Paisley Road Public School
Principal: R. Wagner
Vice Principal: M. Harrison
406 Paisley Road P.S.
Guelph, ON
February Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Environmental Theme
1
Scholarship Program
1
Physical Activity
2
Talking Mental Health
2
Additional PD Day
2
Calendar
3
Forest of Reading
4
Library Contest
4
Spread the Net
4
Family Tech Night
5
Knitting Club
5
Kindergarten Registration
5
Free To Achieve
5
Before/After School
5
Special points
of interest:
 February 1-5 Kindergarten
Registration 10 a.m. - 2:30
p.m.
 February 1st Forest of
Reading Kick Off assembly
 February 12th
Dane a Thon, Red/White &
Pink Day
 February 15th Family Day
 February 16th Parent
Council Meeting 6:30p.m.
519-822-0675
Environmental Theme
Because many of our energy
sources cause pollution and
damage our Earth, energy
conservation is about finding
ways to reduce or eliminate
unnecessary energy usage.
We all know to turn off the
lights when not in the room,
turn down the heating or
cooling and buy energy
efficient appliances. But do
you know about Energy
Vampires? Energy Vampires
are electronics that use
energy even when you think
they are turned off. Many
"Vampires" have LED lights,
clocks or digital displays that
are powered continually. Cell
phone chargers, TVs, DVD
players and gaming devices
all draw current even when not maximum warmth and light
in use. We can unplug these or from the sun's rays in the
plug them into smart power
winter and have a roof
strips that stop idle energy
overhang designed to decrease
currents.
sun penetration in the
summer. Install lights that only
But what about the future?
turn on by using a sensor that
What types of energy can we
monitors brightness. Plant
use that are renewable energy trees to strategically provide
sources that don't damage the shade. In your community, ask
planet? Let's put solar energy local governments to support
to work! When it is sunny
more solar panels and more
outside, let your laundry dry
wind turbines in Ontario. We
on a clothesline. Or open the
can use these great ideas
curtains in the winter and let
ourselves to slow down Global
the sun heat your home
Warming and keep our planet
naturally.
healthy.
Or, let's be Eco-Smart in our
choices. Design new houses
that are angled to use the
Slogan of the month: Conserve
our energy - we are using
more of it than you think!
Partnering for Bright Futures Scholarship Program
A new scholarship is hoping
to help families save for
their child’s education
through a shared savings
program.
Family Counseling and Support
Services for Guelph-Wellington
has launched a scholarship pilot
program for low to modest
income families in Guelph and
Wellington County.
If accepted to the program,
families are asked to save a
minimum of $56 per month for 6
months for a total of $336 per
year to a Registered Education
Savings Plan (RESP). The
scholarship donors will double
the contribution by providing up
to $667 per year for up to three
years. The family will also
receive government
contributions to the RESP as
defined by the Canada Learning
Bond and/or Canada Education
Savings Grant.
To be eligible for the scholarship
program children must be born
in 2004 or later and be a
resident of Guelph-Wellington.
The family’s gross income must
be less than $50,000 per year,
and families must make the
required contributions to a RESP.
For more information on the
scholarship, and to learn more
about eligibility criteria, please
email Diane Vert at Family
Counseling and Support Services,
at Diane Vert@family
servguleph.on.ca
page 2
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Physical Activity Makes You Smarter
Yep! It’s true!
We have heard a lot about how
exercise is important for children
to remain healthy but research
from Harvard Medical School (and
many other studies) has shown
that children do better in school if
they get plenty of exercise. As it
turns out, exercise has a positive
influence on concentration,
memory, behaviour, sequencing,
and making priorities.
developmentally appropriate,
enjoyable, and involves a variety of
activities”. But other studies have
found that even 20 minutes of
activity such as walking can increase
brain functioning.
(Information adapted from Journal of
Pediatrics, Edutopia, Everydayhealth.com
and Globe and Mail online)
There are so many fun physical
activities to do in the winter,
tobogganing, skating, snow-shoeing,
hockey. Why not build a snow man,
a snow fort or make snow angels?
Whatever you and your family decide
it is important for children to
exercise every day, the more, the
better.
According to one study in the
Journal of Pediatrics, “school-age
youth should participate daily in
60 minutes or more of moderate
It’s good for the brain and the
to vigorous physical activity that is body!
Talking Mental Health
Being grateful is a simple
thing that we can do every
day, but it has a powerful
effect on our positive mental
health. Being grateful
increases positive feelings,
makes us more stress
resistant and increases our
sense of self-worth.
Here are some simple
grateful exercises that you
can do with your family:
1. Every night at dinner each
person in the family says
three things they are
grateful for that day.
2. Make a February gratitude
jar, every day each family
member writes down one
thing they are grateful for
and at the end of the month,
open the jar and read all the
things you are grateful for.
3. Leave sticky notes for
each family member to thank
them for something you
appreciate about them. Each
family member has a
different day of the week
that they are in charge of
making the thank you notes.
4. Think about volunteering
Additional PD Day Added
We would like to make all
parents and guardians aware of
an additional PA Day that has
been added to the school
calendar. Following central
collective agreements reached in
the fall, an additional
Professional Activity Day has
been added to this school year.
In the Upper Grand District
School Board, this PA Day will be
on April 25, 2016.
and include your children
and youth. There are lots of
opportunities at your school
or in your neighbourhood to
help others.
5. Have fun together as a
family. Play a game, watch a
movie, eat a meal, go for a
walk, read a book together. Be
grateful for time together and
creating new, happy memories.
Wishing everyone a great and
grateful February.
Dr. Lynn Woo dfor d, Ps yc holo gist, is the Me nt al
Healt h and A ddi ctio n Lead for Up p er Gr and Dist rict
Sc ho ol Bo ard
Follow m e o n twitt er: @d rlynnwoo dford
Sunday
Monday
1
Forest of
Reading Kick
Off
Assembly
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Saturday
6
Popcorn sale
Pizza
NEW KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 10am-2:30pm
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
19
Basketball
Tournament
20
Pizza
Report Cards
go home
14
15
16
No
school
21
22
17
18
Pizza
Meeting 6:30
23
24
25
Pizza
28
29
Popcorn sale
26
27
page 4
NEWSLETTER
Forest of Reading 2016
It’s that time again! Our very
popular Forest of Reading Clubs
are back this year with a new
selection of great books. We
are starting up our Forest of
Reading Program this month.
The Forest of Reading® is
Canada's largest recreational
reading program! This initiative
of the Ontario Library
Association (OLA) offers seven
reading programs to encourage
a love of reading in people of all
ages. The Forest helps celebrate
Canadian books, publishers,
authors and illustrators. More
than 250,000 readers participate
annually from their School
and/or Public Library. Each club
offers 10 books by Canadian
authors.
Our school will be participating
in the following clubs:
Blue Spruce- A club for Primary
classes led by their teachers in
collaboration with Mrs. Richer
(Teacher-Librarian). Teachers
read the books to students in
the class and complete a
passport. They vote for their
favourite book and celebrate the
winner at a Blue Party in May.
Le Prix Peuplier - This is the
Primary French Immersion
reading club ‘en francais’!
Students will listen to stories in
class, complete a passport and
participate in a special party in
May.
Silver Birch Express –A mix of
fiction and non-fiction at
approximately the Grade 4
reading level (Grade 3 students
and up can join)
Silver Birch Fiction – Novels for
Junior readers
Silver Birch Non-Fiction – Various
non-fiction texts for Junior
readers
Le Prix Tamarac Express- Easier
level Junior French fiction and
non-fiction
Students who read a minimum of
5 books from any of the Junior
clubs will be eligible to vote for
the winning author in April.
These students are also eligible
to participate in our celebration
at Royal City Park and the
Boathouse in May.
Thank-you to Parent Council for
their ongoing financial support of
the program. Thank-you to the
many teachers that work to
support this program in their
classrooms. Thank-you to our
wonderful student readers who
have showed such great
enthusiasm over the years!
February Library Contest
February is a great time to show our LOVE of books! It is also a time for the Forest of
Reading. Put it together and we get the “Growing a Love of Books Tree”. Students fill in
their ballot about a book they have LOVED reading that week and decorate the other side
with a pattern. Bring the completed leaves to the Library and add them to the tree. One
leaf will be chosen to win $20 in Scholastic Book Picks. Bonne Chance!
Spread the Net Chore-a-Thon
Spread
theinitiative
Net Chore-a-thon
This is a student
to
special connection to the
help make a difference in
our world. A Grade 6
student has started this
initiative to help save lives in
Africa. Through the
organization Spread the Net,
sleeping nets can be
purchased for $10 to prevent
mosquito bites that cause
Malaria. This student has a
project and we hope that
students will support him in
this great cause!
$10 = 1 net = Saving lives!
We will be having a chore-athon! Students can do
chores at home, with
neighbours and friends to
raise money to purchase
nets. We hope to raise
enough money to buy 100
nets! That could save up to
200 lives! The class that gets
the most pledges will be
invited for a special popcorn
and movie event in the
Library.
All Pledge Forms and money
are due February 12th.
page 5
NEWSLETTER
Family Tech Night February 25th
Family Tech Night February 25th
This will be a Hands On Fair style
students and parents will do hands on
evening held in the Library for families Technology and explore these technologies
interested in learning more about how together!
we are using Technology in our School
and School Board. Come out and learn
about UG2GO, our Online Library,
Student Cloud Accounts, Read and
Write app for accessibility, Green
Screen and Animation, Computer
Coding with Kids, Hands on Maker
Spaces and more.... This evening will
be run by Parent Council and Ms.
Richer. This is a Family event where
Knitting Club
Cast on...knit...purl...untangle...fix stitches… If this sounds like fun to you maybe you would consider helping out.
Grade 3 Knitting club is a chance for students to learn a valuable skill and create something that will be given to a
community organization selected by the students. If you are interested in lending a hand please contact Ms. Richer,
Mme Murphy or Mme Thompson. Knitting club will be Tuesday and Thursday’s from 10:55 -11:20am beginning February
2nd in the Library.
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child who will be 4 years of age on or before December 2016, born 201 2- he/she can be registered for
Junior Kindergarten.
Registration will be held at the school the week of February 1st-5th between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Please bring the following documentation:
Immunization Record
Birth Certificate or Passport
Proof of Address
Custody Paperwork if applicable
BEFORE AND/OR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Parents/Guardians of children enrolled in JK/SK to Grade 6 2016:
The Upper Grand District School Board is currently seeking proposals from licensed Third Party Child Care Operators to
provide Before and/or After School programs, beginning September 2016(where one does not currently exits), provided
there are viable numbers.
Please access our Before and/or After School Program Survey at the following URL: The survey will take a few
minutes to complete. http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/baspsurvey
All surveys must be completed by Friday, February 12, 2016 at the latest. Thank you for providing this helpful
information.
Happy Valentine’s from “Free to Achieve”
Charities like Free the Children, have transformed how students view themselves, their co mmunity and the world. Our
students feel empowered to make a difference both locally and globally. In fact our schools have been raising money
for the Upper Grand Learning Foundation (UGLF) “Free to Achieve” - a fund that benefits students in our communit y with
basic needs, like winter clothing, school trips and hearing aids This Valentine’s Day we would like to thank you for your
generous donations to “Free to Achieve”. Want to make a donation or start a “Free to Achieve” campaign? Visit the UGLF
website for more information at www.uppergrandlearningfoundation .