Please visit our website http://schools.peelschools.org/1328/aboutus/calendar/Pages/default.aspx at to check for any upcom-ing events, lunch days and so on. From time to time, we will send out automated voice mail messages to inform you of important events or timelines. Please do not auto-matically call the school back without first listening to the message. Information is sent out by email. Parents are not permitted on the playground during nutrition breaks without approval. If you are looking for your child, please come to the office.

PLEASE NOTE: Parents must report all absences including

full-day/half-day and late arrivals from the school by calling 1-855-

209-6155, or visit online at go.schoolmessenger.com,

or download the SchoolMessenger mobile app (through

your phone's app store).

Please DO NOT send your child to school if they are sick,

THANK YOU for keeping us all well!

"Together striving to be our best in mind, body and character." "Ensemble, dans le but d'achever notre meilleur d'esprit, de corps et de caractère."

2280 Perran Dr.

Mississauga, Ontario

Phone: 905-822-2401

Fax: 905-822-0248 sheridanpark.ps@peelsb.com

Janet Jackowski

Principal

Lauren Grant

Vice-Principal

Grace Piatek

Office Manager

Karthika Sujith

Office Assistant

Nina Jaiswal

Superintendent

905-366-8800 ext. 1224

Brad MacDonald

Trustee 905-890-1010

Sheridan Park Public School

Celebrating Faith and Culture

Tuesdays Pita Pit Thursdays Pizza Day Fridays Lunch Lady

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

Month of January Spirit Moon Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

December 31 to January Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism

January 1 ● Temple Day Buddhism

January 1 and 14 (J) ● New Year’s Day Christianity and Canada

January 1 Gantan-sai Shinto

January 2 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Enlighten-ment

Buddhism

January 5 ● Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism

January 6 and 19 (J) Epiphany or Feast of Theophany Christianity

January 7 (J) ● Christmas Christianity

January 10 Mahayana New Year Buddhism

January 13 Lohri Hinduism

January 13 Seijin-no-hi Shinto

January 13 Maghi Sikhism

January 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism

January 19 World Religion Day Bahá'í

January 19 to February 6 Month of Sultán Bahá'í

January 25 ● Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bodhi-sattva’s Birthday

Buddhism

January 29 Vasant Panchami Hinduism

Allergy Alerts

The Peel District School Board has a progressive approach to making sure that students with severe food allergies are safe at school. If your child has anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction to a food, insect bites or medication—please contact the office. We will work with you to develop a plan for keeping your child safe at school. We have several staff and students, at our school with severe or life-threatening allergies to peanuts, nuts, dairy prod-ucts, shellfish, seaweed, fish, sesame seeds, sesame oil on pasta and Nutella products. We ask that you help us take care of these students by choosing lunches and snacks for your child that are free from peanuts or nuts. Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If the label says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not bring it to school. You can get a complete copy of the Peel board's anaphylaxis guideline from our school office or from www.peelschools.org —click on the "Special Education" icon on the homepage. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office.

“Reflect, Respect, Responsibility” “Réfléchir, Respecter, Prendre la Responsabilité”

LUNCH REMINDERS

Lunch time is a very busy time in the office for the following reasons: Children may realize that they do not have a lunch and need to use the phone, students may be collecting a dropped-off lunch, students may be signing out to go home for lunch, and others may be ill and waiting for parent pick-up. Please assist us by: Making sure your child has two snacks and a lunch every day, making sure you label your child’s lunch with their name and class teacher. If you must bring in a late lunch, please place it on the table in the foyer area. Let your child know that you will be dropping lunch, so that they know to come and check the table before calling you.

Please avoid sending in food treats to celebrate your child’s birthday. This avoids the dangers associated with nut and other allergies and helps to keep our students and staff safe. In lieu of food, a donation to a classroom library is highly recommended.

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 im-

munization 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 pho-

to 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 im-

munization 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

Peel flu clinics

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 tis-

sue 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 sani-tizer, especially after they cough or sneeze. For more information, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

It's time to register children born in 2016 for Kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2016, they can start kindergarten in September 2020. You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school they will be attending to register. Peel schools will also hold Kindergarten Registration Week from Jan. 13 to 17, 2020. Visit Sheridan Park Public School from:

Jan. 13 to 17, 2020 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 16, 2020 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

What you will need to bring to registration Proof of child's age (one of the following)

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address (one of the following)

Ontario driver's license utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents) purchase agreement

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alter-nate living arrangement. Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated.

Keep your child’s eyes healthy

Did you know that vision problems in children often go unnoticed because kids don’t know any different? As many as 10 per cent of preschoolers will have vision difficulties that can affect the development of their sight if not treated. However, if caught by the age of 5, treatment will be most effective. The Region of Peel recommends regular eye exams for your child to help find eye problems early and get the right treatment. The best way to ensure good eye health is to have your child’s eyes checked by an optometrist. Yearly eye exams for children 19 and under are covered by OHIP. What to expect at your child’s eye exam An optometrist will complete: General vision testing in both eyes.

Eye muscle testing.

Eye coordination testing. A general health assessment of the front and back of the eyes.

If needed, the optometrist will write a prescription for glasses for your child. For information on overall vision health, common signs of a possible eye problem and the programs availa-ble to you within Peel, visit www.peelregion.ca/vision-health

Help your family stay warm this winter

Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors: Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.

Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body.

Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners, carry an extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia.

If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia.

Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and healthy in the winter. If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

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 sur-faces.

Dress appropriately—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. 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 available on Twitter @Peelschools, Face-book at https://www.facebook.com/peelschools/, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. It is usually also announced on the radio and television stations listed below: VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 BREAKFAST TELEVISION NEWS AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CITY NEWS CTV CFRB – (Bell Media) One of the following messages will be announced: Peel District School Board buses are cancelled This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could oc-cur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain can-celled 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.

Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More.

Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for stu-dent 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, re-hearsal and/or performance schedules. The Peel Region High Performers Program is available to students in grades 4 to 12 at Britannia Public School, Dolphin Senior Public School and Mississauga Secondary School.

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

Regional Learning Choices programs unlock passion

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. 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 include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee.

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.

Important dates to note:

For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms

Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 27, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 10, 2020 at 3 p.m.

SECONDARY Applications for secondary regional programs are closed

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 Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology

Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive Leadership Academy

T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades Judith Nyman (starting in September 2020), West Credit SS

SciTech Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports Applewood Heights SS

Strings Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Transportation Engineering and Technology

Bramalea SS

Apply for Extended French by Jan. 31, 2020

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2020, one of the im-portant choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French The EF school for our area is Green Glade Sr. Public School. The phone number is 905 822 8386. Online application The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2020-21 school year is available online at www.peelschools.org/French The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list. Please note that students who are currently or were previously enrolled in French Immersion, cannot apply for grade 7 Extended French – you will continue grade 7 in the French Immersion program or an English pro-gram. For more information visit www.peelschools.org/French call your nearest Extended French school connect with families who have children in the Extended French program visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 31, 2020

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2020, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider grade 1 French Immersion (FI). The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2020-21 school year are available online at www.peelschools.org/French. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist. Applying for Grade 1 French Immersion The Peel board has a limited number of spaces available for grade 1 French Immersion. They are not offered to students on a first come first served basis. A computerized random selection process randomly ranks all applications that are received by the deadline and assigns the available spaces in rank order. Once available spaces are filled, the remaining students are placed in rank order on a school’s waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist. Students must apply to and, if accepted, attend the French Immersion school based on the home address. Flexible boundaries are not available for Grade 1 French Immersion. How to get more information For more information about French Immersion and how you can support your child:

Visit www.peelschools.org/French

Call Sheridan Park Public School at 905 822 2401.

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

Visit www.stopr.ca to determine if your child is eligible for busing and for information on bus stops and routes.

Our work has just begun.

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.

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. To date, we have sup-ported more than 500 students through the Student Emergency Needs and Student Backpack programs. The support we provide can be as simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a back-pack 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 stu-dents. 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 l /PeelLearningFDN

Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness

From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Many people think that when we talk about mental health, we are talking about mental illness – however, although

they are related concepts, they are not the same. Mental health is like our physical health: both are important parts

of our overall well-being.

Mental illnesses are conditions that affect our thinking,

mood and behaviour and they can negatively impact

how we function day to day. Examples of mental illness

include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and

schizophrenia (1). Mental health, relates to our ability to

enjoy life and to manage it in ways that help us reach

our goals and cope with stress. It is a sense of spiritual

and emotional well-being. This means, mental health is

more than the absence of mental illness (2).

The “dual continuum model” (3) helps illustrate the re-

lationship between mental health and mental illness. On

the mental illness continuum, one end runs from severe

mental illness to no mental illness. On the mental health

continuum, one end runs from poor mental health to good mental health.

This model shows that a person without a mental illness is not necessarily mentally healthy. They may be feeling down

or experiencing a high level of stress because of life circumstances. It also shows us that we can all strive for good

mental health; that even individuals with mental illness can experience a high level of mental health.

To learn more, watch this brief YouTube video: “Promoting Mental Health: Finding Shared Language” bit.ly/UnderstandingMH_MI. For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

References:

Public Health Agency of Canada. 2015. Mental Illness. Available from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cdmc/mi-mm/index-eng.php

Public Health Agency of Canada. 2015. Frequently Asked Questions: What is Mental Health Promotion? Available from: http://

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/mh-sm/mhp-psm/faq-eng.php

Keyes, C.L. (2002). The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing in Life. Journal of Health and Social Research.

Vol. 43: 207-222

Time for school - A parent’s guide to reporting school Absences and Late All parents/guardians of elementary students need to report their children's absences or late arrivals from

school via our automated School Messenger SafeArrival system.

Use one of the following methods to set-up your new SafeArrival account. Please ensure the number

and email address that you are using to report your child’s absences are those that we have on

file at the school. SchoolMessenger app (free from Apple or Google Play)

Download the SchoolMessenger app

Tap Sign Up to create your account

Web and Mobile Web: go.schoolmessenger.ca

Go to the above website

Click Sign Up to create your account

Interactive Toll-free Phone

Call the toll-free number: 1-855-209-6155

Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence

As always, please report your child’s absences before the start of the school day. Late arrivals and/or early

departures should be reported as soon as possible. If your child’s absence is not reported in advance, the

automated notification system will contact you and will provide an opportunity to verify the absence. By re-

porting your child absent in advance on the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or SchoolMessenger mo-

bile app, you will not receive a call.

As always, if you have any questions or require any assistance, please contact the school.

School doors remain locked during the school day

We wanted to share a reminder with our school community. The front doors of our school

will be locked during the school day. This is part of the Safe Welcome program, originally

announced by the Ontario Government in December 2012, for all elementary schools in On-

tario. As part of this program, portable doors will also be

locked during the school day.

A camera and buzzer unit is located by the front door and

will be linked to a monitor in the main office of the school.

Anyone who wishes access to the school once the school

day has begun—parents, Peel board staff and visitors—will

request entry by pressing the buzzer. Staff in the main office

will be able to see and speak to the person, and release the

door lock to provide access.

We have long had the practice for Peel schools that all outside doors, with the exception of

the front door, would be locked during the school day. While we acknowledge that locking

doors will not in itself prevent all risks to the safety of students and staff, it is an important

step in providing an additional level of security.

Thank you for your continued support for the safety and well-being of all students and staff

in our schools.