David Marquis, Principal
Brenda Sherry, Vice-Principal
February 2015
Lindsay Redpath, Office Co-Ordinator
397 Stevenson St. N, Guelph ON, N1E 5C1
Tel: (519) 763-7374 Fax: (519) 763-6344
Happy February!
The groundhog did not see its shadow on February 2nd which of course means an early
spring and even though we started the month with a good storm, the days are already
getting longer. Having said that, if Willie’s right, spring will soon be here and although
this is a positive prediction for many, it’s safe to say that winter isn’t quite over yet and
there will likely be more cold and snow filled days. Please be reminded that it is
imperative that children dress appropriately for outdoor play periods. Students need to
dress warmly. Winter jackets, boots, gloves and especially hats need to be worn to
keep warm. Please assist us in ensuring that your child is prepared for the weather. Of
course, be reassured that on very cold days, especially when wind chill factors are high,
we may have shortened recess periods, or may even keep the children indoors.
As always, there will be many learning opportunities taking place at Edward Johnson in
February and we look forward to another exciting month.
Happy Valentine’s!
David Marquis
School Council News
-February's school council meeting has been changed to Thursday February 12 at 6:30
pm in the library. Everyone is welcome to attend.
-February 13, 2015 will be our third annual dance a thon! This year’s theme is
Valentine’s Day. Your child's dance time will be posted on the school’s website and all
parents are welcome to attend!
-It's the time of year for pancakes! On Tuesday February 17, 2015, we will be hosting
our third school-wide Pancake Tuesday! If you can volunteer to flip pancakes or lend a
griddle, spatulas or aprons we would appreciate any help! Pancake Ingredients: Wheat flour,
canola oil, sugar, soya flour, rice flour, baking powder, dextrose, salt, monocalcium phosphate, xantham
gum, baking soda, natural and artificial flavour, calcium sulphate, colour… And of course…table syrup!
-School Council encourages parents to continue to read the reports from the EJplan
webpage, to submit input for consideration on the EJplan, and to attend the Board
meetings that parents have been invited to. If possible, Tuesday February 3 rd and
Tuesday February 10th at 7:00pm, at the Board office at 500 Victoria Road. A reminder
also goes to all parents that the decision on February 10th will affect children currently
attending Edward Johnson and possibly children registering their children to attend
Edward Johnson in September. Parents will be presenting as delegations at each of
these meetings. If you cannot attend or are reluctant to do so, you are welcome to
contribute to that process by contacting Maureen Oesch directly at 519-830-1728 by
text, or by emailing at moesch@uoguelph.ca with the thoughts, concerns and questions
you may have for the trustees or board staff.
A Dash of Color
Next time you’re in the school, make sure you take a minute to pop your head into the
library. We’ve added some color to our walls and we’re proud to announce that it has a
FRESH, FUN new look. Also, stay tuned for more library news over the next few
months as Mme Mizutani and a team of school staff consider other ideas in
transforming our Learning Commons.
Safe Arrival Program
We appreciate your calls when your child(ren) are going to be absent or late.
Please call the school at 519-763-7374 and leave a message. You do not
need to speak to Mme Redpath to report an absence or late arrival. The
school’s answering machine is available to the community 24 hours a day. Calling in
advance also alleviates early morning telephone congestion. Thank you for your
support.
UGDSB recognizes February as Black History Month
Every year Canadians are invited to take part in the festivities and events that honour
the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present, during Black History Month. Black
History Month exists to remind us all of the rich contributions within our society from
people of African and Caribbean decent, and of their ongoing struggle for equity and
social justice. This is a time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of
black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the
culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we know today. It is also an
opportunity for the majority of Canadians to learn about the experiences of black
Canadians in our society, and the vital role this community has played throughout our
shared history. Attached to this newsletter is an insert that may provide a starting point
for discussions at home.
Helping Your Child with Report Cards
Our school will be sending home report cards on Thursday, February 12th. Here are
some discussion ideas to help with sharing your child’s report card:
❑ Set aside time to talk with your child. Ask your child why they think they
earned the grades they did. It is important to help them see the connection
between the things they did and the grades they earned.
❑ Ask your child whether they did their best. What is important is not that
your child be the best, but that they do their best.
❑ Think about the messages you’re sending to your child when you are
discussing their report card with them.
❑ If grades are unexpectedly low, you may need to talk with the teacher.
Now is the time to find out about and correct, any problems that may be
interfering with your child’s learning.
❑ If the report card is disappointing, try to find something positive to say. Children
need to know that they are loved even when they make mistakes.
❑ If the report card is especially good, avoid giving your child a monetary reward.
Instead, give them a chance to plan a special outing. Or, choose a book and write a
note inside the front, telling them how proud you are of these accomplishments.
❑ Set specific goals for the next grading period. Review the goals set earlier in the
year. Help your child make plans to improve in at least one area. Write out an action
plan to be worked on over the next term.
School Routines
Thank you so much to everyone for making sure that your children are well prepared for
the winter weather at school with warm mittens, scarves, hats and snow suits. These
little steps go a long way to make their experience at school a happy one.
Please note that the school day begins at 8:45 am and it is very important for all
students to be at school and ready at this time. Routines are fundamental to the
beginning of each day and help students succeed throughout the entire day.
Please remember, if your child is arriving after 8:45 am, they must report to the office to
receive an admit slip prior to arriving in class and all late arrivals are documented in the
school attendance files. In some cases, students also miss out on early morning tasks
such as pizza orders which cannot be submitted when orders have already been
placed. Taking these steps now will establish routines and help to ensure that your
child has a positive and successful experience throughout their school career.
Mark Your Calendars
All schools in the Upper Grand District School Board will be closed on Monday,
February 16th, Family Day. Also, thinking ahead, the dates that schools will be closed
for the March Break this year are from Monday, March 16th to Friday, March 20th.
Life-Threatening Illness
Parents, please inform the school if your child has a life-threatening illness. We will ask
you for more details and with your assistance, develop a classroom and playground
plan. Also, a reminder that Edward Johnson has a number of children with very serious
allergies. They include: dairy products, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. We are especially
asking that students not bring food items to school that contain nuts and/or peanuts.
Lost and Found
As is often the case by mid-winter, our school’s Lost & Found Bin is overflowing with
student clothing. During the week of January 26th, we displayed the items from the bin
on tables and students were encouraged to take a look and gather any clothing that
belongs to them. Unfortunately, many clothing items remain unclaimed and we have no
other choice than bagging and sending unclaimed clothing to a charitable organization.
Please continue to encourage your children to visit the Lost and Found bin when
clothing items are missing.
Volleyball Success at FAH
On Thursday, January 22nd, Edward Johnson hosted a Junior volleyball tournament
involving 4 local schools. Our boys team won 1st place and our girls team placed 3rd
after playing a round robin format. Congratulations to all our athletes. A special thank
you to Mme Pelchat for organizing this tournament for the schools, as well as to Mme
Davis, Mme Robberts, Mme Owen and Mme Lehoux who assisted with coaching the
Edward Johnson teams.
Keeping Our Children and Youth Safe Online
Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of reported
cases of young people involved in self/peer exploitation. This is generally defined as
youth creating, sending or sharing sexual images and/or videos with peers via the
Internet and/or electronic devise. The Board recently purchased a resource for every
elementary and secondary school called Self/Peer Exploitation, School and Family
Approaches to Intervention and Prevention. The resource was created by the Canadian
Centre for Child Protection, which is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to
promoting safety of all children. Principals and Vice Principals also received an inservice on the guide.
The following two links may assist youth and families who have been impacted by child
sexual exploitation:
Cybertip.ca may be used to report child sexual exploitation
NeedHelpNow.ca is a website that offers find some practical information for youth on
how to deal with this (for example, how to get pictures removed from the internet, how
to deal with peers, how to talk with someone, etc.).
February 10, 2015 is international Safer Internet Day. Please consider using this day
to talk to your child(ren) about internet safety. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection
also produces several useful resources for parents that may be found using the
following links:
https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_SelfPeerExploitation_en.pdf
https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_Cyberbullying_en.pdf
Concussions Outside of School Hours
A concussion is a type of brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. It
can affect a student’s performance in both school work and physical activities. Rest is
very important after a concussion because it helps the brain heal. While a child has a
suspected or diagnosed concussion, full participation in school academic and physical
activities can worsen symptoms and make for a longer recovery period.
In the best interest of your child, parents and guardians are requested to contact the
principal when a suspected or diagnosed concussion occurs outside of school hours
(i.e. during outdoor play, sports, or a car accident). The principal will work with you to
develop a plan for an individualized, gradual return to full participation in school
activities. For more information, visit www.ugdsb.on.ca/concussions.
Self-regulation
Does your child struggle to calm his/her body and mind in order to cope with challenges
or solve problems? The ability to be calmly focused and alert can be difficult for many
children, as well as adults. The ability to self-regulate may change in different situations
and stages of life. As parents, you can help your child use strategies to calm his/her
body and mind by modelling what works for you. For example, when frustrated about
being caught in traffic, you may use self-talk and listening to music to help calm the
situation. You may say, “This traffic is terrible and I am feeling very frustrated. I know
that I can’t do anything about the traffic so I am just going to tell myself to relax, this will
pass, I can turn on some of my favourite tunes!” Strategies that may work for your child
as calming or focusing strategies include: exercise (e.g. a short run), reading a book,
listening to music, talking to someone, self-talk, counting to 20, getting a drink, taking a
break, or deep breathing. Generally speaking, calming the body and mind is necessary
before challenges or conflict can be successfully handled.
Resources for Parents Book: Zones of Regulation by Leah M. Kuypers
Zones of Regulation http://andersoncarla.blogspot.ca/2014/08/zones-of-regulation.html
Relaxation Techniques http://visuals.autism.net/main.php?g2_itemId=138
Today’s Parent: Easy Ways to Teach Your Child to Self-Regulate
http://www.todaysparent.com/kids/preschool/easy-ways-to-teach-your-child-to-selfregulate/
Responsive Classroom: Teaching Self-Calming Skills
https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/teaching-self-calming-skills
Video: A story: Staying Calm When Angry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnmFfxWjsvs
Self-Regulation http://andersoncarla.blogspot.ca/2013/12/self-regulation.html
Prevent Pollution and show Respect for the Environment
Pollution of our planet – air, water and land - is a big issue. It damages our environment,
harms or kills plants and animals, and spoils our quality of life. The largest contributor to
air pollution is human activity resulting from the burning of fuels such as used in industry
and transportation using cars and trucks. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are
discharged directly or indirectly into rivers and lakes without adequate treatment to
remove harmful compounds. This is done on purpose by some unscrupulous industries
or can happen by accident from toxic spills of chemicals or oil. Pollution of our land is
often caused by littering or improper disposal of waste or by contamination of our soil by
harmful chemicals. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act was put in place to
monitor pollution and give guidelines for industries. We need to be aware of what
causes pollution and its effects so that we can individually make a difference in
protecting our planet.
You as an individual can have a great impact on reducing pollution. Don’t litter, not even
something as small as a gum wrapper. Where do you think it eventually goes? Even
better, help pick up litter on your school yard and participate in annual cleanups in your
local parks and rivers. Don’t use disposable plastic products like bags or water bottles.
Bring a cloth bag and use reusable water bottles. Tell your family to use “green”
cleaning products like baking soda and vinegar instead of chemical cleaners. Take all
batteries, leftover paints, and motor oil to the hazardous waste depot instead of putting
them in the garbage. Take unused prescriptions back to the pharmacy for proper
disposal. Encourage friends and family to help with the anti-pollution cause! As
individuals we can put our voices together and make ourselves heard in our effort to
stop pollution on planet Earth.
Green revolution is the best solution to stop pollution. - Let’s go green, everyone!
Stay Well Month
Reduce the risk of serious infections - proper hand-washing is one of the best ways
to avoid getting sick.
Stay home when you are sick and limit contact with others -Children should not be
in school with a fever, undiagnosed rashes, vomiting, or diarrhea and should stay at
home at least 24 hours following the end of symptoms.
Cover your mouth and nose - when you sneeze or cough; use a tissue or the bend of
your elbow.
You can prevent many serious illnesses by keeping immunizations up-to-date for you
and your children. Call 1-800-265-7293 for more information.
Talking About Mental Health – Let’s Keep Talking! February 2015
Bell Let’s Talk is a nationwide campaign to increase awareness and decrease stigma
around mental illness. I am sure that you heard the ads and hopefully participated in
Let’s Talk Day on Jan 28. What a great way to get the conversation going on mental
illness! However, mental illness does not just occur in January and the discussion
should not end there either. Here are some tips and ideas to keep the conversation
going so that each one of us can do our part to increase awareness, decrease stigma
and improve the lives of children, youth and adults with mental illness.
Bell Let’s Talk’s 5 Ways to Help (from http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/end-the-stigma/)
1. Language Matters
Words matter…but they can also hurt. Pay attention to the words you use.
Explain to friends and colleagues who use words like “psycho” or “nut” without
thinking that their comments may be hurtful and provide an alternate view.
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/04/29/9-things-not-to-say-tosomeone-with-mental-illness/
2 out of 3 people with mental illness suffer in silence, fearing judgement and
rejection.
Canadian Medical Association
2. Educate yourself.
Myths exist about mental illness that contribute to stigma. Learn the facts. Learn
more, know more. Be knowledgeable and help fight the stigma with facts.
http://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/
On any given week, more than 500,000 Canadians will not go to work because of
mental illness.
Mental Health Commission of Canada
3. Be Kind
Small acts of kindness speak volumes. Don’t stand by if someone is being
labeled or bullied. Treat a person who has a mental illness with the kindness and
care you give to people with other illnesses through a friendly smile, a helping
hand, a phone call or a visit.
http://mindyourmind.ca/wellness/random-acts-kindness
Only 49% of Canadians said they would socialize with a friend who has a serious
mental illness.
Canadian Medical Association
4. Listen and Ask
Sometimes it is just best to listen. Don’t trivialize someone’s illness. Instead, say:
“I’m sorry to hear that, it much be a difficult time. Is there anything I can do to
help?”
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health/tips
Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people
who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
Canadian Mental Health Association
5. Talk About It
Start a dialogue, not a debate. Break the silence. Talk about how mental health
touches us all in some way directly or through a friend, family member or
colleague. Stories of lived experience are the best way to eradicate stigma.
Support mental health and anti-stigma programs in your community.
http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/toolkit/
1 in 5 Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their
life.
Canadian Institute of Health Research
For more information go to our board website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/parents click on the
Mental Health tab.
For all our mental health, let’s keep talking and listening and caring and connecting.
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District
School Board
Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford