Volume 26 No. 3
2014 10 29
Together, Making A Difference…..One Student At A Time
From The Principal’s Desk
It was great to see so many people at the BBQ and
Open House on September 25th. The weather was
beautiful and the hot dogs were delicious…thank you
Fraberts!!! We also had lots of fun at the Halloween
Dance on October 23rd. To see so many families out
with their children was amazing!! Your support as
parents is felt every day by our staff and students.
Thank you to our School Council for running such
great events.
Our school Cross Country Team had a successful
afternoon at the Fergus Sportsplex on October 14th.
Over 70 children attended from our school under the
leadership of Mrs. Arnott and Mrs. Wasson. Thank
you ladies for coaching and thank you to the students
for representing James McQueen so positively!!
Our kindergarten students along with Mrs. Wasson’s,
Mr. Campbell’s and Mrs. Lehman’s classes visited
Thatcher Farms in October and had a wonderful time
learning all about farming and farm animals.
On November 12th students will be receiving progress
reports. It is important that parents review these
reports and address any areas of need for their
children. Though the first term report will be issued
in February, the progress report provides feedback to
parents about their child’s progress in many areas.
Information about Parent-Teacher Interviews will be
sent home in a few weeks.
Lastly, please be aware of student pedestrians around
our school. Parking is very limited at James McQueen
so it is important not to block the view of other drivers
or walkers trying to navigate to our school yard. Our
students are precious and we want to keep them safe.
Sincerely,
L. Lacey,
Principal
Terry Fox Thanks!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who
contributed to the Terry Fox Run on September 24th.
It was wonderful to have parents join us on the walk
and when it was over we sent just under $1700.00 to
the Terry Fox Foundation!! Thank you so much!!
Pizza Days
Our next order is due by Monday,
November 24th. You may send
one cheque for your family but
please remember that you MUST
SEND AN ORDER FORM FOR EACH
CHILD TO THAT CHILD’S TEACHER!!
Cheques are made payable to: James
McQueen Public School.
School Council Corner…
A Spooktacular Halloween Dance!!
There were zombies, princesses, zombie princesses,
legomen, supermen, peacocks and pirates – and that
was just the parents!! Yes, the JMQ annual
Halloween dance was a fang-tastic night of Halloween
fun. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and
proved, once again, that the James McQueen school
community rocks! We may be primary, but we sure
know how to party! Huge gratitude is also due to all
our bakers and servers at the Council Café. Together
we raised just under $700.00 to put towards fun and
enriching activities for the students. If you’d like to
have a say into how the money is spent, please
consider coming out to a school council meeting. We
meet the second Wednesday of every month (next
meeting is November 12th) at 6:30 p.m. in the library
and babysitting is available.
No dance would be the same without the amazing
talents of DJ Mark Haynes who very generously
donates his time and mixing skills to our family fun
nights. Thank you Mark – you rock – literally!!
Congratulations to our best costume winners –
Brayden White, Madelaine Pothier and Megan
Thoms-McDougall. And don’t worry, if you missed
this dance, school council will be hosting a love-tastic
family Valentine’s dance in February!
Thank you to Mr. Lacey, Mme Arnott and staff for
supporting this frightfully fun night!
Give us your email address……and we’ll keep you
up to date on everything you need to know at James
McQueen. It’s so easy – go to
http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/jamesmcqueen/ and click
on the “subscribe” button. You will receive
notification every time a newsletter comes out, as well
as other updates. Help us cut our photocopying costs
and save some trees along the way!!
Give back! Save Time! Enjoy your tax receipt!
Being a parent is a busy business and James McQueen
school council is committed to making your life just a
little bit easier. This year we are encouraging parents
to donate once and be done by contributing to the
Upper Grand Learning Foundation. You can
contribute as much or as little as you wish. If each
family donated $30.00 we would raise the same
amount of money as we have in previous years, all
with a few simple clicks. And for donations of $20.00
or over, you get a tax receipt.
Top Five School Council funded events of 2013….
Year-end trip support ($5.00/child)
Arts programming
Scientists in the School
Chromebook charging cart
Grade 6 trip support
$2085
$1132
$1000
$ 800
$ 500
Contributing is very easy. Online – visit
http://www.uppergrandlearningfoundation.com/ .
Be sure to direct your funds to James McQueen Public
School. You could also pick up a form in the school
office and send it back to Mrs. Hopf. She will send
the form and money to the Board office on your
behalf. Nothing to sell and no feelings of guilt that
you just threw the fundraiser information into the
recycling! Log on right now, donate once and sit back,
relax and enjoy the school year! Many thanks in
advance from all of us involved in James McQueen
school council – we’re parents too!
School Council will continue to offer fun student
community events such as the Easter Bunny
Breakfast, Halloween and Valentine’s Dances as they
are important events for the school community and
beyond. Also, funds will continue to be raised
through our partners at the Elora Label Company,
Mabel’s Labels and Littletree Nursery. Charitable
events such as the Terry Fox Run, MS Read-a-thon
and Jump Rope for Heart will also continue. We are
interested in how this change of strategy will play out
and welcome your feedback.
Need labels? Please remember you can choose from
Elora Labels at https://eloralabel.com/jamesmcqueen
or Mabel’s Labels at https://jmps.mabelslabels.com
Join us!! School Council meetings are open to the
everyone on the second Wednesday of the month.
Just a reminder that the next meeting is November
12th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and babysitting is
available. Participating in school council is a great
way to play an active role in your child’s school
experience within this incredible school community.
Please Keep Checking!
We would like to remind
parents that it is very
important to check your child
regularly for head lice. We
remind children not to share
hats, hairbands, hockey helmets, etc.
and we know that you do as well. If you
do find head lice, please make sure to contact the
school office so that a notice can be sent home asap.
Thanks!!
Family Fit Club
There is still time to join the McQueen
Family Fit Club!! Your child can
pick up a tracking sheet in the
office from Mrs. Hopf and
bring it home. On the sheet you
will record the activity you are
doing, the date and how many minutes you were
active. At the end of the month you return your sheet
to Mrs. Hopf and you and your family are eligible for a
draw of some great prizes! Sports equipment,
swimming passes, and more! Come on…..join us in
becoming more fit and healthy!!!!
Do You Need Assistance?
The Community Resource Centre is offering, to
families in need, Walmart gift cards to help purchase
running shoes. If your child is in need of running
shoes and you would like to access this assistance,
please call Mrs. Hopf in the office at 519-843-1700.
The card can be sent home with your child or you can
pick it up. All recipients are kept confidential.
Get Your Flu Shot
The flu is a respiratory illness that spreads quickly from
person to person. Common flu symptoms include fever,
cough, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and weakness.
The flu is more serious for the very young and elderly.
They can get the flu from school-aged children who don’t
seem sick but may have a mild case. Get your free flu shot.
It protects everyone. Visit www.wdgpublichealth.ca to find
a flu clinic near you.
If you don’t like needles, there is an alternative. FluMist is
a nasal spray available for children and adults ages 2 to 59.
FluMist is not available at drop-in clinics. Call 1-800-2657293 to make an appointment. There is a cost of $20 for
the vaccine.
Dates to Remember……
Tuesday, November 11
Remembrance Day. Please join us for our assembly at 11:20 a.m. in the gym.
Friday, November 14
Crazy Hair Day!!
Vision Screening for Kindergarten Students today.
Wednesday, November 12
Tuesday, November 18
School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Library. Everyone is welcome!
Vision Screening for Kindergarten Students today.
Progress Reports go home.
Pottery to Go visits!
Friday, November 21
P.A. Day – Parent/Teacher Interviews
Tuesday, November 25
Pottery to Go visits!
Monday, November 24
Friday, November 28
Pizza orders for December are due today!!
Comfy Cozy Games Day!!
LAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER DRAW WINNER WAS…….Spencer Anderson!! Congratulations!!!!
Triple P
Positive Parenting Program
Parenting Discussion Groups
November 13, 20 & 27 and December 4, 2014
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
These groups are facilitated by a Public Health Nurse. We focus on
common parenting challenges.
Topics include:
Promoting cooperation
Managing fighting and aggression
Hassle free shopping with children
Developing healthy bedtime routines
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health - Fergus Office
474 Wellington Road #18, Suite 100
RR#1 Fergus, ON
N1M 2W3
(Note: GPS units do not accurately map this location. The coordinates
can be set to 43.694605,-80.400063)
For more information or to register call KIDS LINE:
1-800-265-7293 ext 3616
There is no cost for the program and registration is required.
www.wdgpublichealth.ca
Lean to Skate
Get your child ready for a lifetime of fun on the ice.
Learn to Skate runs for 10 weeks starting Thursday Jan 8th at the Fergus Sportsplex.
Registration can be completed on our website www.elorafergusringette.ca or you can
contact efringette@gmail.com for more information.
10 week session (Jan to Mar) for $150
School
Mental Health
Surveys
Make a difference in the lives of children and youth:
say yes' to participate in the
2014 Ontario Child Health Study
and School Mental Health Surveys
The 1983 Ontario Child Health Study told us that
1 in 5 children and youth experienced serious mental health challenges.
This estimate is outdated as is much of what we know about child and youth mental health in
Ontario. The 2014 Ontario Child Health Study will tell us about the mental health status and
needs of children and youth living in Ontario today.
From October 2014 to May 2015, Statistics Canada will be inviting 7,000 families with children
aged 4 -17 years to complete an interview in their home. At the same time, McMaster researchers
will be conducting School Mental Health Surveys in 240 Ontario schools to help us learn new
ways of promoting and addressing student mental health needs.
Together, these studies will be the first of their kind in Canada
to examine the influence of family, community and school environments
on child and youth mental health.
The results will be used to develop programs and services to improve the mental health of young
people in Ontario. Results from the 1983 Study were partially responsible for over 3 billion
dollars of investment in federal and provincial programs and services, resulting in the creation of
programmes such as the Ontario Early Years Centres.
Participation in the 1983 Ontario Child Health Study was over 90%. Make sure you are heard in
2014 as well. Let's make our province a better place for children and youth. If invited to
participate, please say 'yes' to the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study and School Mental Health
Surveys.
www.ontariochildhealthstudy.ca
Canadian Societe
Cancer
canadienne
Society
du cancer
Wellington County Community Office
214 Speedvale Avenue West Unit 4A
Guelph ON N1H 1C4
Tel. 519-824-4261
Fax. 519-824-8923
Good Afternoon,
The Wellington County Community Office of the Canadian Cancer Society will be
hosting the second annual Pink in the Rink with the Guelph Storm. Last year this
event raised just under $10,000 and we are inviting you to help us surpass that
amount in 2014!
The event will be held on November 7th 2014 as the Guelph Storm face off against the
Saginaw Spirit. During the event funds and awareness will be raised to help beat
Breast Cancer. Pink in the Rink will feature prizes for raffle, Chuck the Puck and
several moments to remember those who are battling and who we have lost to
cancer.
This is a fantastic event for families and friends to join together in a great game of
hockey while supporting a spectacular cause at a great rate for those supporting the
Canadian Cancer Society.
Your involvement in this event is critical to our mission of making our 2014 Pink in
the Rink more successful than the last. We encourage families to join together, dress
in pink and come out for an event your children will never forget!
For ticket purchases and for more information about the event please contact
Candice Coghlan at 519-824-4261ext 3176 or at ccoghlan@ontario.cancer.ca.
Thank you so much for your support,
We look forward to seeing you cheer on our home team while supporting Breast
Cancer and Canadians fighting cancer.
Sincerely,
Candice Coghlan
Fundraising Coordinator, Canadian Cancer Society Wellington County