Gryphon Gazette: November 2026
As the days grow shorter and the autumn leaves settle, we welcome you to the November edition of our school newsletter. This month is a time for reflection, and we are grateful for the chance to pause together as a school community.
On November 11, we observed Remembrance Day. We remember the men and women who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, so that we might live in peace. Many of our students and staff have grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and other family members who have served, or who currently serve, in the Canadian Armed Forces. We honour their courage, service and sacrifice, and we thank the families who stand behind them. We encourage you to take a moment to talk with your children about the family members and neighbours who served, and to share their stories. These conversations help our students understand what Remembrance means and why it matters. Lest we forget.
This month we are also proud to celebrate the many positive things happening at our school. Our students continue to show kindness, respect and curiosity in their classrooms, on the playground and in the hallways. Our staff continue to create warm, engaging learning environments, and our student leaders continue to make a difference by taking initiative and supporting their peers. Thank you to our families and Parent Council for your ongoing partnership and support. It truly makes our school a caring place to learn.
We hope you enjoy reading about what has been happening in our school community. Thank you for being part of it.
With gratitude,
Ms. Moore & Mr. McCullough
Terry Fox Run
Our Annual Terry Fox Run was a great success! Thank you to all families who contributed to our Toonies for Terry campaign, and to all students and staff for taking part.
A big shout out goes to Mr. Leonard and his drones students for taking this awesome photo on our field to commemorate the event!
Annual Christmas Store
We are very excited to continue our tradition of the annual Christmas Store. Thank you to Parent Council for taking the lead on this event - it is a highly anticipated event each year, and our elementary students take great pride in shopping for their loved ones.
We are currently accepting donations for the Christmas Store; donations can be dropped off to the school until November 27th.
BUS LANE - Attention Required!
Thank you to families who have already made adjustments to their morning and afternoon routines in order to avoid contributing to congestion in the bus lanes.
We do continue to experience bus delays and safety concerns as a result of the number of cars in the bus lane during the hours posted, and are asking that the full school community support us.
By all means, the way to ensure the greatest safety of all of our students, is to reduce the number of cars in the bus lane between the hours of 8:00 and 8:30am, and then again between 2:30 and 3:00pm, as per posted signs. Further, safety can be supported most easily by ensuring that as many students as possible arrive by bus. We would ask that all guardians do their best to have students ride the bus to and from school as often as possible, understanding that sometimes special circumstances will result in the need for drop off or pick up. In these extenuating circumstances, it is most helpful for guardians to ensure use of the bus lane is solely outside of the hours of 8:00-8:30am and 2:30-3:00pm.
Holiday Card Fundraiser
What better way to celebrate the holidays than with art from adorable children??
Our Kindergarten classes are, once again, fundraising through the sale of holiday cards. You do not want to miss out on your chance to bring a whole lot of joy with cards this holiday season! Cards come in a pack of 3 for $5.00 and are the perfect addition to your holiday gift giving.
Interested in ordering? Fill out the paper order form sent home with your elementary-aged child, or log in to your School-Day Account.
Orders are due November 30th!
Secondary Assessment & Evaluation and Semester 1 Exams
Secondary Semester 1 Examinations will take place Thursday, January 21st to Wednesday, January 27th. As of the current school year, there have been changes from the Ministry of Education with respect to Assessment and Evaluation as well as examinations. Please review the information below to learn more.
Please note that students must attend their scheduled exam. Remember that vacation planning, scheduled appointments and work schedules do not constitute emergencies and may cause students to lose the opportunity to demonstrate their learning on an exam. These things should be scheduled outside of the regular school day and exam period. This is especially important to notice this year, as there are now more courses with formal exams.
As in previous years, we will continue to offer early bus transportation for students who wish to go home after their exams. This transportation will consist of a north-bound and a south-bound bus that remains on major roads. Students wishing to use the early bus must sign up in the main office before the start of the exam period. Buses will not run if there is no one signed up.
It is essential that students speak with their teacher about final summative assessment tasks as we navigate closer to the examination week, and that they understand when and where each of their exams will be. A formal schedule will be shared with Midterm Report Cards, and families with questions are encouraged to reach out to teachers as needed, or connect with Administration.
Updates from KFLA Public Health
Check out this important information Public Health!
· “Attention, parents and caregivers!” – A gentle reminder that Ontario students are required to have up-to-date immunization records on file with public health units. Records are not always automatically shared by health-care providers. This insert explains how families can submit immunization records and book an appointment with Southeast Public Health.
· “Immunization through the lifespan” – An overview of vaccines that help protect against diseases at different stages of life. This insert helps families understand which vaccines may be due at various ages and how to book an appointment with Southeast Public Health.
· “Connection Matters” – Featured in the November/December issue of School Health Connect, this insert highlights how strong social connections help children feel safe, supported, and better able to cope with challenges. It offers practical examples of how families can build meaningful connections through everyday moments.
CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Daily Schedule
Volunteering - Police Checks
Any parents or guardians wishing to volunteer at the school or on field trips MUST have a current (within 6 months) VALID police check with vulnerable sector. If you are considering taking part in any school-based activities with your child this year, it is best to be proactive and complete your police check as soon as possible, as they can take a number of weeks to be completed.
For those requesting police checks, please contact the school as we will provide you with a letter so that you can request the document free of charge.
Upcoming Dates
Nov 24 – KASSAA Boys VB All-Star Game @ HC
Nov 25 – OSSLT - all Grade 10 students
Nov 27 – Festival of Trees visit for K-3 classes
Nov 27 – SGVB @ NDSS Tournament
Dec 8 – Christmas Store
Dec 4 – Jingle Bell Walk
Dec 7-11 – Kris Kringle Week
Dec 10 – K-12 Holiday Dinner
Dec 11 – JGVB @ NDSS Tournament
Dec 14-17 – Door Decorating
Dec 21 – Jan 1 – Winter Break
School Year Calendars
Parent Council
Dear Parents & Guardians,
We invite you to join our Parent Council meetings (typically on the first Monday of each month), which will take place in the GREC Library or online via Zoom from 5:30-6:30pm.
The Parent Council is a group of parents, guardians, staff, and community members who work together to support and enhance our school environment. Through these meetings, we discuss important topics, share updates, and make decisions that shape our school community.
Your insights and ideas are invaluable to us. We believe that a range of perspectives strengthens our efforts, and we would love to see more voices represented. Whether you have suggestions, or questions, or simply want to listen in, your involvement makes a real difference!
Please consider joining us. We look forward to welcoming new and returning faces.
Prevalent Medical Conditions
Schools are required to have a plan of care on site for any student with a prevalent medical condition. If your student has a prevalent medical condition, please take the time to fill out the appropriate form below and return the form to the school to the attention of the main office, or by emailing completed forms to gredc@limestone.on.ca. Forms must be updated annually so that the school is aware of changes to plans.
If your student requires daily medications, these should NOT be carried in backpacks, but rather stored in the main office. If medications are to be administered by school staff, additional forms are required. Please reach out to the school if you have any questions, or to make arrangements for administration of medications.
- Asthma Plan of Care
- Anaphylaxis Plan of Care
- Epilepsy Plan of Care
- Diabetes Plan of Care
- Generic Plan of Care
Late Arrival? Early Dismissal?
As you can appreciate, the office can be very busy at the beginning and end of each day. We ask that you notify your student's teacher (Elementary; note, email) or the main office (Secondary) about changes to regular routines ahead of time wherever possible. If there are unforeseen changes, please notify the office before 1:30pm. This will allow us to relay the information to the classroom in a timely manner.
All doors of the school building remain locked during the school day. Please continue to buzz at the front door for pick ups and drop offs during the day.
Reporting a Student Absence
Reporting Absences: There are three options to use to report a student absence:
- use the SchoolMessenger App on your phone, select "Attendance", then "Report an Absence"
- use the SchoolMessenger website portal
- Call the main office of the school
