Mountain Ash Public School

March 2020 Honouring Student Voice

During the month of February, a grade 8 parent visited to make a presentation as part of our Black History month activities. The presentation was wide-ranging. He shared many of the challenges and pitfalls that he had experienced as a young person. He also gave some direct strategies to our students on how to set themselves up for success academically, as well as preparation for the world of work. Based on the feedback I have received from the students, his message not only resonated with them, but has affirmed the values and conversations that their parents have had with them. Since many students have expressed that this parent’s chat with them was inspiring and a pleasure to listen to, I am sharing their exact words about what they heard and learned.

It was inspiring and a pleasure to listen to You have to find what makes you amazing He reminded us that we were “carefully created” I learned that despite being rejected you can still be

successful. You just have to persevere. I learned about the importance of valuing myself and not to

let others define who I am I should not waste my time trying to blend in. I will stand out Our thoughts affect how we think and act so I need to

monitor my own thoughts too We need to monitor who we hang out with We must learn from our mistakes. We can and will earn and

grow into better persons if we learn from our past errors

Thank you to Mr. Grange for being such a real and honest speaker. He has caused our students to not only reflect on their habits and attitudes, but also to start making plans for continued personal improvement. Thank you grade 8’s for allowing me to share your thoughts in this newsletter.

Have a wonderful March Break.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Fields

 Principal:Lucy Fields

 Vice Principal:Brian Rasmusson

 Superintendent:Patrika Daws

 Trustee:Balbir Sohi

March BreakMarch 16-20

2020

Stay connected by following us @MountainashPS

Principal

Pizza Days at Mountain Ash!This month pizza days will occur on Thursdays February 20, 27, March 5, 12 and 26, 2020.

CashOnline will be open until March 27, 2020 to order pizza for these dates.

Pizza has been pre-ordered by students. Students cannot purchase slices at school. Pizza will arrive for consumption during second nutrition break, so please pack snacks and water for your child that day. Thank you!

Birthday Celebrations / Special OccasionsChildren love to have their birthdays acknowledged and parents enjoy sharing their special day with other children in the class. Please be mindful that we cannot accept food of any kind for birthday celebrations – or any type of celebration. Some children have allergies to milk, wheat, eggs and all sorts of foods other than peanuts. Therefore, if you would like to send a loot bag to school instead, you can fill it with pencils, stickers, etc. for everyone to enjoy!

Thank you for your co-operation.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP

This is an important reminder to all parents. Supervision starts outside at 8:15 a.m. every morning. We have noted that students are being dropped off as early as 8 a.m. when there are no supervisors to monitor them. We ask that you work with us to ensure the safety of your children

by dropping them off for 8:15 a.m. School ends at 2:50 p.m. and prompt collection of students is also requested. The office staff are not allowed to supervise students, and the administrators are not always available to monitor students in the office. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

School Council

All parents are invited to attend council meetings. Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m . in the school’s library. Please come out and let us hear from you. At these meetings we review the minutes from the last meeting and we get an update from the principal about what is happening at the school. Parents also have the opportunity to ask general questions about events or activities at the school and to make suggestions. We look forward to welcoming you to our next meeting.

New this year – all pizza orders must be paid for using CashOnline.

    

THE BIG GULP – MONDAY MARCH 23, 2020

The Big Gulp is a school-wide event to raise awareness about the importance of drinking

water in our everyday

lives.

On Monday March 23, 2020 we will celebrate World Water Day with a Big Gulp!All students and staff are encouraged to bring in a reusable water bottle or a cup, and we will all have a big

drink of water (a Big Gulp) at 11:45 am.

Report your child’s immunizations to the Region of Peel online

When registering for school for the first time, parents and guardians are required to provide up-to-date immunization information for their children. This includes registering for

kindergarten.

You can update your child’s immunizations online. The online immunization tool allows you to attach a photo of the immunization record. When reporting online, an Ontario Health Card is required.

Report immunizations online at: www.peelregion.ca/immunize

After you report your immunizations online you will be given a reference number. Keep this number for your records. You will need to give this number to your child’s school when registering.

If you do not have online access or your child does not have an Ontario Health Card, take a copy of the immunization record to the school. Make sure your child’s name and date of birth are visible on the record.

Call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 if your child does not have an immunization record or if you have any questions about immunization exemptions.

For more information, visit www.peelregion.ca/immunize

Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu

It’s flu season and we want to make sure students stay as healthy as possible this year! Influenza (flu) spreads easily from one person to another and Peel Public Health has some tips to help reduce the

risk of catching the flu and spreading it:

Get your annual flu shot: The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. There are many locations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Family Doctors’ offices Walk-in clinics Pharmacies

Keep children home when they’re sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from school. Contact your health care provider if symptoms are severe.

Practice good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and throw tissues in the trash. Cough or sneeze into a sleeve or elbow, if they don’t have a tissue. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. This is how germs are spread.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

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

International Day for the Elimination of Racial DiscriminationIn the Peel District School Board, we #ChooseACTION each and every day to proactively eliminate racism in all forms and be inclusive in our school communities. We use an anti-oppressive stance to support and maintain a safe and positive Climate for Learning and Working for staff, students and community well-being. This important day, which we will recognize as a board on Tuesday, March 24th, will help lead the work we all do in our schools with our students in support of equity and inclusion.

History of the Day:On March 21st, 1960, Afrikaner police opened fire and killed 69 Indigenous South African people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa. They were protesting the apartheid "pass laws" that severely restricted the movement and freedom of Indigenous South Africans. Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly of the United Nations called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

Peel District School Board Focus:This year supports and resources focused on Anti-Black Racism and Islamophobia have been curated and provided to schools. Educators are encouraged to use this sampling of tools throughout the year in our schools and classrooms. Our goal is to proactively eliminate racial discrimination every day.

For more information and for activities to commemorate the day with your children please access the resources: www.peelschools.org/aboutus/equity

Lunchroom Supervisor Appreciation Day on March 6

In 2017, the board of trustees declared the first Friday in March as Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, March 6, 2020. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of lunchroom supervisors, and their support and commitment to helping to ensure that students are safe and secure.

March Break Maple Syrup Days at the

Jack Smythe Field Centre 2020 

Open HouseWednesday, March 18 - Saturday, March 21

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature as spring blossoms. Jack Smythe Field Centre offers an exceptional family experience with a visit to the Maple Syrup Sugar Bush. Join in on an authentic Canadian tradition. For a number of years, the Peel Field Centres have invited the public for an awe-inspiring visit to our outstanding Maple Sugar Bush during the March break. Individuals and families are invited to get involved as spring comes to life. Help empty sap buckets, tap trees or sample some freshly made maple syrup as we celebrate the new syrup season. Take a hike along our tranquil trails and feed the friendly chickadees by hand.

Discover the importance of Ontario’s first harvest and witness some of the many ways both sweet water and maple syrup are made in this region. Your visit would not be complete without a trip to the sugar shack where the sap will boil and clouds of sweet smelling steam will billow out of the chimney. Have a taste of the freshly made syrup: it’s going to be sweet! The cost is $5.00/adult and $4.00/child 12 and under.

Lunch will be available for purchase. It will include: hot chocolate, cookies and hotdogs for you to roast over an open fire. Please note that all payments are “cash” only.

For more information, please contact the Jack Smythe Field Centre at 1-905-877-7771. Directions to Jack Smythe Field Centre, 14592 Winston Churchill Blvd., Terra Cotta:

North on Mississauga Rd. Left on King St. (You will see Credit View P.S. on your left) Right on Winston Churchill Blvd. (You will pass the Terra Cotta Conservation Area on your left) to the

top of the hill Left into the Jack Smythe site.

Bus cancellation and closing schools due to bad weatherDuring 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, Twitter @STOPRinfo and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

One of the following messages will be announced:

Peel District School Board buses are cancelledThis 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 closedThis 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 cancelledThis 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.

Talking with Children and Youth About Mental Health ConcernsFrom the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

It can be challenging to talk about mental health concerns - especially to our own children! As parents (like others), we sometimes avoid the conversation because we don’t know how to start, or we worry that by expressing concerns, we will make the situation worse. However, it is important to remember that acknowledging and discussing worries, concerns, or changes in behaviour openly and honestly with our children is more likely to open up lines of communication rather than worsen the situation.

Here are some tips to consider if you want to talk to your child about mental health concerns:

To begin the conversation, find a quiet time when you are unlikely to be interrupted. Reassure your child that they can be open and honest, without you getting angry (even if you become

scared or worried by the information they disclose). Describe the changes that you have noticed in your child’s mood, behaviour, or reactions. For

example, “I have noticed that you are crying more often since school started” or “I have noticed that you seem more frustrated recently.”

Try to label or “name” your child’s emotions and thoughts. For example, “I wonder if you’re feeling sad about losing your friendship with Sam” or “I wonder if you are thinking that this cannot be fixed.”

Allow your child time to reflect and respond. Silence is okay. Be persistent. If your child responds with “nothing is wrong...leave me alone,” reassure your child

that you are there for them. Give your child some time and revisit the conversation again. If your child tells you anything that makes you increasingly concerned, reassure them that you are

glad they told you, offer to help them find the right professional to talk to, and reinforce that you will be there for them throughout the journey.

Remember, for many children and youth, everyday loving support from caring adults will be enough to help them thrive.

However, some children and youth require additional help. Ask your child’s teacher or Principal about the mental health supports and services offered within schools. There are also community resources that provide mental health support to children, youth, and families.

To access child and youth mental health services in the Region of Peel, visit wheretostart.ca. The Mental Health Resource Team has also created a Peel Youth Mental Health Resources handout

that you can access here: bit.ly/PeelYouthResources. Consider the Kids’ Help Phone Resources Around Me service (web: kidshelpphone.ca). Make an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner to ask about additional supports.

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

March 2020 Attendance Line:

1-855-209-6155Sunda

yMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturda

y1 2 3 4 5 Pizza Day 6

Lunchroom Supervisor Recognition Day

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15 16 17 18 19 20 21MARCH BREAK

22 23The Big Gulp

11:45 am

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29 30 31 1 2 Pizza day 3 4