W.R. BEST MEMORIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL
2221 Old Barrie Road West, Oro-Medonte
Ontario, L0L 2L0
Principal Telephone: 705-728-9591
Linda Blom Fax: 705-728-1753
Home of the Bobcats!
WR Best Memorial Public School Newsletter - September 2025
Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year, Bobcats!
We hope you had a wonderful summer and that everyone is ready for a great year at WR Best! We are ALL so proud of you!
As we all prepare for the first day of school, we wanted to share some information with you that may support your return to school.
Important Dates at WR Best:
September 12 - Oro Fair Day (trip will appear on school cash)
September 23 - Elementary Turnaround Day
September 26 - PA Day (Students do not attend)
Open house - date TBD
Terry Fox Run - date TBD
September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (wear your orange shirt)
Late September - hot lunches via LUNCHbox on SchoolCash online – if you’re new to School Cash Online information will be sent home later)
October 5 - Down Syndrome Walk
October 14 - School picture day
November 7 – Picture Retake Day Elementary School Year Calendar: Click Here
Graduation Photos: Wednesday February 4 2026
WR Best Memorial Public School Staff for September 2025-2026
Principal: Mme Linda Blom
Office Staff: Mrs. Ferguson until September 5
Grade 1: Mme Gratrix Planning Time: Mme Dewolfsmith, Mme Dusome
Grade 2: Mme Shier Librarian: Mme Saaliste
Grade 2/3: Mme Stainton SERT: Mme Raphael Tardif, Mme Saaliste
Grade 3/4: Mme Orr Educational Assistants: Mme Waters, Mme Potter
Grade 4/5: Mme Vyse
Grade 5/6: M Hamilton (Mme Winning)
Grade 6: M Snider (Mme McGregor)
Grade 7: Mme Landsborough
Grade 8: Mme Counter
Custodial Team: Mrs. Michener, TBA
First Day of School Procedures: On our first day of school, classroom teachers will be on the yard holding grade signs for ease of visibility. Parents/Guardians of primary students are welcome to accompany their child onto the school yard on the first day of school. Following our safe schools policy, parents/guardians are not permitted on the school yard during the day after the first day of school.
Open Communication Policy: Please establish an open line of communication with your child’s teacher; ask questions, share concerns, and work together to support your child’s success! Please reach out if you have any questions. Class Placements: As with every school year, class placements in September are tentative as we determine if there is a need to reorganize classes. If we are required to reorganize classes, we will communicate this with families prior to the turnaround date of September 23rd.
Procedures for Appointments & Early Pick Up: Your child’s education is important to us! As much as possible please try to schedule appointments for outside of the school day so that instructional times are not interrupted. If it is unavoidable and you need to pick up your child during the day, or need to pick them up early, please ensure you have sent a message to your child’s teacher so your child can be sent to the office at the designated time (please allow extra time for your child to pack up and make their way to the office). For safety reasons, we will not be able to accept pick ups between 2:45 and 3:40.
We are working to eliminate interrupting classes out of respect for the learning environment during instructional times. As such, we would ask that you please do not call the school regarding pick ups during the instructional day as it is both an interruption to the office and to your child’s learning. We appreciate your commitment to this collaborative effort!
Busing: Students must ride their own school bus to and from school and will not be permitted to ride a bus that is not their own except under special circumstances such as a family emergency. Our school buses are full and cannot accommodate students that are not assigned to the bus. As well, for safety and liability reasons, drivers must have an accurate list of students riding the bus in case of an emergency. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Oro World’s Fair: It has been a longstanding tradition that on the second Friday of the school year (this year September 12th), WR Best attends the fair and marches in the parade that opens the fair with the other Oro schools – this year we are leading the parade! We are excited that we will be able to continue that this year. We have decided to have our students travel to the fair by bus this year, and that information will be coming to you via SchoolCash Online very soon.
Our day at the fair should look as follows:
-TBD bus pick up at WR Best
-1:00 opening remarks
-1:30 parade
- 2:45 drop off at school
This is a community activity and, provides an invaluable opportunity for the children to experience the fair.
Medical Forms: Medical forms must be completed for any student who requires medication at school. These forms must be completed by parents/guardians and signed by a family physician and will be kept on file along with the medications. If you require a medical form, please let us know by calling the office or letting your child’s teacher know. We ask that any medical forms that were sent home in June for updating are sent back with your child during the first week of school.
Monthly Information updates from the SCDSB - visit the SCDSB website:
https://www.scdsb.on.ca/news/current_news/information_and_updates___sept__2025
· School board communication with parents/guardians
· SCDSB Code of Conduct
· Creating safe and welcoming spaces for students, staff, and visitors
· Safe Arrival system for SCDSB schools (elementary)
· Absence reporting system for SCDSB schools (secondary)
· SCDSB 2025-26 Student Handbook
· SCDSB Human Rights and Equity Office
· Use of Traditional Indigenous Medicines
· National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Sept. 30
· Universal Otis-Lennon School Ability Test screening process (elementary)
· School council nominations for 2025-26 school year
· Annual notice to adult student or parent(s)/guardian(s) of students under the age of 16
· Standard acknowledgment and permission form/student information computing technology appropriate use agreement 2025-26
· Student accident insurance 2025-26
· Updating student information on file at the school
· Volunteering in schools during the 2025-26 school year
· Procedures help keep our school safe
· Student dress code
· School bus ‘Bus Tag’ program helps students get to and from school safely
· YouthReach
· SCDSB offers free Self-Reg Parenting Course – registration now open!
· Five tips for a healthy start back to school
· September PA Day