like taking nature walks.