May 3, 2024 QEB Family Communication

May 3, 2024 QEB Family Communication
Posted on 05/03/2024
May the Fourth

May 3, 2024

Good afternoon to our QEB families,

Our school will be celebrating Mental Health Week from May 6-10, 2024. Every year in May, Canada comes together to recognize Mental Health Week.  Established in 1951 by the Canadian Mental Health Association, this week encourages Canadians to learn and talk with others about mental health.  The theme for this year is ‘A Call to be Kind – The Healing Power of Compassion’. Compassion is the feeling we have that encourages us to help others especially when they are in a time of need.  Kindness is when we act on that feeling and do something to be helpful or show we care.  These are powerful things!  Being compassionate and kind can improve our health, our relationships, and even learning and school success. There are easy ways to show kindness to others.  Hold open a door, leave someone a nice note, smile at someone. #MentalHealthWeek.  Let’s be kind!

We encourage you to celebrate Mental Health Week at home as well.  You can ask your child about what they are doing at school during the week, start conversations about compassion and kindness, or try some new kindness activities together. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website has many fun and simple resources/activities for families.

Just a reminder that our DROP and GO is meant for a quick drop off. Please wait your turn in the line, try to encourage a quick but safe exit from the car and please do not pull ahead of cars in the line if your child has already exited the car. If you need more time in the morning to support the transition of your child(ren) to school please park on the street and bring your child(ren) to the gate. Also, there should be no cars parked in this area for pick-up at the end of the day. Thank you for your continued support of student, family and staff safety!

Please keep an eye on the school and classroom communication as we head into the final months of the school year. There are many trips and sporting events coming up that require forms to be completed or a payment is required. If you are interested in joining a school trip, a current Vulnerable Sector is required to participate.  You may request a letter from the school to take to the police station to apply.

Student Absences -  Detailed information about SafeArrival can be found at HPEschools.ca/Absence. Please use the toll-free number, website, or mobile app to report your student’s absence in advance. The toll-free number is 1-833-568-2535. Links to the SafeArrival website and mobile app are available at go.schoolmessenger.ca. 

QEB Community Supports & Updates:

  1. Mental Health & Well Being Supports for Families:

    1. Children’s Mental Health Services

    2. Kids Help Phone – 1 800 668-6867 or text CONNECT to 686868 Kids Help Phone

    3. Children’s Mental Health Crisis Line – 613 966-3100 (15 years old and under)

    4. Quinte Health Care Crisis Line – 613 969-7400 (16 years +)

  2. We’re here to help! Please contact your child’s teacher or QEB Administration if you would like to connect with our Child and Youth Worker (Ms. Blakely) and/or have support getting connected to community resources.

  3. Children’s Mental Health Resource Poster: CMHS Resource Poster

QEB Information Items & Updates:

  1. Every Tuesday is QEB school spirit wear day! Wear your QEB gear or our school colours (Blue & Yellow) to show your school spirit!

  2. QEB May Spirit Days:

    1. May 17, 2024 - Dress like a teacher day

    2. May 30, 2024 - Dress like your favourite ice cream day

  3. Save the Date: May 16, 2024 Domino’s Pizza Fundraiser (Take Out / Delivery - Dominos Pizza Fundraiser Flyer - portion of the sale to be given to the school)

  4. Save the Date: June 12, 2024 QVS is celebrating 112 years in the Belleville community and will be closing its doors to students on June 27, 2024

  5. Save the Date: June 13, 2024 Social Media Awareness Presentation parent evening with Paul Davis at QEB! More details to follow! 

  6. Pizza days are running with cheese pizza from Bourbon Street Pizza. Orders for Wednesday, May 8 & 15, 2024 can be placed through School Cash Online or paid by cash with an order form from the office.  Pizza is $2.50 per slice per week.  Orders are due by Monday, May 6, 2024.

  7. Through our Food For Learning (FFL) program, we will be offering a hot lunch every Thursday and Toast or Cereal & Fruit every Friday for all students that would like to participate. Please see the calendar on our  QEB website for specifics regarding each hot lunch day - https://queeneb.hpedsb.on.ca/ 

  8. Kernels Popcorn is available for purchase Tuesdays & Thursdays at second break for $2.25.

  9. QEB spirit wear is available online at (Back by request!): http://goteamwork.com/schools/product-category/queen-elizabeth-public/. Orders are sent directly to the school for pick-up during the school year. 

QEB Student Teams & Clubs (currently running with staff involvement):

  1. QEB Student Council - Leadership team for intermediate students to further develop the QEB Purple School Community through student voice and involvement in fundraising and event planning for whole school participation.

  2. Rainbow Club - A club for junior/intermediate students with a focus on creating a safe space for student voice while students enjoy a variety of activities and cooperative games in the gymnasium.

  3. JEDI (Justice/Equity/Diversity/Inclusion) Club - A school-based equity club of intermediate students and staff working together to assist and inform our equity plan, considering different perspectives and setting priorities for our school and community.

  4. Forest of Reading Book Club -  A school based reading group that offers the opportunity to experience and celebrate award winning books written, illustrated, and published by Canadians. 

  5. Blue Jays Club - QEB has been picked to be a Blue Jays Affiliate School and have created a Rookie League for our K-Grade 6 Students: Rookie League provides a platform for a wide range of children and youth experiencing diverse barriers to join together and participate in highly inclusive, mixed ability, safe and fun softball and/or baseball programming. Rookie League is the ultimate safe-space for any young person looking to develop new skills and have fun. The goal of Rookie League is to build a sense of community and belonging for children and youth. It is a club that is focused on students from K-6 where students engage in team building games and baseball development activities. 

  6. Co-Ed Intermediate Flag Football