Important information for families about school start up is available on the KPRDSB website at http://kprdsb.ca/en/COVID-19.html

Families with elementary and secondary students may choose not to attend in-person school at this time. Students who opt-out of in-class learning will continue to receive instruction through established distance learning models, with an emphasis on real-time learning.

Visit the website link above to register for online distance learning.  The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 19.

We value & respect the choices of each family.

The August newsletter, posted below, gives an update on our preparations for school re-opening.  We are looking forward to seeing the students again!

Parents and Guardians of students in Grades 1-8 will receive a school email today (Sept. 3) with the name and room number of each child's teacher.  Kindergarten students will receive communication directly from their educator teams.

On Monday, September 14 we begin a staggered start to the school year for Grades 1-8.  Only half of the school will attend each day from Monday to Thursday, as outlined below. 

Staggered start schedule for Grades 1-8 (Not Including JK or SK)

Monday, September 14 - Students with last names starting with A - L*

Tuesday, September 15 - Students with last names starting with M - Z                      

Wednesday, September 16 - Last names A - L

Thursday, September 17 - Last names M - Z            

Friday, September 18 - All students attend school

*If you have children with different last names, use the last name of the oldest child and send your family on that day.

Following the guidance of Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Education, students in Grades 4-8 will be required to wear masks while indoors at school. Masks are encouraged for students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The attached poster has some tips for encouraging younger children to wear masks, along with some links to videos about wearing masks.

We are pleased to share that the NHPS School Council are supporting a timely Virtual Fundraiser with Mabel's Labels!

In an effort to prevent the spread of germs at school, families have been asked to label everything that is going into the classroom. As an added bonus SchoolCouncil will earn 20% from all purchases made through this fundraising campaign.

How to order:
1. Clink on the link: https://mabelslabels.ca/en_CA/fundraising/support/
2. Select “Support a Fundraiser” from the drop down menu
3. Type “Northumberland Hills Public School” and you’re all set!

Remember shipping is free!!!
*This campaign has no end date, shop away all year long And please share, share, share far and wide, anyone can order, they don't have to be an NHPS family.

As always, we thank you for your continued support in our fundraiser and in labeling your child's belongings.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB publishes a yearly Community Report Card.  NHPS is featured on Page 2.  

All interested parents and guardians are welcome to join online for the first NHPS School Council meeting of the 2020-21 school year. The meeting is on Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30pm. We are meeting in a secure, virtual meeting room using the following link: https://kprdsb.webex.com/meet/lkostuch

During the meeting, School Council will set meeting dates for the school year and conduct elections for School Council Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Regional Representative and up to 6 Members-at-Large. If you have any questions, please contact Brandy Purdy, School Council Chair from 2019-20, or contact the School Office.

NHPS families:  The COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care was updated yesterday.  A copy is attached.  Please visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening to complete the screening online. Be sure to self-screen every day.

If your child is experiencing possible COVID symptoms, you must take the steps that are identified, based on the symptoms experienced.

Here's the latest news from NHPS.

Parents, please check out the STSCO website for information on Deadlines for  submitting Joint Custody, and Daycare Busing Applications.  These must be submitted annually by May 31st.

STSCO has also created a New Riders webpage, which can be found here: http://www.stsco.ca/newriders.asp

The New Riders webpage outlines the basics of student transportation.

There is a detailed walk through and tutorial video included for each step in the Parent Login process, such as accessing and submitting Daycare Busing transportation request forms.

This is a general update to families and staff of NHPS from our local Public Health Unit

Find out about the latest news @TheHillsPS. 

- Happy New Year
- Online Learning
- Attendance and Learning Expectations
- Important Dates

What you will find:
- Technology Updates
- Community Supports
- Kindergarten Registration (Pass along the details)
- School Council Meeting: Tonight (Monday) at 6:30pm

Information on the reopning of schools - MONDAY, JANUARY 25th

Included:
- PD Day Monday - NO SCHOOL
- Safety Protocols UPDATE

Included:

- Black History Month

- Valentine's Day Protocols

Included:

Fundraining initiatives
- FlipGive
- One Time Donations

Snow Days

Included:

- Scholastic Book Fair - LINKS & DATES
- March Spirit Days
- Fundraising

Included:
- Spirit Days
- Student Council Initiatives
- Fundraising Efforts
- Every Day Superhero Reflections

Unique opportunity for parents of children 6 to 14. 

Included:
- Spring Updates
- Kindergarten Registration - Reminder
- King's Plate Catering Fundraiser
- Cramahe Public Library News

Voluntary Asymptomatic Testing Clinic at East Northumberland Secondary School

The school board continues to support the Targeted Testing in Schools Program under the direction of Ministry of Education representatives, along with local Medical Offices of Health.  Testing clinics are being offered on a rotating basis throughout the board and are run by LifeLabs, Canada’s largest medical laboratory, to provide free COVID-19 testing for all students and their family members, teachers, and staff.  COVID-19 testing is voluntary and only for asymptomatic individuals (those who are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms).

A voluntary COVID-19 testing clinic will be available for students, staff and their family members in your area on Saturday, April 10, 2021. 

If you are interested in participating, testing will be available:

• Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021
• Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: East Northumberland Secondary School, Gym A/B, 71 Dundas St, Brighton, ON
• Please enter through the Terry Fox Entrance off of Terry Fox Dr.  LifeLabs’ staff and signage will be onsite to help direct you.

There is no pre-registration for this clinic, participants will be registered upon arrival.  An Ontario Health Card is required to participate in the testing.  

Shorter swab = less discomfort!
The test process is very simple and safe and the collection site will be staffed by professionals who will be following a multitude of safety parameters.  The test is less invasive than previous options and uses a shorter nasal swab (like a Q-tip) that doesn’t reach as far back in the nose.  After the sample is collected, the test results will then be available within 24-48 hours at https://covid19results.ehealthontario.ca:4443/agree.

In accordance with Public Health guidelines, all attendees are screened and required to answer three questions upon arrival at our clinics: 

1. Are you presently in self-isolation / quarantine due to travel history or have you been told to self-isolate by public health?
2. Do you have any new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19?  These include: fever or chills, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue or tiredness, body aches, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, loss of appetite, headache, nausea or vomiting.
3. Have you had or been recommended to have a COVID-19 test by a medical health professional or public health within the last 14 days?

Anyone who answers YES to any of these questions will be turned away and directed to a COVID-19 assessment centre for testing.

If a student or staff member is part of a class (or cohort) that has been dismissed from school, and has been told to self-isolate due to potential exposure to a COVID positive person in their class, they will not be allowed to come into the clinic for testing.  They should utilize the public system and obtain testing at an alternate location, like a hospital-run assessment centre, that has been established to handle symptomatic individuals and those with known exposure to COVID positive individuals. 

For more information about LifeLabs EDU Targeted Testing programs check out www.lifelabs.com/covid-19-updates/covid19-pcr-testing-for-schools/.  

Thank you for considering this opportunity,

Included:
- Online Learning Links
- Technology Support
- Social Networking and Online Safety Virtual Workshop for PARENTS
- King's Plate Menu

Online Learning @ Northumberland Hills
Important Message to Families from teachers

#WeAreInThisTogether

Included:

- Parent Voice Survey
- COVID-19 Child Benefit link
- Online Learning at NHPS
- Additional Supports

Newsletter: Thursday, May 26th
Included:
- Grade 8 Graduation
- Welcome to Kindergarten
- YMCA Before and after school care
- Online Learning updates

Please find attached the most recent newsletter for the community!