Peel District School Board

Lougheed Middle School

475 Father Tobin Road, Brampton, ON L6R 0J9

TEL: 905-789-8751 FAX: 905-789-8754

http://schools.peelschools.org/1486

October 2020 Newsletter

Ruth Wedderburn-Shelton Principal Donna Bhamra Vice-Principal

Katrina Laforest Office Manager Pat Noble Superintendent Balbir Sohi Trustee 416-828-4330 Transportation www.stopr.ca 905-890-6000 Attendance Check 1-855-209-6155

SafeArrival Parent Portal at

pdsb.schoolconnects.com

twitter.com/LougheedMiddle

October is International Walk to School Month

According to the 2015 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, about 91 per cent of 5-

to-17-year-olds are not meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines to get at least 60

minutes of daily moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity. 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 children 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 Day on

Wednesday, October 7. 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. Visit www.saferoutestoschool.ca/ for more information.

Page 2 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Visiting your child’s school

To limit and track the number of visitors in our

schools, only essential visitors will be permitted

into schools. If families wish to speak to

someone at the school, they are asked to do so

by emailing or calling the school directly.

DO NOT require

appointments Require appointments

Family member or

caregiver who is

picking up a sick

child or has another

emergency. Only

one adult per

household should

attend the school at

once.

Family or caregiver

who is meeting with

school staff to

discuss an issue with

their child of a non-

urgent nature. All

meetings should

take place virtually

or by phone

whenever possible.

You may be required to make an appointment

to visit the school based on the reason for your

visit.

Upon arriving at the school, visitors are

required to:

Enter through the main entrance door

using the buzzer or by phone

Wait in the established waiting area outside

the main entrance

Sign in upon entry, and sign out when you

leave

Physically distance as much as possible

Wear a mask/face covering

Important Upcoming

Dates

World Teachers’ Day: October 5th Thanksgiving (No School): October 12th Principal and Vice Principals’ Day: October 14th Bus Drivers’ Appreciation Day: October 21st Peel TA and ECE Appreciation Day: October 28th

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 flexible timetabling to accommodate

student athletes and artists with demanding

practice, competition, rehearsal and/or performance

schedules.

Peel Region High Performers Program is offered at:

Britannia Public School (grades 4 to 5)

Dolphin Sr. Public School (grades 6 to 8)

Mississauga Secondary School (grades 9 to 12)

For more information, visit

www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers or contact the

school.

Page 3 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Ready? Set? High school! Learn

more about the opportunities

available at your local Peel high

school

Get ready for what could be the most exciting

and important years your teen spends in

school. For the first time, teens will have to

make choices about what they will study and

what career pathway to choose.

Learn about the Peel District School Board

advantage and your local Peel board secondary

school. 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/findyourschool.

Contact your local secondary school to learn

about the opportunities available for your teen

and the programs offered at the school.

Our Welcome to High School parent guide is

also a great resource for parents to provide you

with a snapshot of what you need to know to

help your teen be successful.

Jump start your future with Explore High Skills

Explore High Skills is a Peel District School Board pathway program where

Grade 9 and 10 students 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. Explore High Skills is offered in secondary schools with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs and provides students with engaging learning experiences as they transition to high school. These sector-related programs are available to students in all skill levels and in all pathways. Explore High Skills students are provided:

Community Involvement Opportunities: students earn 20 of the 40 volunteer hours required for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) in Grades 9 and 10.

Certification and Training: students gain sector-recognized certifications recognized in the workplace (e.g., First aid/CPR, WHMIS).

Experiential Learning: students engage in innovative experiential learning and career exploration activities, giving them opportunities to explore, observe, participate in, and reflect on a variety of sector-specific experiences and careers.

To enroll in the Explore High Skills

program, grade 8 students can indicate their

interest when they are selecting high school

courses in the Fall. For more information about

the program, please contact your school,

participating high school schools and visit

www.peelschools.org/ExploreHighSkills.

Page 4 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Regional Learning Choices Programs empower

students to unlock their passions

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 families are encouraged to visit www.peelschools.org/regionalprograms to learn about the programs, application details and how supports are available to help families choose the program(s) of their choice. 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 only eligible for busing if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39. All regional programs include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee, except the Regional Skilled Trades and Transportation Engineering and Technology programs, which are offered at no cost. Please note that supports are available for families who are interested in applying and may require financial assistance – please speak with your principal. Important dates to note:

Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 25, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8, 2021 at 3 p.m.

SECONDARY Nov. 9, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23, 2020 at 3 p.m.

Programs Schools offered at Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM)

Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts Elementary / Secondary Elementary: Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in

grade 7) / Secondary: Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB Elementary / IB Secondary

Elementary: Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS

Secondary: Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and

Technology (IBT)

IBT Elementary / IBT Secondary

Elementary: Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Secondary:

Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive

Leadership Academy

T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades Judith Nyman SS, West Credit SS

SciTech

Elementary / Secondary

Elementary: Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS

Secondary: Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports Applewood Heights SS

Strings Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Transportation Engineering

and Technology

Bramalea SS

For more information about program information nights, busing and the

application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.

Page 5 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Registration open – 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 will operate online each Saturday from mid-September to mid-June, except for holiday

weekends and school vacations. Credit classes are 3.5 hours per day and run from 9 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. Elementary classes are 2.5 hours per day and run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The online classes

will take place through Google Classroom or Brightspace – your child’s teacher will contact students

to let them know which platform will be used.

Registration is currently open. In partnership with School Day, Continuing Education offers an online,

cashless registration process. Please visit www.peelschools.org/conted/il for further information.

Page 6 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

“October 2020: Identifying Our Strengths and Assessing Our Needs –

The Wheel of Well-Being From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Welcome to the second month of a school year like no other. We have made it this far, and we

should congratulate ourselves, although it is important to note we are all at different points of coping

with the upheaval and loss COVID-19 has created in our lives.

As the fall leaves start to turn colour and we are settling into the school year,

now is a good time to reflect on our strengths and needs. The Kids Help Phone

has an easy to fill in Wheel of Well-Being to help us accomplish that. The

Wheel is divided into sections: Physical Health, Emotions, Relationships,

Environment, School and Work, Spirituality, and Creativity and Thinking; with

you (or your family) at the centre. It is an excellent visual guide to help you

think about what, or who, can fill in any missing gaps to increase your support

system. The Wheel of Well-Being can be completed as a family activity, or you

can do it independently using it as a discussion aid for conversations about

what each family member might need. It can also allow you to identify

strengths you may not previously have appreciated. You can find the template, and suggestions to

consider for each section here: www.kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/kids-help-phones-wheel-of-well-

being

You could also make your own wheel as a creative exercise, with you at the centre, or “our family” at

the centre. Often creative exercises can be a safe way to help us talk to each other during challenging

times. If you do make your own wheel and feel comfortable to share a photo, please tag @MHRTPeel

and #WELLinPEEL.

Despite the challenges 2020 has brought us, remember to tell yourself that you are doing your best;

that it is okay to not feel your best; that we are all in this together, and we are doing the best we can

with the resources we have. Please consider seeking support if you feel you or your child/teen needs

it. Now more than ever before, our mental well-being is just as important as our physical well being.

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health visit

www.peelschools.org/schools/reopening/mental-health-and-well-being-supports for further

information and links to school and community resources. For updates and to follow along with the

work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

Acknowledgement: Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental,

physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience

purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum

Framework).

Page 7 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Families encouraged to sign up for ParentConnect to access school

alerts, report cards, busing info and more online

To help keep families connect to their children’s education experience, we are encouraging all

Peel District School Board parents/guardians to sign up for ParentConnect. ParentConnect is our

online parent portal which provides parents/guardians with a single access point to stay

informed, access services online and receive important information about your children.

ParentConnect allows parents/guardians to:

view school based alerts and information

access the parent/guardian view of Brightspace for PDSB Online School

track real time absence reporting

view current and historic elementary report cards for your child(ren)

get up-to-date busing information

review secondary school credit history and diploma status

To register and begin using ParentConnect, visit www.peelschools.org/parentconnect or click the

ParentConnect button on your child’s school website. Parents/guardians that have used

ParentConnect in the past will continue to have access to your child(ren)s information. You do

not need to register again.

The ParentConnect online portal can be accessed through any computer, smartphone Internet browser and/or tablets by visiting parent.peelschools.org. Families can also download the mobile app titled Peel ParentConnect through Google Play Store or Apple Store. If you have any questions about ParentConnect, please call the school or visit the ParentConnect

FAQ page. If you encounter technical issues signing up for an account, please email

ParentConnect@peelsb.com.

Page 8 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Pay school fees online using School Cash

Online—register today!

Our school offers School Cash Online, a safe and secure form of online payment, as its preferred method of payment for all school fees. With a parent-friendly portal and an easy way to keep track of your child’s activity fees, you can use School Cash Online to pay for school items like field trips and pizza days directly from your computer or smartphone using eCheck, Visa or MasterCard Register now By registering, you’ll have the ability to:

Keep track of your children’s school item and activity fees

Check account history

Print or view receipts

Make donations to school fundraisers online and instantly receive a tax receipt

Pay for school fees with the click of a button

For more information and to register, visit https://peelschools.schoolcashonline.com. If you have

any questions, please contact the school directly.

The Peel Learning Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enable Peel District School Board

students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome

barriers.

Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty?

That’s more than 27,000 Peel board students.

Through the Student Emergency Needs program and Student Backpack program, the support we

provide can be as simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a

backpack filled with school supplies. This type of support can enrich a student's school

experience and help them achieve success. Any teacher, staff or support person can speak

confidentially to their school’s principal, vice-principal or supervisor when they encounter a

student in need, who will then reach out to us to ask for help.

There are many ways that you can support the foundation. A gift will help us achieve great things

for students. To learn more, visit www.peellearningfoundation.org/how.

You can help us create hopeful tomorrows.

www.PeelLearningFoundation.org l 905-890-1010 ext. 2461 l foundation@peelsb.com

@PeelLearningFDN /PeelLearningFDN

Page 9 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Oct. 5 - Celebrate World Teachers’ Day

Since 1994,

parents and

students from

around the

world have

celebrated

World Teachers’ Day to commemorate the

work of teachers and their contributions to

society. On Oct. 5, take the time to let your

child's teacher know they are truly appreciated.

Thank your child's teacher and let them know

they are making a difference.

Peel board recognizes

Peel Principals and

Vice-Principals’ Day

for the first time on

Oct. 14

In 2018, the board of trustees

declared the second Wednesday

of October as Peel Principals and Vice-

Principals’ Day. This year, this date will be

celebrated on Oct. 14. This day allows the

community to recognize the important work of

principals and vice-principals, and to

acknowledge the lasting contributions that

they make in the lives of students, families and

community members. Take a moment to let

your principal and vice-principal know they are

truly appreciated.

Oct. 21 opportunity to say ‘thanks’

to bus

drivers

Peel schools will

pay tribute to

bus drivers on

Bus Driver

Appreciation Day

on Oct. 21, 2020.

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 students to

and from school each day.

If your child rides the bus to school, take this

opportunity to thank the bus driver for their

contribution and ask your child to do so too.

The Peel board appreciates the important job

bus drivers do each school day and Oct. 21

provides an opportunity to give these

individuals the recognition they deserve.

Oct. 28 – Celebrate Peel Teaching

Assistant and Early Childhood

Educators’ Appreciation Day

In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last

Wednesday in October as the Peel Teaching

Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ (ECE)

Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition

day falls on October 28, 2020. The Peel board

appreciates the important work of teaching

assistants and ECEs, and the contributions that

they make in the lives of children, families and

community members.

Page 10 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Engaging parents with their child’s education myBlueprint is one of the finest tools used across all boards in Ontario which helps in creating an

individualized plan to help students achieve their goals, transition to secondary school and post-

secondary, and successfully shape their future. Without concrete evidence, it can be difficult for

parents to understand how their child is progressing through school, even with direct feedback

from teachers. As such, myBlueprint has created Family Accounts to facilitate parent engagement.

Page 11 out of 11 October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1. Day 6

2. Day 7

3.

5. Day 8

6. Day 9

7. Day 10

8. Day 1

9. Day 2

10.

11. 12.

Thanksgiving

13. Day 3

14. Day 4

Principal and

Vice Principals’

Day

15. Day 5

16. Day 6

17.

18.

19. Day 7

20. Day 8

21. Day 9

Bus Drivers

Appreciation

Day

22. Day 10

23. Day 1

24.

25. 26. Day 2

27. Day 3 28. Day 4

Peel TA and

ECE

Appreciation

Day

29. Day 5 30. Day 6

October 2020 Lougheed Middle School Calendar