Oct 5: World Teacher Appreciation Day

Oct 10: PD Day (no classes)

Oct 13: Thanksgiving (school closed)

Oct 20: Panoramic Picture

Oct 23: Spirit Day Assembly

Oct 24: Student Leadership Fall Social

Oct 28: Picture Retake Day

Oct 29: Bus Driver Appreciation Day

October 2014 Newsletter

Greenbriar MS 1140 Central Park Drive, Brampton ON L6S 2C9

(905) 791-2332

Superintendent: Mrs. J. Courtin Principal: Mrs. W. Peyer

School Trustee: Mrs. B. Ford Vice-Principal: Mrs. S. Prouse

Applications are being accepted for the position of

Lunchroom Supervisor at Greenbriar for the 2014-2015 school year. Lunch Supervisor duties include the supervision of students both indoors

and out for one hour each day. This is a paid position with the requirement of a daily commitment

from 11:05 am –12:05 pm.

If you are interested in this position, you are invited to contact the school at (905) 791-2332 for further information. Successful candidates will require a

Criminal Record Check. See calendar on the back of this Newsletter.

Put it on your refrigerator for reference!

Our OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday, October 1st, was

a fabulous success. Thank you to all the families who

took time out of your busy schedules to attend!

We are pleased to announce that the two winners of

the Open House Family Pizza Dinners are:

Mantaj, 6GG

Gopal, 6SB

CONGRATULATIONS!!

BREAKFAST CLUB

will start on Wednesday,

October 15.

Tuesday to Thursday

7:45 to 8:05 (revised)

Greenbriar Greenbriar Greenbriar PDSB

Grade 6 2009-2010 2013-2014 Increase over

5 years at GB

Increase over

5 years PDSB

% level 3 or higher % level 3 or higher % level 3 or higher % level 3 or higher

Reading 63% 74% + 11% + 8%

Writing 61% 72% + 11% + 8%

Mathematics 46% 55% + 9% - 5%

Oct. 29 opportunity to say 'thanks' to bus drivers

Peel schools will pay tribute to bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on October 29. The

day will be celebrated with special activities and events that provide teachers, students and

parents an opportunity to thank the people who safely transport 36,000 students to and from

school each day.

If your child rides the bus to school, take this opportunity to thank the bus driver for his or her contribution and ask your child

to do so too. The Peel board appreciates the important job bus drivers do each school day and October 29 provides an

opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

MUSIC NOTES... Greenbriar's music department is in full swing! Extra-curriculars and rehearsals have begun and the students are busy preparing for several upcoming

events:

Tuesday November 11, Remembrance Day Assembly

- Grade 8 Band will be performing

Friday December 19, Holiday Arts Showcase/ Spirit Assembly

- The debut of the Grade 6 Band, as well as performances by Greenbriar's other musical

ensembles

Please encourage your child to practice regularly at home! The Music Department

Visit Greenbriar’s website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1423 Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at Greenbriar Middle School? Check out our school website where you'll find:

the latest school news

contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee

calendar

enrolment data

school hours

mission, vision and values

registration information

printable forms

frequently asked questions

Keep up to date with our website subscription service Our new website also features a subscription service where you can sign up to receive email notifications for school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You can also choose to be notified via email and/or text message for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link on the left-hand side of the main page of our website.

Extra Curricular Activities Once again this year, students are very lucky as Greenbriar staff voluntarily give their time and talent by offering a

wide variety of extra curricular activities throughout the year. If your child is interested in participating in a club or

in trying out for a team they are encouraged to listen carefully to school announcements for dates, times and the ap-

plication process for each activity being offered. Some activities may involve tryouts, while others teams/clubs may

require students to complete application forms or to sign up.

If your child requires help in completing application forms they are asked to speak with their homeroom teacher. If

you or your child have questions for the staff offering the club or team, please contact the office. The office will

connect you with the staff member’s voicemail and they will be happy to call you back.

GRADE 6 Boy: Kwasi, 6SF

GRADE 6 Girl: Abbie, 6BC

GRADE 7 Boy: Yathavan, 7VK

GRADE 7 Girl: Kiana, 7MS

GRADE 8 Boy: Mason, 8GW

GRADE 8 Girl: Balreet, 8LM

All parents and guardians are welcome Our School Council Chair is Mrs. Vivian Englund.

Meetings begin at 4:00 pm in the Staff Room

BABYSITTING is provided upon advance notice.

Call the School Office

at 905-791-2332

to make arrangements.

Jan 15

Remaining Scheduled Meetings:

Wed, Jan 14, 2015

Wed, Mar 25, 2015

Wed, May 13, 2015

October is International Walk

to School Month!

According to the 2011 Active Healthy Kids Canada

Report Card, 93 per cent of children and youth are

not meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.

These declining activity levels are linked to obesity,

illness and chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular

disease, diabetes, and cancer).

Using active transportation for the school journey is one of the

easiest ways for students to get regular daily physical activity.

Managing time to allow for the walk or bike ride to school will

become a positive habit that leads to children arriving on time,

refreshed and energized for the school day. In fact, University of

Illinois research has found that just 20 minutes of easy walking

boosts performance in the areas of the brain that support math and

reading achievement.

Walking to school also helps out the environment. Eliminating

just four short trips per week can reduce emissions by up to 100

kg of carbon dioxide per year. Families that participate in active

travel to school can prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide per

year and save money in fuel costs as well. Also, when more chil-

dren walk to school and fewer parents drive their children, the

areas near school zones become safer for pedestrians.

That is why our school will be participating in International Walk

to School Month on October 8. On that day—and throughout the

month, if you can—walk, bike, blade, scooter, skip or hop to

school….but don’t drive!

International Walk to School month is part of the Active & Safe

Routes to School program. For more information, visit

www.saferoutestoschool.ca/.

How to prevent litter at school

Did you know that litter is a safety hazard, discourages

development, lowers property values and costs money?

According to the Region of Peel, litter can attract animals

and insects, harm pets and serve as a breeding ground for

disease. Here are some tips for reducing waste at school: PROVIDE your child with a litter -less lunch which could

contain:

refillable water bottle

returnable, reusable or refillable drink containers instead of

plastic bottles and cans

snacks and sandwiches stored in plastic containers

fruit that requires no wrap such as bananas, apples

PUT tr ash in the appropr iate container . If a recycling bin

isn't available, ask where you can find one and hold on to garbage

until you can dispose of it properly.

REDUCE and reuse as much as you can before you recycle.

Reuse plastic bags, the other side of a sheet of paper etc.

If you see litter, pick it up!

Set a good example. Don't be a litterbug.

Take part in neighbourhood cleanups - litter prevention

requires the community to work together.

Continuing Education International Languages program for K-12 students

The opportunity to study a language in addition to English and French can benefit all students, society in general and an increasingly independent world, including:

Students with no prior knowledge of a particular language; Students whose first language is English or French and who wish to study their home languages as a second or

third language; Students whose first language is their home language. The International Languages program is based on Oral Communications, Reading and Writing in languages other than English or French. Grammar and Language knowledge are incorporated into each of the three skill areas.

Any student who is currently enrolled in a Peel District School Board elementary or secondary school is eligible to attend. Classes operate each Saturday from September 20, 2014 to June 13, 2015, except for holiday weekends and school vaca-tions. Credit classes are 3.5 per day and run from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Elementary classes are 2.5 hours per day and run from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Registration begins in mid-August and runs until March Break for elementary classes and until October 16, 2014 for cred-it classes. In partnership with School-day, Continuing Education offers an online, cashless registration process. Please visit the website at www.peelschools.org/conted/il for further information.

Peel high school information nights start this fall

Learn about the Peel District School Board advantage and your local Peel board secondary school at an upcoming parent information night. For dates and times, visit www.peelschools.org/schools/informationnights or call the school directly. To find out which secondary school your teen will attend, call 905-890-1010/1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212 or visit www.peelschools.org/schools/findyourschool. **Please note that dates and times are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please contact the highschool directly.

Ready? Set? High School! for parents

Whatever path your teen chooses, we want to make sure your entire family is ready to embrace the many opportunities that await your teen upon graduation. Our Ready? Set? High School! Parent Guide will provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful. You can find it online at www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/parentguide.

Regional Learning Choices Programs unlock passions, potential

All of our schools offer a variety of programs designed to unlock students’ passions and potential. Some students have a strong interest in a particular area. For those students, a Regional Learning Choices Program may be a good option. Find out more about our programs, including information night dates and times, at www.peelschools.org/parents/programs.

Peel Board

Advantage Education Fair

on Nov. 8

If you live in Brampton or Caledon, plan to attend the Peel Board Ad-vantage Education Fair at Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School on Nov. 8. Drop by between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to learn about our middle schools with regional pro-grams and secondary schools in Brampton and Caledon. Staff and students will be available to answer questions about the schools’ aca-demic and extracurricular pro-grams. The day will also include student musical performances and sport games in the gymnasium. Snacks will be provided.

Special technology offers for Peel board students, par-ents and staff Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to tech-nology is a key priority for the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a num-ber of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff. Kobo Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from Kobo:

kobo arc 7” HD - $135 with free shipping

kobo arc 10” HD - $199 with free shipping To learn more, or to purchase a Kobo product visit www.kobo.com/peel or www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stCentury/byod/devices and enter promo code KOBOPEEL at checkout. Dell Canada Dell Canada Inc. offers reduced pricing and extended warran-ty benefits on select laptops and tablets. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, parents will have zero per cent financing for one year on all purchases of $499 or more. For more information, visit www.dell.ca/peel. The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equi-ty of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not repre-sent an endorsement of any company or product.

Tips for being a smart trick-or-treater

Halloween is a fun and exciting time, but safety should be the number one con-

cern. Here are some safety tips for children:

Wear a properly fitted costume that is bright and non-flammable.

Use reflective tape on your costume so you can be seen in the dark.

Use face makeup or enlarge the eyes on your mask so you can see well.

When wearing a mask, push it up on your head while walking.

Teach children to visit the front door of well lit homes and never go inside.

Help your child plan a route and a time to be home.

Remind children to always walk on the sidewalk, and obey traffic and pedestrian signals.

Have an adult check treats at home before allowing children to eat them.

Younger children should go trick-or-treating with an adult.

Older children are reminded to trick-or-treat in groups.

Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.

The library is in full gear with lots of action. Our Library Leaders have started their shifts helping out in a variety of ways to

keep the library organized and inviting. We are also getting ready for the Book Fair which will take place in the library. The

net proceeds from this event are used to purchase additional materials for the library. Some of the book titles that are being

advertised in their flyer this year are:

Fractured: Book Two in the Slated Trilogy by Teri Terry

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Surrounded by Sharks by Michael Northrop

Loot: How to Steal a Fortune by Jude Watson

A Million Ways Home by Dianna Dorisi Winget

My Friend the Enemy by Dan Smith

The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat by Grumpy Cat

Famous Last Words by Katie Alender

Ask My Mood Ring How I Feel by Diana Lopez

The Finisher by David Baldacci

Tides of War: Blood in the Water by Alexander London

Graphic Novels: Amulet: Book Six: Escape from Lucien

Graphic Novels: Sisters (Companion to last years’ Smile!) by Raina Telgemeier

Graphic Novel: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney

Classes will be scheduled to come during a reserved class time. As well we invite the public to

come during Parent/Teacher Interviews. We are fortunate to be able to offer wireless Interact

(Debit), Visa, MasterCard, American Express and tried and true cash. (please note that we cannot

accept $100.00 bills).

We look forward to seeing you and your family!

The Book Fair will be running during the

following hours:

Monday Nov 10 to Friday Nov 14

Monday to Wednesday: 8:30 to 2:20 p.m.

Thursday 8:30 to 2:20 and 2:45 to 8:45