JOHN BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL
Newsletter
150 LAMOND STREET, FERGUS N1M 2A1 519-843-2665
Scott Preston
Principal
Belinda Norris
Office Coordinator
November 2015
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
October was a busy month with lots of special activities in our school community. Our students have been involved in a
number of Fall sports tournaments. Intermediate students competed in cross country on Oct. 9th and the Primary/Junior
cross country meet was on the 15th. We are very proud of how well they competed and represented our school. Our
Intermediate and Junior soccer teams participated in tournaments as well this month and although the weather added to
the challenges they faced, their hard work and practice paid off and they did very well against other schools in our area.
Thanks to all our teacher coaches who put so much time and energy into preparing and supporting our students.
Our Parent Council hosted a family Halloween dance on October 29th that provided children and parents an opportunity
to show off their Halloween costumes. The dance was well attended and everyone had lots of fun. The last day of school
before Halloween saw some special activities here at John Black with a costume parade and an Intermediate dance. It’s
always lots of fun to see the imagination and creativity that students (and parents) put into their Halloween creations.
Read on in this news letter to find out more about what’s coming up in November at John Black Public School.
GUELPH STORM TICKETS
John Black Public School has been adopted again this year by the Guelph Storm Adopt–a-School Program. The Adopt-a
-School program is a partnership between area businesses, the Upper Grand District School Board, and the Guelph
Storm Hockey Club. Our sponsor is the Guelph Storm Hockey Team. We have received a family pack of four tickets
for all the upcoming Guelph Storm home games. Each month during the hockey season we will draw from the names of
all the JBC (John Black Courtesies) award winners since September. The students drawn will receive a four pack of
tickets for an upcoming game. Thank you letters from the students who attend the games are encouraged and can be
dropped off at the school or sent to the Guelph Storm box office. If families are unable to attend the game please return
the tickets to the school and we will draw another name. Thanks again to the Guelph Storm Hockey Club for sponsoring
our students.
NEWSLETTER ON THE WEB
As mentioned in last month’s newsletter the newsletter is now posted each month on the school website and we
encourage families to access it there along with other news and information about our school community.
If your family would still like to continue to receive a paper copy of the school’s monthly newsletter, please let the office
know and we will be happy to send one home.
The Mission of John Black Public School, as a family centred community school, is to develop
each student’s ability to acquire skills, knowledge, responsibility and respect for self and others,
by providing diverse learning opportunities within a safe and nurturing environment.
Parent Council Corner
SOCIAL NETWORKING SAFETY: A Presentation for Parents from Your Parent Council
Guest Speaker: Paul Davis will be talking to parents about Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, cyber
bullying, hand held devises, texting, Xbox and Play Station, legal matters and a common sense
approach to dealing with the technology your children have.
Paul Davis will also be speaking to our Grade 4 –8 students during the day on this topic. The
evening presentation is targeted for adults.
Doors open at 6:30 with refreshments.
Parent Council’s Third Annual Family Halloween Dance was a Spook-tacular Success!
Thank you to all who came out with their children to enjoy a fun night of dancing, costumes, yummy
treats and Zumba! The student’s costumes were very creative and it’s especially fun to see the
parents dress up as well. Everyone had a great time socializing, snacking and playing the ‘Guess
How Many’ game. Two door prizes were awarded, along with a spot dance prize and one for best
costume. Special thanks to Sarah Schleen for leading the Zumba, as well as the directors of the play
‘Sleeping Beauty the Pantomime’ for theater tickets. Thanks to Performance Studios, Roxanne’s
Reflections, Essential Bakery, I Love Chocolate, Stage presence, Walmart, and Pizza Pizza and to
all our generous bakers for their yummy contributions. Thanks to Reuban, Curtis and Brooks for their
tech skills. Finally we wish to thank our very hardworking volunteers for all their time and effort. This
was the best Halloween dance ever!
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembrance Day is always a very important day in the life of our school, our community and
our country. Remembrance Day is on Tuesday, November 11. Our Intermediate will be walking
to the Cenotaph for the community ceremony and we will be holding our service in the gym at
11:15. Students will share their thoughts and talents as we remember the Canadians who served
our country in war and in peace and those who serve today. Parents and guests are invited to join
us.
A MESSAGE FROM THE GREEN TEAM A big thank-you to parents and students for making our Waste Free Lunch Challenge such a success. Congratulations goes
out to Mrs. Weaver's class for having the biggest decrease in lunch waste!! Students are encouraged to continue to bring
waste free lunches to help eliminate waste in the landfills. The Green Team has started a new campaign. We have joined the Crayola Colour Cycle Campaign. Students and teachers
will be collecting used markers that are ready to be discarded. The markers will be sent to a facility where they will be
converted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more! Please help support our efforts by sending your kids in with any used markers you may have around the house – even nonCrayola brands. Students can then add the markers to their class collection bins. Thank you in advance for participating! With the help of parents and students, the Crayola ColorCycle program can keep
tons of plastic out of landfills each year. Remember, don’t throw out that used
marker—ColorCycle it! Dates to Remember
November 10 Picture Day
November 11 Remembrance Day
November 12 Parent Council presents: Social Net
working safety—What Parents Should Know 7:00 PM
November 27 P.A. Day
December 1
School Council 6:30
December 21-January 1 Christmas Break
January 22
P.A. Day
February 15
Family Day Holiday
March 14-18
March Break
March 25
Good Friday
March 28
Easter Monday
May 23
Victoria Day Holiday
June 3
P.A. Day
June 28
Report Cards go home
Grade 8 Grad
June 29
Last day of School
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
The Special Educa on Advisory Commi ee (SEAC) The Upper Grand District School Board has established a Special Educa on Advisory Commi ee (SEAC) in accordance with the Educa on Act. SEAC is made up of local parent representa ves of Provincial Associa ons, two school trustees and interested local community representa ves. SEAC members receive orienta on and training to become informed on important topics in Special Educa on: ● Sec ons of the Educa on Act rela ng to Special Educa on ● Regula ons and Ministry memoranda ● Board policies regarding Special Educa on ● The Board Special Educa on Report ● Roles and responsibili es of SEAC  The funding of Special Educa on What does SEAC do? ● Makes recommenda ons for the establishment, development and delivery of Special Educa on programs and services for excep onal pupils in our Board. ● Par cipates in the Board’s annual review of its Special Educa on Report. ● Par cipates in the Board’s annual budget process and financial statement review as they relate to Special Educa on. ● Provides informa on to parents, as requested.  Supports the Special Olympics Annual Track and Field day. Procedures for Selec ng Members ● nomina ons from local associa ons ● approaching local chapters of provincial associa ons for sugges ons ● wri ng a presenta on that can be shared with parent councils, families of schools, etc. to get the informa on about SEAC into the community Mee ng Times and Dates The SEAC meets on a regular basis. Mee ngs occur on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Upper Grand District School Board office at 500 Victoria Road North, in the Board room. Mee ngs are open to the public. Members of the public should contact Program Services (Krystyna Gazo at 5199416191 ext. 254) to confirm the me, date and loca on of the mee ngs. Further informa on regarding SEAC, as well as Special Educa on in Upper Grand District School Board can be found on the UGDSB Special Educa on Plan ., as well as the Board website