Dear Families,
On November 11th, Newburgh Public School welcomes families to our Remembrance Day Ceremony at 11 am in the gym. A huge thank you to Mme. Moore for organizing this assembly for our staff, students, and community.
Progress reports and Kindergarten Observations of Learning reports will be sent home on Thursday November 13th with students. This snapshot report focuses on student progress, not achievement. If you wish to discuss your child's progress, please contact classroom teachers to set up a meeting or telephone call. A reminder to families that Friday, November 14 is a Professional Activity (PA) Day for all Limestone students. There will be no classes for students on this day.
With the cooler weather approaching, please ensure your children have warmer clothing for outdoor play. Classes sometimes have a Physical Education class outside or spend time learning outdoors, so coming prepared with extra clothes/socks/mitts will help your children be comfortable throughout the day. On rainy days, students will be outside, unless it is raining hard or there is lightning and thunder. Even with the colder weather, students will be outside for short periods each day unless the temperature is below -25 degrees C. Students should come prepared for outside time each day. As the weather gets chilly, it will be important for students to have hats/mitts, warm footwear, and warm coats. Please let the school know if you require assistance with winter clothing.
This cooler weather brings with it inclement weather days. Our transportation partner, Tri-Board Student Transportation Services (Tri-Board), works closely with their school bus companies to determine if it is safe to offer school transportation on inclement weather days. School buses function differently from other vehicles, and sometimes, although it is safe for the average family vehicle to travel, it is not safe for a school bus to be on the road. Due to the geographic size of our district, weather conditions can vary significantly from one region to another. As a result, there are times when transportation cancellations may only apply to specific areas experiencing adverse conditions, while other regions remain unaffected. Having to cancel school transportation is understandably disruptive to families, but Tri-Board always puts the safety of their 30,000-plus bus riders first and foremost in their decision-making. Learn more about how to help make the winter season and bus cancellation days easier for families to manage on our website.
This November, we will be focusing on the following throughout the month:
- National Indigenous Education Month
- Holocaust Education Week
- Veterans Week/Remembrance Day
- Transgender Day of Remembrance
- Bully Awareness and Prevention week/Pink Shirt day
- Student Census Week
Next week, Limestone will recognize Friday, November 21, as a district-wide Pink Shirt Day. Please consider wearing a Pink Shirt to school to support kindness. Throughout the week, pink hearts will be distributed to classrooms and made available at the front office for students and families to write acts of kindness, which will be displayed on our walls. Let's see how 'pink' we can get the halls of Newburgh next week as a promise to stand up to bullying and choose kindness instead.
Finally, we are seeing an increase of personal toys, such as stuffed animals, mini cars, and Pokémon cards coming into the school and causing disruption to our learning. While we understand how comforting or exciting these items can be, they are easily lost or misplaced or damaged during the busy school day. We want to avoid upset students, missing belongings and disruption to our learning; we ask that these items stay at home.
Yours in Education,
Jennifer Osborne, Principal, and Tanyelle VanderSchoor, Vice-Principal
Upcoming Guest Presenters at Newburgh
On November 11, guest presenter Lieutenant Colonel Rory Moore will share his knowledge about the importance of Remembrance Day before our Remembrance Day Ceremony. On November 12, there will be a school-wide School Bus Safety Presentation in the gym to teach about bus safety. On November 19th, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' guest presenters will be visiting junior classrooms with an interactive presentation about invasive species. On November 28, our student will be immersed in an interactive concert featuring Taiko-Japanese Drummers, showcasing a high energy style of drumming that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Finally, the Napanee High School (NDSS) band will visit our school on December 3.
Yard Supervisor Needed
In the coming months, Newburgh School will be looking for a Yard Supervisor to supervise our students while eating lunch and while playing on the yard daily between 11:45 and 12:45. If you are interested in this paid position, please contact the school.
Important Reminders
When dropping your child(ren) off in the morning, we kindly ask you to drop your child(ren) at the gate with Ms. VanderSchoor and not in the yard area or the front of the school where the buses are unloading. This will ensure a speedy drop-off and allow supervising staff to supervise students in the yard. If you have a message for the teaching staff, please use your child's agenda or contact the school directly. Thank you for your help with this.
Important Dates
November 10-14 - Veterans' Week
Tuesday, November 11 - Remembrance Day Ceremony 11:00 - All families are welcome.
Wednesday, November 12 - School Bus Safety Presentation
Thursday, November 13 - Progress Reports and Kindergarten Communication of Learning - Initial Observation sent home to families. SAC School Fundraiser Wreath and Planter Order Pick Up Day
Friday, November 14 - PA Day (no school for students)
Monday, November 17 - Kindergarten and Grade 2/3 Trip
November 17-21 - Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
November 21 - Pink Shirt Day - Consider wearing a pink shirt to support kindness
Wednesday, November 19 - Grade 2-8 Trip to Frontenacs Game Picture Re-Take Day Cancelled - Rescheduled to November 27 and SAC 6:15 @ NPS and Invasive Species Presentation
November 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
Friday, November 21 - LDSB Pink Shirt Day to Recognize Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week
Monday, November 24 - 28 Student Census Survey Grade 4-12
Thursday, November 27 - Grade 7/8 Immunizations and Picture Re-take Day
Friday November 28 - Interactive Concert: Taiko-Japanese Drumming
Wednesday, December 3 - NDSS Band @ Newburgh
Tuesday, December 9 - Holiday Community Event (More Information to Come)
Monday, December 22 - Winter Holidays Begin
Newburgh Hot Lunch Days
Newburgh School will be offering pizza lunches and now hamburger lunches! Monies raised will go back to the school to support students. If you would like your child to participate in pizza or hamburger days, each can be ordered through School Day.
When there is a tri-board announcement that all buses are cancelled in the Limestone District School Board and it falls on a hot lunch day, the hot lunch day will be rescheduled. If your child attends school on that day, please prepare them a lunch.
November 5 - Pizza Day
November 19 - Pizza Day
November 21 - Hamburger Day
December 2 - Pizza Day
December 17 - Pizza Day
Curriculum Connection
Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy
There are many resources available designed to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage to learn more.
In November, we honor National Indigenous Education Month at the Limestone District School Board (LDSB). During this month, we are encouraged to engage, learn, and teach about Indigenous perspectives, histories, and realities. We take this time to celebrate the unique cultures and languages of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) peoples across Turtle Island (North America) and to reflect upon the diversity and brilliance of Indigenous communities.
Remembrance Day
Newburgh will be honoring Remembrance Day with a ceremony in the gym with guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel Rory Moore. On Remembrance Day, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have served and continue to serve our country in times of war, conflict, and peacekeeping. It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and learning, as we remember the individuals who gave so much so that we may live in peace. Our ceremony will commence at approximately 10:55 and should last approximately 20 minutes. Parents are welcome to join us in the gym to observe this solemn occasion.
School Advisory Council Fundraisers
Our first School Advisory Council meeting and election for Executive Positions was held on September 17th. Here are your 2025-26 SAC executive members:
Chair: Stephanie Cornish
Secretary: Patty MacDermaid
Treasurer: Maria Evans
We warmly welcome all parents to be a part of any and every council meeting, whether you are an elected member or a parent who would just like to listen in and hear more about what is going on at Newburgh PS. Meetings usually include an administrator's sharing component, reports from members in particular positions (treasurer, chairs etc) and some discussion items. Babysitting for school age children will be available.
Our next meeting we will take place on November 19 @ 6:15
Your SAC is fundraising with Mabel’s Labels! If you’re not familiar with Mabel’s Labels, they are personalized, durable, waterproof labels. They are great for everything from shoes, clothing tags, water bottles and backpacks. To support our fundraiser, visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Newburgh Public School (ON). You can pick out whatever labels or product you want, and it will ship directly to your house! The fundraiser doesn’t expire, so just keep it in mind whenever you need labels next.
Important Information to Share
Student Census - See Yourself in Limestone
Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall.
The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.
Important information for families:
- The survey is optional.
- Responses are confidential and students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer.
- Students will complete the survey during class time.
- Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.
Families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact their school principal by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.
By better understanding students’ identities and experiences, we can remove barriers and better support students in accessing what they need to succeed.
Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census
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Help Shape Our Accessibility Plan
The Limestone District School Board is committed to fostering accessibility and inclusion for all. We are currently developing our next Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and invite feedback from students, staff, families, and community members.
Your input will help ensure our goals reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences across our school communities. Please visit bit.ly/LDSB2025-2029AccessibilityPlan to provide input. The survey is open until November 10, 2025
Newburgh continues to offer our families a new secure portal to complete permissions and payments online. With School-Day: Permissions & Payments, you will be able to complete permission forms and payments from any web browser using your SmartPhone, tablet, laptop or desktop.
Through this online portal, you will be able to pay for items such as:
· Field trips
· Sporting events
· Student cards/athletic fees
· Hot lunch (where applicable)
The new easy-to-use portal will remove the risks associated with sending money to school with students, the frustration of lost or missing permission forms, and significantly reduce the amount of paper our school consumes.
If you have not yet signed up for School day, please call the main office and a secure code information sheet will be sent home with your child. Use the instructions in it to sign up for a School-Day account at www.school-day.com and connect to your child’s events and activities.
How Do I Report An Absence
Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If your child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day absence.
How to report your absence:
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
3. SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Website Portal
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
Important School Information
Time | Activity/learning block |
|---|---|
8:45 a.m. | Supervision begins on the yard |
9:00 a.m. | Entry to school |
9:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. | 100-minute learning block |
10:40 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. | Recess |
10:55 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | 50-minute learning block |
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. | Lunch (20 minutes) and recess (40 minutes) |
12:45 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. | 100-minute learning block |
2:25 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Recess |
2:40 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | 50-minute learning block |
3:30 p.m. | Dismissal |
Newburgh PS Staff 2025-26
Principal: Jennifer Osborne
Vice-Principal: Tanyelle VanderSchoor
Office Manager: Vicki Clement
(JK/SK) Leah Birk & Chantelle Shook (ECE)
(1/2) Hannah Sutherland
(2/3) Brianna Ziehl (Stephanie McEwen on leave)
(4/5) Ashley Morrow
(5/6) Cathleen Caza
(6/7/8) Olivia Cotman
French: Faith Moore
Student Support Teacher: Tanyelle VanderSchoor
Student Support Counsellor: Jamie Lopes
Special Education Coordinator: Matt Aylsworth
Planning Time Teacher: Karla Tynski
Educational Assistant: Crystal Blanchard
STEA (Short Term Educational Assistant): Jessica Crouse
Head Custodian: Erin Hickey
Night Custodian: Sonja Wood
STUDENT MEDICAL PLANS
We ask families to notify the school about their child's emergency medical conditions and complete the Plans of Care linked below. Updated Plans of Care for students with existing medical conditions will be sent home with your child on the first day of school.
https://www.limestone.on.ca/medical-procedures
PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM
The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) is committed to delivering health and physical education to all elementary students, using the Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019. LDSB is committed to building positive school cultures that support student achievement and wellness. The Exemption from Human Development and Sexual Health Instruction, Grades 1 to 8 Procedure (the “Procedure”) was developed in response to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) No. 162 which requires school boards to develop a procedure that allows for students to be exempted, at the request of their parents/guardians, from instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations found in Strand D of the Ontario Curriculum: Health and Physical Education, Grades 1-8, 2019 (the “Curriculum”). Classroom teachers will inform families of the timeline for delivering Strand D Human Development and Sexual Health Instruction, and an exemption letter will be provided. Below is a link to the expectations by grade.
2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar
A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.
Check out the School Mental Health Family Resources following the link below
DON'T FORGET YOU CAN ORDER NEWBURGH WEAR ALL YEAR LONG WITH THIS LINK
https://newburghpublicschool.entripyshops.com/
