Bruce Peninsula District School & St Edmunds Public School News
Submitted by Anabelle Galasso and Emily Cameron
The months of November and December 2024 were filled with many exciting and festive events at Bruce Peninsula District School (BPDS)!
We would like to start off by highlighting grade 9, 10 and 11 students who achieved the honor roll status during the 23-24 school year. These students were presented with plaques back in October.
• Grade 9: Ruby B, Jee-Yu C, Lena H, Eva L, Alexis L, Aurora N, David T.
• Grade 10: Carly B, Quintin J, Cadence L, Mady R, Ellie R, Bronwyn S, Erica T.
• Grade 11: Ezra B, Kayleigh B, Ava C, Skylar C, Daniella C, Annabelle G, Matthew M, Ava P, James W.
We would also like to congratulate the three students who achieved the top average in each respective grade, Ezra B, Eva L, and Bronwyn S.
We are always very proud of students and their academic achievements! Way to go Panthers!
As noted in the last article, we would like to take time to highlight some of our secondary co-op students who are out and about in the community.
Wesley M has taken an amazing co-op opportunity located at the Lion’s Head Hospital. He is working alongside nurses and doctors while learning about various medical procedures, such as checking vital signs and observing patient treatment. Amazing work, Wes!
Skye has contributed to our school’s library aesthetics by creating a Remembrance Day display, as well as a Poverty Information display, after researching information about the ‘No Poverty’ Global Goal. Skye also counted all the donated items for the Household Item Drive. Great job Skye!
Ava C is doing co-op as an educational assistant for Ms. J. Cameron, where she helps with organization, filing, and learning about the daily tasks of a teacher – which she hopes to become one day!
Jayden Q is working as a co-op student in Mr. Stryker’s Grade 9 shop class, where he helps students with woodworking projects and organizes lumber, and is creating a bike rack for the storage shed. Good job, Jayden!
Ava P is taking a 2-period co-op at the Lion’s Head daycare where she assists the Early Childhood Educators in the toddler room. She also painted a craft table landscape! Awesome job, Ava!
Jakob W has started a co-op placement as a support aide at the Golden Dawn! He loves helping clients and seeing their smiling faces. Good for you, Jakob!
Thank you to all the businesses who provide these opportunities for our students.
In other school news, on November 1, Ms. Simpson, Ms. Sweatman, and the Grade 10 class traveled to the Ontario Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park in Toronto. They were given a guided tour of our provincial parliament and learned about the history, art, and architecture of the building. Students participated in a lesson about democracy and engaged in a mock election. They were also able to visit the chamber where our premier and MPPs meet to debate the issues affecting Ontarians and see where bills become laws.
On November 21, the secondary student council organized a Snowball Semi-formal to celebrate the Holiday season. Students participated in holiday cookie decorating, ate pop and chips, and had bundles of dancing fun!
In athletic news, the secondary junior girls’ volleyball season is underway and we will have more updates about their progress in the new year!
Both girls’ and boys’ elementary teams participated in the Bluewater Regional Tournament on December 6 at Peninsula Shores District School (PSDS). The elementary girls won their match against Hepworth and were tied with PSDS going into the finals. However, they fell just shy of making it to the championship due to a point spread difference. The girls are proud of their efforts in bringing home third. Thank you to Coach Radbourne and Assistant Coach Myles for the time they put into practices.
The elementary boys were a dominant force at the tournament and won every single set they played, bringing home the coveted banner! Way to go boys! They are a talented group of young athletes who have shown the power of hard work and teamwork. Huge thank you to Ms. Rosenberg for her ongoing efforts in mentoring this team and the countless lunch hours she gave up supporting their development! It paid off!
The BPDS Festive Feast will happen on December 18. We are very excited about this tradition and will have loads of pictures and thank yous to share when we are back in January.
Staff and students at St. Edmunds Public School (St. Eds) in Tobermory have also participated in many exciting events and initiatives this season.
The school celebrated Good Attendance for both September and October by awarding highest attending students with keychains!
They also collected many entries in the primary class for the Remembrance Day poster contest.
The school has organized and participated weekly in a Take Me Outside day, where they hiked, collected garbage, and played cooperative outdoor games. They also continue to be Little Ambassadors by taking part in fall roadside cleanups, which they will continue to do in the Spring like the great UNESCO school that they are.
Lastly, St. Edmunds staff hosted a Parent Engagement night at the school on November 7th where families participated in crafts, along with a Book Fair and Pizza fundraiser dinner for the New School Playground Initiative!
Staff and students at both schools would like to thank our wonderful communities for all their support in 2024. We have much gratitude for our many volunteers, parent drivers, co-op placement supervisors, parents, neighbours, extended family members, donors, and everyone on the Peninsula who believe in the power of small schools. We thank you for your support and wish you all the best this holiday season. We will see you back in January 2025!
Report from the Principal’s Office
Submitted by Brenda Brewer, Principal, and Breanna Heels, Vice-Principal
We have had our first snow days, so that means it is officially winter! As the year draws to a close and we approach the winter season, we want to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to all of you. The holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and connection, and although this time of year holds different meanings for different people, we hope you find joy and meaning in this season, and take time to rest, recharge, and spend meaningful moments with those who matter most.
This year, more than ever, we are grateful for the kindness, generosity and sense of community that each of you brings to our Peninsula schools. Our students continue to inspire us with their curiosity, creativity, and care for one another. Our dedicated staff continue to work tirelessly to support every child’s growth and well-being. And our families are an essential part of the fabric of this school, providing love and encouragement in countless ways.
We hope that this season brings you peace, happiness, and warmth, and that you return in the New Year feeling refreshed and ready for the opportunities ahead. We wish you a joyful holiday season, and a bright and successful 2025!
December UN Global Goal: Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
As a LSF (Learning for a Sustainable Future) Sustainable Future School, we focus on the UN Global Goals. Each month, we focus on a different goal, and December’s focus is Responsible Consumption and Production. During this season where there is a lot of focus on buying, we want to think about re-using, re-purposing and repairing what we already have!
To work towards this, BPDS and St. Eds hosted a Toy Exchange on December 11th. They collected previously loved toys from students and set up the toy exchange so students could ‘shop’ and pick out a new toy! There were a lot of happy students with their ‘new’ toys!
Thank you to Mrs. Burgess and Welcome Back Mrs. King
Ms. Burgess’ last day in the Grade 3/4 class was on December 13th and we will welcome Chantelle King back on December 16th. We have loved having Mrs. Burgess back with us and we hope to still see her smiling face in the halls to supply teach!
Mrs. Cunningham is Retiring and Welcome Mrs. Craddock
It will be a very Merry Christmas for Mrs. Cunningham who is getting the gift of retirement from Santa this year! The office is both the glue and the anchor to the school, and Mrs. Cunningham has done an amazing job of keeping us all together!
Nancy has been working in school offices across Bluewater District School Board for 22 years, starting at Wiarton Public School and then many schools over the years including Wiarton District High School, Peninsula Shores District School, Westhill Secondary School, Bayview Public School, Sydenham Community School, Hepworth Public School, Port Elgin Saugeen, Derby Public, Saugeen District Secondary School and then finally found her home at Bruce Peninsula District School for the last 8 years! Nancy also worked at the Board Office as the School Finance Clerk in a roaming position for a year prior to coming home to BPDS.
Mrs. Cunningham says that the things that she has loved about her time at BPDS: Community – “There is an astounding amount of community support for all things such as Graduations and its awards and scholarships, Breakfast Program and any fundraisers! I always enjoyed greeting community members when they arrived at the school for any reason. It was my pleasure! The school is a community in itself and I have always felt welcomed and a part of it in every way!”
The Staff – “The staff members at BPDS are committed to educating our students with the greatest of care and the proof is in those graduates who walk out the doors in June and onto their next chapters! It has been an honour to be a support to all the staff as they encourage and nurture our future citizens!”
The Students – “Most of all I have enjoyed the students! Every day, I look forward to meeting and greeting those students that come to the school office for any reason. I always take the time to speak to them all, to make them feel welcome and reassured. This I will miss the most!”
Thanks, Panthers! These years, I will cherish! As I move on to my next steps, I look forward to the gift of time: time with my family and time to spend in my sewing room and my gardens.
Nancy a.k.a. Mrs. Cunningham
And as we say goodbye to Mrs. Cunningham, we say welcome to Mrs. Craddock, who has been the Office Manager at St. Eds since last March. When you call or come into the office at BPDS, be sure to welcome Mrs. Craddock!
Upcoming Important Dates:
-December 23- January 3rd – Winter Break
-January 9 – Grad Photos
-January 24 – 30 – Secondary Exams
-January 31 – PA Day
-February 17 – Family Day
We will see you back at school on Monday, January 6th! See you 2025!
If you don’t already follow our Facebook page, you can follow us at Bruce Peninsula DS or St. Edmunds Public School Community to see all of the amazing things happening at the school. If you ever have questions or concerns, give us a call at (519) 793-3211 or by email: Brenda_Brewer@bwdsb.on.ca and Breanna_Heels@bwdsb.on.ca.
