Gator Tracks - April 6 to 10, 2026

AVPS Families, 🐊

Wishing Gator families a wonderful long weekend!  Happy Easter and Passover to those who celebrate—we hope you can enjoy time together and some spring sunshine.

We have included multiple links to resources supporting mental health within this newsletter.  Counselling support is available at the school.  Please reach out to amstv@limestone.on.ca if you feel your child is in need. 💚💛

April is Autism Acceptance Month – Throughout the month, we will share information related to Autism Acceptance and continue to celebrate Neurodiversity.

Excitement is growing, and students and staff are working hard preparing for the upcoming Fossils play planned for May 20 & 21^st!  More information will be shared with families as we get closer to the date.

Join us for our Showcase Your Roots Evening 🐊, a special event celebrating the cultures, languages, and traditions that make our community so strong. More information coming soon!

Thank you for being part of our amazing Gator community! 💚💛

Please see the links below to the resource through TVO Kids.  A great resource to learn more about various multicultural holidays, and the celebrations that happen during these times.

If you have any questions, please reach out—we are here to support you.

Brigid Steele (P), Drew Boyce (VP) & The AVPS Gator Staff Team

Student Supports 💚💛

In response to tragic events, students may experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, worry, or questions about what they may be hearing from others. Students may react in different ways depending on their age, experiences, and how connected they feel to the situation. With time, reassurance, and support from caring adults, these reactions often ease.

We encourage families to keep lines of communication open at home, to invite questions, and to share reassurance as needed. If you have concerns about your student or would like support, please refer to the following resources:

• Supporting Your Child’s Well-being
• Caring for yourself while caring for others: A parent’s guide to self-care
• By Your Side (parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning)
• Maltby Centre
• One Stop Talk
• Kids Help Phone (Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text “Connect” to 686868)
• 2-1-1 Ontario

If you are worried about your student’s immediate safety, or the safety of others, please seek urgent assistance by calling 9-1-1, your local mobile crisis service (613-354-7388), or by going to the nearest emergency department.

School Mental Health Ontario Resources

School Mental Health Ontario offers a variety of free resources for educators, students, and families. To stay updated with the latest information, resources, and research, families can visit the SMHO website. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page, click on "Connect with Us," and enter your contact information.

Resources from Public Health

 Centre for Healthy Screen Use at the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, Canada Research Chair in Youth Mental Health and Violence Prevention.  You can access the podcast on the main page of the website: Healthy Teens Podcast: new episode on the impacts of cyberbullying.

This 30-minute podcast covers more than cyberbullying, speaks to the power of bystanders, and offers advice to families who learn that their student is being bullied or is bullying.

April is Autism Acceptance Month

Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy

There are many resources available designed to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage to learn more.

Yard Update

Our coterminous Board, the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, has requested to place some temporary construction fence on our property for a short 1-2 week period. The fencing will be approximately 20’ x 60’ along our common property line. The request has come in an abundance of caution to allow the ALCDSB to complete some necessary construction activities related to their new school. We will continue to work with our coterminous Board to ensure the safety of all staff and students remains the top priority for all construction related activities. 

LDSB - Kindergarten Registration 2026-2027

Our Intention: To make a positive difference in the lives of every student, in every classroom, in every school.  

Families – We NEED YOUR HELP!! 

We continue to have students cross the street in-between the buses.  This is extremely dangerous.  Please remind your child/children to cross the street safely at the corners where crossing guards are located. 

Check out the opportunities for Gators below!! 

A BIG Gator Thank-you & Merci for AVPS Staff for your hard work and time to bring these great opportunities to students!  All information below is shared with student daily during announcements.

The AVPS Spring Running club will begin after March break for students in grades 3-8. The purpose of the Running Club is to encourage fitness in a fun and supportive environment. Students will be encouraged to improve their endurance, speed, and agility, and will have the option to compete at Road Races in late April and early May, hosted by local high schools. Unlike the Cross-Country race in the Fall, there will be no requirement to consistently run a certain distance to compete at the Spring Road Races - all students who consistently come to practices are welcome.

Students sign-up for Running Club in class with their teachers. All new runners will bring home an Athletic Permission Form to be signed by their parents or guardians and returned to their coaches prior to the first practice. Students in grades 3-4 will practice during recess/nutrition break while students in grades 5-8 will attend practice after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. An information sheet with all practice dates and times will be sent home with those students who sign-up. We look forward to a great running season!

Mme Bigelow and Mme MacKenzie

Coming Up This Week

 Upcoming Dates

April 2026

• 17 - PA Day No School for Students
• 21 – Grade 8 Graduation Photos

May 2026

• 14 – Scholastic Book Fair & AVPS Showcase Your Roots Family Event Evening – more information to come!
• 18 - Victoria Day Holiday
• 20 – Fossils Play
• 21 - Fossils Play
• 29 - PA Day No School for Students

June 2026

• 8 – Gator Fest 4-6 pm!  More information to come!
• 17 – Tentative Grade 8 Graduation *NEW guidelines for all graduations (includes grade 6 farewell celebration – outside of school hours) 
  We will share more information about these celebrations as we get closer to the date.
• 18 – Tentative Gr. 6 FI Farewell Celebration
• 24 – Term 2 Report Cards come home
• 25 – Last day of school for students
• 26 – PA Day

The Words Matter Campaign aims to reduce the incidence and impact of harmful and discriminatory language within our school community. 💚💛

🐊 This whole-school initiative includes activities engaging staff, students, and parents/caregivers.

As we know, it takes a team to make an impact.  We are committed to providing students, educators, and families with the resources and support needed to maximize the impact of this work through Words Matter and the LDSB Equity Team.

The pocket guide for addressing harmful language below is being used at AVPS.  We are sharing with families as a resource to support conversations at home.

TVO Kids It's My Party!

40 Books by Black Canadian Authors - CBC

Books by Black Canadian Authors

Looking for Gator Spirit Wear?  Visit the AVPS E-Store

https://specialtytrophies.ca/amherstviewpublicschool/

AVPS Dominos Pizza Fundraiser

The Dominos Pizza fundraiser for AVPS is back!

Grab dinner for your family and support AVPS through this great fundraiser brought to you from the amazing School Advisory Council (SAC) at AVPS and Dominos Pizza!

Next Date May 20.

Our Lost and Found is quickly filling up! 🧤👕🧢

If your child is missing any items, please encourage them to check the Lost & Found area as soon as possible. Families are also welcome to stop by and take a look.

AVPS School Advisory Council 2025-2026

📅 Next SAC Meeting

• Our next School Advisory Council meeting (SAC) will be held on TBD.
  Join us in the school library or online everyone is welcome!
  All meetings will be in person at 6:00 pm in the AVPS library and online, through MS Teams.
  Everyone who is part of our Gator family is welcome to attend any of our meetings this year.  Childcare will be provided.  We look forward to hearing your voice!

🎨 Paint Night Fundraiser – Don’t Miss Out!

Join us for a fun and creative evening in support of our school! Paint Night is the perfect way to relax, connect, and create something beautiful.

Spots are limited, so be sure to register soon to secure your place! All proceeds go toward supporting school initiatives and activities for our students.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🖌️✨

🤝 Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers play an important role in making our school a welcoming and vibrant community. If you’re interested in getting involved, please click the link below to learn more every bit of support makes a difference.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5jeQ9p9T9N02tra3l9xL_80wMRrXCCxXC8CyPoS6YPtKwBQ/viewform

💬 Did You Know?

We have School Advisory Council Representatives for each division! If you have a question, concern, or aren’t sure who to ask, reach out to your division rep they’re here to help!

• Kindergarten: Kaileigh Babcock – kaileighbabcock@gmail.com
• Primary (Grades 1–3): Britta Flood – brittaflood@gmail.com
• Junior (Grades 4–8): Gelareh Monajemi – gelareh@goldtalentagency.com

For general inquiries, email us anytime at avpssac@outlook.com

Follow Us on Facebook

Amherstview Public School Advisory Council https://www.facebook.com/AVPSAC

Stay in the Loop!

Our SAC has created a handy calendar to make it easy to keep track of all school events, fundraisers, and important updates in one place. Check it regularly to stay up to date!

🍕🥪 Hot Lunch is Back!

Families can now enjoy two lunch days each week Wednesdays with Boston Pizza and Fridays with Subway.

Orders are placed through Lunch Box
How to Order - Quick Steps
1. Visit www.lunchboxorders.net
2. Click “Create an Account” follow the steps to register
3. Add your child(ren) to your profile, select city (Amherstview), including school, teacher, and grade (very important for correct delivery!).
4. Click a blue calendar date to view meal options and place orders
5. Pay securely online using: Visa / MasterCard / Discover / Debit Visa / Prepaid

Additional Resources

Free Access to IDELLO for the French as a Second Language Community

We are excited to share that Télévision française de l’Ontario (TFO) is offering free access to IDELLO for families in the French as a Second Language (FSL) community!

IDELLO is a rich online platform that offers virtual training, events, and resources designed to support French-language learning for educators, parents, and students. It is a great way to explore engaging content and strengthen language skills at home.

In recognition of Truth and Reconciliation Day, IDELLO also features a special resource collection for Grades 5 to 12. These materials help students learn about the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada and encourage thoughtful reflection on building a better future.
To request free access, families can contact TFO directly at support@idello.org.

Do not miss this opportunity to bring meaningful French-language learning and cultural reflection into your home!