October 2015
Principal’s Message:
Our school year is well under way as
we head into the fall. We had the
good fortune of not needing to complete a classroom reorganization as
our school enrollment is very close to
the spring prediction. Our current enrollment is 464 students. Based on
Planning Department predictions, we
are in a position to accommodate our
future growth for the school year.
Our Kindergarten playground continues to be developed. Our fencing is
now in place and we look forward to
the installation of new equipment.
We had an excellent turn out for our
first School Council meeting and will
always welcome new members to the
group. I look forward to working with
this energetic team as they plan special events, hot meals and support
our student learners.
At A Glance:
Oct. 2nd - Glenbrook
Terry Fox Run
Oct. 6th - Cross Country Meet
Oct. 8th - School Photo Day
- School Council
Meeting
Important Reminder
Grade 7 & 8 Immunization forms
are due. The first date for immunizations is October 12th. Grade 7
students will be offered HEP B &
Menengitis vacines. Grade 8
Girls will be offered HPV vaccines.
October 30th Professional Development Day:
The staff at Glenbrook will be participating in a Professional Development Day
on Friday, October 30th. Staff will use
this day for self-directed professional
learning. Classes will not be in session
on this day.
Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL):
Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect on July 1, 2014. As a
result, the Upper Grand District School Board, would like to ensure that we have
your consent to receive newsletters, school and Board updates, announcements,
event invitations and other electronic messages which may contain advertising or
promotions regarding school fundraisers, field trips, the sale of yearbooks, student
pictures, uniforms, graduation or dance tickets, or similar events and offers.
If you wish to receive the above communication from us, please visit our
CASL registration website at: www.ugdsb.on.ca/CASL
By registering your email on this webpage you will receive electronic communication from the school which may or may not contain commercial electronic messages as described above. If consent is not provided, you will not receive electronic
messages containing commercial content and may find it more difficult to be
aware of the activities that take place in school. If you wish to withdraw your consent at any time, please visit the same site (www.ugdsb.on.ca/CASL) and click
“Unsubscribe” to remove your name from our contact list.
BYOD at Glenbrook
Students in our intermediate grades will be bringing home a “Bring
Your Own Device” consent and agreement form. At Glenbrook, we
believe that allowing students to use devices such as smartphones,
laptops, chromebooks and tablets under the direct supervision of classroom teachers may enhance their learning experience. Through the
guided use of technology, our students will be better able to find their
place in 21st century learning circles, demonstrate creative and critical
thinking skills and develop digital citizenship.
Please read the agreement carefully, sign and
return the form to the school to allow your child
to use a personal device at designated times.
Please understand that personal devices may
not be used during times of indirect supervision.
This includes our play yard and school washrooms.
Professional Development Day —Friday, October 30, 2015 (no school)
Nutrition Break Supervisors Needed:
Congratulations
We currently have three Nutrition Break Supervisors who come to the school
during our nutrition breaks to supervise students in their classrooms while they
eat their snacks. These adults then supervise students on the yard for the remaining 20 minutes of the break. This is a paid position.
Thank you to our intermediate students for representing Glenbrook so
well at the Intermediate Soccer Tournament. Despite not having a great
deal of time to practice together as a
team, our students took their skills on
the road and put forth a fantastic effort. Thank you is also extended to
Mr. Long for organizing and coaching
the team, and to Mr. Grin for supervising our players.
Occasionally we require replacement supervisors when a supervisor is unable
to fulfill his/her duties due to illness or another commitment. If you are available
during school hours (10:30—11:10 and 12:50—1:30) and would be willing to
take on these supervision duties, please contact the school office at your earliest convenience (519) 925-0580. We will be establishing
an occasional Nutrition Break Supervisor list during the
month of October. A Criminal Reference Check is required
for this position. We appreciate any assistance that you
can provide.
Glenbrook School Council Meeting:
Glenbrook’s School Council will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, October
8th at 6:15 p.m. in the school’s staff room. We invite all Glenbrook parents to
attend this meeting. We are happy to report that we have had some parents
new to the Glenbrook community join our Council. We are hoping that many
more parents will get involved this year.
The School Council’s Playground Committee will meet on
Tuesday, October 15th at 6:15 p.m.
All parents are welcome to attend this important meeting as well!
Earphones for students;
Many of our classrooms in the
primary and junior grades have
listening centres. Each class has
a limited number of headphones.
For convenience and comfort,
parents may wish to provide their
child with their own personal
headphones. Please send these
to school in a ziplock style bag
clearly marked with your child’s
name.
School Photo Day:
Community Involvement at Glenbrook:
This month we have welcomed the Shelburne Police to our
Grade 6 classes. These students will be working with our local
Police Officers to complete the DARE classroom project. This
program focuses on helping students develop good decision making skills which
will aid them in leading safe and healthy
lives.
The Grade 5 & 6 classes have been participating in special
programming delivered through Family Transition Place.
These classes focus on building healthy relationships, developing tolerance and empathy, and breaking down stereotypes.
Edge Imaging photographers will be
coming to Glenbrook school on
Thursday, October 8th to take class
and individual student photos.
Students will be
bringing home further
information
regarding school
photos prior to this
event taking place.
Our photo retake
day is scheduled
forTuesday,
November
10th,
2015.
Reminders to our Community:
Dogs should not be on school property during school hours. This creates a potentially unsafe situation for our students. This includes during our drop off and pick up times.
Our fenced Kindergarten play area is not intended to
be used as an off-leash dog park. Please help us to
keep our children safe.
Thank you to those who do “Poop and Scoop” in our
community.
Please remember to pick up/drop
off your child at the main office if
your child is arriving outside of our
bell times.
This helps our office
staff to keep attendance accurate and
assists with keeping
our building secure.
Inclement Weather Procedures for Glenbrook School:
Glenbrook will be open when buses are cancelled. This is due to the fact that our school is not dependent on bus transportation and all of our students can walk to school. It is very important for parents/guardians to report student absences from school on the attendance line before 8:30 am, should you believe that weather conditions are such that
it is unsafe for your child(ren) to walk to school, and you have made the decision to keep your child(ren) at home.
Glenbrook does have an “information” mailbox. It is an “Inclement Weather Information Mailbox” that
can be reached by dialing 519-925-0580, ext 410.
Another alternative is to access our Board’s Transportation website: www.stwdsts.ca/. Scroll down to
the bottom of the page and read the transportation information in the green box for Dufferin County.
Environmental News
This year we will challenge ourselves to LIVE green every day, because one small change one day
at a time adds up to a world of difference. The environmental theme for Fall is sustainability.
‘Sustainability’ means protecting our Earth and using Earth's natural resources carefully, like forests,
water, minerals, and fossil fuels.
Part of living in a sustainable way is using, buying and eating only what you really need. This saves
resources and cuts down on waste too. For example, do you really need a new pencil case or pencil
crayons or a brand new eraser every year, or do your old ones still work? Do you throw your leftover
lunch items in the garbage at school, or do you take them home and eat them for a snack after
school? Do you buy vintage clothing or wear hand-me downs? Do you eat meat every day, or do
you eat vegetarian at least once a week, like those who have accepted the 'Meatless Monday Canada' challenge.
To find out how carefully you use the Earth's resources, Google the following words: “zero footprint
calculator” and take the footprint calculator quiz. It will tell you how many Earths we would need to
survive if everyone lived like you!
Slogan of the month: Sustainability – choosing to live better with less!
Elementary Inclusion Technology Coach
We are very lucky to have Yvonne Cummings join us again this year for technology support at Glenbrook. The role of the Technology Coach is expanding
to include Student support and Teacher Support, as well as Technology Support. In addition to supporting our students with SEA equipment, Yvonne will
be available for small group ad whole class lessons using technology. We
look forward to learning from Yvonne and wish her a wonderful experience
here at Glenbrook!
Co op Students From Centre Dufferin District High School
Please join me in welcoming to Glenbrook two wonderful students from Centre Dufferin
District High School. One visiting students will be working in Kindergarten with Mrs. Ward
& Mrs. Hunter. The other student will be working along side Mr. Grin in our Grade 4 classroom. These students will be earning a high school credit while working with us for our
first semester.
Talking About Mental Health!
Welcome to the new school year! My name is Dr. Lynn Woodford and I am the Mental Health and Addiction
Lead for the school board. Every month I write a column for school newsletters about mental health and provide strategies and resources for families.
Hope that the transition back to school has been a positive one for you and your family. If your child or youth
is experiencing any challenges with the transition back to school, please talk to your child or youth’s teacher
or administrator.
The UGDSB has many resources available on its website: http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/ for parents and students
to access. To access these resources: click on the Parent tab then click on the Mental Health Tab. There is
also a Student tab with a Mental Health tab, which you can share with your children and youth.
Once you are on site, you will find information about local mental health and addiction resources:
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington Dufferin Branch (CMHA WWD)
To access Addictions, Mental Health (including eating disorders and first episode psychosis) and Crisis Services (Guelph/Wellington for Children/Youth and Guelph/Wellington/Dufferin for Adults) contact:
HERE247 at 1 844 437 3247 (1 844 HERE247)
www.here247.ca
Walk in Services on Tuesdays for Children/Youth 1:30- 7:00
485 Silvercreek Pkwy, Guelph
wwd.cmha.ca
Dufferin Child and Family Services (Services for Children/Youth in Dufferin County)
To access Addictions, Mental Health and Crisis Services
519-941-1530
Talk in Services on Tuesdays 1:00- 7:00
655 Riddell Road, Orangeville
http://dcafs.on.ca/
There is an Access to Mental Health Resources document that provides more details about counselling and
supports in Guelph Wellington Dufferin.
There are also links to useful websites with information for parents about mental health and addictions such
as:
Kids Help Phone (1 800 668 6868) www.KidsHelpPhone.ca provides phone and web counselling for youth
under the age of 20. Support is free, 24/7, anonymous and confidential.
The ABCs of Mental Health http://www.hincksdellcrest.org/ABC/Welcome
provides information related to different mental health concerns, according to developmental ages.
Hope these resources are helpful for you and your families. Hope you have a wonderful fall!
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
Read This Newsletter and Win a Prize!!!
Win a Glenbrook Grizzly Bear:
After your family has read this newsletter, please sign and detach this coupon, or send a note with your family’s name.
“Our family” must include at least one parent/guardian who has read the newsletter. This coupon must be placed in the
yellow mailbox in the front office at Glenbrook school. A ballot will be drawn from the yellow mailbox each month indicating the winning family for the month. This month’s draw will be held on Thursday, October 29st, 2015.
Our family has read the newsletter corresponding to this draw.
Family Name:
___________________________Parent’s Signature:
____________________________
October 2015
Sun
4
Mon
5
Tue
Wed
6
7
Cross Country
Rain Date for
Team Meet @
Cross Country
Orangeville Fair
Grounds
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
Intermediate
Soccer Tourney
@ CHES.
2
Terry Fox Run
1:30 pm start
3
8
9
10
16
17
23
24
School Photo
Day
School Council
Meeting @ 6:15
pm
11
12
Thanksgiving
(No School)
13
14
15
18
19
20
21
Bring a Twoonie
Tuesday
Fundraiser for
UGDSB Learning
Foundation
22
Pizza Day
Grizzly Grit
Assembly @
2:00pm
Playground
Meeting @
6:15pm
25
26
27
28
Camp Quality
Puppet Show
for Primary &
Junior Students
29
30
PA Day
31
Individual and Class Photos ….. October 8th, 2015