Dear Gator Families,
Welcome Back & Welcome Aboard! A warm welcome to our returning students, staff and families, and a special hello to those joining our Gator community for the first time!
We are so excited to work together for an amazing school year filled with learning, wonder, and fun!
Please read through this newsletter carefully as it includes important information about school start-up.
Our educator staff have been busy setting up spaces and planning for learning, our office administrator staff have been busy with many tasks including new registrations and class lists. Custodial staff have been busy with summer cleaning and repair and projects. A big shout-out to Mr. Smith, Mr. Frink, Mr. Cruse, Ms. Andrews and Mr. Rae who have worked hard to get AVPS ready for students and staff, we are so grateful for all of your heavy lifting!
Construction Update🚧
There’s been a lot happening around the school this summer, and our front entrance is getting quite the makeover! We’re excited to see the finished product, including two new flagpoles and new front entrance doors once they arrive and can be installed.
In the meantime, we are moving our doorbell and camera to the temporary front entrance, located to the left-hand side of the school when looking at the front of the building from Fairfield Boulevard.
A quick but important note: the area at the temporary entrance is no longer a parking lot and is not accessible by car. Families are asked to park on the street and safely walk children to the entrance. Please use the crossing guards at the corner of Fairfield Boulevard and Amherst Boulevard, or further down Fairfield Boulevard across from the park, when crossing. The large parking lot is reserved for staff use only between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm
As with any good construction project, there have been a few plot twists! Delays and backordered supplies mean we’re still waiting on some pieces of the puzzle. We know this change may be a bit of an adjustment for families, and we truly appreciate your patience, flexibility, and good humour as we work through it.
Family Tours
As we get ready to welcome everyone back to school, we wanted to let families know that we will not be hosting before-school tours this year due to the ongoing construction taking place at the school.
We know how valuable these opportunities are, especially for students and families who are new to our school, and we appreciate your understanding as we work around the construction.
Once school begins, we encourage families to connect with your child’s educator, who will be happy to share information and help support a smooth start to the school year.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back and look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Welcome/Placement Letter to Families
Every year we experience a significant amount of movement in and out of our community due to family moves and transfers. In September, the school organization may change once we have true numbers to work with, and as such teacher/grade/student placements may require rebalancing in the first few weeks of school. On the PA Day, Tuesday, September 2nd - families will receive an email from your child's classroom. Student log-in information for Aspen will be available through your child’s classroom teacher once the school year begins.
This e-mail will include:
· Your student's class placement
· How to provide medical information to the school (if applicable)
· Arrival and/or dismissal meeting places for Day 1 (maps)
Friendly Reminders
AVPS
· Is peanut-free/nut-free
· Is scent-free
· Welcomes service dogs only (on leash)
· Has accessible parking spots by permit only
School Supplies and Labelling
Our school will provide the necessary supplies that your student will need for learning. However, if you are looking for back-to-school suggestions from LDSB, here are a few things to think about bringing with you on the first day:
· Backpack
· Labelled water bottle
· Lunch bag with a peanut-free/nut-free lunch and snacks
· Personal pencil case to hold any supplies you may want to bring (pencils, erasers, scissors, ruler, pencil crayons, etc.)
· Indoor shoes (with non-marking soles) to be left at school
· Extra clothes (for our Kindergarten/primary kiddos)
To avoid your student's clothing ending up in the lost and found, please consider labelling items, such as indoor and outdoor clothing, indoor and outdoor shoes, containers, school supplies, etc. (see the link below to our school's fundraiser with Oliver's Labels).
First Day of School – Welcome!
School staff will be outside wearing bright orange and yellow vests to greet students and families and help ensure that students find their meeting spot on the first day of school.
It's going to be a great year at Gator Town!
As always, should you have questions about your child's learning, please connect with classroom educators. All other general questions or wonderings about the school, don't hesitate to reach out!
The school e-mail address is amstv@limestone.on.ca
Admin Team Brigid Steele P, Christine Kennedy VP & the AVPS Gator Staff Team
First Week – Here we come!
· Tuesday, September 1st - PA Day - Class Placement Email Sent to Families
· Wednesday, September 2 (Day 1) - First Day of School for Students!
· Thursday, September 3 (Day 2)
· Friday, September 4 (Day 3) - Gator Gear/School Colours (Green & Gold) Friday!
School Organization and Class Placements
All students have been placed into a tentative classroom organization. All classes and staffing are tentative until later in September. This means that the class and teacher your child starts out with on the first day of school may not be the same class/teacher in mid-September. Should there be a reorganization of staff and students, information will be shared with families. Classes and staff changes take place based on actual enrollment, which is sometimes different from the projected enrollment that staffing is based on in the spring. Student and family moves impact how many students are at AVPS. We will do our best to minimize disruption to student learning and will take direction from the LDSB should changes be required. Changes may be needed if classes are too small or too large, based on Ministry of Education class size requirements, which are mandated from the province.
Once school starts, class numbers will be reviewed by a central committee of the LDSB to determine what, if any, changes need to be made. Any reorganization will happen after the second week of school. Families are encouraged to speak to children about the potential for change. As adults, we have the opportunity to model healthy emotions and mindsets around change, helping students to work through the emotions that may arise as an important life skill.
Thanks to all AVPS students and families, in advance, for your understanding and flexibility as we determine class sizes and placements.
LDSB 2026-2027 School Year Calendar & Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
Dates of Significance
The Limestone District School Board is dedicated to promoting human rights, equity, diversity, and inclusion for all staff and students. We celebrate the diversity of our community and recognize the importance of significant dates throughout the year, offering opportunities to learn about the religious, cultural, and awareness days observed within our district.
LDSB prioritizes dates that impact learning, ensuring these events and observances enhance students' educational experiences. By focusing on these dates, we aim to foster meaningful learning, reflection, and engagement, while integrating them into the curriculum. Learning resources are continually developed and made available to educators for classroom use.
The following dates highlight secular and creed-based observances and holidays, significant events and celebrations, public holidays, and other important dates. Please note that the list is not exhaustive and may be updated as needed. Please follow the link below to access dates of significance each month.
September 2025
· 7 - Labour Day Holiday
· 15 - School Advisory Council meeting 6-7 pm in the AVPS Library and online (link to follow)
AVPS School Advisory Council
📅 Next SAC Meeting
Our next School Advisory Council meeting (SAC) will be held on Tuesday September 15, 2026. Join us in the school library or online everyone is welcome! We will hold elections for the 2025-2026 SAC Executive on September 15, 2025.
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. We look forward to hearing your voice!
🤝 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. There are different options for as little or as much as you would like !
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 NEW!! Follow Us on Instagram AVPSSAC
🍕🥪 Hot Lunch Will Be Back
Our amazing hot lunch program will be back this year starting in October, more information on account setup and our offerings will be coming soon so Stay Tuned!
Prevalent Medical Conditions
To help us gather important medical information about your child, we ask that you select the correct Plan of Care form below, complete it and return it to the school as soon as possible. If you require us to administer daily medication, you will also need to complete the necessary paperwork for us to be able to do this.
Daily medication will need to be dropped off at school. Students cannot carry medications in their backpack, at any time. Please call the school to make arrangements for dropping off.
**Be sure to also include the supplementary forms if medication may need to be administered by school staff.
The health and safety of our students is our top priority. Thank you for helping us stay informed on your child's medical conditions and Plan of Care.
Supplemental Forms
Click below for necessary supplementary forms needed including:
· Form 314-A2 - Administration of Medication
· Form 314-A3 - Administration of Epi-Pen
· Form 314-B2 - Medical Procedure Form
New Requirements Regarding Cell Phones and Vaping
To promote healthy and welcoming school environments, please use the link provided to view the PPM128: The Provincial Code of Conduct.
More information is available on LDSB's website.
School Hours
Main Office: General hours are 8:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
School Hours: Our school day starts at 9:05 a.m. and ends at 3:25 p.m. We operate on a balanced day schedule with three instructional blocks of uninterrupted learning time separated by two recess/nutrition breaks.
Schedule
9:05 to 10:45 a.m. - Instruction
10:45 to 11:25 a.m. - Recess/Nutrition Break
11:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. - Instruction
1:05 to 1:45 p.m. - Recess/Nutrition Break
1:45 to 3:25 p.m. - Instruction
Late Arrival? Early Dismissal?
End of Day Dismissal Changes for Students
To help us manage the busy start and end of the school day, please let your child’s teacher know in advance about any changes to their regular routine by note or email.
For unexpected changes, please contact the office before 1:30 p.m. so we can ensure the information is shared with your child’s classroom.
Pick-Ups During Recess/Nutrition Breaks
If you are picking up your child during 10:45–11:25 a.m. or 1:05–1:45 p.m., please send a note or email to your child’s teacher in advance. This ensures your child knows to come to the office.
Please do not pick up your child directly from the yard. All student pick-ups must be coordinated through the office so attendance can be properly tracked.
Pick-Ups and Drop-Offs
Please buzz at the SIDE DOOR, which is currently our temporary front entrance for daytime pick-ups and drop-offs. It is located on the left-hand side of the school when facing the building from Fairfield Boulevard.
Reporting A Student Absence 
Reporting your child’s absence through School Messenger is an essential part of our daily attendance process and helps us ensure the safety and well-being of all 370 students. Whether your child is away due to illness, a family commitment, or participating in a school activity such as a sports tournament, it’s important that their absence is recorded. For students attending school-sponsored events, coaches or supervising teachers will update attendance records so these absences do not count against them. However, we still ask families to report these absences through School Messenger to help us maintain accurate records and confirm each student’s whereabouts. Your cooperation supports a safe and organized school environment.
To report an absence, use one the following methods:
School Messenger application
1. Use the email address you provided to the school.
2. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
3. Tap Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
4. Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
Interactive toll-free telephone
1. Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. Follow the instructions to report an absence.
These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For any school day in the school term up to the cut-off time on the day of the absence. Future absences can be reported at any time using any one of these methods.
Please do not call the school directly to report your student's absence.
Reporting late arrivals
Parents/caregivers are instructed to report late arrivals using the new Late Arrival option, including the expected arrival time to school. When a student arrives, they are expected to sign in at office and staff make the amendment in our student information system. When a student leaves early, again they are expected to sign out (with parental permission) and again the amendment is made in our system. This method allows us to best track student attendance to ensure safety.
The SafeArrival system makes it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduces the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and responds to unexpected or unplanned student absences. This time savings makes it faster and more efficient to account for all students and their safety.
Parking for Families and Visitors and Pick Up for Walkers
· When the bell rings at 3:25 p.m., walkers will be dismissed from the meeting class meet up spot and staff will release students to parents/guardians as they see them. Please ensure your child makes eye contact with or waves to their educator before leaving.
Human Rights Reporting Tool
Harassment, discrimination, and hate have no place in Limestone schools. As a school board, we are committed to providing all students, staff, and families with a positive school community environment.
As a reminder, the LDSB has the Student Human Rights Incidents and Reporting Tool available to students and families to report any incidents or complaints.
Gator Gear
We are working with our provider to create a new design for our Gator Gear. Stay tuned!
Allergy Alert
We have several students with life-threatening allergies. A reminder that our school is nut aware: please ensure that your child's snacks and lunch do not contain any nut products. Classroom teachers will communicate any additional food allergies that families will need to be aware of. Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe!
Visitors
All visitors must buzz at the side entrance (Left hand side of the school when you are looking at the front of the building on Fairfield Boulevard) and sign in in the visitor book in the main office. You will receive a visitor tag. Please note all volunteers require a CPIC with vulnerable sector check.
Indigenous Self-Identification
Please see the link below for more information and to self-identify, if you wish: https://ldsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9U2iaUl9GIFILb0
Join Team Gator
Looking for Paid Yard Supervisors & Food Share Volunteers
We are looking for people to work as lunch and yard supervisors for 1 or 2 hours a day. Please call the school or e- mail amstv@limestone.on.ca
Criminal Police Background Check (CPIC) with vulnerable sector check required.
We are also looking for volunteers to assist with food preparation for our Food Share program. Please email the school if you are interested in helping out!
At Amherstview, We Care!