THE REMAINDER OF THE NEWSLETTER CAN BE FOUND ON OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE AT:

Learning Together, Soaring to Greater Heights

Esker Lake School Hours

Morning Entry: 8:35 a.m. Nutrition Break 1: 10:25 a.m. Nutrition Break 2: 12:55 p.m. Afternoon Dismissal: 2:55 p.m Thanks for getting your children to school on time.

June 2018

@EskerLakePS Ms. L. Adams, Principal Ms. A. Duncan, Vice Principal Mrs. S. Fealy, Office Manager

Mr. M. McCutcheon, Superintendent 905-451-2862 Mrs. S. Nurse, Trustee 905-495-3423

http://schools.peelschools.org/1475

What information can I find in the newsletter? -Events calendar -Changes to Safe Arrival System -Preparing for summer -...AND MUCH MORE!

Esker Lake Public School 905-840-5442

PLEASE GO CHECK IT OUT AND SEE THE PICTURES!

Reminder: Report cards go home Tuesday June 26th!

Grade 5 Graduation Tuesday

June 26th– More details

will be coming!

Respect Assembly is on

Thursday June 28th @ 9:05 a.m.

Red and White Spirit Day

Thursday June 28th! Wear Red

and White

ESKER LAKE home of the

Peel board raises Pride and First Nations flags in schools, sites in June

In the month of June, Peel District School Board schools and sites will raise and/or display Pride and First Nations flags, in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation. The raising of flags is only one of the ways we help to create spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and safe for students, staff and families.

Reminder: Library Books are due Friday June 15th.

Esker Lake

News!

Culture Day with

Ms. Adams. Thank

you for being there

for our students!

Sustance Abuse Presentations by MADD The Juke Box Time Machine Musical was a huge success! Thank you Mrs. Pugliese, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Rak, Mrs. Krawczyk, Mrs. Brown and staff for all your hard work!

Reader’s

Theatre in Action

Esker Lake P.S. Has Heart!!! At the beginning of April, the staff and students of Esker Lake P.S. participated once again in the JUMP ROPE FOR HEART skip-a-thon which raises funds for the Ontario Heart & Stroke Foundation. This is truly a unique program which combines physical and cardiovascular health education with raising money, for a great cause! This year, the Esker Lake community raised $3747.50 for this worthwhile cause and had a great deal of fun JUMPING to it!! Prizes have already been distributed to all winners. Tax receipts were given out for donations over $20 to those parents who printed legibly, and wrote out their complete address. Mrs. Krawczyk would like to thank all students, parents and teachers who made this year’s skip-a-thon a great success! A very special “thanks” goes out to Ms. Adams, Ms. Duncan, Mrs. Byrne, Mrs. Fealy, Ms.Pugliese, Mrs. Coulson, and the children of 2A for all of your assistance with this annual event.

Elementary SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Attendance Program Elementary parents are reminded to sign up for a Safe Arrival account in order to re-port a child's absence in a quick and easy manner. Set up your account by going to: go.schoolmessenger.ca and use the same email address the school has on file for you. You can also download the blue School Messenger App to your smartphone. If parents prefer not to set up an account, the toll-free number is always available for all families: (1-855-209-6155) A few things to note with our new system:

-parents are encouraged to add the 1-855-209-6155 number to their Contacts (under PDSB or School Name) so the number can easily be identified when it calls this new system will call once per child, therefore if you have three children absent at one time, you will receive three different phone calls

-parents who set up an account can choose their preferences as to which numbers will be called -parents can report Late Arrivals by choosing the Report an Absence option first, then choosing Late

Arrival in the sub-menu As always, parents are encouraged to report absences in advance to the Safe Arrival system.

A new way to ‘Share the Smile’ In every Peel school and worksite, there are endless inspiring stories just waiting to be told. To help share the smile, the Peel board has launched a new website to showcase these amazing #PeelFam stories, people and creations.

Visit www.sharethesmile.ca to view some of the stories, people and creations we’ve

featured so far. We encourage students, staff, parents and the community to share the stories happening in their school community. In the top right corner, you share by clicking ‘Share Your Story’.

On the road again—how to keep your cyclist safe Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start: The right fit

children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground

a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard

the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's uncomfortable

Get noticed

a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector older riders should have a light and/or reflectors Follow the rules

no riding on busy streets

no riding at night

Preparing for the summer sun

Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to health concerns such as sunburn and skin can-cer. As summer approaches and the weather gets warmer, it is necessary to apply sunscreen to protect ourselves from too much sun damage and burns. In summer, we are exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays. This exposure is a risk factor for developing skin cancer and cataracts later in life. The UV index is the measure commonly used in Canada to assess the strength of the sun’s UV rays risk on a given day. What is the UV Index? The index scale ranges from 0 to 10. The higher the value, the more intense ultraviolet rays. The UV index is calculated daily by Environment Canada using ozone and weather information. It can vary from day to day with changes in the ozone layer – the thinner the ozone layer, the higher the index reading. How to protect your family from the sun?

Wear a hat (preferably with a broad brim), sunglasses and protective clothing on sunny days.

Use sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater whenever you're outdoors.

Encourage your children to play in shady areas if they are outside for a long period of time.

Remember that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day, as up to 80 per cent of UV rays can penetrate light clouds, and 40 per cent of UV rays can bounce back from sand, water or concrete.

Summer activities that boost learning

Kindergarten to grade 4 Sorting and stacking – Teach classification skills with dinnerware. Ask your child to match and stack dishes of similar sizes and shapes. Also have your child sort flatware – forks with forks, spoons with spoons. This is like recogniz-ing the shapes of letters and numbers. Comic strip writing – Use comic strips to help with writing. Cut the segments of a comic strip apart and ask your child to arrange them in order. Then ask your child to fill in the words of the characters (orally or in writing). Float and sink – Encourage hypothesizing (guessing). Use several objects – soap, a dry sock, a bottle of shampoo, a wet sponge, an empty bottle. Ask your child which objects will float when dropped into water in a sink or bathtub. Then drop the objects in the water, one by one, to see what happens.

Grades 5 to 8 Follow the news – As a family, choose an important news event to follow for a day or two. Ask each person to find as much infor-mation on the topic as possible – read newspapers, look at online news webpages, listen to the radio and watch TV news. Then talk about what everyone learned. Pro and con: what do you think? – Make a family game of discussing a special issue. For example, "Teenagers should be allowed to vote," or "There should never be any homework." Ask your children to think of all the reasons they can to support their views. Then ask them to think of reasons opposing their views. Which views are most convincing? For variety, assign family members to teams and have them prepare their arguments pro and con. Stretch, run, walk – Ask your child to do at least one kind of exercise every day. For example, run or walk briskly for 10 minutes. Walk, when possible, instead of driving, for any distance less than a mile. Have your child make a week-long exercise plan. Try to think of a modest reward for sticking to the plan and exercise with your child.

Peel board recognizes Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

on June 12th

The Peel board will recognize the contribution of school crossing guards on Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, June 12. The board encourages students, parents and staff to take a moment to thank the neighbourhood crossing guards who help to ensure a safe journey to and from school for thousands of students every day.

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced Eng-lish (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam. Classes are ongoing - Register anytime. All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at: Bramalea - Adult Education Centre - 25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3

Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street

Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000, then press 2 Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL

We Welcome the World Centres

The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educational system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and referrals.

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: -settlement service information -age and grade appropriate educational and related program resources -information about various community supports -translation of materials to support the reception and assessment process -computer portals— providing information on Peel resources

For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.

What is an IPRC? IPRC stands for Identification, Placement and Review Committee. Each student is unique and has different needs when it comes to education. All students need the support of teachers, classmates, family and friends to succeed in the school environment, however, some students need more support and may be deemed exceptional. The IPRC is a formal process, governed by provincial law that is designed to help students get the special education assistance that they need. These committees do three main things:

-Determine if the student is exceptional and meets the criteria for identification under one of the five areas of exceptionality. -Consider and recommend the best placement to meet their needs -Review the identification and placement yearly

You and your child are entitled to be a part of this process to ensure the right educational choices are made. Your child’s teacher or principal are a good starting point if you have any question about the IPRC. SEAC representatives can also help you understand the process and options available. For detailed infor-mation see the link to “A Parent’s Guide to IPRC” at www.peelschools.org/parents/specialed/iprc.

Summer Well-being

Summer break is around the corner! The psychological and physiological benefits of summer are hard to beat.

However, while summer allows for a break from the routine and structure of the school year, for some children

and youth, it can be stressful to be away from school. So, while the stressors change when the last school bell

signals summer, they don't disappear.

Here at a few tips for summer well-being to keep everyone safe and having fun in the sun!

Get outside. With longer and warmer days, try to spend more time outdoors which increases our vitamin D intake

and allows us more time to exercise and connect with nature. A minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical activity is

recommended for all children and youth. Healthy body = healthy mind.

Always stay hydrated. Replace sugary sports drinks & sodas with water; add slices of fresh fruit like strawberries, lemons, limes or watermelons to your water for a delicious flavor. Staying hydrated prevents heat related illness: symptoms are headache, cold sweats, exhaustion, nausea and/or vomiting, and diarrhea. Get plenty of rest. During the hot summer heat, making sure you get plenty of rest is important to prevent heat exhaustion. While playing outside, take frequent shaded breaks and use sunscreen. Getting 8-10 hours of sleep every night is important for recuperation and growth. Wear safety gear. Whether you are riding your bike or swimming in a pool always wear the recommended safety gear. Being safe reduces stress for everyone! A good rule is that if you are not doing an activity safely; you will not be allowed to do it.

Be safe on-line. Some students will stay in-touch over the summer primarily on-line. Remember that some people

will use electronic media to embarrass, harass, or threaten their peers. When there is cyberbullying occurring

remember to save it, report it, and block it. If the incident is criminal call Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS

(8477).

Constant communication for the win! Using open ended questions with children and youth can help identify fears,

anxieties and concerns. Ask questions like, “How are you feeling about going to summer camp?” In addition,

communicating expectations about what is going to occur during the summer will help to ease transitions. Saying, “I

am inviting relatives to stay with us in July” or saying, “You will need to be in bed by 9 pm on weekdays this sum-

mer” allows children and youth time to adjust to what will occur. Over summer break remember that HELP is always available:

Peel Children’s Centre maintains a Crisis Response Service (24/7/365) if your child is experiencing a serious mental health problem at 416-410-8615 Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. 1-800-668-6868.

Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder June 2018 The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes the special faith and culture days of our communities. June 2018 has several holy days and holidays to celebrate and remember. ______________________________________________________________________ June - Miso'o and Strawberry Moon in Aboriginal Spirituality Miso'o is celebrated by the Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in northwest British Columbia. It is the season of sock-eye salmon, the most important food source for the coming year. Dried and smoked, the salmon is both a staple food and a trade item. The sixth moon of Creation is called Strawberry Moon by the Ojibwe people. In order to honour reconciliation medi-cine associated with strawberry, the Indigenous communities hold their feasts during this period. June – Aboriginal History Month in Canada In 2009, June was declared National Aboriginal History Month, following the passing of a unanimous motion in the House of Commons. The rich heritage and contributions, both historical and current, that Aboriginal communities have made and continue to make to Canada are recognized, celebrated and observed through a variety of events and activities during the course of the month. June 3 - All Saints Day in Christianity (J) All Saints' Day began as the Feast of All Martyrs on May 13, 609 A.D. All Saints' Day is a feast that honours and re-members all Christian saints known and unknown. What Eastern churches do on the Feast of All Saints differs wide-ly. June 5 to 23 - the month of Núr in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. June 5 is the beginning of Núr, the fifth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "light". The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

June 8 - Jamatul Widha in Islam Jamatul Widha also known as Juma-tul Widha is observed on the last Friday of the holy month of Rama- dan. Prayers offered on this Friday are extremely significant to followers of the faith. They believe that any lapses in prayers during the year can be recompensed by offering heartfelt prayers on this day in the mosque. Evening of June 7 or 9 to June 8 or 10 - Lailat ul-Qadr in Islam Lailat ul-Qadr is the holiest night of the holy month of Ramadan. It is also called the "Night of Power," as Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad first received God's revelation (Qur'an) on this night. Followers spend the night in worship. June 15 - Eid ul-Fitr in Islam Eid ul-Fitr is the first day of the 10th month (Shawwal) in the Islamic calendar and follows Ramadan, the month of fasting. It is a time of rejoicing. Eid is a day of peace, forgiveness and thanksgiving when Muslims assemble to celebrate and to offer their gratitude to Allah. June 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev in Sikhism Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru (1563-1606) and the religion's first martyr. He laid the foundation of the Harmandir (temple), in which Sikhs could meet for worship, in the town of Amritsar, India. The temple was constructed with entrances in all four directions to emphasize that the Sikh way is open to all, regardless of caste, creed or race. This temple is also known as the Golden Temple. Sikhs remember Arjan Dev for contributing to and compiling the Sikh Scriptures Adi Granth, also known as Guru Granth Sahib. June 18 to 22 – National Aboriginal Week in Aboriginal Spirituality The second last week in June is when the Aboriginal communities across Canada celebrate their culture, heritage and spirituality. During this week-long period many Pow-Wows and gatherings are held. June 21 - National Aboriginal Day in Aboriginal Spirituality National Aboriginal Day is celebrated on June 21. It is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. On this day, Canadians celebrate the rich history, heritage and contributions Aboriginal peoples have made and continue to make to Canada. Since many Aboriginal

celebrate the summer solstice, which has important symbolism within their cultures, National Aboriginal Day is cele-brated on the longest day of the year. June 22 - Litha in Wicca Litha (also called Midsummer's Eve) sabbat takes place on the summer solstice, when the sun is at the height of its power, creating the longest day of the year. Feasts may include berries, veal, new vegetables and honey wine. Sun-flowers are used to decorate the home during this festival. June 24 to July 12 - the month of Rahmat in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. June 24 is the beginning of Rahmat, the sixth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "mercy." The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day. June 24 - St. Jean Baptiste Day in Christianity and Canada St Jean Baptiste Day celebrates the birth of John the Baptist for French speaking cultures in Canada. King Clovis of France made it a religious celebration. St. Jean Baptiste is considered a patron saint by French Canadians. The cele-bration is now known as the Fête Nationale in Quebec. June 27 - Multiculturalism Day in Canada Canada celebrates Multiculturalism Day on June 27. The day recognizes the contributions that diverse communities have made in building Canada as they settled and continue in the present to enrich Canadian society socially, eco-nomically, politically and spiritually. The day also celebrates our country's unity, cultural richness and diversity. June 29 - Poson in Buddhism The Poson festival commemorates the anniversary of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Buddha's disciple Mahinda (son of Emperor Ashoka) in 3rd century B.C. The festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day in June. June 29 to July 3 - Ghambar Maidyoshem in Zoroastriani

Ghambar Maidyoshem, also known as the mid-summer feast, celebrates the creation of water, the sowing of the summer crop and the harvesting of grain.

Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed religions: - Make sure the dates are included on your school calendar - Have your principal announce the day over the PA system - Hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days - Include a mention of these days in your school newsletter - Include information on your school website - Display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these days - Invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this day with students - Have class discussions about these days - Ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on how they celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this celebration with the other students. - Have parents offer a cultural session Questions? If you would like additional information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Big-da, Community Relations Office at 905 890 010 (or 1 800 668 1146) ext. 2573 or e-mail her at Ash-ley.Bigda@peelsb.com

Peel board raises Pride and First Nations flags in schools, sites in June

In the month of June, Peel District School Board schools and sites will raise and/or display Pride and First Nations flags, in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation. The raising of flags is only one of the ways we help to create spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and safe for students, staff and families. The decision to raise these flags is about acceptance and inclusion, but it’s also about hope; it’s about understanding that everyone should feel proud of who they are and that public education plays a role in upholding the inherent dignity and worth of all persons.

Pride Flags will be raised in all schools and sites in June. The board has consulted with The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and the board’s Indigenous Education Advisory Circle (IEAC), and will raise The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Flag, in recognizing their treaty territory. As it will take several weeks for delivery of The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Flags, one will only be flown at the HJA Brown Education Centre (central board office) in June until the other flags arrive. This decision was made in consultation with The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and the board’s IEAC.

The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation, but by estab-lished practice. The rules applied by the federal government are not mandatory for individuals or organizations; they serve as guidelines for all persons who wish to display the Canadian flag and other flags in Canada. Other flags have been flown on the same pole as the Canadian flag in neighbouring school boards for years without issue. As a board, we are committed to achieving inclusion for all through continuous progress on equity. This is yet another step for us in our journey and aligns with our board commitment to supporting students from marginalized communities, including Indigenous students and students who identify as LGBTQ+. This work is included in the board’s strategic plan, our Plan for Student Success. Please join us in helping to ensure all our students, staff and families are welcomed and accepted, in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation.