Update for Families: March 22, 2024

Dear KPR Families,

Welcome back from March Break!

With just over three months left of the school year, it won’t be long before students, staff, and our school communities will start planning for end-of-year school events and activities! This can be an especially exciting and busy time of year, with much learning and opportunity ahead of us.

There are many opportunities for learning, reflection and celebration of our individuality and diverse voices tied to days of significance this month. Those recognized this week included Nowruz, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and World Down Syndrome Day, among several others which can be found on the Events Calendar on our Board website.

Earlier this month, we recognized the beginning of Ramadan. As this observance continues, and we recognize other important days in the week ahead, including Good Friday and Easter, National Indigenous Languages Day and International Transgender Day of Visibility, we welcome these opportunities to continue to learn about one another, and provide safe, responsive, and inclusive schools and workplaces.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.

Sincerely,

Rita Russo

Director of Education

KPR News 

Total Solar Eclipse – April 8, 2024

On April 8, 2024, a spectacular and rare celestial event is set to unfold over Canada, the United States and Mexico – a total solar eclipse! Although schools will be closed to students on April 8^th as a Professional Activity (PA) Day, this exciting event presents a unique opportunity.

The Government of Canada website has resources available to support discussions about the solar eclipse, including information about how to observe the eclipse safely and a toolkit for youth with age-appropriate activities.

Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System

The Ministry of Education recently launched a new resource to support families in actively participating in their children’s education: Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System.

The guide covers a number of areas that support parental involvement in education, and the full guide can be found at Ontario.ca/educationguide.

2024 OPSBA Awards

Do you know an amazing teacher, education worker, school administrator, trustee, student or community member who deserves to be recognized for making a difference in their local school or community?

Nominations for the 2024 Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) Awards are now open! The online nomination form is available until April 5, 2024 at 4:30pm.

More information about the OPSBA Awards Program is available on the OPSBA website.

Public Health Announcement

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) and Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit have announced that they will seek provincial approval to voluntarily merge.  

The HKPR District Health Unit and PPH have an extensive history of collaboration and share similar geographic, demographic, health status and population characteristics. Both organizations are united in a commitment to reduce health inequities and address the most pressing public health challenges faced by the communities we serve. 

If approved by the Ministry of Health, planning for the creation of a new joint health unit will be initiated in early Fall 2024, with a target implementation date of January 1, 2025. 

We appreciate the collaborative and ongoing partnerships we have with public health partners across the Board.