Message from our Administrators
Dear Stonebridge Families,
Autumn is here and it feels great…routines settle, calendars fill up, and there's a shift in pace that makes this season feel like a fresh start. The crisp air and changing colours of the season remind us that change is not only natural—it’s essential. It offers us an opportunity to meet challenges with honesty, embrace growth, and move forward with renewed clarity and purpose. There is much to look forward to at Stonebridge, and a great deal has already been happening within our vibrant school community.
A huge congratulations to the 88 Stonebridge students who travelled to Milliken Mills Park on Oct. 10th to participate in the Area Cross Country Meet to compete against runners from 22 other schools. All their training paid off. Congratulations to the Grade 3 girls team that placed 2nd overall and the Grade 3 boys team who placed 3rd overall. Congratulations to the Grade 5 boys who came 1st overall and to the Grade 7 boys team that finished 3rd overall. We had 12 runners representing Stonebridge at the Regionals meet on Oct. 23rd. They trained hard and ran their hearts out. We had three students who placed in the top 25 out of the fastest long distance runners in our Board! Well done Silverwolves!
Please mark your calendars… Parent/teacher interviews will take place on November 20th during the evening and on November 21st during the day. We will send out notices when you are able to book your appointments on Edsby. We will have translators available to accommodate families who require them. If you are unavailable on those dates, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange for an alternate mutual time to meet.
If your child was absent on picture day, they will have an opportunity to take their photo on November 27th, our picture retake day.
Tuesday, Nov. 4th is our next School Council meeting. We hope you will be able to attend. Meet other members of the school community and join the conversation to plan events for the school year.
Did you know that the average person spends 7 hours a day using screens, that’s nearly 50% of their waking hours. Typically, our children are spending 2-3 hrs of this on social media. Today’s trends of anxiety, depression, loneliness, social isolation, sexting, cyber bullying and misinformation are all related to media. Your kids need help to navigate it all safely. But who’s going to help you know how to navigate this? Brett Ullman’s Media Talk: Navigating Everything is an essential discussion for parents and he is coming to Stonebridge on Thursday, November 27th at 6:00pm. People appreciate his well researched, wise and practical approach to today’s issues and the way in which he captures your attention. This talk will provide you with steps to take to better use media for good and ways to decrease its bad effects. Come join in on this most important conversation. Come away better informed and ready to approach media with intention in your life and family.
As we enter November, we’re excited for all the learning and fun this month will bring. Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your ongoing support and dedication to making our school community such a positive place. Let’s continue to work together to make this month full of kindness, curiosity, and growth. Stay warm, stay safe, and keep shining bright!
David Williams Elaine Ricketts
Principal Vice-Principal
Dates of Significance
Lebanese Heritage Month
November is Lebanese Heritage Month, as proclaimed by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario in November 2017.
Canada is home to over 200,000 people of Lebanese descent. Lebanese immigrants first arrived in Canada in the late 19th century, and since then, Lebanese-Canadians have continued to make significant contributions to the social and cultural fabric of Ontario in diverse and impactful ways.
November is a significant month for the Lebanese community as it commemorates Lebanese Independence Day on November 22, 1943.
Albanian Heritage Month
November is Albanian Heritage Month, as proclaimed by the Ontario government in 2015. Albania is situated in eastern Europe, and the main language spoken is Albanian. The majority of Albanians identify as Muslim, followed by Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. There are approximately 29000 Canadians of Albanian ethnicity. The month of November holds significance for people of Albanian origin, as it commemorates the Albanian Declaration of Independence, which was signed on November 28, 1912. Albania also recognizes Liberation Day, a day that Albania was liberated from Nazi Germany forces after the Albanian resistance on November 29, 1944.
The proclamation of November as Albanian Heritage Month acknowledges the diverse ways in which Albanian Canadians have contributed to the rich social and cultural fabric of Ontario. It is a month to celebrate Albanian identity and recognize the histories and lived experiences of Albanian Canadians.
Hindu Heritage Month
On December 8, 2016, the province of Ontario designated November as Hindu Heritage Month as outlined in the Hindu Heritage Month Act. November 2022 marked Canada’s first official Hindu Heritage month.
Hinduism is considered by some as one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back over 10,000 years. With over 900 million followers worldwide, Hinduism is the third-largest religion. Hinduism is a henotheistic religion that worships one God while acknowledging the existence of other gods. Some of these deities include Brahma, Shiva, Paarvathi, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Muruga, Kaali, and Vishnu, along with others. Hinduism consists of many traditions and festivities that are celebrated throughout the year. Diwali, Navaratri, and Ganesh Chaturthi are some celebrations in which Hindus participate in Ontario, Canada, and around the world. For Hindu Canadians, faith-based practices vary across communities, cultures and generations of people.
Lunch Program
Below are the Lunches being offered each day:
Monday — Kid’s Kitchen —order directly from their site (kidskitchen.ca)
Meatbets—order directly from their site (www.mealbets.com)
Tuesday — Pizza lunch—first round from Oct 21 to Dec 16
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Wednesday —YummyTummiesInc - order directly from their site (yummytummies.ca)
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Thursday — barBurrito - order from Lunchbox Program via School Cash Online
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Friday — Kid’s Kitchen—order directly from their site
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Please make a note of the cut-off date/time for placing your orders.
If you have ordered lunch and your child is away and you would like to pick up their lunch, you must notify the school by 12:00 pm.
If you need more information, please email stonebridge.ps@yrdsb.ca
Report Absences or Lates
If your child is going to be absent/late, please report via Edsby before the bell time.
If you do not have an Edsby account or need help with setting it up, please contact
the office @ 905-887-2427.
TO REPORT A STUDENT ABSENCE/LATE:
LOGIN TO: yrdsb.edsby.com / CALL 905.887.2427
Nut & Scent Free Environment
This is a reminder that many students and staff have life threatening allergies to nuts. As a result, we ask that all snacks and lunches are nut free. Please take the time to read the labels on snacks to ensure they are nut safe. We also ask that you do not use peanut butter substitutes such as Wow Butter. Nutella is a nut product and must not come to school.
The chemicals used in scented products can make some people sick, especially those with fragrance sensitivities, asthma, allergies and other medical conditions. To help keep the air healthy for everyone, our school has a scent-free policy.