Eramosa Public School
5757 Fifth Line ✧ R.R. 1 ✧ Rockwood, ON N0B 2K0
Telephone 519-856-9529 ✧ Fax 519-856-4239
Website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/eramosa
Newsletter
Katrina Plazek,
March 2016 - Issue 7
Principal
Sheri MacKenzie,
Office Co-Ordinator
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…
Many of you have heard by now that the Special Olympics Provincial Spring Games are being held in
Guelph from May 26-28th. There will be 700 athletes, 190 coaches and more than 600 volunteers. (Our
own Mrs. Nyman has applied to be one!) Schools in the Upper Grand District School Board have been
asked to adopt an athlete. We received a plaque with Debra Cornelius’ picture and
we learned that she is participating in the sport of basketball. The plaque states
that, “Special Olympics is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with an
intellectual disability through active participation in sport.” To help Ms. Cornelius
participate in these games, the school was asked to raise $500 which will help cover
costs for her to participate. All schools have been asked to help. We are thrilled to be able to support
this initiative and we are already halfway to our goal. The candy grams arranged and sold by our
students raised $236. We will be having a representative from the Games present to our students and
there will be bracelets available on April 5th for a $2 donation. Good luck Debra!!
Katrina Plazek & Staff
@EramosaPS
Eco-School Power Hog
There is a little squeaky pig that is circulating in our building and he is called the “Power Hog”!
The Power Hog lives in any room in the school where the lights or monitors have been left on
when no-one is in the room. Throughout the day, the Power Hog moves around the school,
because no-one wants him!! When he is found in a classroom with the lights on, that class
looks for another room to send him too as quickly as they can. We are all remembering to
turn off our lights so that we don’t get caught with him. (Power Hog really is a cutie, and he is helping us
to remember to turn off the lights and conserve energy in a fun way!) At the end of the day the eco club
is recording where he lands. Go Green Eramosa! (Thanks Mrs. Acton at the Board for this idea.)
Volleyball Tourney
On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 17th, 14 brave Eramosa students entered the gym at Erin PS
to compete in the Junior Volleyball tournament. The team started their first game with anticipation, not
sure how they would do. They won the first game 60-28. Would the rest of the games be like that? They
were! Eramosa won their other 3 games: 65-34, 60-35, and 64-38! It was an excellent showing for a
team that had practiced hard. The most remarkable part of the afternoon was how humble they were in
conducting themselves and the sportsmanship they all demonstrated. Well done team! (Mrs. Demysh)
Medic Alert – Free Bracelet for Children Between 4 years – 14 years
If your child lives with a medical condition such as anaphalaxis, asthma, uses an inhaler
or takes medication, the MedicAlert Foundation is helping to safeguard your child’s
health by providing a medic alert bracelet free of charge to children between the ages of
4-14. If your child does not already have a bracelet and you would like more
information, please contact the school office.
New Water Bottle Refilling Station- Eco School Initiative
Thanks to the efforts of all of our staff and students and to Mlle McLeod for submitting the entry, we are
the happy recipients of another water bottle refilling station. Thanks to our Eco team for their excellent
initiatives this year. It was wonderful to see so many families bringing their own plates and cutlery to the
silent auction and pasta dinner …there was a noticeable reduction in the amount of garbage that
evening. Thank you!!
School Safety Climate Survey
During the week of February 29th - March 4th, students in grades 4-12 will be completing a School
Climate Survey. The purpose of this survey is to determine whether or not our students feel that their
school provides a safe and inclusive learning environment. The survey asks general questions about
how the student is feeling at school, as well as specific questions about bullying. Staff and parents are
also being asked to complete a climate survey about their school. Parents can use the following link to
access the survey, or the survey can be accessed through our school
website. https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_87VAOCZ4TdwN52Z
Grade 6 Parents – Keep the Date – Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony
Grade 6 Graduation will be held on Monday, June 27th from 6:00 – 7:30pm.
Traditionally, flowers from the garden have been used to decorate the gym. If anyone
attending the ceremony this year has sensitivities to the scents of peonies and/or lilies,
please let the office know.
Supervision
Please remember that adult supervision does not begin until students unload from the buses at 8:25 am
and that students should not be dropped off at school before that time.
Start of the Day
In the morning, the first bell rings at 8:50 am for students to come inside and get ready for class. Class
officially begins at 8:55 am. Please ensure that your children are dropped off before this time
if you are driving them to school. Everyone has a late start due to an alarm clock glitch on
occasion; however, habitual lateness disrupts the classroom and interferes with a smooth
start to the day for everyone. After the bell at 8:55 am students must report to the office for a
late slip. It is a good life habit for children to learn be on time. Thanks for your help with this.
Skating
On Wednesday, February 12th, the entire student body went skating at the Centre
Wellington Community Sportsplex and a great time was had by all. Thank you to
the many parents and grandparents who came to help supervise, do up skates and
put mitts on. We couldn’t do it without you! We are looking forward to our next
skating date on March 4th, in the afternoon. Hope to see everyone again with a
pair of mitts and a CSA approved hockey helmet.
Daylight Saving Time Begins!
Sunday, March 13th – Turn your clock ahead 1 hour at 2:00 am. Don’t forget to change the
batteries in your smoke detectors as well!
EPSAC News
Save the Date for EPSAC’s Annual Family Games Night!
Thursday, April 14th, 2016 in the Gym
6:00 – 8:00 pm
This evening is free and juice and popcorn will be provided. There will
also be awesome door prizes! This is a great way to spend some
quality time with your family while discovering new games & new
friends. Look for an invitation coming home in your child(ren)’s
agenda after the March break.
Hope to see you there!
Forest of Reading
The Forest of Reading program is in full swing here at Eramosa PS. Primary
students are enjoying the Blue Spruce books as part of their library time. Silver
Birch is a voluntary program for students in grades 3-6. These students choose
5 stories to read from one of the following categories: Silver Birch Fiction or
Silver Birch Express. Thank-you to all the parents, students and staff members
that make this program a success!
Winter Carnival
Children will participate in outdoor winter activities from 1:00 pm - 3:15 pm
on Friday, March 11th. Please ensure children are dressed appropriately
for the weather. For example: warm coat, snow pants, boots, hat, an
extra pair of dry mittens, a double layer of socks etc. If we decide the
weather is too extreme to run an outdoor carnival, a modified indoor event
will be held.
Mrs. Shaw
Parking Lot Safety
Our parking lot is a busy traffic zone before and after school. We have routines in place that depend
upon your participation to ensure the safety of all students at these busy times.
If you choose to drive your child(ren), please:
• Park along the west or south side of the parking lot (the edges with the bike rack
or dumpster).
•
Walk with your child around the perimeter of the lot (not across the middle) to the area in front of
the school where bus students leave their backpacks.
•
Please do not drop off your child of any age in the centre of the parking lot or have them walk
unescorted through the lot.
•
Please reserve the handicapped spot (to the right of our walkway) for people who require this
designated location.
•
When entering and exiting the parking lot, please yield to our school buses. They require a
large area for turning and backing into their designated spots. If you are picking up your
child after school, please do not park in the centre of the parking lot.
The best time to drop off your child(ren) in the morning is after 8:40, at which time most of our buses are
gone and the lot is more open.
Thank you for your understanding as we work together for the safety of all.
Bus Delays, Cancellations and InformationParents can access information about specific routes and delays at http://www.stwdsts.ca. Parents are
able sign up for email alerts regarding bus cancellations or delays.
Please note that bus drivers and school staff are not authorized to approve any temporary or permanent
changes to children’s bus routes. For the safety of all, any questions or requests of this nature need to
be directed to Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services at 519-824-4119.
School Buses on the Road
Whether on a city street, highway or county road, and regardless of the speed limit and the number of
lanes, motorists travelling in both directions must stop when approaching a stopped school bus
with its upper red lights flashing. A flashing stop arm will
swing out while passengers are boarding or leaving the bus.
(The only exception is on highways separated by a median,
in which case traffic coming from the opposite direction is
not required to stop). Once all passengers have boarded,
the STOP arm will fold away. Do not start moving until the
red lights have stopped flashing and the bus begins to
move.
The penalty for not stopping is significant:
First offence: $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points.
Each subsequent offence: $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points and possible jail time up to six months.
Thank you for keeping student safety as your first priority when you see a school bus on the road.
Silent Auction Thank You
The Silent Auction and Pasta Dinner held on February 11th was a great success. Many thanks to all the
local businesses and parents who donated items and to all the attendees. It was a great evening and we
raised over $2,400.00. The surprise live auction portion of the evening was a once in a lifetime event for
everyone involved! Special thanks to Dale McCarthy for cooking the pasta and to everyone who donated
a pot of sauce. Keep an eye out for the new play structure at the back of the school which will be
installed once the weather warms up.
Thanks again,
Chris Williston
EPSAC Chair
Child Abuse Prevention Policy and Programs
The Upper Grand District School Board places a high priority on the safety of our students. The Child
Abuse Prevention Policy is evidence of our commitment to this priority. The following is a quote from
this policy:
“Every citizen in the community shares a responsibility for our children. School officials and teachers
share this collective community responsibility for creating safe and nurturing environments for children.
Under the Child and Family Services Act, this responsibility includes the legal requirement to report to
the local Children’s Aid Society any suspected child abuse or other situations where a child may be in
need of protection. Teachers and other Board employees have a special opportunity to know and
understand children during their most influential years of development. They are in a unique position to
be able to see early signs of maltreatment, and to know or hear about the abuse and neglect that is often
suffered by children.”
As required in the Policy, we will be teaching age-appropriate lessons to help our students identify abuse
and protect themselves from abusive situations. The goal is to provide children with the tools they need
to keep themselves safe. The lessons cover a broad range of safety issues including bullying, stranger
danger and abuse by a known and trusted adult.
During the month of June students in grades one and three participate in lessons from the Red Cross
C.A.R.E kit and grade five students will be taught the “Kids in the Know” Child Abuse Prevention
program by their classroom teachers with the support of the Child and Youth Counselor. There is no
formal program in grade two, four and six, although the safety concepts are reviewed by classroom
teachers informally.
We encourage you to discuss with your child at home the concepts taught in the Child Abuse Prevention
Curriculum.
For more information regarding the Child Abuse Prevention Policy and/or Programs please contact
Katrina Plazek, Principal or Rhonda Spindley, Child and Youth Counsellor.
Public Input Sought for Draft Policies
The Upper Grand District School Board has adopted a new approach to the development of policies and
procedures, important documents that guide the board, staff and activities of our school system. Our
goal is to improve policies and procedures at the draft stage, with your help. By providing an opportunity
for input from parents, the community and stakeholders we are aiming for greater openness and
transparency in our governance.
The first policy, procedures and guidelines to be posted for public consultation are related to “Equity and
Inclusive Education”. You are invited to review the draft documents and submit online feedback
at www.ugdsb.on.ca/policy. The deadline for public input is April 13, 2016. Persons without internet
access may call 519-822-4420 ext. 723 to request a printed copy of the draft documents.
Engaging Your Child in Mathematics At Home!
As parents we have the wonderful opportunity and responsibility for nurturing our children’s
growth. Parents play a key role in the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of their child. As
parents we can usually find time to read a story to our children, thereby instilling a love of literature, but
we are often at a loss as to how to instill a love and appreciation for mathematics.
Like reading, mathematics is a subject that is indeed necessary for functioning adequately in society.
More than that, mathematics is a subject that should be more enjoyable than it is perceived to be.
Parents’ attitudes towards mathematics has an impact on their children’s attitudes. Children whose
parents show an interest in and enthusiasm for mathematics around the home will be more likely to
develop that enthusiasm themselves.
Activities in the Home
If you have dice, playing cards, and a bit of time….oh the “number sense” fun you can have.
• Work on Place Value-use a grade appropriate number of dice and use the numbers rolled as
digits to “make the biggest number you can, make the smallest number you can, make a number
close to 100” etc.
• Work on Number Sense-use 2 die to add numbers together….to make it harder, you can use the
2 die to subtract, and multiply.
• War-Use a deck of cards to compare numbers. Each person flips their cards at the same time, the
person with the higher number gets both cards.
• What’s my number? Someone holds a card on their forehead and asks the other person
questions to try to guess their number (for example, is it greater than 5, is it odd or even).
Give it a go and have fun building number sense fluency together.
UGDSB Invites Parents to Learn About Classroom Technology at ‘Digital Saturday’
The Upper Grand District School Board is hosting an open house featuring displays and workshops on
how students are using technology to learn. “Digital Saturday” takes place on March 5, 2016, from 9 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. at Westminster Woods Public School in Guelph.
“In the last few years there has been exponential growth in the use of technological tools and resources
in Upper Grand schools,” said Brent McDonald, Superintendent of Education responsible for Information
Technology. “Students don’t stop using what they’re learning as soon as the bell rings at the end of the
day. A good number of these resources are available 24/7, so they’re used at home and school.”
A presentation on technology in the classroom to the board’s Parent Involvement Committee was the
inspiration for the idea of hosting a technology open house for all parents.
“We thought a Saturday morning would be the best time for both parents to come out and see what
we’re doing,” said McDonald. “Students can come too.”
Digital Saturday will be an opportunity to explore and learn about:
• New technologies in the classroom like Chromebooks, UGCloud
• Assistive technologies to support all learners including Kurzweil and Read&Write for Google
• Robotics and coding and virtual reality in the classroom demonstrations
• Online digital resources for assisting student learning such as UG2GO, UGCloud and Homework
Help
There will be lots of opportunities for interaction and co-learning. Older children (8 and up) may find the
display tables and workshops informative and engaging.
We hope to see you there as partners in education!
Event details:
•
•
•
DATE: Saturday March 5, 2016
TIME: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Open house closes at 12 p.m.
LOCATION: Westminster Woods Public School, 140 Goodwin Drive, Guelph
For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
heather.loney@ugdsb.on.ca
Wellington County Library – Rockwood Branch, March Programmes
Book Face Contest (Teens)
Picture yourself on the cover of your favourite novel! Match your face up with a book cover that has a
face on it. Use your phone or ask at the circulation desk for a camera. Submissions will be entered into a
draw for a gift card! Ask staff for details.
March 1 – March 19
Page Turners Book Club (Grades K- 6)
Read together and come to discuss at this parent-child book club. Please register.
Tuesday, March 8, 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Mix it Up! Art Workshop (Grades 1 - 8)
Inspired by bestselling author and artist Hervé Tullet, this beautifully messy workshop will be active,
collaborative, and entertaining, no matter your skill level. Space is limited. Please register.
Saturdays, March 26, April 30, May 28, and June 18, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Special March Break Programmes:
Birds of Prey (All Ages)
Get up close and personal with some of Ontario's birds of prey. Learn about their special characteristics
and how to identify some of our local raptor species. Please register.
Monday, March 14, 10:30 am
Outer Space Adventure! (All Ages)
3, 2, 1, blast off! Explore the wonders of the universe with out of this world crafts, games and stories.
Please register.
Monday, March 14, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Magical Mapping (Grades K- 6)
Whether you are building your own world, or hunting for treasure, maps will be the key to adventure!
Please register.
Tuesday, March 15, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Mermaids, Magic, Manatees and Much More! (3-5 years)
Join us under the sea, as we explore sea creatures, mythical and real. We will sing songs, play games,
do crafts and more. Are there really hidden treasures under the sea? Let’s find out! Please register.
Wednesday, March 16, 10:30 am
Home Alone Course (Ages 8 -12)
Learn aspects of being home alone and handling emergencies including: Staying safe, injury prevention,
danger identification, calling EMS, caring for an ill or injured person, and airway emergencies. Bring a
lunch, doll or teddy, water bottle, and a pen. Cost $40. Please register
Thursday, March 17, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Beach Party (Grades K- 6)
Surf on into the library and beat the winter blahs with our Tropical Beach Party. Please register.
Thursday, March 17, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Treasures of the Past (Grades K- 6)
Dig into the past for Hidden Treasure at your library during March Break. Will you discover dinosaur
bones, explore cave drawings, unearth a Mummy's treasures or join a daring adventure? Be a part of
Treasures of the Past to find out. Please register.
Friday, March 18, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Movie Afternoon: The Good Dinosaur (All Ages)
Join us for a showing of Pixar's newest film about a young dinosaur that gets swept into an adventure to
find his way home.
Friday, March 18, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Wellington County Library – Rockwood Branch
85 Christie St., Rockwood N0B 2K0
519.856.4851 • www.wellington.ca/Library
March’s Environmental Theme: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
The environmental theme for this month is not a new one. We are talking about Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle. These are the 3 R’s of environmental stewardship and by practicing them we will help planet
Earth. Did you know all of them are not created equal? The best one of the three is: Reduce.
Reduce means to use less of something. This is the best of the 3 R’s because we don’t even use our
natural resources to begin with! What could we use less of? There are many things you can think of. Use
less water, or use less paper, or – very important - buy less ‘stuff’.
Recycle is critical if we want to keep things out of the landfill. More and more items are starting to be
recycled, so be responsible and put them in the proper containers provided. If you don't, they end up in
the regular garbage and harm nature by forcing us to create more garbage dumps that pollute our
planet. We also need to make sure toxic items like paint and batteries don’t end up in the garbage, but
are brought to the hazardous waste depot. And never throw out your old smart phone. Take it back to
your cell phone company for recycling. It contains minerals that are being mined in areas that are
destroying precious habitats.
The Möbius loop is the universally recognized recycling symbol. It consists of those 3 circular arrows.
We can put compostable items into our organic bins, like food scraps including fruit & vegetables, dairy,
meat, breads, as well as paper tissues and paper towels. We can recycle containers including plastics,
glass, metals and tetra paks and milk cartons. And we can also recycle paper, boxboard like Kleenex
boxes, and cardboard. So DO NOT throw these items into the garbage at home or the garbage
containers here at school. Find the right recycling bin. Let these items be turned into something new
again!
Slogan of the month: Don't trash our future! Recycle!
Transition Plans
While it may feel like it is early in the year to think about moving on to the next school year, plans are
underway to ensure that students have a successful transition in September. For students that are
changing schools, visits may have already begun. Specific transition plans are often particularly
important for students with an Individual Education Plan and therefore are a required component of any
IEP. For many students, the support provided to the whole class is all they need to have a successful
transition, however other students may need more specific goals and support to help them deal with a
variety of changes throughout the day.
Common transitions that can be addressed on a transition plan include:
• entry to school
•
•
•
move to a new school or new grade/teacher
transition to post-secondary: workplace, apprenticeship, college, university, community etc.
in school transitions could include: starting/stopping activities, leaving the classroom, going to
recess/gym, going on field trips
As a parent, you can play an important role in transition planning for your child by:
• working together with school staff to discuss the transition goals
• providing visits to the new school
• talking about the transition in a positive way
• looking at pictures of the new teachers and school building
• reading social stories to give your child the reassurance they need
Preparation is crucial for transitions to be successful, and a team approach between home and
school is key.
Talking About Mental Health – March 2016
Kids Do Well If They Can - Collaborative Proactive Solutions
In our schools we use a positive supportive approach with all our students. One such approach that we
follow in our schools is Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS). This is a very effective way to help
children and youth who are struggling by working with them on building skills and resources.
Dr. Ross Greene, who developed Collaborative Proactive Solutions, believes that Kids Do Well If They
Can. If they are not doing well it is because they’re lacking the skills not to be challenging. If they had
the skills, they wouldn’t be challenging. Dr. Greene also stresses that Doing well is always preferable
to not doing well (if a kid has the skills to do well in the first place).
When children and youth are faced with challenges that are too much for their skills and resources, they
often engage in challenging behaviour because they do not have the skills to engage in positive
behaviour.
Challenging behavior in children and youth is best understood as the result of lagging skills (in the terms
of flexibility/adaptability, frustration tolerance, and problem solving) rather than as the result of lack of
motivation on the child/youth’s part. And second, the best way to reduce challenging behaviour is by
working together with the child/youth – collaborating – to solve the problems setting them in motion in
the first place.
Dr. Greene’s Collaborative Proactive Solutions is a very successful approach for children and youth
presenting with a variety of challenging behaviours, which is why we use this approach in our schools.
Dr. Greene also has many tips for parents, so they can use Collaborative Proactive Solutions at home.
If you are interested in learning more, please see his website:
http://www.livesinthebalance.org/parents-families
Information for this article has been taken from Dr. Ross Greene’s website.
Dr. Lynn Woodford, Psychologist, is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford
Triple P
Positive Parenting Program FREE
Four Parenting Discussion Groups
April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2016
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Parenting is an amazing and rewarding experience, but it does come with its
challenges and we would like to share information to make parenting less
stressful and more enjoyable.
This workshop focuses on applying positive parenting strategies with lots of tips
and strategies for common parenting challenges for children 2-12 years of
age.
Topics include:
•
•
•
•
Promoting cooperation
Managing fighting and aggression
Hassle free shopping with children
Developing healthy bedtime routines
Workshops will be held at:
East Wellington Community Services in Erin – 45 Main Street, Erin
These groups are facilitated by a Public Health Nurse and an OEYC facilitator, of
Children’s Programming. No childcare available.
Please call Jane to register for one or all of the programs.
519-856-2113 or email jane.w@ew-cs.com
EPS014
Eramosa Public School
March 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
-Choir UGEMTA
Music Festival
@Harcourt
Church
3
4
- Skating
JK-6 12:30pm
5 -Digital
Saturday @
Westminster
Woods PS
9am – 12:30pm
-Pita Day
-Pizza Day
-Bahi’i Fast
(2-20)*Baha’i
6
7
-Dominos
Fundraising
begins
8
-Hotdog Day
9
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
10
-Maha
Shivaratri
Daylight
Savings Time
14
-Sikh New Year
15
12
-Pizza Day
*Hinduism
13
11 -Assembly
-Winter
Carnival 1pm
16
*Sikhism
17-St. Patrick’s
Day
18
19
24
-Character Ed
Assembly
-Pizza Day
25
26
March Break
20
-Palm Sunday
*Christianity
21
-Naw Ruz
*Baha’i
22
-Pita Day
-Eid-e-Navroz
23
-Magha Puja
Day
*Buddhism
*Islam
-Holi
*Hinduism
-Purim
*Judaism
-Hola Mohalla
27
Easter Sunday
-Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva’s
Bday
*Buddhism
28
Easter Monday
29
-Hotdog Day
30
-Gr 3 Pizza
Perfect trip
*Sikhism
31
-ROM trip
Grade 2/3/4
No School
Today
Grade 6 Mansfield Trip
Good Friday
No School
Today
Feedback welcome on draft policies
The Upper Grand District School Board is welcoming public input on draft policies.
Currently under review are Equity and Inclusive Education (#504) and Alcohol and
Drugs (#513). You are invited to review the draft documents and submit online feedback
at www.ugdsb.on.ca/policy. The deadline for public input is April 13, 2016. Persons
without internet access may call 519-822-4420 ext. 723 to request a printed copy of the
draft documents.
If you school attendance area is long distance from Guelph, please use this version with
our toll-free number…
Feedback welcome on draft policies
The Upper Grand District School Board is welcoming public input on draft policies.
Currently under review are Equity and Inclusive Education (#504) and Alcohol and
Drugs (#513). You are invited to review the draft documents and submit online feedback
at www.ugdsb.on.ca/policy. The deadline for public input is April 13, 2016. Persons
without internet access may call 1-800-321-4025 ext. 723 to request a printed copy of
the draft documents.