David Marquis, Principal
Susan Schaefer, Office Co-Ordinator
131 Ontario Street, Guelph ON, N1E 3B3
Tel: (519) 822-9271 Fax: (519) 822-6617
May 2016
Principal’s Message
Wow! Only 8 weeks left in the 2015-2016 school year. After what turned out to be a
prolonged winter with cooler temperatures hanging on, we are hopeful that the switch
has been flipped and the warmer spring weather is here to stay. In May and June, we
will hopefully encounter more sun-filled days. Of course, this means that it’s also time to
be thinking about sun safety. Remember to apply sunscreen (preferably with a SPF of
30) to your little ones before they come to school in the morning, and perhaps send
some to be reapplied at lunch on very sunny days.
May and June are shaping up to be very busy months, and the staff and I are beginning
to plan for the 2016-2017 school year. For now, I wish to thank parents and staff for
their continued interest and support in school initiatives and programs this year. The
spirit and enthusiasm that students, parents and staff bring to school each day is most
welcome. I am honoured to work with such a fine community! As parents, you have
much to be proud of.
Finally, the new school on Couling Crescent is progressing nicely. Next month I hope to
be able to update you with a school name. Don’t forget, suggestions can be submitted
online or at the school and will be accepted until May 13th.
David Marquis
Feedback welcome on draft policies
The Upper Grand District School Board is welcoming public input on draft policies.
Currently open for consultation are draft policies and procedures for school
accommodation and boundaries, community partnerships, smoke-free environment and
asthma friendly schools, with input due by May 11, 2016. There is also a new draft
policy and procedures for the handling of public concerns, with an input deadline of May
30, 2016. Please review the draft documents and submit online feedback at
www.ugdsb.on.ca/policy.
Drills Drills Drills – School Safety
As per Board Policy, we have conducted a number of school safety drills this year.
Schools are required to complete 6 fire drills per year, 3 before the end of December
and 3 from January to June. Additionally, we complete 2 Lockdown drills and 1 severe
weather (tornado) drill. When doing these we always emphasize that we are practising
so that we know what to do in case of an emergency. The Guelph Police and Fire
Department also visit our school for presentations and safety talks. Do you have
emergency plans at home?
Visiting Couling?
A reminder that it is very important that visitors (including parents) always sign in at the
office when coming to our school. If you will be walking through the halls or going out
onto the playground, you will be asked to wear a school badge identifying that you have
checked in at the office. This is a simple procedure that goes a long way in ensuring
that your children are safe here at school. Thank you to all parents who already do this
routinely.
Art Night
Thank you to the many families who came out to walk the halls and take in the designs,
colors and ideas that were on display. Our students were very proud to show off their
art in our very own gallery.
Garage Sale
THANK YOU to the many parents from School Council who volunteered time and
energy for the Couling garage sale. And thank you of course for all your donations. As
a fundraiser, we made over $1200.00 that will go toward the playground and greening
projects at our new school.
Are You Moving From Couling?
Please contact the office if you know that your children will not be attending Couling
school in September. We are in the process of organizing and staffing our classes for
next year. Numbers are critical for this process. As well, if you know of any “new”
students who have not yet registered, please encourage them to do so since that makes
our planning much easier.
EQAO Testing Dates
The following dates are the days our Grade 3 and 6 students will be completing the
EQAO assessments. Our window for test days at our school will extend from May 25 to
June 8. It is very important that all students complete all aspects of the assessment.
We ask that you keep these days in mind when planning family holidays, doctor’s
appointments, etc. for students.
Bicycle Helmets
For the past several years, information has been shared with you related
to the importance of children wearing helmets for cycling, in-line skating,
and skateboarding. You should also be aware of the potential hazard
that exists when children wearing bicycle helmets are playing on
playground equipment. Helmets can become wedged in small openings and straps
entangled in the equipment that may result in strangulation. With warmer weather
approaching, we would ask that you join us in reinforcing to your children that they need
to wear helmets when riding or skating, but also of the dangers of wearing their helmet
while on playground equipment.
Allergy Alert
Please be reminded that we currently have students at Couling with severe
nut allergies (anaphylaxis). For some of these students, the situation can
be life threatening and therefore, we are asking for your cooperation in
taking the necessary precautions to avoid any such risk. Please help us to
provide a safe environment at our school by avoiding sending to school any
items containing nuts. In some classes we also have students with life-threatening
allergies to dairy, egg, soy, insects. Those classes are monitored closely to ensure
student safety. Thank you for your cooperation in this serious matter.
Earth Week Success
This year, our students were involved in a variety of environmental activities throughout
the month of April. Again we chose to have our whole school participate in the Green
Legacy program. Our students planted seedlings which are now growing rapidly in our
classrooms, we completed a waste audit, and we also celebrated Earth Day
with an environmental focussed assembly. In May, we will continue to
encourage environmental stewardship.
Head Lice
A reminder that head lice are a nuisance but not a health hazard, and they don’t result
from a lack of cleanliness. It is very important to check your child(ren)’s head
frequently. If you do discover head lice, please notify the school office so that we can
try to keep it under control in the school. We thrive to be a lice and nit-free school at
Couling and in the event that your child(ren) were to have lice, we ask that you treat
your child(ren) and ensure that they are both lice and nit-free before returning to school.
Focus on Literacy
Good reading skills are important for success in school and in life. That’s because
almost everything we do involves reading. The more you read, the better you will get!
You can help your child build his/her reading skills by making reading an important part
of your day-to-day activities at home. Be a reading role model, let your child see you
reading for fun. Try to set fifteen minutes aside everyday to read at the same time, or
with younger children, read aloud together. Reading can involve not only books and
magazines, but web sites that are of interest to you and your child (sites that you
approve of). When reading aloud to your child, remember that the art of listening is an
acquired one. It must be taught and will develop gradually. Don’t be surprised if your
child interrupts with lots of questions. Try to be patient and answer his/her questions,
as it shows that you are interested in what he/she is reading. Finally, don’t confuse
quantity with quality. Your child will remember fifteen minutes of reading together far
longer than two hours of television. Read on everybody!
May 23rd is Victoria Day
No School for Students and Staff
Math Please!
Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and of course the dog and anyone else living
at our house, I heard about these fun math games to play at home. Do you think we
could try them out? I think math is really important and I just need some extra practice.
Guess My Number
Goal: Can you guess the number I’m holding?
One player takes two playing cards. The cards can be ordered any way.
Be sure no one else can see the cards!
All other players take turns guessing what the number is by asking math questions.
"Is it even?" "Is it odd?" "Is it greater than 10?" "Is it a factor of 20?" and so on.
The payer holding the cards can only answer with a "Yes" or "No", until the actual
number is guessed.
Let’s Get Loonie
(Materials: 2 dice, coins 8 pennies, 2 nickels, 4 dimes, 6 quarters and 1 loonie.)
Roll the two dice and add the two numbers together.
Take that amount of money from the centre.
(Try to always have the least number of coins in front of you at a time).
Object: to be the first player to get “Looney”.
On the Way Home from Soccer or Baseball
How many goals/runs were scored in the game?
How many more goals/runs did we need to get to make 10, 18, and 25?
How many players are on the team? If they each have one sibling how many children
would that be? What if half of them had 2 siblings? Now how many children would that
be?
It cost $50.00 to fill up the van with gas. How much would 5 tanks cost? What about 8
tanks?
And for those nights that get rained out, how about some old favourites.
Puzzles, Pay Day, Monopoly, Rummoli, Phase 10 or Payday.