Upcoming Events:

• September 23-24: Rosh Hashanah (Shanah tovah to those celebrating)
• Thursday, September 25: FDPS Meet the Staff Event: 4 - 6 PM
• Friday, September 26: (1:40-2:20): Terry Fox Run
• Monday, September 29: PA Day (No School for Students
• Tuesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• October: Islamic Heritage Month
• Monday, October 13: Thanksgiving Monday (No School for Students/Staff)
• Monday, October 27: School Photo Day

Fielding Quick Links / Resources:

• Reporting Lates / Absences: Please use the School Messenger App, or call 1-833-202-1417 if your child(ren) will be late or absent.

Thanks to all the parents who joined us last week at the first School Council meeting of 25/26. We hope to see many families at the upcoming ‘Meet The Staff’ event on Thursday, September 25. Also, for those families who prefer to read this newsletter online or in another language, please visit the website, and click at the top next to the search bar to choose another language.

وأيضاً، بالنسبة للعائلات التي تفضل قراءة هذه النشرة بلغة أخرى، يرجى زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني، والنقر في الأعلى بجوار شريط البحث لاختيار لغة أخرى.

Sidoo kale, qoysaska doorbidaya inay ku akhriyaan warsidahan luqad kale, fadlan booqo Barta internetka,  oo guji meesha ugu sareysa ee ku xigta bar raadinta si ay u doortaan luqad kale.

Voluntary $20 FD PS Student Fee

Thank you to all the families who have chosen to make contributions via student fees. These fees are used to support additional activities to enrich the student programs, such as guest speakers, special presentations, and to subsidize field trips. Our request is for a donation of $20 per student (up to a family maximum of $50). This fee can be sent through Schoolcashonline, or as cash / check with your child(ren). We would like to emphasize again that this fee is voluntary, and information on which families choose to make this donation will not be shared (i.e. there will be no lists of names in the classrooms). Thank you in advance for considering this request.

Online Forms

There are a few online forms we would ask parents to complete. These include:

Arnot Park Permission Form: This form gives permission for your child(ren) to visit Arnott Park next to Fielding Drive, under teacher supervision for special events.

Media Permission Forms: This form gives permission for your child(ren) to be photographed or videotaped, or for your child’s name, work or photo to be displayed on the District’s or school’s websites.

Extracurricular Sports - Concussion Protocol: This form is required for any student who will be taking part in any extracurricular sport activities throughout the year, such as cross country running, soccer, basketball, etc.

Student Information Forms: Please Check and Return

Paper student information forms went home with students earlier today. These forms contain the information we have on file (address, parent phone numbers, etc). It’s very important that all this information is accurate, in case we need to contact parents in case of an emergency. Could you please check these forms carefully and return them with any corrections if the information has changed? Thank you!

Canterbury High School Presentation for Grade 7 & 8 Students

On Tuesday September 23rd, Liz Hansen, Arts Coordinator at Canterbury High School will visit Fielding to present to all grade 7 and 8 students.  The focus of the presentation will be the Arts program offered, how to apply and what to expect if selected.  Information regarding the Canterbury open house for parents and students will also be shared.

Meet the Staff at FDPS: Thursday, September 25

All FDPS families are invited to our annual ‘Meet the Staff’ event on Thursday, September 25. Online ordering for pizza/drinks is through SchoolCashOnline. All orders must be received by Tuesday, September 23. The schedule for this event is:

• 4:00 - 5:00: Parents and students are invited to visit their child(ren) 's classroom, to meet their teachers / EAs, and see their learning space;
• 4:30 - 5:30: Families are invited to the back field for a school picnic with staff. Tables will be set up for pre-ordered pizza pick up, and there will be cheese pizza by the slice/drinks available for purchase. Supplies will be limited for cash purchases, so we encourage families to purchase online in advance.. The costs for items will be:
  • Cheese pizza slices: $3
  • Full Cheese pizza (8 slices): $18
  • Juice drink box (various flavours): $1

All proceeds from pizza & drink sales will go to support FDPS students. Parents are also welcome to bring their own food and snacks, and lawn chairs or a blanket. Please also note that students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend.

We hope to see many families at this event!

Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research: Friday, September 26

Fielding Drive Public School’s Terry Fox Run is set to take place this year on Friday, September 26. Last year, as a school, we proudly raised $800 for cancer research. This year, we are hoping that families donate a “Toonie or Two!” in Terry’s name so that we may reach our goal of $1000. If you would like to donate to the Terry Fox foundation, you can donate online here, or by sending in toonies or other amounts as we get closer to the event.

Fielding Breakfast Club

We will once again be offering a breakfast program at FDPS. Research has shown that children who eat a good breakfast are better equipped to learn and to focus. Each morning, participating students  will receive 1 fruit, 1 dairy product and 1 grain product. The program is FREE for all students who participate. If you would like your child to take part in the Breakfast Program, please fill out this form (a separate form is required for each child who will be participating)

The breakfast program is funded in part by the Education Foundation of Ottawa: if you would like to donate to the Education Foundation, you can do it here.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Tuesday, September 30)

If you are travelling down Walkley next week, take a moment to look at the display on the Fielding playground fence. All the classes at Fielding are learning about the legacy of residential schools and their aftermath in an age-appropriate way, using resources provided by the OCDSB Indigenous Education team. As a way of demonstrating their learning and the message they want to convey, each class will be making a personal contribution to the display you will see next week. This activity was developed in consultation with the OCDSB Indigenous Education Team to ensure it is meaningful and appropriate to the context. Our hope is that it will show that the Fielding community is learning about and working towards supporting the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Please note, this is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, and schools will be open on Tuesday, September 30, 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 this day will participate in any school-related activities.

Popcorn Fundraiser for Autism Classes

Once again, we will be offering Kernels popcorn as a fundraiser for the life skills program for the students in our Autism classes. The first term will run for 12 weeks every Tuesday, from Oct 14 to Jan 13. The cost for the term is $30 ($2.50 per bag of popcorn). Orders can be made through SchoolCashOnline, starting September 22. Orders for the first term must be received before  October 6.

There are 6 flavours to choose from: butter salt, white cheddar, salt & vinegar, dill pickle, ketchup, and low fat caramel

Thank you for your participation and support!

The Centre for Resilience and Social Development (Grade 7 and 8)

We are pleased to share that Fielding Drive will once again be partnering with The Center for Resilience and Social Development (CRSD).  Workers from the CRSD will be visiting our Grade 7 and 8 classes this week to introduce themselves and get to know our students. Any students invited to take part in small group activities during lunch / recess will receive information and permission forms for parents in the next week. You can learn more about the CRSD at https://www.thecrsd.org/

Student Accident Insurance

Creating a caring and safe environment for our students is our top priority. Unfortunately, despite all reasonable precautions being taken, accidents can still happen. Some injuries may result in medical, dental or other expenses that are not covered by provincial health care or employer group plans and caregivers become responsible for these expenses.

The OCDSB does not provide student accident insurance and encourages all caregivers to consider purchasing accident insurance or student accident insurance for incidents that may not be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or any additional medical plans they have.

Student accident insurance is available for purchase on a voluntary basis. Caregivers may apply online at insuremykids.com or call 1-800-463-5437. The accident insurance coverage options range from $17.00/year to $33.00/year. All plans provide 24/7 coverage and a variety of important accident benefits (benefit limits differ based on plan selected). If you have any questions, please call Jones DesLauriers Ottawa (formerly Binks Insurance Brokers) directly at 613-226-1350.