december 2015 news - peel district school...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Families,
The winter break is almost here. It seems to coming faster each year. This month students will be focusing on “caring”. We have a few initiatives that will take place over the course of the next few weeks that will allow students to demonstrate caring. Our Student Leadership team is busily creating hundreds of candy grams that they will begin selling next week. Students can buy candy grams for 50 Cents to send to a friend. The pro-ceeds from the sales will go to the Salvation Army.
Our annual food drive for the Salvation Army begins on Monday Dec. 7th. Mme Riverin’s class is organizing the drive. Students are asked to bring non-perishable food items to school from now until December 16th. We are also collecting new hats and gloves to donate. Please consider sending something in to our food and clothing drive.
We are saying goodbye to Mrs. Mongia this week and thanking her for all the work she has done for our Springfield community over the past few months. We will miss her, but wish her all the best in her new role as Principal at Morton Way. We welcome Mrs. Daries into the vice-principal role and wish her well in this new part of her career.
Linda Lee
Inside this issue:
Extra-Curricular and
School Wide Events
2
Character Education 3
Green Kids 3
School Council and
Community
4
Kindergarten
Registration
5
Peel Key Messages 6-11
December Calendar
Principal: Linda Lee Vice-Principal: Vinita Mongia Office Manager: Tracy Finch
Superintendent: Shawn Moynihan
Trustee: Robert Crocker
SAFE ARRIVAL: 905 279-2330
3251 The Credit Woodlands Mississauga, Ontario
L5C 2J7
t 905.279.7950 f 905.279.8098
School Hours
December 2015 News
Mission Statement Our mission at Springfield is to help students live up to their dreams, reach their full potential, and become critical thinkers who
are prepared for tomorrow.
Vision We are a community of learners who come together for a common
purpose…our children...our future.
Values:To realize our mission and vision, we value Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Coopera-
tion, Honesty, Inclusion, Confidence, and Perseverance.
8:45 Supervision Begins
8:58 Entry Bell
9:00 Classes begin
10:20 Recess
11:55 Lunch
12:55 Classes re-sume
2:15 Recess
3:30 Dismissal
Page 2 Current Events...
Primary Winter Concert: Winter concert will take place on Thursday December 10th and 7PM SHARP. Students will be asked to arrive by 6:45 PM.
Choir Practices will continue during the month of December. See the Decem-ber calendar for practice
dates!
Junior Musical: Auditions will begin in the beginning of January. Stay tuned for more information in the new year. There will be an assembly in the new year
and information to follow in the January newsletter.
Ukulele Kids was a great success! Thanks to those who participated and to the parents for attending the
Sports Corner...
Bordon Ball: We are coming to the end of Bordon Ball. It will continue in the next few weeks and will finish up just before the
holidays
Grade 3 Scooter Ball: This will run from December to the end of January, during the lunch hour on Wednesdays and Fridays (Mondays also in January). All grade 3s are invited to participate and have been assigned a team. See dates on the December
calendar.
Grade 5,6 Basketball: This has started up this week and will run at lunch time until mid January. Basketball takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students have been
invited to join and are on teams.
Dance Club: The last day for dance club is Dec. 15th. Kids have had a great time learning all kinds of dance moves and
have had a great workout at the same time!
Skating has been off to a great start!
We had 99% student participation this year and look forward to seeing the students develop their skills and confi-dence over the next few Mondays. Our next two skating dates are Dec. 7th and 14th. Look for January dates in the calendar. We encourage families to go
skating over the winter break!
The Monster Book Fair featuring Frightfully Good
Reads! The Springfield Book Fair will take place next week from Dec. 7th to
11th.
It will be open in the evenings on
Dec,10th from 6-7 PM.
Parents who are at the Primary concert will also be able to visit the
book fair in the library!
Kids will be making their wish lists
ahead of time!
Page 3 Character Education
Character Education The Theme of the Month for December is CARING!
At Springfield P.S. we teach and recognize character education on a daily basis in our classrooms as well as with a monthly focus on one theme. These themes will be shared with you so that they can be supported at home!
Springfield Character Themes include:
Perseverance Respect Caring Cooperation
Confidence Honesty Responsible Inclusive
December 18th: PJ Day
January 22nd: Backwards Day
February 12th: Red and Pink Day
March 11th: Beach Day
April 22nd: Blue and Green
Earth Day
May 27th: Sports Jersey
June 17th: Hat Day
Thanks to all our students and
staff who created a great day
of school spirit at Springfield
on Wacky Hair Day!
Participation was outstanding
and there were lots of amazing
creations! We even had cup-
cake hair!!
Let’s get creative once again
on our next school sprit day
on Dec. 18th!
Our next character education
assembly is on Dec. 3rd!
Key Messages from Bullying Awareness and Prevention sessions: CHOOSE ACTION! Students made individual pledges and Class Pledges to Choose Action. They watched presentations and engaged in grade level and in class discussions about the difference between conflict and bullying behaviour and were reminded to TALK TO SOMEONE if they are being bullied. Their pencils #ICHOOSEACTION are reminders to stand up for themselves.
Thank You Green Kids!
Thank you to Green Kids Club for our successful Bake Sale. We raised $230 for the World Wildlife Foundation. Thank you to our parents and students for supporting this leadership initiative and for preparing the delicious treats for the students!
Page 4 School Council &Community Supports
School Council Corner:
School council met on Monday November 23rd
Please see school website for minutes of the first meeting
Council will meet again on January 11th at 7PM and all parents are welcome to attend
Volunteers are invited to support school council events
Pizza Day information was sent home but pizza days will start up again in January
Our next fundraiser will be the Move-a-thon in March
Council is also looking for new ideas for fundraising
Council is also working with staff and various organizations to develop a plan for re-forestation due to the loss of up to 100 trees on the property as a result of the
Emerald Ash Borer disease
Stay tuned for more information on our Movie Night
Co-Chair: Stacey Semkiw/Hamada Elmours
Co-Treasurer: Melanie Raven/HongChen Yue
Co-Secretary: Christine Chung/Naomi McBean-Uhunmwangho
Members at large: Nicky Rossi, Iryna Lazovik, Grace Wei, Asma Tasainar, Charity Tay, Kalsoom Fatima, Sabine DiSumma, Hafiz Rafaqat Ali Khan, Melissa Wilson
http://www.tangerinewalkin.com/
Tangerine Walk-In Counselling is a free service for children, youth and families who live in the
Peel Region.
This service is provided, in partnership, by Associat-ed Youth Services of Peel, Peel Children’s Centre, and
Rapport Youth & Family Services.
905-795-3530
Community Supports available to you...
Settlement Worker in Schools Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership Newcomer Centre of Peel 165 Dundas Street West Suite 401 Mississauga, ON L5B 2N6 P: 416-819-5178 F: 905-306-8800 E: [email protected] W: www.ncpeel.ca T: @DonnaPham26
http://www.kidshelpphone.ca
/Teens/Home.aspx
http://www.inurhead.ca/
Page 5 Kindergarten Registration
It's time to register children born in 2012 for kindergarten
We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2012, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2016. You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.
Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Feb. 1 to 4, 2016. Visit Springfield P.S. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 4.
What you will need to bring to registration
Proof of child's age (one of the following)
Canadian birth certificate
Canadian passport
citizenship card/certificate
Permanent Resident Card
confirmation of permanent residence
work permit
refugee permit
Proof of address (one of the following)
Ontario driver's license
utility bill
bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution)
credit card statement
federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents)
purchase agreement
Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alter-nate living arrangement
Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated
Page 6 Stay Connected with Peel
Subscribe to receive news from the Peel board Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive updates from the Peel District School Board. Subscribing is easy ¾ just visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under
"Quick Links."
During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information re-
garding details of cancellations or closures will be posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca.
You can also subscribe to receive:
News releases Keep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board
news and school events.
Board agendas Learn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board are open to the public
and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Board highlights Briefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings. Job postings for non-teaching staff
Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.
Follow us on social media
Social media is the easiest and fastest way to stay connected to
the amazing things happening in the Peel District School Board.
Follow @Peelschools on
Twitter to:learn about our schools and programs
find out if buses are cancelled during bad weather
share the Peel smile
Follow @Peelschools on Insta-
gram where we share motiva-
tional and inspirational
Follow Peel schools
on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/peelschools.
Our school is on social media too!
Follow us on Twitter @springfieldsch
Page 7 French Immersion
Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 29, 2016 If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is wheth-er you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French
The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.
The FI school for our area is [INSERT: name of school]. The phone number is [INSERT: phone number of FI school].
Enrolment cap and random selection process
As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots available for students en-tering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1.
Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. A random selection process system is used to identi-fy students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program.
All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using a computerized random selection pro-cess. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.
How to get more information
Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French
Call [name of school] at [phone number].
Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/
Apply for Extended French by Jan. 29, 2016 If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is wheth-er you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French
The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m.
The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist.
The EF school for our area is [INSERT: name of school]. The phone number is [INSERT: phone number of EF school].
How to get more information
Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French
Call [name of school] at [phone number].
Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/
Page 8 Regular Attendance
Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendance
Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class.
One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely attendance.
Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvi-ous. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more school days during the year. What
can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?
Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter? First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in elemen-tary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish pat-terns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some
other things to consider:
By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins.
Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious.
Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom.
A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind.
Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught.
Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and
hurt his self-esteem.
Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportuni-
ties to develop socially.
Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.
When Time is Ticking Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strategies
for getting your little one up and out the door on time.
Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.
Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall
routine, something that’s expected of him every day.
The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing
lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door.
Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e washing hands and face, going to the bathroom, dressing,
making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast.
Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games.
If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.
Need more information?
If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful
school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.
Page 9 Regular Attendance
Is it a sick day? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain in-fections, their hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the
protection of her classmates. But there are ways to cut down on sick days.
Teach your child about proper handwashing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose.
Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.
Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether
your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.
Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is hap-pening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness
sets a bad pattern.
If you decide to keep your child home, inform the school and keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon
as possible.
Set the right example Children follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your
child.
Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more
you value school, the more your child will.
Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.
Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school
or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.
When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended peri-od, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and re-join their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning
experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.
If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home.
That creates a bad precedent.
Help your family stay warm this winter
Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working
or playing outdoors:
Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.
Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body.
Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners, carry an extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.
Page 10 Bus Information
Bus cancellation & closing schools due to bad weather
During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.
Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peel schools, Fa-
cebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.
VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680
CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1
CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860
FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CTV
CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS
One of the following messages will be announced:
Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Per-mits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.
Winter bus safety The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road surfaces. Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt. On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to your child
about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:
When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe"
stranger is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.
Page 11 Winter Weather Information
Closing schools due to bad weather During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.
Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.
VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680
CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1
CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860
FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107
CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CTV
CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS
One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):
Peel District School Board buses are cancelled.
This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require bussing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.
All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed.
This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits.
All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.
This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.
All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.
This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.