Thursday, 1 October 2020

Ongoing Open Registration for 2020-2021 Adult ESL, LINC & LBS Programs

English as a Second Language (ESL); Language Instruction for New Comers (LINC); and Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Classes

 

YRDSB offers Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for those who want to develop effective language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing for daily life in Canada. We also offer specialized classes in Citizenship and Conversation.

 

Adult ESL Program Registration – In person and online options available!

1.     Email uplands@yrdsb.ca or call 905-731-9557 with the following information:

·       your first and last name

·       your telephone number

·       CLARS identification number (those without a CLARS number will require

                                   an assessment, please contact us for further assistance).

2.     Our office will contact you if additional documentation is required.

3.     Visitors to Canada may also register and attend for a fee of $10 per day, per class. 

 

For an assessment or to register, please call: 905-731-9557

 

 

 

If you are interested in improving your digital skills, want to work on your resume or interview skills, or prepare to take your GED exam, our Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program is for you!

 

 

Literacy and Basic Skill Assessment – In person and online options available!

1.  Email uplands@yrdsb.ca or call 905-731-9557 Ext. 307 with the following information:

·       your first and last name

·       your telephone number

·       tell us that you are “interested in the LBS program”

NOTE: Due to the high volume of inquires, it may take a few days to receive a reply communication from our office.  We appreciate your patience.

Thank you for your interest in our programs.  We look forward to serving you.

 

Monday, 14 September 2020

Message from Our Trustee

As we begin a rather different start to the school year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome all new and returning students and families. Whether you are returning to school in person or participating in remote, online learning, we look forward to welcoming you into safe, inclusive and engaging learning spaces. 

Staff members have been working hard over the summer months with the Ministry of Education and public health experts to develop a reopening plan that prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of our students and ensures that important health and safety measures are in place. 

Please know that whatever learning model you chose, we will continue to provide your children with high quality education, and to support their learning, achievement and well-being. Our school staff are prepared to help your child transition back into our learning environments, and we will continue to partner with families to support your child’s success.  

We know that families have many questions about what to expect as their children return to school. You can find information about what to expect at the start of the school year on the Board website, including frequently asked questions that you may find helpful at www.yrdsb.ca/school-reopening

As your school board trustee, it is my role to advocate for quality public education in York Region, and to ensure that our students remain at the centre of all of our decision making. The Board of Trustees makes policy and budget decisions, and communicates with the public, among other responsibilities

We are also responsible for setting direction for the school board, through our Multi-Year Strategic Plan. This plan sets out four priorities: Foster Well-Being and Mental Health, Build Collaborative Relationships, Champion Equity and Inclusivity, and Empower Ethical Leadership. 

The relationship that we have with families is important, and I will continue to keep you informed of our work and priorities. You can also find the message from the Chair of the Board on the Board’s website. You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  

I hope you have a great start to the school year and wish you a happy, healthy and successful year ahead. 

 

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Looking Forward, Looking Back, and Celebrating the Moment: 2019-2020


Well, 2019-2020 certainly has been a year to remember!

Looking back, September seems like it was a hundred years ago. When we embarked on this year, we did so with the usual enthusiasm and diligence as we begin every school year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our many volunteers and school council, who give freely of their time to support student learning and school governance in order to make James Robinson a great place to be. Thank you to the staff who ran clubs, homework groups, sports, assemblies, and other student groups, even within the confines of increasing job action restrictions.

Celebrating the moment, while it seems difficult, we need to rejoice in what the last few months have taught us about our ability to be resilient, innovative, patient, and resourceful. We are particularly proud of our students. We are proud of their capacity to be strong in the face of a rapidly changing world in which much of what they know has shifted to something completely different. We are grateful for parents who have supported the students and teachers with their patience while we navigated something brand new, and for their willingness to juggle their own work with helping their children, despite the fact that some days probably ended in tears, tantrums, or with you having to YouTube how to do long division as a personal refresher.

Our educators deserve so much appreciation for the work and dedication to the school as they adapted to an on-line platform that was 100% new, created whole new lessons, units, ways of teaching, ways of assessing, ways of communicating, ways of reporting ~ all while most of you had to parent/teach your own children simultaneously. Special thanks to our caretaking team who adapted to an empty building, to working alone, to taking care of the school and keeping us safe. And of course, our amazing office staff who managed the office from home, working through school tasks in a dark and sterile office, empty of the usual chatter and hustle bustle of students and parents in need.

Through the school closures this year, despite the physical distance between us, we can celebrate the strengthening of the relationships between home and school, parent and child, and student and teacher. The incredible outreach between and among our staff, students, and parents throughout this shut-down has bonded us all in ways “business as usual” could not possibly have.

During the school shut down, we welcomed some new staff and said goodbye to some existing staff members. Ms. Drinkle, Mrs. Suyat, and Mrs. Keirstead left to new adventures in the board and Mrs. Lum left to new adventures in parenthood – congratulations! We welcomed Ms. Capone, Mrs. Franklin, Ms. Silverberg, and Mrs. Taylor to James Robinson P.S. over the course of the school closure.

Looking forward we have no choice but to be optimistic that the summer will be a time to rest and relax, and that the fall will be filled with new possibilities that will make all of us and our children stronger, more innovative, and resilient. We don’t know what fresh hope or challenges the fall will bring, but whatever they may be, we will be ready. We will be ready together.

While we look towards the new school year, we need to say goodbye to some of our dear teachers. Mrs. Lock and Mrs. Edlin have announced that they will be retiring at the end of the summer. Both Mrs. Lock and Mrs. Edlin have been integral members of the JRPS staff for many years, shaping countless young minds and spirits, while sharing their personal milestones with our staff. We wish you both the best in the weeks, months, and years to come. We also will say goodbye to Mrs. Taylor who has transferred to Barbara Reid P.S.. We are sorry to see her go, and know that BRPS will soon know how lucky they are to have landed such a talented and reflective practitioner. Mrs. Shervington will be leaving us for a short while as she embarks on the next chapter in her life: motherhood! Congratulations Mrs. Shervington, we can’t wait to meet your new little one. Mr. Rivard and Ms. Capone will continue their work within the board, and perhaps our paths will cross again in the fall, but if not, we wish them all the best and a soft place to land in September. We will miss all of you as you continue on your new journeys, wear your Raven feathers proudly wherever you are.

We will be welcoming two new teaching staff in the fall. Mr. Lee and Ms. McMartin will join our team, both with a wealth of experience as elementary educators. Welcome to the Raven’s Nest!

As you move into 'summer mode' soon, please remember to take the time to read, write, celebrate the arts, dabble in science, and do math with your children.  This will help your children retain all of the gains they have accomplished this school year…and of course, remember to have FUN!

We wish you a safe, happy, healthy summer.

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Check-in and Update


Dear James Robinson Community,
We hope this message finds you and your families safe and well. Here are a few updates to share with the community:

1.      Have questions? Mrs. Patrick and Mrs. Franklin will be holding virtual office hours twice each week. We will join a virtual meeting room Tuesdays 9-10 am and Thursdays 3-4 pm. If you have questions for us, or need to connect, instructions for how to login are in italics at the end of this message. We look forward to the opportunity to say hello and hear from you. If you want to connect and cannot participate during these hours, please get in touch at james.robinson.ps@yrdsb.ca and we will make alternate arrangements.

2.      If you are talking to your child about racism in the coming days or weeks as we continue watch the anti-black racism protests unfold in the media, here are two links to support initiating a conversation with your child.

3.      Staff are currently working on report cards which are based on the time period of Feb. 3rd – March 13th .  This means that only subjects that were taught during this time will be reported on the Term 2 report card.  There will be no penalty for work not completed after the March Break.

4.      The Board is working with the Ministry and Health Department to develop a plan for families to access the school to return materials (e.g. library books, sports jerseys, musical instruments) and pick-up belongings.  We do not have any dates at this time, but appointments will likely be booked through Edsby once we are given the “green light” to release the process for safe retrieval of belongings. More information will be forwarded in the days to come.

5.      Don’t forget to log into the JRPS Staff Masked Singer Google Classroom each morning to see our daily masked singer and earn Colour House points. The Google Classroom code is su347jo. Not sure how to access Google Classroom? Ask your child’s teacher or e-mail our main office at james.robinson.ps@yrdsb.ca

6.      We have had a lot of inquiries about Banana and Mo, our faithful library gecko pair, so we decided created an Instagram account for them! Follow bananamogram on Instagram to see their adventures during lockdown.

Stay safe and well,

Gillian and Janice


JRPS Parent Virtual Meeting Room: Tuesday 9-10 am, Thursday 3-4  pm
Please join this meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/424963949
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391
- One-touch: tel:+16474979391,,424963949#

Access Code: 424-963-949
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/424963949

Thursday, 28 May 2020

Kindergarten - Grade 8 Registration

Kindergarten Registration

While schools may not be open, families can still register for Kindergarten. Our school, along with all elementary schools in the Board, is now offering online registration. Families can access the online Kindergarten registration information at bit.ly/KindergartenYRDSB.


Please note: A laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended to complete the online registration, rather than a mobile device.

Alternatively, families can also complete the elementary school registration form and email it directly to the school. Once schools re-open, families will need to bring in their documents (e.g., birth certificates) for verification.


School Registration (Grades 1-8)

Families new to York Region District School Board registering a student in Grades 1-12 can submit the registration forms via email. 

1. If you are required to register through the Reception Centre, please send a completed school registration form to reception.centre@yrdsb.ca. Families can contact the Reception Centre directly with questions or if additional support is required.

2. Families who do not need to register through the Reception Centre can send a completed student school registration form to their school email address. Use the school locator tool to identify your home school. School email addresses are available on the school websites.


We look forward to welcoming our new students and families to our school. Families are welcome to send questions regarding registration to the school's email address found on the schools’ website.