September Newsletter
September 11, 2026
As we wrap up our first week of school, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our students, staff, and families. Your enthusiasm, flexibility, and dedication helped make the transition back to school a smooth and successful one. It has been a joy to see our hallways buzzing with energy and our classrooms engaged in learning. Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!
School Council Nominations Open:
School councils play a crucial role in bridging the gap between home and school, fostering a collaborative environment where parents/guardians can contribute to the educational landscape. Engaging in a school council allows for a shared voice in the decision-making process, ensuring that the perspectives of families are considered alongside those of educators. School councils advocate for the needs and well-being of students, addressing critical issues, enhancing educational outcomes, and improving student achievement. If you are interested in joining the MPS School Council, please complete the attached form and return to the school by Monday September 28th by 4:00 p.m. If needed, an election will take place at Meet the Teacher on Thursday October 1st between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m..
Nomination FORM
Our First Council Meeting will take place on Monday October 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the library. All Welcome
Acknowledgements and Permissions:
A reminder to ensure that you access acknowledgements and permissions through school cash online. It is also imperative to update email addresses, family contact information and emergency contact information through the parent portal. Please reach out to the office if you require a hard copy.
A message from Children’s Treatment Network
The Children’s Treatment Network (CTN) and Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) are excited to share that the School-based Rehabilitation Services Occupational Therapy (SBRS-OT) program will continue to be implemented using the tiered model of service at your child’s school for the 2026-27 school year.
In this model, Occupational Therapists (OTs) and OT assistants (OTAs) can support school staff and the students in their classrooms to enhance all students’ learning and participation in the school environment. Further information about this model is available on CTN’s webpage.
CTN partners with Closing the Gap Healthcare (CTG) to bring occupational therapy services into Simcoe County schools. OTs are regulated health professionals who assist children in developing fine motor skills (e.g., printing, cutting, etc.), gross motor skills (e.g., jumping, throwing, etc.), self-care skills (e.g., putting on coat, doing up zippers, opening packages, etc.), and sensory self-regulation skills (e.g., being able to control emotions and/or actions). The risks of this service are comparable to typical day to day school activities (e.g., focus/calming activities, school tool use, and/or written output) within the school setting. The benefit is provision of potential strategies to further enhance student’s development.
At times during the school year, there will be an OT/OTA at our school. They will be collaborating with school staff to support the students. The OT may:
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recommend different types of tools or equipment that may be helpful to any child in a classroom (e.g., fidget tools, wiggle cushions, pencil grips);
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provide workshops to school staff on relevant topics (e.g., self-regulation, fine motor skill development); and/or,
If any student appears to need more individualized occupational therapy and/or PT assessment and recommendations, the school will discuss this with parent/guardian and request permission to make a referral to CTN’s School Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS).
If you have any questions or concerns about an OT being in your child’s classroom, please contact your school administrator directly to discuss potential options for additional information or opting out of this collaborative effort with CTN’s SBRS program.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Dickie
Principal