2025-06-16 Family Message
June 16, 2025
Dear Vincent Massey Families:
We are that sure like us, your days are becoming more busy and feeling more like summer. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, a perfect day for many of you who celebrated Fathers Day. We hope it was a wonderful day for you. Last week our students participated in a wide range of activities; ranging from our first Play Day since the COVID-19 pandemic, and many athletics events such as baseball. Our students will continue to participate in even more fun activities as we celebrate a year of learning.
This week, we began the week with our Grade 8 grad trip to Blue Mountain today. We also kicked off our Spirit Week with a Beach Day theme.
On Tuesday our Kindergarten students will enjoy a Teddy Bear Picnic Day. We are excited to see our youngest learners with their teddy or other preferred stuffed animal.
In athletics, we wish good luck to our Ultimate Frisbee Teams and Lacrosse Team, who are participating in tournaments this week.
Please be reminded that the last day of school for students is Thursday, June 26.
ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE
Ms. Lawton is returning to school this week for the mornings only. We will continue to have a supply administrator at the school each day for the full day. During this transition time, please continue to contact your child’s teacher, the office, or Ms. Hunt with any time-sensitive questions.
Congratulations to Rebecca Schreiber, who is the 24-25 Vincent Massey Volunteer of Distinction. Over the past two years, Rebecca has been instrumental in many community-building initiatives, including the Spring Fair, STEAM Night and VIBE Nights. We value Rebecca’s commitment to our school community, students and families. Rebecca will be recognized in October at the Durham District School Board Volunteer of Distinction Recognition Ceremony.
Positive School Climate Reminders
Scent Sensitive Environment - Our school is a scent-sensitive environment and we expect all students, staff and visitors to refrain from wearing or using strongly scented perfume/body sprays/lotions while at our school. In particular, spray and aerosol products are not permitted. Some members of our school community have extreme sensitivities to certain smells and scents which can result in serious illness, including hospitalization. We have recently addressed this expectation with all students, and reminded them that products cannot be sprayed anywhere at our school including classrooms, in the halls, washrooms or changerooms.
Safe Play at Recess - Safe play at recess is a priority for all our students. It is important that all students are able to be active and play safely without concern for potential injury. We are continuing to emphasize with our students that “hands-on” and rough play is not permitted. In particular, we have highlighted following activities as not permitted at recess:
Piggy-back/shoulder rides
Slide tackles
Play-fighting
Play wrestling
Jumping/piling on people
Tackling people
We ask families to have conversations at home to emphasize the importance of following these expectations when playing at recess.
Today’s message includes information on the following topics:
Staff Appreciation - Staff Leaving Vincent Massey
Students Moving/Leaving Vincent Massey
Term 2 Report Cards
Class Placements 2025-2026
Grade 8 Graduation
Spirit Week - June 16 - 20
Bike/Roll to School Campaign - Durham Region Health Department
Hot Lunches at Vincent Massey
Coming Events at Vincent Massey
STAFF APPRECIATION - STAFF LEAVING VINCENT MASSEY
The end of the school year brings changes, transitions and opportunities in many forms. Today we thank the following staff, who are moving to new professional opportunities within the DDSB. Whether they have been at Vincent Massey for one year or many years, they have each made a difference and connected with many of our students and families in unique ways. We wish each of our leaving staff members much success and growth in their new positions and new schools.
Ms. Hunt - Principal at Eagle Ridge Public School
Ms. Corner - Secretary at John Dryden PS
Mr. Lajeunesse - Educational Assistant at Vimy Ridge PS
Ms. Siguenza - DECE at Glen Street PS
Ms. Sookhan - Occasional Contract finishes June 27
Mr. Aslam - Occasional Contract ends June 27
Ms. Gillette - Occasional Contract ends June 27
Ms. Waite - Occasional Contract ends June 27
Ms. Crawford - Occasional Contract ends June 27
ARE YOU MOVING FOR 2025-2026?
The end of the school year also brings a time for us to say a farewell to the students and families who are moving away from Vincent Massey. We wish all our students who are moving many successes in your new schools.
If you are moving and you have not yet informed the office yet, please contact Ms. Young or Ms. Corner by phone or email as soon as possible.
TERM 2 REPORT CARDS - JUNE 24
Term 2 Report Cards will be sent by email on Tuesday, June 24. You will need your child’s OEN Number to access their report card. The OEN Number can be found on previous report cards.
Final IEP’s will be sent by hard copy on Tuesday, June 24.
CLASS PLACEMENT INFORMATION FOR 2025-2026
Class placement information for 2025-2026 will be available through the Parent Portal at the end of August. Families will receive an email in August with instructions about accessing class placement information. School organization and class placements continue to change throughout the summer as staffing and enrolment continues to change.
GRADE 8 GRADUATION - JUNE 23
On Monday, June 23, the Vincent Massey Class of 2025 will celebrate their elementary academic career at their Grade 8 Graduation Ceremony and Celebration. On behalf of all staff and the Vincent Massey community, we extend our congratulations on your achievement and wish you many successes in secondary school.
If you are a parent or guardian of a Grade 8 student and you have not received your tickets, please contact your child’s teacher.
VINCENT MASSEY SPIRIT WEEK - JUNE 16 - 20
WALK & ROLL TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN - Durham Region Health Department
The Durham Region will be having the Walk and Roll to School Campaign this year from June 5 to June 19, 2025.
The campaign is to encourage students to ride bikes to school through the month of June. The winning schools will win a bike to raffle off at a future school event.
HOT LUNCHES AT VINCENT MASSEY
Our School Community Council offers a variety of hot lunch days for our students and we encourage families to take advantage of the convenience of these lunches while also supporting our school programs.
Thank you for supporting the hot lunches throughout the school year. Please note that this week is the last week to get hot lunches, as outlined below.
The last day for hot lunches will be:
- Wok Box - Monday, June 16
- Subway - Tuesday, June 17
- Twisted Indian - Wednesday June 18
- Jamaican Patties - Wednesday, June 18
- Bar Burrito - Thursday, June 19
- Frantastic Cafe - Thursday June 19
- Pizza - Friday, June 20
We strongly request that families refrain from ordering food from delivery services (e.g. UberEats, Skip The Dishes, etc.) These ordered lunches often arrive with incomplete information such as student name, which means a student may not receive their order.
If you are treating your child to a special lunch, we ask you to consider taking your child out for lunch or dropping off the order at the office rather than ordering a delivery lunch.
THIRD PARTY SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS AT VINCENT MASSEY
Per the Ministry of Education’s memorandum Parent Accountability and Transparency: Communication Requirements for Guest (Third Party) Speakers and Presentations in Ontario Schools, we are pleased to provide you with this schedule - Vincent Massey Speakers & Presentations 2024-2025 - which outlines third party guest speakers and presentations. The published schedule will remain current whenever new content is added. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
COMING EVENTS AT VINCENT MASSEY
June 16 - Grade 8 Grad Trip
June 17 - Intermediate Ultimate Frisbee
June 18 - Junior Ultimate Frisbee
June 19 - Lacrosse Tournament
June 23 - Grade 8 Graduation
June 24 - Term 2 Report Cards Home
June 25 - Kindergarten Magic/Bubble Show
June 26 - Last Day of Classes
June 27 - P.A. Day
Sincerely,
Charmyn Lawton, Principal & Nadia Nembhard-Hunt, Vice-Principal
Vincent Massey Public School
905-728-0681
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