October 2013

GRAVENHURST PUBLIC SCHOOL … CENTRE OF OUR COMMUNITY

Principal ’s Message

Principal: Caroline Pattison Vice Principal: Jill Coates Louise Clodd, Trustee

C. Pattison

Telephone: 687-2011 Safe Arrival: 687-3361

www.tldsb.on.ca/schools/GravenhurstPS

We’ve had a great 1st month of school!

Our building has been full of enthusiasm and positive energy. What a wonderful environment in

which students can learn and grow! Already, students have been engaged in their classrooms, taking

part in intramurals, and visiting the public library. We had many families here for our Terry Fox and

Meet the Teacher events. It’s wonderful to have the support and involvement of our families and

community!

Our school’s EQAO results (primary and junior provincial achievement tests) have been posted on the

EQAO website. These results provide us with valuable information on the trends of our students’

academic strengths and needs. This year, we will continue to focus on Math and to promote student

academic engagement, as well as student leadership, respect and responsibility.

Our character trait focus for the month of October is perseverance. We’re teaching students that

perseverance is being committed to your goals and overcoming obstacles; that when you persevere,

you don’t give up. Together, let’s support our students to learn the value of perseverance.

Please remember during our busy arrival and dismissal times to wait for your child(ren) outside their

exit doors. If you need to enter the school, please remember to sign in at the office. This is an

important process in our safety procedures. If you happen to arrive at the school during a safety drill

(fire / lockdown), please remain outside until the drill is completed. Thank you for your support.

We had our first School Council meeting this month. Our Chair for this year continues to be Amanda

Pallister, with co-chair Lindsay Donaldson. School Council already has many wonderful things

planned for this year. We invite all parents to be involved in our school.

The next School Council meeting is November 25th at 6 pm in the school library.

This Friday, during our PA day, while students begin their weekend early, our school staff will be

meeting and planning for continuous school improvement.

I wish you all a very enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend.

C. Pattison

Nut Safety!

Please do not send any food items

containing nuts to school with

your son/ daughter.

Thank you!

Dates to Remember!

October 11 PA Day

October 15 Electrical Safety Presentations

October 18 School Photos

October 23 Gr 7/8 Soccer Tournament

S C H O O L N E W S

Gnus from the Gym:

It is hard to believe that we are already into October!

Where has September gone to? We have had some beautiful weather for our phys-ed classes

this month. We have started up the GPS running club with some keen students and we run on

Monday and Wednesdays right after school. These students are running in preparation for our

upcoming Grizzly Gallop and Evan Luker run. The Grizzly Gallop will be run in the first and

third block on Tuesday October 1/13. Students in grades 1-8 who place in the first six in their

grade will be heading to the Evan Luker Run on Wed. Oct. 9/13 at Muskoka Falls Public

School. This is always a great event with students running against a number of students from

the Central-South school region. Once students have run here, they have the opportunity if they

are in grades 4-8 to go and run in an awesome event which is the Muskoka Mud Run on Oct.

18/13. Life is never dull at GPS. I would personally like to thank the following parents for their

assistance with the Grizzly Gallop. Without their help we could not run such a successful

event. Thanks very much to Tamara Carley, Julia Pennick, Carly Peters, Amanda Pallister and

Lisa White.

The Grade 7/8 soccer team has been busy practicing during their second nutrition break and

recesses twice a week. Sarah Crowther, a new staff member has volunteered to coach them

and they will be participating in a Soccer tournament towards the end of October.

The Intramural Soccer league is quickly winding down and we are in semi-finals and finals

this week. The next Intramural that students can sign up for will be Lacrosse for the Juniors and

Flag Football for the Intermediate students. Just a reminder that parents are always welcome

to come and watch their child during our Intramural time which is the first recess.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS:

FEAT OF THE WEEK:

Sept. 9/13 A large number of grade 3 students who have been changing daily for phys-ed.

Sept. 16/13- Mrs. Atkin’s Gr. 1/2 and Mrs. Bonden’s Gr. 2 classes for leading the activity dance

during assembly in the gym.

Sept. 23/13- Elyshia and Keegan for excellent goal-tending in phys-ed.

Sept. 30/13- Matthew, Nathan and Aaron for great sportsmanship and perseverance during a

soccer game.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH:

Junior- Hayden and Shaylynn

Intermediate: Maddy and Devon

S C H O O L A N D C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

Muskoka Mud Run

For Students in Grade 4-8

Friday, October 18th

10:30—2 pm @ Morrison

Meadows in Bracebridge

Please come and cheer us on!

Picture Day!

Friday October 18th

Bring your Smile!

School office reminders!

Please remember to call our Safe Arrival

number 687-3361 if your child will be absent

or late for school.

Please be sure to write any messages for after

school pick up in your child’s agenda.

Our Lost and Found is filling up….please

encourage your child to check for lost items!

Mrs, Child’s JK/SK class Art will be featured at our

local Sobey’s !

Take a look for their Apple Art next time you are

shopping!

GPS will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair

November 20—22 Sneak peek book flyer & fair hours will be coming

home soon!

Did you know?

Boston Pizza will donate 5% of your bill

back to our school, if you write GPS on the back of your bill!

Thank you for supporting our school!

Electrical Safety Presentation

October 15

Come and join us!

MON TUES WED THURS FRI

1 2 3 4

7 8 9 10 11

14 15 16 17 18

21 22 23 24 25

28 29 30 31

October 2013

Gravenhurst Public School… The Centre of Our Community

Milk is sold every day at FIRST Nutrition Break for $1.00

PA DAY

NO SCHOOL!

Immunizations

today

GR 7/8

Mrs. Atkin & Mrs.

Veitch’s Classes

Trip 9:30 –2 pm

Ms. Bondon & Mrs

Orchard’s Classes

Trip 9:30—2pm

Picture Day!

Bus Evacuation

Drill

GR 7/8

Soccer

Tournament

Evan Luker Run

Mrs. Childs, Guerriero and Dent’s

Classes are going to Okre Farm

Electrical

Presentations