We've hit the ground running, and excitement is in the air here at Rippleton. Here's what you need to know as we settle into September. Please take a few minutes to read on, as there are a few important dates, systems, and reminders.

🔔 Daily Arrival & Dismissal

Students in Grades 1–5 are dropped off in the schoolyard, and Kindergarten students in the enclosed Kindergarten playground, no later than 9:08 a.m. Our staff will then escort students inside shortly after to begin their school day.

At dismissal, students who don't take the bus or attend childcare will be walked back to their morning drop-off spot to meet their families at 3:40 p.m. Please arrive right at 3:40 p.m., so students can enjoy a full, uninterrupted day with their classmates.

📞 Reporting Absences & Lates

If your child will be late or absent, please call our Safe Arrival line at 416-395-2810 or 1-833-250-2290 and follow the prompts. You can also report absences in advance. Please note: even if you've told your child's teacher, the absence still needs to be reported to the office separately.

For a quicker option, you can use the School Messenger app to report absences in just a few taps.

🚌 Busing

Families whose children take the school bus should already have set up an account on the Student Transportation Portal to view your child's stop, operator, route number, and to sign up for late bus alerts.

Questions or concerns:

• Call Centre: 647-790-3829
• General Inquiries: transportation@torontoschoolbus.org
• Safety Concerns: safety@torontoschoolbus.org
• Portal Technical Support: support@torontoschoolbus.org

🚗 Parking & Safety Around the School

Safety always comes before convenience. Mornings can be hectic, but every one of us needs to make the right choice, every time.

Please:

• Obey posted school zone speed limits
• Stop and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
• Avoid double-parking or stopping in crosswalks
• Put phones away while driving near the school
• Watch for children darting between parked cars

A few key areas to know:

• School Parking Lot: Unavailable for parking, drop-off, or pick-up from 8:15 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. daily.
• Bus Loading Zones: Must stay clear for buses only at all times.  This year we have seven buses to load and unload students each day.
• Kiss & Ride: Open 8:55–9:05 a.m. for drop-off, and also used by buses. Used for quick drop-offs only.
• Street Parking: Limited free parking is available on Rippleton Rd. and nearby streets, please park only in legal spots and never block a driveway.
• No parking in designated Fire Routes at any time, or in Accessible spaces without a valid permit. Staff parking areas are reserved for staff only.

Parking Enforcement and Toronto Police Service do patrol the school and will ticket or tow non-compliant vehicles. Thank you for helping keep the area safe and clear for everyone.

🏃 Excursion Management App (EMA)

The TDSB's Excursion Management Application (EMA) is the system used for school trips and team tryouts/sign-ups. Families can access it here: parent.ema.tdsb.on.ca

First up: Cross-Country!

Cross-country running for Grades 1-5 student-athletes begins at Rippleton on Monday, September 14. Practices are every morning at 8:30 a.m. Please meet coaches in the schoolyard. Students who come to school by bus will have an alternate practice time at lunch with their coaches.

To participate, you must sign up through EMA:

• If you already have an EMA account, log in and find the team sign-up under the Athletics tab.
• If you don't yet have an account, create one, then find the team sign-up under the Athletics tab.

💳 Cash Online & School Agendas

School Cash Online is the TDSB system used to pay for school activities, trips, and items like the Rippleton student agenda. Learn more and set up your account here: TDSB Cash Online

Grade 3–5 students have already received their school agenda, and payment ($10) can be made through Cash Online. Agendas help students build organization and planning skills, track homework and due dates, and create a daily home-school communication link, a small tool that makes a real difference in the day-to-day.

🍕 RAPT & Special Lunch Days

RAPT (Rippleton Association of Parents and Teachers) is our school council and helps run several of the special lunch programs throughout the year, including Subway and Hero Burger days.

• Order special lunch days through Lunchbox — see ordering instructions here
• Full special lunch day calendar

Pizza Lunch happens throughout the year starting on Oct. 9, and usually on Thursdays or Fridays. See the full schedule and pricing here

👋 Kindie Meet & Greet

Join us Friday, September 18 for our Kindergarten Meet & Greet! See the flyer for full details

🎗️ Terry Fox Run

Rippleton's Terry Fox Run takes place Thursday, September 24, with a rain date of Friday, September 25. You can donate on our Rippleton Terry Fox Run Page to support cancer research.  More details to follow closer to the date.

📝 Start of Year Forms

The TDSB emailed all families directly in August (from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com) with a link to complete Start of Year forms for each of your children.

These forms ensure our school has up-to-date, accurate student information on file, as well as consent for school activities. Please complete the form as soon as possible to help ensure a smooth start to the year.

For more information on how to complete the form, the TDSB has put together an explainer video.

🤝 Volunteering & Vulnerable Sector Checks

Volunteering at Rippleton continues to enrich student experiences and supports programs that might not otherwise be possible if it weren't for our amazing families.  From driving students to sporting events and helping with RAPT activities, volunteering plays an important role in our students' success.

New this year: the TDSB has an updated Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) program with Toronto Police Service.

• Who needs one: Anyone 18+ entering schools and/or working with students, including drivers for sporting events and RAPT volunteers.
• Toronto residents: apply through the Toronto Police Service online VSC process.
• Non-Toronto residents: obtain a VSC through your home jurisdiction's police service.
• Share results directly with TDSB via the digital copy emailed to you, or email a copy to policereferencecheckoffice@tdsb.on.ca with the statement: "This is a copy of the original and has not been altered in any way."

Questions? Contact the TDSB Police Reference Check Office at 416-393-0759 or policereferencecheckoffice@tdsb.on.ca.

Please stay up to date with your child's school by accessing their online classroom and communication, as well as through our Rippleton calendar, Rippleton X-page and our website.

Thank you for doing your part in making this a great start to the 2026/2027 school year!  

The Rippleton Team

Message to SK - Grade 2 Families:

Reading is a foundational skill critical to student success, both in the classroom and beyond. Our school will be administering annual early reading screening for all students in Year 2 (SK) of Kindergarten through Grade 2. Early reading screening is mandated by the Ministry of Education through Policy/Program Memorandum #168. 

From language and social studies to science and math, reading skills are critical to student success across their entire educational journey, and having strong reading skills can ensure future career and personal success.

Early reading screening is a tool to identify students who are experiencing difficulties with early reading skills so they can receive the support they need to improve their reading ability and give them the best opportunity for success. The purpose of early reading screening is to:

1. monitor your child’s development in specific early reading skills,
2. identify children who may need additional reading support, and
3. guide instructional next steps, such as determining the need for further assessment and/or investigation

The mandatory annual screening will be completed this fall. Early reading screening is a tool to help us understand and communicate your child’s individual reading progress on specific skills so that we can support their unique needs. The results of the screening are not used as part of your child’s grades, but instead is one tool that will help identify the support they need in order to develop strong reading skills.

The screening covers various foundational skills needed for reading. For example, your child might be asked to identify letters and corresponding sounds or sound out words. The specific details of the screening will vary depending on the grade. No additional preparation is needed nor expected for the screening.

Below are the skill areas and reading measures your child will be screened for through the use of 

Nelson easyCBM:

Early reading screening benchmarks indicate how students are doing on a specific set of reading skills. Students whose scores fall below the benchmark will be provided with further assessments to help determine individual needs and may require additional support to help them catch up. It is important to keep in mind that the screening only provides one piece of information about your child’s language and literacy skills. Your child’s teacher will use many other assessments and teaching tools to support your child with their reading.

Teachers will connect with you to discuss your child’s strengths, areas of need, and to share examples of their growth and progress over time. Results of the first screening will be communicated to you once completed, as well as in your child’s first Kindergarten Communication of Learning or Elementary Provincial Report Card, issued in February 2027, and will indicate whether your child has met or not yet met the screening benchmark at the time of their screening. Teachers will maintain ongoing communication with you to discuss the results of classroom assessments, as needed.

Should you have any questions or concerns about your child’s reading progress, you are encouraged to reach out to your child’s teacher.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring that your child has the best possible learning experience.

Welcome, and welcome back, everyone! We hope you had a wonderful summer break and are as excited as we are for the year ahead. Our staff have been hard at work getting ready for our students to return, and we can't wait to see our hallways full of energy again. Preparing for the beginning of a new school year takes the hard work and commitment of many caring individuals, and we'd like to recognize a few of them:

• Mr. Darin and Mr. Liam have worked hard throughout the summer, and their efforts are clearly visible throughout our school, both inside and out.
• Mrs. Reyes has been busy getting our office ready, entering student registrations, and completing the countless tasks required to launch a new school year.
• And, last but certainly not least, our teachers and support staff, who have been setting up warm, ready-to-go classrooms and programs to ensure a successful and engaging year for students.

• Before Day 1: Your child's homeroom teacher will reach out directly to introduce themselves and confirm class assignments.
• Arrival (9:00 AM): Rippleton Staff will be outside to greet families and help students find their class line. Homeroom teachers will hold signs with their names and room numbers. If you're unsure which class your child is in, please see any of our staff with a clipboard for assistance.
• Grades 1–5: Meet in the main schoolyard.
• Kindergarten: Meet in the Kindergarten playground.
• School Day: Teachers will bring students inside at 9:10 AM, as students say goodbye to their families.
• Dismissal (3:40 PM): Pick-up is in the same location where students lined up in the morning.

School Bus Notice: Busing does not begin until Thursday, September 10th. Please ensure you have alternative transportation arranged until your child is confirmed to have busing transportation. Families whose children take the school bus need to set up an account on the School Bus Transportation Portal.

Mr. da Luz