Comet Communication Newsletter April 10, 2026

Calvin Park Comet Communication

April 10, 2026

Dear Families,

Even though spring is taking a little longer to arrive, we know warmer days are just around the corner. Did it really snow earlier this week? We’re looking forward to making the most of the weeks ahead, filled with many favourite Calvin Park activities and events, including Calvin Cup, LEAP Showcase, Challenge Carousel, Track & Field Day, LCVI Road Race, Hard Core Awards, year-end field trips, Graduation, Carnival, and more! Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to a wonderful spring.

Grade 8-9 Transitions

We are in the process of transitioning our grade 8 students to grade 9.  It can be both an exciting and anxious time for students and families. As part of the 8-9 LDSB transition process, Calvin Park staff will meet with the incoming high school and will discuss each student, highlighting students' strengths and strategies that help them to be successful.  As well, if your student has an IEP (Individual Education Plan) it will automatically transfer to the incoming high school, if remaining in the Limestone District School Board. Please note grade 9 transition meetings only occur with Limestone District School Board secondary schools.  If you have any further questions, please reach out to your student’s classroom teacher. 

Comets in Action

Have you noticed the sap buckets on trees around the school? Grade 8 Core students collected 280 liters of sap and made 7 liters of delicious maple syrup. Students enjoyed the fruits of their labour with pancakes and maple syrup today. Big thanks to Mr. Valberg for leading this annual tradition and Mr. Wartman for all his help with this project.

Grade 8 CORE and LEAP Presenting their Black History Innovators, Changemakers, and Disrupters Projects

Calvin's Closet

Thank you for your donations to Calvin's Closet, our school‑based thrift and clothing‑swap initiative designed to support our students, strengthen community connections, and promote sustainability.

Items Needed at this Time:

• Boys/men all sizes athletic pants and shorts
• Summer clothing

Students should bring any donations to The Hub. Thank you!

Calvin’s Closet will also accept monetary donations, though these are entirely optional and never required for students to access items. Funds received will support community‑oriented projects, including the purchase of a new washer and dryer for the school, as well as other Calvin Park programming needs.

At Calvin Park, our greatest strength has always been our tight‑knit community and the way we lift each other up. Thank you for your generosity, kindness, and ongoing support as we launch this initiative. Go Comets!

Clubs & Athletics Updates

There are a number of clubs and activities happening this spring:

• GSA Club - Meets Mondays at first break
• Rocket League - Meets Tuesdays at first break
• Wrestling Team - ongoing
• Dungeons and Dragons Club - Meets Wednesdays at first break
• Eco Club - Various Days
• Chess Club - Meets Thursdays at first break
• Book Club - Meets Fridays at first break
• Running Club - Tuesday and Thursday at first break
• Ultimate Frisbee - Skills Sessions starting week of April 13 with grade 7s on Monday and grade 8s on Tuesday. Tryouts start April 29
• Track & Field and Touch Football Starting Soon!

Spring Running Club

Students are welcome to join the Spring Running Club for fun and fitness. Whether you are training to prepare for the BSS and LCVI Road Races or are running for pure enjoyment, all are welcome!  Practices are Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Eco Club News

Eco Club is organizing and exciting Earth week to end this year's actions. We will find out in June if we were able to maintain our Gold level Ecoschools certification.

For Earth Week April 20-24 we are planning:

• to attend the Youth Climate Action Summit Basecamp.
• to organize a community cleanup, Earth Hour and outdoor games.

Immunization Update

Students who are not up to date with their required immunizations have received multiple notices from Southeast Public Health and the school. Students on the list are at risk of suspension from school on April 14^th for 20 school days under the Immunization of School Pupils Act until vaccine information is received. You must send vaccine information directly to Public Health - contact information is below.

Student Symposium

We are looking forward participating in the Grade 7/8 Student Symposium on April 22nd.  Our learning will be focused on mental health, digital well‑being, and artificial intelligence, delivered by central Limestone staff. This half day of interactive learning directly aligns with the Grade 7 and 8 curriculum expectations from Health/Physical Education and Science/Technology, and will integrate the LDSB AI Guiding Principles.

There will be three 45-minute sessions that students will rotate through:

Session 1: Finding balance in a digital world. In this session students will learn:

• How digital platforms impact mental health, sleep, relationships, and self-image
• Explore the brain science behind technology use
• To reflect on their own habits and learn practical strategies for healthier, more balanced technology use.

Session 2: Critical consumption of news, media and online content. In this session students will learn:

• What media literacy is and why it matters
• How bias and discrimination appear in news, social media, and online content
• Strategies to recognize misleading or harmful content
• How negative or discriminatory media affects mental health and well-being
• How to protect their digital well-being

Session 3: Understanding & ethically using Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this session students will learn:

• How artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of their everyday lives
• The basics of how AI and algorithms work
• Benefits and challenges of using AI
• Key issues such as deepfakes, bias, and stereotypes
• How AI can support executive functioning skills
• How to use AI responsibly and ethically, treating it as a supportive “co-pilot”
• Simple prompt‑writing techniques to ask better questions and get more useful answers from AI tools

Scents at school - Calvin Park/LCVI is a scent free school. We have students and staff who experience severe physical reactions when exposed to artificially made scents. The most severe reactions stem from colognes, perfumes, and body sprays. Please do not wear scents at Calvin Park/LCVI, do not apply them before you come to school, and do not apply them while at school. Thank you for your help with this.

Traffic Reminders for Drop-Off/Pick-Up

The front of our school is very busy in the morning and at dismissal. Please take care when entering and exiting the front laneway. A reminder that the front lane way is for quick drop-off and pick-up. Cars are not permitted to be parked or idling in this area. At the end of the school day, if your student is not ready to be picked-up, you must move along to maintain traffic flow.

Consider picking up your student 5-10 minutes after dismissal to help reduce congestion. Or consider dropping off/picking up your student at pre-arranged meeting spot in the surrounding neighbourhood. Thank you for your help keeping everyone safe. 

School Advisory Council Update

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We are looking for some volunteers to help with the pizza lunch fundraisers. Please contact Betty Betts at bettybetts@live.ca if you are available to help with pizza days. Thank you!

Pizza Lunch Fundraiser: The School Advisory Council is running a pizza lunch fundraiser to raise funds to support Grade 8 Graduation and technology purchases. Slices are $3.00 each and available for pre-order on School Day.

Our next School Advisory Council meeting is Monday, April 20 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm in the Library. All are welcome!

Thank you to the following people for taking on an executive role this year.

• Co-Chairs: Melissa Hudson & Yanina Kanevsky
• Indigenous Representative: TBD
• Secretary: Lisa Thibeault
• Treasurer: Bibhian Caraballo
• Fundraising Coordinator: TBD
• Volunteer Coordinator: TBD
• Public Relations/Communications Coordinator: Julia Krolik & Ali Darrach
• Program/Event Coordinator: Rechell Bernales
• Members at Large/Divisional Representatives: Betty Betts, Ali Darrach, Mark Foster, Tessa Morrison, Haley Somerville, Zannatin Tazreen, Sara Wellwood
• PIC Representatives: Melissa Hudson (LCVI) & Haley Somerville (Calvin Park)

Information For Grade 8 Students and Families

Mental Health Supports & Resources

In response to tragic events, locally or globally, students may experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, worry, or questions about what they may be hearing from others. Students may react in different ways depending on their age, experiences, and how connected they feel to the situation. With time, reassurance, and support from caring adults, these reactions often ease.

We encourage families to keep lines of communication open at home, to invite questions, and to offer reassurance as needed. If you have concerns about your student or would like support, please refer to the following resources: ·

·       Supporting Your Child’s Well-being

·       Caring for yourself while caring for others: A parent’s guide to self-care

·       By Your Side (parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning)

·       Maltby Centre

·       One Stop Talk

·       Kids Help Phone (Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text “Connect” to 686868)

·       2-1-1 Ontario

If you are worried about your student’s immediate safety, or the safety of others, please seek urgent assistance by calling 9-1-1, your local mobile crisis service (613-354-7388), or by going to the nearest emergency department.

Spring Workshops 2026

Mental Health Services Spring 2026

Foundational Family Services Spring 2026

Host an International Student with LDSB

Hosting an international student is a meaningful way to bring the world into your home while making a real difference in a young person’s life. Limestone homestay families are carefully matched with students, supported by dedicated Limestone staff, and guided throughout the placement so families are never on their own. Hosting offers cultural exchange, meaningful relationships, and a monthly stipend to help offset costs. Learn more about how hosting works, the supports in place, and why many local families choose to open their homes by visiting: https://internationaled.limestone.on.ca/become_a_homestay

We currently have 1 Japanese student, 1 German student, 1 Mexican student and 1 Spanish student that are looking to attend Loyalist CVI and would love your help!

Free Webinar Series for Parents & Caregivers

We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to support their children’s mental health.  

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:  

✅ balanced device use 

✅ vaping 

✅ body image 

✅ anxiety 

The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance.  

📅 Sessions run March to June  

💻 Register for free today   

We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities.  

https://www.foodsharingproject.org/savourspring/

Upcoming School Events

April 17

• PA Day (no school for students)

April 20

• Eco Club at Youth Action Climate Summit
• School Advisory Council Meeting 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in Library

April 22

• Student Symposium at Calvin Park

April 28

• BSS Road Race

May 6

• 45th Annual LCVI Road Race

May 7

• Calvin Park Track & Field Day

May 20

• Calvin Cup Touch Football Tournament

May 21

• Carnival Day

May 25

• School Advisory Council Meeting 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

May 27

• Challenge Carousel (6:00 - 7:00 pm in Cafeteria)

May 29

• PA Day (no school for students)

June 4

• Region 3 Track and Field Meet at Invista

June 5

• Immunization Clinic at Calvin Park

June 9

• District Track & Field Meet at Invista

June 10

• Grade 6 Feeder School Day
• LEAP Showcase Evening Performance

June 11

• LEAP Showcase Matinee Performance
• LEAP Showcase Evening Performance

June 12

• Hard Core Award Ceremony

June 16

• Grade 8 Year-End Trip to Wonderland

June 23

• Grade 8 Graduation (4:00 pm)
• Grade 8 Boat Cruise (8:00 - 10:00 pm)

June 24

• Term 2 Report Cards Go Home

June 25

• Last Day of School for students

June 26

• PA Day

Significant Dates

April

• Sikh Heritage Month
• Autism Acceptance Month

April 1-9

• Pesach/Passover (Judaism)

April 9

• Holy Thursday (Christianity/Eastern)

April 10

• Holy Friday (Christianity/Orthodox)

April 13-14

• Yom Hashoah (Judaism)

April 14

• Vaisakhi/Baisakhi (Sikh)

April 21-May 2

• Ridvan (Baha’i)

April 22

• Earth Day

Our Daily Schedule

At Calvin Park PS, we have three 100 minute blocks of instructional time, in addition to two nutrition breaks and recesses. Attendance and promptness are so important for students' learning. We encourage students to give themselves plenty of time to get ready and get out the door in the morning. If a student does miss a class, they should check in with their teacher and try to catch up as soon as possible.

2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar

A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.