Immaculate Conception School Gains Additional Library Funding From Chapters Fundraiser For

Immaculate Conception School became one of 138 schools in Canada to have its library benefit from proceeds made by the Chapter’s Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s annual Adopt a School fundraiser.

Photos courtesy of Immaculate Conception School.

The majority of the school’s library budget comes from book fair fundraisers and new purchases have been slim since 2019.

The money will be used to grow the school’s S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) book collection, update their fiction series, create a Maker Space for students and increase the number of books they have by/about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and) People of Colour) and other under-represented groups.

Donations are being accepted in person at Chapters Peterborough, located at 873 Lansdowne St. between Sept. 12 and Oct. 2.

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Peterborough Police Will Increase Traffic Enforcement In School Zones After Labour Day

In partnership with Peterborough County and Township of Cavan Monaghan, Peterborough Police Services will be increasing traffic enforcement in school zones this fall.

Stock Photo.

As children and staff return to school in September, school busses, cars and foot traffic will increase in school zones.

Drivers are reminded to take extra precautions including slowing down in school zones, planning to leave early, giving at least one metre’s clearance to cyclists, and stopping for school buses.

Peterborough Police Services would like to remind motorists of the following:

1) You must stop for stopped school buses with lights flashing.

2) Speeding in a school zone can result in fines and demerit points.

3) Crossing guards have the right to stop traffic at crosswalks – abide by their direction.

4) Distracted driving can cost you up to $3000 in fines, 6 demerit points and a 30-day

license suspension.

To keep school children safe, Peterborough Police will be monitoring and issuing tickets as required for offences in school zones and/or community safety zones.

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Douro Elementary School Fundraising For An Accessible Playground

St Joseph Elementary School in Douro is hosting a garage sale and bottle drive to fundraise for an accessible playground, at the Douro Community Centre on Saturday.

The current play structure at St Joseph.

St Joseph Catholic Elementary School was home to about 235 to 240 students in 2020.

“The school is the only school in the small and close knit community of Douro,” said Nicole Sullivan, a parent at St Josephs. “The school has welcomed all students with a focus on being inclusive and accessible.”

St Joseph’s also hosts a before and after school program facilitated by Compass Early Learning Centre, a not for profit organization.

With students of varying abilities, the current play structure is simply inaccessible to some, says Sullivan.

Staff and students at St Joseph hope to replace the inaccessible, and partly broken, play structure for both students at the school and community members to be able to enjoy.

On Saturday the community will host a garage sale, bottle drive and bake sale at the Douro Community Centre from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. with all proceeds being put towards the new structure.

Also happening in Douro on Saturday is a Plant and Book Sale to support programs of the Douro Library held inside the Douro Arena May 6 from 12 - 4 p.m. and May 7 from 8 a.m. -12 p.m.

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St. Paul Elementary School Lakefield Students Thank Selwyn Fire Department For Putting Out Fire on School Property

Students at St. Paul Elementary School Lakefield sent cards to the Selwyn Fire Department on Tuesday to thank them for responding to a fire on school property on Feb. 16.

Photo courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday, officers were called to a shed fire at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School in Lakefield.

Selwyn Township firefighters responded and prevented the fire from spreading to the school building. While the shed was destroyed, there was no damage to the school or portable classrooms as classes resumed the following day.

“On behalf of the students, staff members and families of St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Selwyn Township firefighters who worked hard to protect our school,” said Principal Lisa Gemmiti-Folz.

Fire prevention officer Andrew Bowyer and firefighter Greg Frost picked up the cards in person at the school on Tuesday.

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Local High School Teacher Taking Shift Back To Online Learning In Stride

High school teacher Kelli O’Connell says while the Ontario Government announcement of shifting back to online school is not ideal, it is important to focus on the positive.

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The Ontario Government announced on Monday that schools would shift back to online learning until at least Jan. 17.

This came just days after they announced that students would return to in-class learning on Jan. 5.

“We just jump right back to where we were last year - which is working from my kitchen - while trying to get my 12 year old on their computer at some point,” said OConnell.

OConnell is currently teaching high school french, and has a 12 year old in grade 7 at home.

She says her high school aged students have little interest in engaging online.

“They do not appear on screen, they do not share anything, they’re really moderately ‘checked in’ it’s very difficult to engage them - whereas in class we can chat face to face and I can call on people - but online they don’t want to speak and I don’t blame them.”

Teaching online has forced herself and her colleagues to becoming creative with her teaching and grading.

“It’s almost impossible to test students, because they’re on their computer so they can just Google anything. I say to my students ‘it’s about effort, how much effort are you putting into this?’,” she said.

O’Connell say that while this is not an ideal situation, it is ultimately what herself, and other teachers have to deal with.

“I don’t see any advantage to getting my knickers in a knot about something I can’t control,” she said. “This too shall pass, this is going to be over at some point and ultimately it’s an exercise in creativity. It’s learning to find the positive. It’s better if we can figure out how we can make this the most exciting and interesting adventure. Look - we are living in one of the best times to have a pandemic, we have Netflix people.”

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Local Schools Receive Over $15 Million For Student, Family and Staff Safety

Two local school boards have received $15,489,750 by the Ontario Government to increase safety for students, school and staff in a media conference held on Thursday.

MPP Dave Smith (right) address the media with board officials from the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

The funds as part of the school boards’ cumulative funding Will go towards projects designed to improve ventilation, air quality, Internet connectivity, hands-free water bottle stations and other public health infrastructure for the upcoming school year.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) is receiving $11,884,400 while the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) is getting $3,605,350.

The media conference was held at Chemong Public School in Bridgenorth and was held by KPRDSB board officials and MPP Dave Smith.

”Our educators and staff, school board leader ship and families have made tremendous strides to keep our school safe from COVID-19, while continuing to deliver world-class education despite the pivots we have had to make,“ said Smith. “This $15 million has supported projects to install touchless features, Wi-Fi/Internet connectivity, HEPA filter unit, state-of-the-art HVAC systems and upgrades to plumbing fixtures to support a safe return to school in September. Critical infrastructure upgrades will add another layer of protection as we enter this new school year.”

Diane Lloyd (pictured) addressing the media in a Grade 2 classroom at Chemong Public School. The Ontario Government is providing $1.6 billion in resources dedicated to protecting schools against COVID-19. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

“Student and staff well-being is a highest priority and improving ventilation and filtration in classrooms and learning environment supports healthy and safe learning environment for all,” said Diane Lloyd, board chairperson.

The province is making over $1.6 billion in resources to school boards in Ontario for the upcoming year to keep kids as safe as possible according to Smith.

This funding will add support for student mental health, additional staff, school nurses, asymptomatic testing, remote learning technology and supporting health and safety measures in student transportation.

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Beloved Teacher Receives Video Montage Congratulating Their Retirement

It was a heartfelt moment for the now-retired supply teacher Wadsworth Kulatungam as he received a video montage from former students, friends and coworkers congratulating his retirement sent Wednesday.

PTBOCanada Editor David Tuan Bui with Wadsworth Kulatungam circa 2008 and 2021. Bui was a former student of Kulatungam periodically as a supply teacher since 1998. Photos by David Tuan Bui

Kulatungam — better known as Mr. Wadsworth — said he was touched when he was surprised by the 34 people that congratulated him on his retirement of the video montage.

"It was sort of overwhelming looking at it,” said Kulatungam. “It was quite emotional too.”

He retired in December 2020 after 25 years as a supply teacher. He retired citing that it was his time and he wanted to leave on a good note.

The montage was started by former colleague Colleen Crawley, English teacher at St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School. It was Kulatungam’s last place of employment.

She started an open campaign on Facebook to allow anyone to send video clips of their well-wishes to Kulatungam.

“He is so well-loved by students and staff alike that I always imagined his retirement would call for a big celebration,” said Crawley. “Since the pandemic did not allow this, I decided to make the group video to allow people the opportunity to wish him well.”

Colleen Crawley’s recruitment of people to give videos to Kulatungam was shared 89 times on her Facebook post alone. Photo Courtesy of Colleen Crawley.

Kulatungam believes his attitude is what resonated with the students and staff. Telling jokes and smiling is what helped keep everybody positive he said.

“Never put down anyone,” explain Kulatungam. “Everyone has their talents, good and bad. None of us are perfect. I don't think any student is useless. I don't use that word at all. Everyone has capabilities and goodness in them. That was my philosophy. Criticism doesn't carry you anywhere.”

Kulatungam was a teacher and a vice-principal in his home country of Sri Lanka until he immigrated to Canada in 1993.

He is the second oldest of five children with an older brother and his sister as the youngest. Kulatungam says he will spend his spare time either reading or gardening.

"Don't be shy about being wrong,” said Kulatungam.

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Driver Shortages Causing Bus Disruptions In Local Schools, Close To 40 Bus Routes Cancelled

According to a joint press release between PVNC, KPR and STSCO, Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) says families should have back up transportation plans as close to 40 bus routes have been cancelled for Monday, September 14th servicing local public and Catholic schools.

STSCO has been informed that, due to an area bus driver shortage, First Student bus company will have to cancel 38 school bus routes for both morning and afternoon runs on Monday, September 14th. The cancelled routes are listed on STSCO.ca by school.

Some local bus companies continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining drivers during the pandemic, an issue that many transportation consortia across Ontario are facing. As a result, STSCO warns that bus route cancellations and delays may be a daily occurrence in the weeks ahead.

Any disruptions will be posted on a daily basis on the STSCO website to give parents and guardians as much advance notice as possible.

Families in both Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are asked to monitor STSCO.ca in the mornings and evenings, sign-up for automatic notifications and follow @stsco_ca on Twitter for information on cancellations and delays.

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Rotary Club Of Peterborough Installs Buddy Bench At St. Catherines Elementary School

The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha presented its first Rotary Buddy Bench to St. Catherines Catholic Elementary School Principal Shelley Adair and the staff and students of the school.

Nate Loch, a former student there and the inspiration for the project, shared candidly with the group in the school library his past experiences in both elementary and high school regarding bullying—of being both the victim and the perpetrator of bullying.

Left to Right: Donna Geary, Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha; Donna’s son, Nate Loch; Past President Kim Winter; St. Catherines Principal Shelley Adair; Rotary Club President Len Lifchus.

Nate closed his powerful talk with this message:

“I am optimistic looking towards the future of the schooling systems, and I’ve seen the great effort undertaken from the school board to try and tackle the gigantic problem of bullying. But this is where it starts, and this is where it can end—right here in this school, in the playgrounds and everywhere in between.

"I hope that as teachers you can guide the students into using this bench to promote inclusiveness and to be open to the idea of socializing with people they aren’t familiar with, or they might not be comfortable around. I hope to see this project succeed, and if it were to change the perception of a single child, I’d say it will have been a success.”

We love this initiative, and hope it spreads to more schools.

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