MISSION

Royal Orchard Middle School

will foster an environment that

values mutual respect, lifelong

learning and diversity. We

celebrate staff, students and

community achievements.

VISION

Royal Orchard Middle School

will cultivate a collaborative

professional learning

community: Staff, students,

parents and community strive

for Excellence in the 4 A’s

Engagement and a celebration

of Diversity and Student

Success

ARRIVAL, LUNCH and DISMISSAL TIMES

CORE VALUES

Respect

Honesty

Responsibility

Perseverance

Empathy

Morning bell: 8:25 a.m.

Lunch hour: 11:15 am-12:15 pm

Dismissal: 2:35 p.m.

Please visit our school web-

site:http://schools.peelschools.org/1483/Pages/default.aspx

PRINCIPAL

Mr. Kervin White

VICE-PRINCIPAL

Mrs. M. Martin

OFFICE MANAGER

Mrs. D. Guglietti

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Mr. J. deFrietas

905-451-2862

TRUSTEE

Mr. David Green

905-495-4579

DJ PROGRAM LINKS MATH TO MUSIC

Students from Royal Orchard Middle School, will have the

opportunity to develop their DJ skills as they integrate

mathematics and music. Joseph Khargie, founder of the TAHO Foundation will

be teaching students how to develop their own unique beats, rhythms and sounds

using authentic DJ’ing equipment. As a part of this community partnership, our

students will have the opportunity to represent ROMS, at the upcoming ‘DJ

Scratch Competition’ being held at Bramalea Secondary School in December. Mr.

Chang and Ms. Stephen look forward to working with the ROMS DJ Crew on this

exciting new venture. Big Ups to ROMS!

ATTENDANCE

To report your child’s absence, please call this number and follow the prompts:

1-855-209-6155

STUDENT LED LEARNING WALK

Please join us for our upcoming Student Led Learning Walk on Thursday , No-

vember 16 and Friday November 17 in the school gym during parent/ teacher in-

terviews. Come celebrate the learning journey of Royal Orchard students.

“Collaborate , Bel ieve , Succeed”

Phone: 905-455-3760 77 Royal Orchard Drive

Brampton, Ontario

L6X 4M4

Page 2

DATES TO REMEMBER

Nov. 1 Grade 7s visit David Suzuki Secondary School (a.m.)

Nov. 1,15, 22, 29 Babysitting Course

Nov. 3 Yoga Instructor with AIM classes

Nov. 7 Heart Lake Secondary School Presentation in Gym Grade 8

Nov. 8 AIM Trip to Brampton Beast

Nov. 9 David Suzuki Secondary School Presentation in Gym for Grade 8

Nov. 11 Remembrance Day

Nov. 16 Parent Teacher Interview Evening/Student Led Learning Walk

Nov. 17 Reporting to Parents (no school for students) Student Led learning Walk

Nov. 23 Sr. Boys Volleyball Tournament

KISS AND RIDE

Please pick up and drop off your child in the Kiss and Ride lane and follow these instructions for safety and

efficiency.

Please stay in the right hand lane.

Pull your car forward as far as possible.in the lane.

ROMS staff will help direct you.

. Let’s keep working together for a safe year!

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Please join us for our School Council meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in

the library. Learn about our school. Contribute your voice to our ROMS community. If you would like to

know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact Mary Martin VP.

OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS

Dr. Kristen McCleod presents Kids, Brains and Stress on Tuesday, November 7, from 7-9 p.m. at the HJA

Brown Education Centre, Board Room. This parents only event is free. Register early as only 300 spots are

available. RSVP by November 3, 2017 to: Raquel Parris

905-890-1010

FROM THE LIBRARY

We had a great start to the school year with positive feedback from students loving the NEW LOOK to the

Learning Commons. We look forward to a new school year with many learning activities centered around

new technologies and digital literacy. The Learning Commons is a great place for gaining new knowledge

and building skills sets through applications, thinking, collaboration, and communication.

A BIG THANK YOU to all the students who showed an interest in becoming a Library Leader. With an

overwhelming interest in this leadership opportunity, students look forward to developing skill sets in a

number of areas like planning and organizing learning activities, helping out with our Scholastic Book Fair,

preparing new books for the library collection, and learning about the Dewey Decimal system for

organization. Students participating will receive a certificate at the end of the school year which helps build

their resume for high school leadership and community service.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Our Scholastic Book Fair ran from October 2 - 10th. Thank you for joining us during OPEN HOUSE. We

appreciate your visit as funds raised helps support our Library Program. Our book fair sold $3360 in total

bringing many new books to our library.

Community Corner

Stay up-to-date with community-based opportunities

The Peel District School Board is pleased to introduce an electronic resource page on www.peelschools.org

called, Community Corner, which contains links to information and resources in the community that may be

of interest to students and their families. This site replaces our previous method of sending promotional

materials about community clubs, camps, contests, fundraisers and events home with students on a regular

basis.

How you can access Community Corner

Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/communitycorner

Click on the “Community Corner” button, found on the main page of school websites, as well as on www.peelschools.org.

Page 4

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.

Bus cancellation and 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, television stations and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

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 busing 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 Peel 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 Peel 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 Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

#chooseACTION on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week during the week of Nov. 20 to 24, 2017.

This year, we ask our Peel community to ‘#chooseACTION to be inclusive’ in their classes, offices, schools, or com-munities, in order to make these spaces better places for everyone. The Peel Board would like to hear about the big and small actions, the pledges, the promises and the attitudes that our Peel community value, and ask that you take a moment to share your #chooseACTION moments on social media.

Across the Peel board, schools use many programs and initiatives to prevent bullying and to intervene when bul-lying happens. Though the programs vary, their messages are consistent. Students are taught to:

define bullying

identify forms of bullying

identify the shifting roles in bullying relationships, for example the person who bullies, the target, the bystander or the trusted advocate

determine how to safely “choose action” to prevent and intervene in bullying and harassment

understand that bullying is a relationship problem with relationship solutions

determine positive ways to interact with others in an accepting, inclusive way

demonstrate character attributes and be a leader to help maintain positive and safe school communities

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained in Bill 13: The Accepting Schools Act, that came into effect on Sept. 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying or www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html.

Is Extended French right for my child?

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is wheth-er you want to apply for the Extended French (EF) program.

What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?

One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the EF school your child would attend.

To find out the EF school your child would attend:

visit our website www.peelschools.org/French

call the school in your area

Online application

The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2018-19 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list.

Important dates

Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m.

Application process opens Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

Application deadline Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m.

For more information

visit www.peelschools.org/French

call your nearest Extended French school

talk with parents who have children in the Extended French program

Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More.

Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for student

athletes, artists

Does your child/teen have an intense sports or arts training and competition schedule that makes it difficult to attend school regularly? The Peel District School Board’s Peel Region High Performers Program will offer flexi-ble timetabling to accommodate student athletes and artists with demanding practice, competition, rehearsal and/or performance schedules.

Information nights will be offered as follows:

Grades Information Night Location

4 to 5 Nov. 8, 2017 Britannia Public School

1145 Swinbourne Dr. in Mississauga

6 to 8 Nov. 30, 2017 Dolphin Sr. Public School

18 Brookside Dr. in Mississauga

The Peel Region High Performers Program is also available to students in grades 9 to 12 at Mississauga Second-ary School. For more information about Mississauga’s program, please call 905-564-1033.

Applications open Nov. 6, 2017

For more information and applications, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.

Jump start your future with Explore High Skills

Explore High Skills is a Peel District School Board pathway program that allows secondary schools with Specialist High Skills Major

(SHSM) programs to offer a unique specialized program choice for grade 9 and 10 students.

These sector-related programs are available to students in all skill levels and in all pathways. Specialized programs in grade 9, like Ex-

plore High Skills, provide unique learning experiences to engage students as they transition to high school. Students can focus their

learning on an area of interest as they build self-confidence, learn essential skills, and develop a sense of belonging in school and in the

community.

For more information about program information, busing, fees and the application process/dates, contact the school or visit

www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.

Secondary school applications open Nov. 6, 2017

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest.

Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Students and their families are encouraged to attend the information night for the program of their choice to receive

more information about the program and application details.

Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they

meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39.

All regional programs may include annual fees, including an application fee. The application process for secondary regional programs opens Nov. 6, 2017. Application dates for middle school programs

vary from school to school.

Programs

Advanced Placement – Central Peel SS and John Fraser SS

Arts – Cawthra Park SS and Mayfield SS

Graphic Design Management – TL Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate – Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS and Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology – Meadowvale SS, North Park SS and TL Kennedy SS

International and Executive Leadership Academy – TL Kennedy SS

SciTech – Chinguacousy SS and Port Credit SS

Sports – Applewood Heights SS

Strings – Central Peel SS and Port Credit SS

Truck and Coach Engineering and Technology – Bramalea SS

Parent resources help you support your child’s learning

At the Peel board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each child. There is no doubt that families play a vital role in

helping us achieve this goal. As our partner in education, we hope you'll stay connected to your child's learning throughout his or her

entire school experience.

Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild to explore all resources available to parents. There you will find easy-to-navigate

buttons that connect families to tip sheets and web pages on a number of different topics, including math, homework, special educa-

tion, EQAO and mental health.

. Traffic safety in our community

Safety is a top priority at our school. Here is a list of traffic tips to keep students, staff and parents safe while commuting to and from

school.

Respect traffic signs and road markers around the school.

Drive slowly and with caution on and near school property. Adhere to the posted speed limits on any surrounding streets used by

students on their way to and from school.

Always yield to pedestrian traffic. Wait for students, staff members and parents to cross before driving past them.

When dropping your child off at the school, use the Kiss'n'Ride area. This is a supervised area that is designed to keep students safe.

Do not double park or do anything else to block traffic or draw your child off the curb and into traffic. Do not take shortcuts over

curbs.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Say goodbye to your child before you park at the curb to let your child

out of your car.

During regular drop-off times, students are to remain in the car until it is safe for them to exit the car onto the curb.

Follow the directions of staff or volunteers on duty in the school parking lot and treat staff, students, volunteers, passengers and oth-

er drivers with respect.

Consider parking off site and walking a short distance to school. This will give you time to talk to your children about their day, review

new vocabulary words, math concepts, etc.

Remind your child to only cross the street at an intersection or crosswalk. They should never “jaywalk” by crossing in the middle of

the street.

Students who bike to school should always wear a helmet, and follow all traffic laws. They should only cross the street at a crosswalk or

intersection—never in the middle of the road.

Book Your Child's Back-to-School Eye Exam

Ontario Reminding Parents about the Importance of Vision Care

Ontario is reminding parents to make an optometry appointment for their children.

Eighty percent of classroom learning is visual. An annual comprehensive eye exam can identify vision problems and treatment options to

help students reach their full potential. Children who have trouble seeing can encounter difficulties at school because their motor skills,

social development, attention span and ability to read, write and learn may be affected.

Some conditions such as lazy eye are most effectively treated at a young age. The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that

every child have their first eye exam at 6 months of age to ensure proper vision development, again at ages 2 to 3, and subsequently every

year thereafter.

Contact your optometrist if you have concerns about your child's vision or notice any of the following behaviour:

Does not make eye contact

Closes or covers one eye

Prevent the flu. It's in your hands.

Hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Always wash your hands with soap and water when they are

dirty.

Clean your hands before:

i. touching your eyes, nose or mouth

ii. touching/preparing food or drinks

iii. eating or drinking

iv. caring for someone in your home who can easily get sick (baby, elderly or someone who has an unhealthy immune system)

first aid

Clean your hands after:

i. touching pets or other animals

ii. touching raw meat, particularly chicken

iii. touching surfaces such as a railing or grocery cart

iv. touching money

v. touching objects sick people have touched

vi. touching blood or body fluids such as urine, vomit or feces

vii. contact with those who have a cold, the flu, diarrhea or virus of any kind

viii. changing diapers

ix. wiping your own or a child's nose

x. sneezing or coughing

xi. using a facial tissue

xii. using the washroom

xiii. removing gloves

xiv.cleaning

gardening

What to do when you cough or sneeze:

i. cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve

ii. put used tissues in the wastebasket

clean your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer

For more information call Peel Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

Page 13 Is French Immersion right for my child?

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to apply for the French Immersion (FI) program.

What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?

One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the French Immersion school your child would attend.

To find out the FI school your child would attend:

visit our website www.peelschools.org/French

call the school in your area

Online application

The application form for Grade 1 French Immersion for the 2018-19 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list.

A French Immersion enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spaces are available for students entering grade 1 French Immersion. A random selection process will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the program. For more information about the random selection process visit www.peelschools.org/French.

Important dates

Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m.

Application process opens Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

Application deadline Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m.

For more information

visit www.peelschools.org/French

call your nearest French Immersion school

talk with parents who have children in the French Immersion program

visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca

.

Page 14

Give what you can on United Way Giving Day – Nov. 15, 2017

At the Peel District School Board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student – each and every day. Yet we

know that there are many needs in our community that we can’t address on our own, like providing food for families that may go

without or supporting communities after a crisis. That’s why we are holding a board-wide giving day in support of United Way of Peel

Region, a key partner and supporter of Peel families.

This year, the Peel board has declared Nov. 15 as United Way Giving Day to raise much needed funds for United Way of Peel Region

and the network of social service agencies it supports. Whether it’s providing shelter for a mother and her children in Brampton,

matching a child who is at risk with a mentor in Caledon, or funding a breakfast program in Mississauga for youth that would other-

wise go hungry, United Way of Peel Region offers hope and possibility to thousands in our community.

A donation of:

$2 may go towards a warm winter coat for a child.

$10 supports a child with interactive, recreational outings for one year, including healthy snacks and transportation, to help them

build their social skills and self-esteem.

$25 matches a teen with a caring adult mentor who will meet with him or her several times each month for fun activities.

This is a completely voluntary campaign and any contributions are welcome. Whether you send a loonie, toonie, cheque made out to

your child’s school, or donate through School Cash Online, your contribution will make a difference. Pledges of $25 or more will auto-

matically receive a tax receipt from United Way of Peel Region. To receive a receipt, you must fill out the pledge form on the back and

send it to school with your donation by Dec. 15, 2017.

Thank you for lending a helping hand to those who need it most. Together, we can Inspire Possibility!

Page 15

Help your teen plan for grade 9 course selections for 2018-19

Soon, current grade 8 students will select their courses for grade 9. Before they do, we want to ensure that they have the

opportunity to consult with their teachers, guidance counsellor, if applicable, and their parents.

As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become

familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart

Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at

www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you understand the course selection process

and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools.

You can also visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel, an online planning tool that includes the following:

high school planner for course selection

goal-setting

career spectrum for finding your learning style

occupation planner for exploring careers

post-secondary planner for opportunities after high school

The grade 9 course selection process will be open from Nov. 13 to 30, 2017. If you have questions or are looking for course

suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.