HYLAND HEIGHTS E.S. HAWK TALK
MAY, 2015
Dear Parents & Guardians,
Just eight short and busy weeks to summer vacation! These weeks
will be filled with students working towards their goals, outdoor
activities and planning for year-end events.
Are you aware that our School Council is working diligently to raise
$60 000 for a new junior Creative Playground? This week, a subcommittee made of School Council members, Charity P. and Rebecca
H. met with a playground company to begin the process of
determining the make-up of our new playground. Students will be
involved in determining and selecting the qualities of the playground.
It’s likely that we will have a June or September assembly to involve
the students in such decision making. So far, School Council has
raised approximately $20 000! Thanks, in advance for supporting all
School Council events and please continue to do so. Through
donation from the Upper Grand Learning Foundation, School Council
is able to access a professional fund-raiser who will guide us in
soliciting and contacting local businesses for their support. We will
also approach the Town of Shelburne for support, as they will
certainly benefit from having a first class playground available to our
community.
Once again, a note of appreciation to HHES families and
School Council for supporting students through Scientists in the
School for each classroom, Art Days for both the primary and
junior/intermediate divisions and various learning resources to
support class room instruction. A total of $5 000 was donated to
support students! What an amazing community we are and our
students’ educational experience is much richer because of it!
Our grade three and four students participated in the Dufferin Youth
Arts Festival last week and did a great job. There was a fantastic
display of musical talent and a great day was had by all. A very special
thank-you goes to Mrs. Rebecca Hall for sharing her gift of
photography with us. She captured our hands beautifully and we
were proud to display these works of art during one of our songs,
“My Own Two Hands.”
…Happy Mother’s Day (May 10th!)
mitch zuk, principal
Principal, Mitch Zuk
519-925-3745, Attendance: Ext. 100
* Press ‘0’ to connect directly with the office
DATE REMINDERS
Monday, May 18th - Victoria Day
Just a reminder that there will be a Board
Holiday on Monday, May 18th, 2015.
There will be no classes for students.
Friday, June 5th - P.A. Day (full day)
UPCOMING
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS
Monday, June 1st @ 6pm
(babysitting available)
Scholastic Book Fair
Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 8.
Be The Best You Can Be (grades 6-8)
Thursday, May 14 at Recreation Centre
from 9:00am to 2:30 pm.
Jump Rope for Heart
Event Day: May 22 @2:00pm
Red Cross Babysitting CourseElementary PD Day Friday, June 5th
8:30am 4:30pm
- This course teaches important
skills for staying home alone
or looking after other
children. This course is
offered for children 11 years
of age and older at the Centre
Dufferin Recreation Complex
(Arena), 200 Fiddle Park Lane
(519) 925-2402. Preregistration is required. Fee
$41.00
EQAO Provincial Testing
Grade 6’s will complete the provincial EQAO
assessment on May 26th, 27th and 28 during the morning
and afternoon periods. Our Grade 3’s will complete the
assessment with additional days on June 1-3; however,
only for 1.5 hours each day. Student attendance and
punctuality is especially important on these dates. To
ensure that students are able to show their best on
these days, a hearty breakfast and lunch are extremely
important. EQAO is a test of Reading, Writing, and
Mathematics curriculum expectations. The test is
completed each Spring and results are used to identify
specific areas of need to inform our teaching practices
and set a direction for our School Improvement Plans.
Results are reported in terms of how many students are
achieving level 3 (B achievement range indicating a
consistent knowledge of expectations) or a level 4 (A
achievement range indicating a more thorough,
complex knowledge of expectations.) Results reflect
the accumulation of knowledge and skills at the end of
primary grades and at the end of junior grades.
Jump Rope for Heart Event Day: May 22
Hyland Heights is pleased to be holding a Heart and
Stroke Foundation Jump Rope For Heart event on
Friday May 22 at 2:00pm. Our Hyland Heights Jump
Rope Team will presented to the school at a Kickoff
Assembly on Monday, May 4 at 12:00. All money
raised will support the Heart and Stroke Foundation in
their mission to promote children’s health and fund
vital heart and stroke research. JUMP Rope for Heart
encourages kids to get active by skipping rope. Our
school will receive a portion of the funds collected to
support the purchase of physical education equipment.
Please consider online fund-raising. It’s an efficient
way to donate.
Dress Code Expectations
With the warmer weather soon on its way, students
will soon be able to wear fewer layers of clothing.
Students are reminded of dress code expectations that
include:

Wearing shoes at all times

No undergarments being visible

Modest clothing that fits appropriately

No spaghetti straps, halter tops, muscle shirts,
revealing necklines or midriffs

Skirts and shorts need to be of a length that
reaches mid-thigh or finger tips
Appropriate dress is at the discretion of staff and
students are expected to be respectful when
direction related to this is given. Students may be
asked to change into alternate clothing or to cover up.
The expectation is that students are not to wear the
same article of clothing again to school. Time and
attention given to this takes away from valuable
learning time and we appreciate support from
parents to ensure compliance.
Talking about Mental Health - May 2015
May 2-9 is Child and Youth Mental Health Week!
Have a SUPER Week! Let’s increase everyone’s mental
health and well being! Let’s focus on increasing these
positive skills!
- Social Connections
- Uplifting Emotions
- Personal Health
- Emotional Calming
- Resilient Thinking
Now that you have started building all those wonderful
skills, keep it going throughout the month and the year!
Our community partners have some excellent activities
planned:
- Norfolk Psychological Services is presenting a
series of free seminars, hosted at the Guelph
Public Library on Child, Youth and Family
Mental Health.
For more information and to register, please visit
www.guelphpl.ca or 519-824-6220.
-
DCAFS and Shed the Light will be presenting in
schools and a display and information will be
available at DCAFS. Shed the Light is hosting
'Artistry in Mind' at ODSS on Friday May 8th in
the evening.
For more information go to dcafs.ca.
-
CMHAWWD is hosting: a film showing, May 4,
7:00 pm of The Mask You Wear at 10 Carden St.,
Guelph. A BBQ and Art Show, May 8, 1-4 pm at
30 Centre St., Orangeville and a BBQ/Open
house on May 8, 1:30-1:30 at 292 Stephenson
St. N., Guelph.
- GLOWW and CMHAWWD are hosting a family
day and walk to bring Mental Illness out of the
dark into the light, May 2,12-5, at Exhibition
Park, Guelph.
For more information go to https://wwd.cmha.ca/
Enjoy and participate and keep talking about mental
health!
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction
Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford
Online Math Games
Check out this blog for more practical math ideas and
activities for you to use at home with your children.
http://beyondtraditionalmath.wordpress.com/mathplay-20-minutes-a-day/
http://beyondtraditionalmath.wordpress.com/mathplay-20-minutes-a-day/
Understanding the Equal Sign
Most children see = and they know it is an equal sign,
but do they really understand what it means? Many
children believe the equal sign means “the answer is”
or “the total”. They do not understand that the equal
sign is a symbol of balance or sameness. Think about 3
+ 4 = 7. 3 plus 4 is the same as 7. When children
understand that the equal sign shows a relationship
between numbers, they develop stronger number
sense and are able to work with numbers more flexibly.
For example, children who know that the equal sign
shows balance understand that 3 + 4 is the same as 5 +
2. Children who think of the equal sign as showing the
answer often struggle with mental math and, later on,
with algebra.
Parents can help support understanding of the equal
sign in many ways. First, using the word “equal” in
everyday conversation to highlight equal relationships
helps to promote an understanding of sameness. Use
the words “equal” and “the same” together. When
sharing snacks among people, talk about amounts. Are
they equal? How do we know?
Also, many children enjoy missing number problems,
especially when presented as a puzzle or challenge.
Challenge children to find the number to balance
equations, like these:
5 + ___ = 1 + 8 or
14 - 6 = ___ + 3 or
5 x ____
= 4 x ____
When playing with Lego, talk about how the different
sized pieces are related. How many little pieces are
equal to a big piece? Build different creations with
equal number of pieces. Build creations with equal sizes
but different number of pieces.
The more exposure children have to the idea that the
equal sign means “the same”, the better set they will
be to develop solid number sense and number
flexibility.
- Megan Haessler - Teacher-Researcher with the
UGDSB
Information on Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities refer to a number of disorders that
affect processes related to the learning, organization,
and recall of information, as well as the understanding
or use of language and/or nonverbal information. A
student with a learning disability demonstrates some
average or above average cognitive abilities that are
essential for thinking and reasoning. Despite this, he or
she can have academic underachievement, or
achievement maintained only by unusually high levels
of effort and/or support. At school, this means that the
student has good ideas and is able to do the thinking
required to make connections and problem solve,
however one or more areas of academics (oral
language, reading, writing or math) cause significant
difficulties and frustration.
The Upper Grand District School Board supports
students with learning disabilities in a variety of ways.
Some students who struggle to learn to read will be
recommended by the school to attend a special
education class for students with learning disabilities. If
parents agree that this is a good option for supporting
their child, the student may attend this program for
one or more years in Grades 4 through 6. In some
areas of the Board, where special education classes are
not available, a student with a learning disability might
receive the support of one of the Board’s four Itinerant
Technology Resource Teachers. These teachers are
qualified special education teachers and have an
expertise in the use of assistive technology. The
support of an Itinerant Technology Resource Teacher
would occur during Grades 4 to 6 and would take place
while the student is in the regular classroom. For most
students with learning disabilities, the regular
classroom, with the support of a resource teacher, is
the best fit.
A student with a learning disability, receiving
instruction in a regular or special education class, will
benefit significantly from the use of assistive
technology. This may include computer programs that
are designed to read printed materials, turn speech
into written words, or predict what words students are
trying to spell. Assistive technology is often an
important strategy for learning and letting students
demonstrate what they know and have learned. The
use of these technologies can also help students to
become more independent, can increase their selfconfidence and improve self-esteem. While assistive
technology is often necessary for some students with
learning disabilities and other difficulties at school to be
successful, it can benefit ALL STUDENTS in the
classroom. Each and every student at the UGDSB has
access to Read&Write for Google, which does read
print, turn speech into words and predict the words as
they are being typed. These program options are
available to students on any computer, at school or at
home, as long as they are logged onto the internet
browser Chrome and their UGCloud account. For
information on how to access your child’s UGCloud
account at home, speak to his or her classroom teacher.
The library would like to
thank the School Council
for generously agreeing to
pay for our recent guest
author/illustrator visit. On
Thursday, April 16th, our JK
to Grade 3 students were treated to presentations by
Marnie Worry and Kristen Franjic who together created
the book I’d Rather Be Me! Students seemed to be
quite engaged during the presentations, and especially
enjoyed singing the story (which was originally written
as a song rather than a book). Our “Fictional Character
Day” was held on Friday, May 1. Staff and students
who dressed up as a character from a book, will be
eligible to win a book from our Book Fair, which runs
from May 5-8. Hope to see you there!
Student Class Placements for September
Many variables are considered in deciding class
placements for students. Programming needs are
always a priority, as well as balancing students who can
work independently with students who require
additional supports. We attempt to balance the
number of boys and girls in classes, while also
considering the social & emotional needs of students.
Much time, effort and consideration goes into placing
students into classes. Teachers spend a significant
amount of time placing students based on all students’
needs. For parents who want us to know about the
specific educational needs of their child, please address
a note to Mr. Zuk about your child’s specific needs.
Please refrain from requesting a specific teacher; rather
focus on your child’s educational needs.
Given the possibility of reorganization of classes should
our student numbers change, students will learn who
their new classroom teacher is on the first day of school
in September. Student placements will again be
considered tentative, until the third week of school in
September. HHES staff will continue to do our very best
to support a smooth transition for students, if and
where changes are required.
Out of Area Requests
Each year, parents requesting for their child to attend a
school out of their designated school area are required
to complete an Out of Area form. The policy outlines
clearly that students are to register and attend the
school designated to their area or address, with very
few exceptions, which may be granted for one year
only. For these exceptions, Out of Area Request forms
must be completed and returned as soon as possible.
Students who are living out of the school area that are
not approved, will not be placed on a class list and
should enroll at their home school. If you have not
received your request form, please contact the school
office a.s.a.p.
Proper Footware for School
Students need shoes or sandals that allow
them to run and play safely. Flip-flops pose a
considerable tripping danger to students. At
no time should students be wearing socks only or bare
feet.
Indoor/Gym Shoes
To reduce floor markings and mud/dirt from being
tracked throughout the school, students continue to
require a pair of indoor shoes that can be worn in the
gym. Please make sure your child has not outgrown
their indoor shoes and that the laces/fasteners are still
in good shape. Your support to keep the school clean
and student’s safe, is greatly appreciated.
Playground Safety
With the warm weather that has arrived,
students are reminded of the
expectations for appropriate play that
keep these structures fun and safe
places to play. A reminder for
students and parents that supervision, maintenance,
and inspections of the climber structures are not
provided outside of regular school hours. Many
children enjoy using the play structures, which provides
an opportunity for alternate kinds of play. We are glad
Spring weather has arrived and encourage safe play at
all times by following these expectations.
When using the climbers:
Take turns—no pushing
No running around the play structure
No food of drinks anywhere on the yard
Do not throw sticks, stones, or other objects
More Children Can Get Free Dental Care
More children will qualify for free dental care due to
changes to the Healthy Smiles Ontario Program. The
income thresholds have changed and now include the
number of children in the family. This affects children
and youth up to the age of 18 who are residents of
Ontario and have no access to any form of dental
coverage. If you think a child may qualify for Healthy
Smiles Ontario, contact Public Health at 1-800-2657293 ext. 2661. We will help you with the application
process and answer any questions.
Grade 8 Graduation
The Grade 8 Graduation ceremony for Hyland Heights
will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd @ 7pm. More
information in preparation for this special occasion will
follow shortly.
Hyland Centre Child Care
200 Fourth Ave.
Shelburne, ON L0N 1S1
Located in Hyland Heights Elementary School
Extended Day Child Care Program
Hyland Centre Child Care will continue to provide the
Extended Day Program for Hyland Heights Elementary
School! Hyland Centre is located in Hyland Heights
Elementary School and we have offered quality
childcare programs since 1989, in the same location.
We look forward to working closely with Hyland
Heights Elementary School and Upper Grand District
School Board to continue to provide before and after
school programs as well as full days on school holidays,
PD Days and summer care. Call us today for more
information or to determine how we can help with your
child care needs 519 925 5690 or email:
hylandcentre@gmail.com. Working together with a
common interest - your child.
Life Threatening Allergies at Hyland Heights of which
to be Aware
Please be aware we have the following allergies in our
school:
 Nuts
 Bees
 Wasps
 Hornets
 Peanuts
 Shellfish/fish
 Cantaloupe
 Peaches
 Grass
 Trees
 Tree Nuts
Help us reduce the risk of life-threatening allergic
reactions by not sending the food items listed above to
school. If your child has a life-threatening condition
that has not been communicated to the office as yet,
please contact us as soon as possible.
Join the 2015 Pause to Play challenge May 10th – 16th
2015.
The Pause to Play challenge encourages students and
their families to put their television, video games and
computers on pause for one full week. Participants are
more likely to feel good about themselves. Exercise
that gets your heart pumping has many benefits to your
health!
Being active for at least 60 minutes daily can help
children:
•
Improve their health
•
Do better in school
•
Improve their fitness, grow stronger and
maintain a healthy body weight
•
Have fun playing with friends and feel happier
•
Learn new skills and improve their selfconfidence
Take the challenge for a week or more and learn how
much fun it can be to pause to PLAY!
Go to www.wdgpublichealth.ca for more information
and for a list of free or low cost activities your local
library and recreation centres are offering.
MAY EVENTS CALENDAR
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
Gr 5 Earthkeepers
@ Island Lake
Grade 6 DARE Graduation
@ 2pm
Dress as your Favorite
Fictional Character Today!
4
Smoothie Day
Gr 5 Earthkeepers @ Island
Lake
5
Library Book Fair
6
Pizza Day
Library Book Fair
Gr.3 Swim to Survive
Program
Support Staff Appreciation
Day(Educational Assistants,
Child and Youth Care
Workers)
11
Pita Day
12
Flouride Varnishings
18
Victoria Day
– No School Today
13
Pizza Day
Track and Field Standards
day
Gr 5-6 am
Gr. 7-8 pm
19
Smoothie Day
20
Pizza Day
7
Library Book Fair
8
Library Book Fair Ends
Today
Arts Day (Gr. 5-8)
JK Orientation Night
@6-7pm
Dairy Educators Visit for
JK/SK
14 Track and Field
Standards Day
Gr 3-4 am
Gr 1-2 pm
“Be the Best You Can
Be” (Gr.6-8 @
Shelburne Recreation
Centre)
15
Sports Attire Spirit Day!
21
nd
Gr. 7 Hep B (2 of 2)
Gr. 8 girls vaccination
rd
(3 of 3)
“Into the Woods”
drama (1/2, 2/3,3,
¾,5/6
22
Lock Down Drill #2 @10:15
Jump Rope for Heart Event
@2:00pm
25
Pita Day
Scientists in the School (Gr.5)
(fully sponsored by School
Council)
26
EQAO for Grade 6’s
(am/pm)
EQAO for Grade 3’s (am)
27 Pizza Day
EQAO for Grade 6’s
(am/pm)
EQAO for Grade 3’s (am)
28
EQAO for Grade 6’s
(am/pm)
EQAO for Grade 3’s
(am)
29
June 1
EQAO for Grade 3’s (am)
Smoothie Day
School Council meeting
@6:00 pm.
Scientists in the School
(Burgess) (fully sponsored by
School Council)
2
EQAO for Grade 3’s (am)
3
EQAO for Grade 3’s (am)
Pizza Day
4
Scientists in the School
(Hume)
(fully sponsored by
School Council)
5
PA Day (all day)
Scientists in the School
(Hume)
(fully sponsored by School
Council)