In the 2017/18 school year, York Region Public Health will visit all  elementary schools to provide school immunization clinics to Grade 7 students. The clinics offer vaccines for Hepatitis B, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Meningococcal A, C, Y, W-135 at no cost.

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, meningococcal vaccine is required for school attendance, unless an exemption is filed with public health. Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are recommended, but not required for school attendance.

Parents of students entering Grade 7 in fall 2017 will receive consent forms in the mail in June. Please complete the consent form and return it to York Region Public Health to allow your child to participate in the immunization clinics. Detailed instructions can be found on the forms and accompanying letter. If the consent form is not completed, your child will not be able to receive vaccines at the clinic.

Parents and guardians who do not consent should still complete the forms and return them, indicating that you do not authorize York Region Public Health to immunize your child.

Visit york.ca/immunizations and click on School Immunization Clinics for more information.

Did you know? If your child has missed a required vaccination on Ontario’s routine immunization schedule, he/she can receive the vaccine at one of York Region Public Health’s Community Immunization Clinics. These evening clinics are offered throughout the summer, giving students the opportunity to catch up before returning to school. Visit york.ca/immunizations and select Community Immunization Clinics to learn more.

Cookie and Popcorn sales resume tomorrow!

Our new feature cookie flavour is white chocolate fudge delite.

Popcorn flavours are white cheddar and butter.

Bring in your $2 to buy a treat and to support our Grade 8 Grads.

Thank you.

The Grade 8 Grad Committee

Tomorrow, April 12 is International Day of Pink. Here at Ventura Park, the Conseil de Vikings (Student Council) have created a board in the hallway on the first floor to simply help students reflect on themselves as individuals and ask themselves “How do I want to be remembered?”, encouraging them to show qualities of kindness and empathy.  We invite everyone to wear Pink tomorrow to support the International Day of Pink.

On Saturday, April 1, 2017, 159 students from 40 schools from around York Region participated in the York Region Science and Technology Fair. The following VPPS students  were award winners of the 2017 fair:

• Honourable Mention – Max H., Instant Cold
• Bronze Award – Eden S., and Samantha W., How do Different Styles of Music Affect your Writing?

A huge congratulations to these students and a thank-you to Mme Daniella DiLucia for all her support and encouragement!!

Any subs and pizzas that are not eaten this week due to Passover will be donated to a local shelter to support members of our VPPS community.  #VPPSrules

Day of Pink

York Region schools will be a sea of pink on April 12, 2017!

Students and staff will recognize the International Day of Pink by wearing pink and taking part in activities that promote anti-bullying. They will join communities across the country in celebrating diversity, working toward equity and inclusivity by raising awareness about homophobic, transphobic and other forms of bullying.

The International Day of Pink began in Nova Scotia when two high school students witnessed a gay student being bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. The two students intervened but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying. They purchased pink shirts and encouraged their peers to show their solidarity by wearing pink to school. The result was that an entire school joined together to take a stand.

Join YRDSB students in their efforts to prevent bullying.  Show your commitment to equity and inclusivity and support for diversity and antibullying by wearing pink on April 12!

To all our families whose student’s will be away from school celebrating Passover, please remember to report any absence to 1-855-203-2994 or yorkrdsb.schoolconnects.com to avoid a safe arrival phone call. Chag Sameach!

A reminder that Good Friday is on Friday April 14, and Monday April 17 is Easter Monday. VPPS will be closed on those 2 days.  There is no need to report absences on those 2 dates.  Happy Easter to those who will be celebrating!